The 818 Now

[UPDATE] Authorities have determined that the package was not a bomb. It was, in fact, a gift from overseas, officials said.

The battered cardboard box with a near-illegible return address caused a bomb scare that prompted the evacuation of dozens of Dreamworks employees at about 12:05 p.m.

[UPDATE] Glendale Police said they were called in at 12:05 p.m. after an unscheduled cardboard package was delivered to the campus.

During a security check, Dreamworks personnel noticed something suspicious and called police, prompting an evacuation of the building, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

Hazmat teams were called in as an extra precaution, not because there was an immediate threat, police said.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the package as they decide whether to move it to a more secure location.

[UPDATE] A Glendale News-Press reporter at the scene said two hazmat teams from Glendale and Burbank are on the scene.

About 60 employees have also been evacuated to the intersection of Flower Street and Grandview Avenue.

Witnesses said the package was discovered between two buildings, one of which is under construction, and that they were told to evacuate immediately.

[UPDATE] An employee at Dreamworks said police were called in about one hour ago to investigate the package. Employees at the campus, located on the 1000 block of Flower Street, have been told to stay put, he said.

Authorities have closed the street to traffic.

[DEVELOPING] Authorities are investigating what they said was a “suspicious package” at the Dreamworks Animation campus.

Glendale firefighters who responded the scene were recently called back as bomb the squad prepared to move in.

Passengers board a southbound Metrolink train on Monday, December 14, 2009. (Roger Wilson/Leader)

GLENDALE — Metrolink has agreed to pay roughly $39 million to settle all but one of the lawsuits filed against the agency in the aftermath of a January 2005 derailment that killed 11 passengers on the Glendale border, an attorney for the plaintiffs said Wednesday.

Of the 186 complaints filed against the agency in the wake of the accident, all but one of the suits have been resolved, said Jerome Ringler, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs. All 11 wrongful death lawsuits have been settled and 15 of the 16 serious injury lawsuits have been resolved.

The remaining cases involved non-critical injuries.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge handling the cases vacated a Jan. 4 trial date and urged both parties to “work diligently” to resolve the remaining case, a six-figure serious injury lawsuit, Ringler said.

“We fully expect that last one to resolve in the next three to four months, but there is no guarantee,” he said.

In October, Ringler said 90% of the cases had been settled for about $30 million with six cases remaining.

The recent settlements, which await approval from the Metrolink board of directors, bring years of litigation to near finish, even as the rail agency grapples with lawsuits stemming from the deadly Chatsworth crash last year that killed 25 people.

Prior to that crash, the 2005 Glendale derailment — which occurred when a Metrolink train hit a parked Jeep Cherokee left behind by Juan Manuel Alvarez on the tracks near Chevy Chase Drive, killing 11 and injuring nearly 200 others — had been the deadliest incident in the rail agency’s history.

Alvarez was sentenced last year to serve 11 consecutive life sentences in prison for causing the derailment.

“All of those involved that were injured or who lost loved ones are very pleased to have this resolution behind them to move forward with their lives,” Ringler said.

Angela Starr, a Metrolink spokeswoman, declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.

[UDPATE] BURBANK — Firefighters dodged flying ammunition that burst out of a fiery single-story home Tuesday morning as they battled the blaze.

Heat from the house fire in the 800 block of Stephen Road sent ammunition exploding into the air, prompting firefighters to take a defensive posture, Burbank Fire Marshal Frank Walbert said.

One round hit a Burbank fire engine and another bullet was found on the street in the Stephens Road neighborhood, Battalion Chief Steve Briggs said.

No injuries were reported.

Fire crews arrived at the home at about 8:55 a.m. Tuesday after a neighbor noticed smoke coming from a window and called 911, Walbert said.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Tuesday.

[UPDATE] Burbank firefighters are reporting a knock down of the fire. A damage assessment and cause of the blaze are forthcoming.

[DEVELOPING] Firefighters are responding to a house fire in the 800 block of Stephen Road in north Burbank. Tactical teams have arrived at the scene and are fighting the blaze.

Organizers of the third annual Glendale Downtown Dash today said the event would be recognized as an official warm-up race for the L.A. Marathon in March.

The 5K run/walk benefit for the Glendale Adventist Medical Center, organized by the Downtown Glendale Merchants Assn., is scheduled for March 14, with the starting line set in front of the Alex Theatre on North Brand Boulevard.

The L.A. Marathon is scheduled for March 21.

As part fo the warm-up race program, L.A. Marathon Roadrunners will receive a $5 discount on the $25-entry fee for the Downtown Dash, organizers said.

Last year, pre-registration for the Glendale run, which snakes throughout the central/downtown area, nearly doubled to 920 compared to the inaugural year. More than 1,250 people eventually participated in the race.

