The current and former officials at Los Angeles World Airports received thousands of dollars in discounted trips to China and New England from a group that represents international airlines at LAX.

By Dan Weikel

December 9, 2009

City ethics investigators have recommended that civil charges be brought against six current and former officials at Los Angeles World Airports who allegedly accepted thousands of dollars worth of discounted trips to China and New England from an association that represents dozens of international airlines that use LAX.

According to records obtained by The Times, the trips involved a weeklong cruise last year along the New England and Canadian coasts as well as a six-day excursion in 2005 to Beijing and Shanghai. The China trips featured stays in five-star hotels such as the Peninsula Beijing and the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai. And all of the outings included air travel, lodging, entertainment, tours, meals and cocktails.

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Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/08/2009 06:50:37 PM PST

VICTORVILLE – City Councilman Ryan McEachron has called for a forensic audit of all city contracts, payroll and accounting records amid an ongoing Grand Jury investigation into the city’s business practices.

Since being elected to the City Council last November, McEachron said he’s been troubled by a barrage of complaints from citizens alleging the city is corrupt and engaged in an incestuous relationship with energy magnate William Buck Johns, president of Newport Beach-based Inland Energy, Inc.

Johns has been instrumental in the entitlement and development of the Victorville 1 (VV1) power plant at the Southern California Logistics Airport and several other power plant projects in the High Desert.

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School district looking to cut $8 million before Feb. 8

December 08, 2009 4:48 PM
BEAU YARBROUGH Staff Writer

With the state of California facing yet another budget deficit this year, up to 131 Hesperia Unified School District employees could be losing their jobs at the end of this school year.

Then-school board vice-president Lee Rogers read a prepared statement at Monday night’s meeting. (The board reorganized later that night, with board member Anthony Riley replacing her as vice-president.)

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Jesse B. Gill, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/09/2009 12:19:56 AM PST

By JESSE B. GILL

Staff Writer

The Redlands Unified School District Board of Education will have to approve at least $11.68 million in cuts in January and could have to cut as much as $20 million more after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issues a new state budget.

RUSD Superintendent Lori Rhodes presented a budget reduction plan to the Board of Education Tuesday. The district has been forced to cut $16.2 million since the 2007-2008 school year because the state continues to slash education funding.

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09:39 PM PST on Tuesday, December 8, 2009

By RICHARD K. DE ATLEY and DUG BEGLEY
The Press-Enterprise

A developer at the heart of a sweeping San Jacinto corruption probe wanted to build a “crown jewel” of the community that allowed the then-mayor to buy a home in the elite subdivision for far less than it was worth, a grand jury witness said.

The developer, Stephen Holgate, sold San Jacinto Councilman Jim Ayres and his wife Nancy — director of the chamber of commerce Holgate co-founded — a home in the Enclave community for thousands less than it likely would have sold for, according to grand jury transcripts released Tuesday.

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