Which Way, L.A.?

Teachers' Contract

LA School Superintendent Roy Romer claims there's enough money to give underpaid teachers a raise while investing in textbooks, reading and teacher preparation programs. Teachers have threatened a strike without the raise. In order to pay for it, Romer has frozen administrative hiring and is cutting back on several programs. But three of the seven school board members plan to vote against the proposed contract which comes up at tomorrow's board meeting. We study both sides in a "presidential" debate with the school district's Genethia Hayes, and Day Higuchi of the teachers' union. (Kyle McKinnon guest hosts.) Newsmaker: Mayor Nominates Rebecca Avila as Police Commission Head Mayor Richard Riordan foresees a new and improved police commission after nominating Rebecca Avila to fill the vacancy left by the firing of Gerry Chaleff. Riordan credits Avila with the toughness that helped turn around the LA Ethics Commission. With city council approval, Avila will help set policy for the LAPD. Reporter's Notebook: Continued Rain Affects Local Coastline - The LA River and other streams are flowing briskly after the weekend rains, but what are they carrying to the ocean? Huntington Beach's coastline has seen its share of mysterious closures. Research biologist Burt Jones is with USC's Sea Grant program, which will study the cause of the contamination at Huntington Beach.