Update on explosives sought

Rep. Adam Schiff, who represents Burbank and Glendale, has called on Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to submit quarterly reports regarding the threat posed by improvised explosive devices to American troops in Iraq.

It was a concern that the Pentagon had not moved with urgency to address the continuing devastation of these devices, Schiff said. The bombs kill Americans every day and no effort should be spared to stop them, he added.

Schiff has offered an amendment to the House Rules Committee requiring Rumsfeld to submit a report on every incident involving the detonation, discovery and/or defeat of an improvised explosive device in the past 90 days. The report would also have to include an update on the technology behind the devices, their placement, any evidence of assistance from foreign countries or opposition forces, the U.S. military's ability to defend itself and the effectiveness of armored Humvees in the field.

Official meets with local councils

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich hosted a luncheon on May 5 with Ruben Barrales, deputy assistant to President George Bush and director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and representatives of the county's town councils, which represent unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.

Barrales talked to the council members about issues such as the federal budget and immigration reform.

The Crescenta Valley Town Council was among the town councils represented.

Legislators seek award nominees

Assemblywoman Carol Liu, Assemblyman Dario Frommer and state Sen. Jack Scott are seeking nominees for the 2006 Women in Business Awards, which will be held on Thursday, Sept. 7 at The Castaway restaurant in Burbank.

The awards honor outstanding businesswomen who live or work in the three legislators' districts, which include all or parts of the communities of Altadena, Arcadia, Atwater Village, Burbank, Chinatown, Duarte, Eagle Rock, East Hollywood, Echo Park, Encino, Glassell Park, Glendale, Griffith Park, Highland Park, La Cañada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Lake Balboa, Los Feliz, Monrovia, Montrose, North Hollywood, Pasadena, Reseda, San Gabriel, Sherman Oaks, Silver Lake, South Pasadena, Studio City, Tarzana, Temple City, Toluca Lake, Valley Glen, Valley Village or Van Nuys.

For more information or to request nomination forms, call (626) 683-0282 or e-mail Damian.Carroll@sen.ca.gov.

Dreier votes on tax relief bill