A report delivered by a private contractor to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors indicated that the new Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center would have to run at a high degree of efficiency in order to weather a surge in patient arrivals.

The report showed that unless the hospital operated at a 95 percent utilization rate, a patient surge of even five percent could increase wait times past acceptable levels.

Though theoretically possible, the supervisors expressed concern that the high utilization rate might not be attainable.

The Los Angeles Police Commission agreed Wednesday to a change in the disciplinary process on officers who use serious force during altercations.

As an alternative to automatic additional officer training, LAPD will be allowed to discuss the incidents with the police officers.

Cmdr. Richard Webb with Internal Affairs said that the discussions “... really do require officers to identify their own areas of needed improvement...”