Stories we’re following today in the KCRW newsroom:
Noguez Charges. Pressure is building on L.A. County Assessor John Noguez to resign following his arrest on perjury, embezzlement and conspiracy charges. Noguez remains in jail, unable to pay his nearly $1.4 million bail. He’s scheduled to be formally charged today with orchestrating a scheme to solicit campaign donations in exchange for lowering property assessments. His lawyer says the District Attorney reneged on a deal not to arrest Noguez until he had a chance to tell his side of the story. L.A. Times
Alarcon charges. L.A. City Councilman Richard Alarcon and his wife Flora are also scheduled to be arraigned today. The couple is charged with perjury and voter fraud over allegations they lived outside of Alarcon’s Council District, and lied about it. The veteran L.A. politician says he is confident of being acquitted.
Police Association Embezzlement. Also scheduled for a court appearance today is 46-year-old Whittier resident Cindy Ann Su’a. The office manager for the Anaheim Police Association is accused embezzling more than $350,000 from the organization. She allegedly used a computer to change the amount of money on her paychecks. Orange County Register
L.A. tax hikes? The man responsible for overseeing L.A.’s budget says the city needs a tax hike to avoid cuts to police and fire services. In fact, City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana says the city needs two tax hikes. Santana is recommending a pair of measures for the March 2013 ballot: One would increase the tax on city parking facilities from 10 to 15 percent. The other would create a new system for calculating property taxes. L.A. Observed’s Mark Lacter says opposition is already forming. L.A. Observed
Sexual Bullying. LAUSD is teaming up with the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center on a campaign designed to stop bullying and prevent youth suicides. The initiative is called SPIN, which stands for Suicide Prevention Intervention Now. It will offer training for students and parents, as well as teachers, school administrators, about issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youths. L.A. Daily News
Super fight. Warner Bros. retains its grip on the Man of the Steel. A federal judge has rejected an effort by heirs of Superman’s creators to reclaim a 50 percent interest in the superhero from Warner and its DC Comics subsidiary. Had it lost, Warner would have been prevented from using key elements of the Superman story – including his super strength and secret identity as Clark Kent – without striking a new deal with the families of Joseph Shuster and Jerry Siegel. L.A. Times