San Gabriel Valley Tribune

5 Seek Walnut Slots

WALNUT - Five candidates will vie for two seats in the April 11 election for Walnut City Council. First-time candidates Ivy Kuan, Lawrence Reinhold, Mary Su and Shelly Rzonca and incumbent Tom King said they have been walking the city for weeks, talking to residents about what's on voters' minds.

Educator Emphasizes Parents' Involvement

At the beginning of the parenting classes he teaches, instructor Ignacio Rojas tells a story about two roads in life. In the first scenario, you've retired and your children have invited you to a barbecue at their house. As you get out of the car, you think, "Hey, that's a nice house." When the grandchildren run up to meet you, you say to yourself: "Hey, they did all right. I'm glad. I can die happy."

Check Cashing Halt Extended

BALDWIN PARK - When a check-cashing business wanted to move into a local fast-food restaurant earlier this year, the City Council gave the plan a big thumbs-down. But as officials looked into it more, they realized several businesses in the city were providing that service and others without proper permits.

Around the Valley

The National Weather Service forecasts a 90 percent chance of rain for this morning's commute. Most of the rain from a powerful Pacific storm system should pass the region by the morning, but according to a flash flood warning issued by the weather service "bursts of heavy rain are possible at any time with this storm."

Karate Master Succumbs to Disease

MONROVIA - Jeremy Tien Adams tricked what should have been his fate many times in his life, defying the odds against him. He should have died in a plane crash at 16 months old.

Police Leaders Downplay Survey

MONROVIA - In an anonymous survey performed just before salary negotiations are set to begin, many Monrovia police officers said they are overworked, micromanaged and suffer from extremely low morale. And it gets worse. Nineteen of the 32 respondents to the March 17 Monrovia Police Officers Association survey said they are considering leaving the department or are already in the process of departing.

Failing Students Work Farm Fields

SOUTH EL MONTE - Students who used to do poorly in school are learning all about reaping what they sow. Instead of bad grades and detention, however, in this case it's vegetables.

Iraq Troops Come Home

PICO RIVERA - Whittier resident Martha Sanchez could barely contain her nervous anticipation as she stood in the rain Monday awaiting her husband's return from Iraq to the Marine Reserve Training Center in Pico Rivera. Tears welling in her eyes, Sanchez choked on her words as she tried to describe her feelings.

1 Boy Killed, 1 Injured in Shooting

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - Investigators are looking into the Monday shooting death of a boy and the wounding of another boy. The victim's names were not released. One boy was pronounced dead at the scene. The other is listed in critical condition, said Deputy Ban Nguyen.

Car Smashed; Three Injured

COVINA - Three men were injured - two critically - when a Metrolink train struck a car on Monday and pushed it 150 yards down the tracks. Workers from a nearby business helped free the two passengers from the smashed car. Paramedics then arrived to remove the unconscious driver.

Flag-Flipping Probe Finished

PICO RIVERA - No other students will be punished for an incident last week in which an American flag was hung upside down on a school flag pole during a pro-immigration protest, officials said Monday. "To the best of our knowledge, there are no other students that have been identified as being from El Rancho High School," said El Rancho Unified School District Superintendent Norbert Genis.

Senate Panel Oks $22 Million for Repair Work

WASHINGTON - Bucking the decision of the House on emergency funding for Sacramento flood control, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved adding $22.3million to accelerate levee improvement work this summer. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., chairman of the committee's energy and water panel, said the additional money "is necessary to avoid what could be a disaster."

Angelides: Pension Funds Can Aid State

SACRAMENTO - California's two largest pension funds should invest $15 billion in urban infrastructure to provide a reliable funding source as the state looks to improve its bridges and freeways, State Treasurer Phil Angelides proposed Monday. Angelides, who sits on the board of the California Public Employees Retirement System and the State Teachers Retirement System, proposed that those two pension funds invest up to 5 percent of their assets in projects that generate income from bridge toll...