National Civic League's All-America City Awards
Downey, Huntington Park and Torrance
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Downey, Huntington Park and Torrance were among 26 cities announced today as finalists for the National Civic League's All-America City Awards.
The league honors 10 cities each year, with winners chosen using criteria such as community-based problem-solving, civic engagement and joint efforts involving the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
Other California cities to make the list of finalists were Dublin and Yucaipa.
The winners will be announced during an NCL event in Kansas City June 15-17.
"It's a unique combination of local pride and community innovation, and in these very tough times for localities, these communities give us hope and new ideas about how to do more with less,'' said Sandra Freedman, chair of the league's board of directors.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Leaving the fireworks to the professionals this July Fourth is a safer alternative than setting off pyrotechnics yourself.
That’s the message from safety officials to residents of Los Angeles County cities that allow the personal use of fireworks.
All fireworks are illegal for personal use within the city of Los Angeles, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Alhambra, Carson, Downey, Torrance, West Covina and Whittier were named finalists today for the honor of most business-friendly city in Los Angeles County.
The six finalists were chosen by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation in the category for larger cities, with populations of more than 60,000 people. The cities of Azusa, Cerritos, Commerce, Duarte, La Mirada and Monrovia were named finalists among cities with populations under 60,000.
COMPTON, Calif. — Former Compton Fire Department Deputy Chief Marcel Melanson is scheduled to be arraigned Friday on grand theft and arson charges related to a fire at the department’s headquarters.
Melanson is suspected of stealing thousands of dollars worth of Motorola radios, selling them online and intentionally setting the Dec. 11, 2011 fire to destroy evidence of the thefts, Steve Whitmore of the sheriff’s department said.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — A grand jury indictment unsealed today charges a man with murdering two women and one man and injuring two other people during a shooting spree last October at a business and a home in Downey.
Jade Douglas Harris, 30, pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles Superior Court to 10 felony counts, including three counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, four counts of kidnapping for carjacking and one count of being a felon with a firearm.
TORRANCE, Calif. — Torrance police today announced they are seeking a man in his 20s suspected of exposing himself near schools twice in a seven-day span.
Two students were walking home from Bert Lynn Middle School Tuesday when they saw a man seated in the driver seat of a small blue or gray four door sedan, possibly a Honda. His passenger window was down and he chuckled at them.
He was holding his exposed penis with both hands, laughing. He said nothing and the victims turned away and quickly went home, police said.