Glendale Police officers investigate the scene of a pedestrian accident at the corner of Broadway and Pacific Ave. on Tuesday, August 18, 2009. (Roger Wilson/News-Press)

From the Glendale News-Press:

DOWNTOWN — The number of pedestrian-involved vehicle collisions are up this year despite myriad outreach efforts, according to the latest Police Department figures.

There were 89 traffic accidents involving pedestrians through November, up from 74 compared to the same period last year, according to the Police Department.

The increase came despite a number of highly publicized pedestrian safety workshops and campaigns that were initiated in response to Glendale’s abysmal pedestrian safety rating.

Developing story here.

Caroline McKiernan of La Crescenta talks with five-year old Dominique Howard of Los Angeles during Friends of Skidrow distribution of hygiene kits, used clothing and toys at Crocker and 5th Streets in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, December 24, 2009. The group expected to help at least 700 families. (Raul Roa/News-Press)

From the Glendale News-Press:

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — One mile south of a glittering skyscrapers, a Crescenta Valley family was three of roughly 60 volunteers from across the county who spent Thursday morning in Skid Row distributing clothes, hygiene kits, sleeping bags and more to needy families.

There were fears going into it, Caroline McKiernan said, but any anxiety evaporated upon arrival.

Full story here.

Red kettle numbers down
With two days left in the Salvation Army Glendale’s iconic red

(Raul Roa/News-Press)

kettle campaign, fundraising Wednesday was down more than 30% compared with last year, officials reported.

Board eyeing federal funds
In a special session Wednesday, Glendale Unified school board members voted to take preliminary steps toward competing for federal funds, but said they might still opt out of the process next month.

Men sought in bus stabbing
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives this week released photos of two men they say stabbed a Beverly Hills man 18 times aboard a Metro bus at Glendale Avenue and Broadway.

Rewriting the record book and Hoover history
Unprecedented may be the best word to describe the 2009 season turned in by the Hoover High boys’ water polo team and its best player, Hakop Kaplanyan.

Workers put in the steel structure for the Fairmont Ave. Extension/Bridge Project in Glendale on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009. The bridge will bring traffic to and from Fairmont Ave. over the railroad tracks and Verdugo wash and into Flower Street. (Raul Roa/News-Press)

From the Glendale News-Press:

CITY HALL — A recent agreement with Metrolink to allow concrete pours on the Fairmont Avenue “flyover” bridge during the day has allowed the city to cut down on the amount of controversial nighttime construction, officials said.

Nighttime construction that originally scheduled to take place this week was moved to daytime hours after city officials and Metrolink officials reached an agreement allowing three nights worth of work to take place during the day, city officials said.

Developing story here.

State officials re-opened Angeles Crest (2) Highway early today, but warned that the steep hillsides remained fragile.

The highway and other roads were closed earlier this month after rainstorms sent debris flows and rocks onto the highway. Crews will continue to clear debris from drainage sites and road shoulders, which may cause some traffic delays, according to the California Department of Transportation.

Big Tujunga Canyon Road and Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road were re-opened earlier this week.

Officials warned that future winter storms may force them to close Angeles Crest Highway again. There was a 20% chance of rain tonight through Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

The No. 1 and 2 westbound lanes of the Ventura (134) Freeway are currently blocked as emergency crews work to clear what appears to have been a single-vehicle wreck, officials said.

A Chevy Suburban reportedly flipped over on the freeway just west of the Interstate 5, blocking the westbound lanes and causing a major traffic backup, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A SigAlert was issued for the roll-over at about 4:25 p.m.

A short school bus that was stalled on the right shoulder was not involved in the incident, officials said. The extent of injuries to those involved in the rollover were not immediately known.

Citing growing stocks of the H1N1 vaccine, Los Angeles County public health officials Tuesday announced that they would make the inoculations available to those outside the highest-risk groups.

“Certain retail pharmacies” should start receiving limited supplies of the swine flu vaccine at the end of the month to administer for a small fee.

A number of appointments for no-cost H1N1 vaccines will be available at an L.A. County Public Health center for residents who don’t have health insurance or regular health care, according to the county.

Residents without health insurance who were pregnant, caring for infants, emergency medical workers, children and young adults or those with chronic diseases had been given priority earlier this year when the swine flu vaccine was in short supply.

County health officials warned residents to get the vaccine, even if it appeared the second wave of swine flu had peaked. Chief county Health Officer Jonathan Fielding said that with the flu season lasting through April, “another wave of flu is certainly possible.”

Click here for more information on the flu vaccine.

The California State Auditor today is hosting a series of workshops at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank for applicants to the voter-approved Citizens Redistricting Commission.

The independent commission, created by Proposition 11, is to be comprised of 14 citizens who will redraw district lines after the federal Census data is published.

A number of nonprofits working with the state to facilitate the application process, including the League of Women Voters fo California and the NAACP, will also be at the site.

The training and workshops started at 9 a.m. and run until 5 p.m. in the Grand Prix Room of the center, 480 W. Riverside Dr.

