Los Angeles County

Karen S. Kim GLENDALE -- Unemployment in Glendale declined by 0.1% for the second month in a row during December 2001, but Don Nakamoto, city labor market specialist, said it's still too soon to call the decline a trend. "You would probably have to see it move pretty substantially up or down at least a percentage point over a six-month period," Nakamoto said. "Then you could conclude the momentum is going in one direction or another." Glendale's unemployment rate in December fell from 5.5% in November to 5.4%, or 5,480 people, according to numbers released by the California Employment Development Department.

PASADENA — Attorneys representing five people who were charged with beating and torturing two loan modification agents asked for more time Thursday to reach a potential settlement. Attorney Stephen Wegman and three other defense attorneys asked Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Teri Schwartz if the case could be extended to Jan. 27 to accommodate negotiations on a possible settlement with the district attorney. Schwartz sent the case back to Burbank Superior Court to be settled.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich welcomed Ruben Barrales, deputy assistant to the president and Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, to discuss federal and local issues at a luncheon with members of the County's Town Councils, including the Crescenta Valley Town Council president. Sharon Hales attended the luncheon, during which Barrales briefed the leaders on federal issues including economic policies, the federal budget, immigration reform, the Palmdale Airport and regional transportation projects affecting Los Angeles County.

Deputies searching for alleged robber Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies are seeking the public's help in providing information on a man suspected of robbing a video store in La Crescenta. The Man Hwa Video Store, 2758 Foothill Blvd., was robbed at about 10:03 p.m. Wednesday when a man with a gun came in and demanded money, said Sheriff's Lt. Carrie Stuart. It was not known late Thursday how much money was taken, Stuart said. The alleged robber was described as an unshaven Latino in his 20s, standing between 5 feet 8 and 5 feet 10, wearing a dark sweatshirt, a black beanie and sunglasses.

A 23-year-old Glendale man charged with one count of murder with special circumstances pleaded not guilty Thursday in Pasadena Superior Court. Hector Marroquin is accused of laying in wait before stabbing Joanne Sarkis, 32, of Glendale, multiple times at the Windsor Club, a facility that hosts substance abuse support groups. Witnesses allegedly held Marroquin until police arrived and took him into custody. Sarkis was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where she died as a result of her wounds.

Reporting from Sacramento - Los Angeles County prosecutors said Thursday they would not pursue misdemeanor charges against campaign treasurer Kinde Durkee for allegedly claiming to be an accountant when she did not have a license. Durkee already has been charged in federal court with mail fraud in connection with the alleged embezzlement of a client's money, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office noted in a statement. "In light of the significant prison time she faces in that case, misdemeanor charges are not warranted as the … violations are not likely to result in additional punishment or time in prison," the statement said.

The National Weather Service has extended a red flag warning for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties because of high winds and low humidity, which have elevated the risk of wildfires. The warning, first issued at 3 a.m. Thursday, was set to expire at 6 p.m. Friday but has been extended until 2 p.m. Saturday, Los Angeles County fire officials said. Sustained winds of up to 20 mph and gusts of up to 40 mph are forecast, and an additional 150 firefighters have been positioned throughout Los Angeles County as a precaution, said Tony Imprenda, a spokesman for the county fire department.

Hospital completes renovation Verdugo Hills Hospital recently completed a floor-to-ceiling renovation of its sixth floor's 38 private rooms in the medical and surgical units. The refurbishing included a new nursing station, flooring, wallpaper and paint. Crews dismantled and refurbished two rooms at a time between October 2004 and December 2005. The entire project cost about $115,000. The Verdugo Hills Hospital Women's Council bore more than half of the cost.

A flash-flood warning was issued Tuesday afternoon for Los Angeles County as forecasters warned of possible pockets of rain and thunder showers. Earlier in the day, officials issued a similar alert  warning of hail, thunderstorms and possible lightning in Orange County and the Inland Empire.  L.A. NOW