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A key witness in the prosecution’s case against Conrad Murray had some strong words for the court yesterday, reports the Huffington Post . Dr. Steven Shafer, an anesthesiologist, told the jury that Murray “has been entrusted by Michael Jackson to look after his safety every night, and he has failed.” more › See the rest here: Prosecution’s Witness Tells Jury that Conrad Murray ‘Failed’ in His Care for Michael Jackson
SAN FRANCISCO — Federal prosecutors should be careful not to overreach in their crackdown on California’s pot dispensaries, even though there are ambiguities in the state’s medical marijuana laws, the state attorney general said Thursday. The law passed 15 years ago by California voters has ambiguities that must be resolved either by the state Legislature or the courts, state Attorney General Kamala Harris said in a statement. However, Harris said she was worried that “an overly broad federal enforcement campaign will make it more difficult for legitimate patients to access physician-recommended medicine in California.” She urged federal authorities to make sure their enforcement efforts are focused on significant traffickers of illegal drugs. Harris, a Democrat in her first year as the state’s chief law enforcement officer, made her statement in response to inquiries from the media about the crackdown announced two weeks ago by the four federal prosecutors in California. They have ordered dozens of medical marijuana clubs to close, saying the operations are too close to places where children gather or are being used as fronts for drug dealers. Harris acknowledged that she shares the concerns of federal prosecutors about the proliferation of gangs and criminal enterprises that seek to exploit the medical marijuana law. The four U.S. attorneys said they were sending letters to landlords who rent retail and warehouse spaces to pot collectives and growers saying they could be prosecuted and have their properties confiscated by the government for aiding illegal enterprises. Officials in Sacramento and several other cities have since stopped issuing business permits to dispensaries. State law allows marijuana possession by residents with written doctors’ recommendations. Here is the original post: Kamala Harris Defends Medical Marijuana
The population of Beverly Hills increased 1 percent from 2000 to 2010, according to figures from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 count. In 2000, the census listed Beverly Hills as having a population of 33,784. By 2010, that number rose to 34,109. According to the bureau’s 2010 statistics, 1,941 of the city’s residents are Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the residents who identified themselves as being of one race, 28,112 are white, 3,032 are Asian, 746 are black or African-American, 48 are American Indian/Alaska native, 12 are Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander and 485 people listed themselves as “some other race,” the bureau reported. The number of residents who identified themselves as being of two or more races was 1,514. The census figures indicated that there are 16,394 housing units in Beverly Hills, 14,869 of which are occupied and 1,525 of which are vacant. The 2000 census did not include housing figures. In December, the Census Bureau released state population figures indicating that the population of California grew from 33.9 million residents in 2000 to 37.3 million in 2010. Though California’s 10 percent growth rate makes it the 20th fastest-growing state in the country, it remains the most populous state. See the original post: Beverly Hills’ Population Grew 1 Percent Over Past Decade, Census Count Shows
The City Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday establishing a two-year pilot program that will preserve historic buildings in Beverly Hills . Priority will be given to public theaters, buildings designed by a master architect or listed on a state/national historic preservation register, applications that are submitted early, as well as buildings characterized by “necessity, uniqueness … properties that would include some additional sustainability measures,” Associate Planner Peter Noonan said. The Mills Act program provides a property tax reduction for qualifying homeowners. Officials will select the first round of participating properties by Jan. 16. The program will cost the city $25,000 for administration services and training by a historic property consultant. “It’s been a little bit of an uphill battle in Beverly Hills,” Councilman John Mirisch said of getting a historic preservation ordinance in the books. “Hopefully this will be one of the first steps that we can take, and we will continue working on something that makes sense for the entire community and is balanced.” Council members also referenced the Kronish House , which was designed by master architect Richard Neutra and recently faced the possibility of demolition. Many residents and historic preservation advocates from other Los Angeles communities, including members of the L.A. Conservancy, came to the Aug. 2 council meeting to oppose the owners’ plans to raze the 1955-built structure. “Under pressure from the Beverly Hills City Council, historical preservationists and the public, the owners agreed to a 70-day delay and sold the property to buyers who have said they intend to restore the home,” according to a statement released by the city. “We are deeply appreciative to everyone involved in the effort to save this incredible home,” Mayor Barry Brucker said in a statement. “The owners and their representatives were extremely cooperative and sensitive to the concerns of the council and the preservation community. I look forward, through the Mills Act pilot program, to preserving many more of the historic properties in Beverly Hills.” Mitchell Dawson, an attorney representing the Kronish House’s former owners, Soda Partners LLC, said “compromise, good efforts and skilled negotiation cured a problem and made it a great result.” The Planning Commission is currently working on a historic preservation ordinance to establish guidelines for preserving Beverly Hills’ historic architecture. Be sure to follow Beverly Hills Patch on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook . Read the rest here: Council Approves Mills Act Pilot Program
Gregory Powell, one of the two men responsible for the 1963 “Onion Field” kidnap and murder of Los Angeles Police Department Officer Ian Campbell has cancer, and is serving a life sentence. However, District Attorney Steve Cooley announced late today that the California Board of Parole Hearings has denied Powell a compassionate release from prison. more › Original post: Onion Field Killer Gregory Powell Denied Compassionate Release
The Iran hikers have chosen the city of Oakland and the Occupy movement as the backdrop for a rare public appearance Monday. Photo Credit: AP Originally posted here: Iran Hikers Show Support for Occupy Movement
A police informant testified that a man charged with the attempted murder of a Hemet police officer told her he wanted to buy a rocket to fire at police after several prior attempts to kill officers failed. Originally posted here: Informant Testifies in Booby Trap Case
