Stories we are following today in the KCRW newsroom:
Obama comes to LA. President Obama is scheduled to jet into L.A. this afternoon for an appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Obama will spend less than three hours in the Southland before high-tailing it to Nevada to push on with his frenzied campaign schedule. Police are warning of traffic delays around LAX and in Burbank between 4:30 and 9 tonight. Huffington Post
Puppy mill law. The L.A. City Council is scheduled to vote today on a law that would temporarily ban pet stores from selling dogs, cats and rabbits unless they come from a city shelter or rescue organization. The law takes aim at so-called puppy mills: commercial breeding operations that often neglect animals. It would expire after three years to give city officials a chance to gauge its effectiveness. L.A. Times
Nukes and cancer. San Onofre will be one of six plants examined as part of a federal study into cancer risks at nuclear power facilities. The L.A. Times says the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Committee is launching the pilot study out of growing concern that using uranium to produce electricity can be dangerous – even without accidents. The $2 million-study will look at cancer rates within a 30-mile radius of the plants. L.A. Times
Charter growth. More than 100 charter schools started up this academic year in California and, as usual, LAUSD led the way. The California Charter School Association says there are now 1,065 charter schools in the state. LAUSD opened 40 new charters this academic year to push the district’s total past 200. San Jose Mercury News
Shark attack. Vandenberg Air Force Base officials have ordered the closure of all beaches on the base for 72 hours following yesterday’s fatal shark attack. Santa Barbara authorities have identified the victim as a 39-year-old man from the town of Orcutt. Coroner’s officials will talk to marine scientists to determine what type of shark was involved. Lompoc Record
Bell scandal. A judge has rejected former Bell Police Chief Randy Adams’ bid to more than double his pension to $510,000 a year. The decision follows a three-day hearing in which Adams, a former Glendale police chief, asserted his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination 20 times. The L.A. Times says Adams’ $240,000 pension is still the eighth highest in the state for a former public official. L.A. Times