The application period for the commission opened today and closes Feb. 12.

Go here for information on the new redistricting process.

Citing recent snow and rain storms, officials Wednesday downgraded the threat of fire in Angeles National Forest from “extreme” to “high.”

U.S. Forest Service officials reminded visitors that restrictions on campfires and off-road vehicles remained in effect, and that areas burned by the massive Station fire were still closed.

From the Glendale News-Press:

[DEVELOPING] CITY HALL — The Glendale City Council tonight announced Ron De Pompa as the city’s new police chief, roughly six months after his predecessor left to head up the Bell Police Department.

Ron De Pompa

As the assistant police chief, De Pompa stepped in as interim chief, and has since overseen a major restructuring of the Glendale Police Department, including a new area command system and steep budget cuts.

City Manager Jim Starbird, in a statement announcing the decision, cited De Pompa’s success in handling the changes as “deciding factors.”

“We couldn’t ask for a better person to head our Police Department,” Starbird said.

UPDATE: Councilman Dave Weaver, speaking to De Pompa at the council meeting tonight, said the new chief “had the gray hair for the position, and now you got the position.”

Councilman Ara Najarian said De Pompa was practically a shoo-in from the outset, while others on the council praised his management skills.

Developing story here.

Public access to L.A. County roads within the Station fire burn area will remain closed until the threat of rain has passed, officials said.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has closed the Angeles Forest Highway, Bug Tujunga Canyon Road and Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road. Residents who live within the burn area will be prohibited from using those roads until the closures are lifted, according to the department.

The roads will be reopened once the storms have passed and county officials complete debris and damage inspections of the roadways, officials said.

Rain from two storms is in the forecast for much of this week.

For updated information, visit the county’s website on recovery efforts and storm impacts.

Glendale firefighter paramedics delivered an OB GYN’s baby early this morning after she called in advanced labor.

Crews who responded to the midnight call in the 3200 block of Frances Avenue determined the birth was eminent and delivered the baby on site, according to release from the Fire Department.

The baby was delivered successfully before infant and mother were transported to a local hospital. No complications were reported.

Credit: Creative Commons

Health officials today announced the last round of mass H1N1 flu vaccination clinics, adding that with increased shipments of the vaccine coming into the county, it was time for doctors and clinics to take charge.

Until now, L.A. County health officials have focused on providing free vaccines to at-risk groups and those without healthcare.

At the time, there were shortages of the vaccine as demand outstripped manufacturers’ ability to keep up. Now, as more shipments reach private doctors and health clinics,  it’s “time for public health departments to step back and for doctors and community clinics to step forward in meeting the unique needs of their patients and community,” county health officer Jonathan Fielding said in a statement.

Public health departments in Long Beach and Pasadena will also be winding down their H1N1 vaccination clinics, according to the announcement.

The closet of the last-round clinics will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 6 at the Rose Bowl, 360 N. Arroyo Blvd, parking lot K.

After the final mass-vaccination clinics, H1N1 vaccines will still be available to those without a regular source of healthcare through community partner clinics. A limited number of appointments will also be available at an L.A. County Public Health center.

Click here for more information on the of mass-vaccination clinics or to schedule an appointment.

The Angeles Crest (2) Highway between La Cañada Flintridge and Wrightwood reopened today after it was closed during the Station fire.

The California Department of Transportation opened the stretch of windy highway at 5 a.m. after crews spent months shoring up debris basins and protecting the mountainous roadway against landslides.

Caltrans crews “worked day and night” to replace guardrails and re-strip some sections of the highway, Dan Freeman, the agency’s deputy district director of maintenance, said in an announcement.

With the Station fire stripping steep road shoulders of rock-shoring vegetation, crews also had to clear dislodged debris and make needed repairs.

Seven Glendale Community College nursing students received a combined $11,000 in scholarships from Kaiser Permanente, the health provider announced.

The students were Mariana Aguero, Andrew Braga, Brittany Donofrio, Matthew Li, Reena Patel, Liza Schmit and Monika Talley. The money was to to help “ease the tuition increase and complete their nursing education,” according the announcement.

Kaiser Permanente said they were among 145 nursing students from 46 Southern California colleges and universities that have been granted a total of $256,500 in scholarships.

Need-based scholarships from $2,000 to $2,500 were awarded in the categories of Nursing as a Second Career, Underrepresented Groups in Nursing, Academic Excellence (3.9+ GPA), Graduate Studies and scholarships to students from schools with a Kaiser Permanente clinical affiliation.

From the Glendale News-Press:

GLENDALE — Ten stroke patients were overexposed to radiation during CT scans at Glendale Adventist Medical Center this year, hospital officials said Monday.

The patients received three- to four-times the normal dose of radiation during a triple-imaging brain exam using a General Electric-manufactured CT scan machine, hospital officials said.

Developing story here.