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Reports that workers in the Los Angeles County district attorney's family support division have stated that they are being bombarded with thousands of phone calls. Glitches in a new computer system; The processing of thousands of child-support checks; Details of complaints that have been forward to District Attorney Gil Garcetti.

Reports that the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has begun an inquiry into transactions with its former financial adviser, Lazard Freres & Company. Allegations of substantially overcharging for United States Treasury Securities. Comments from Ronny J. Goldsmith, chief financial officer with the (MTA); Lazard under criminal investigation; Amount of the apparent overcharges; International Revenue Service looking at other deals.

Reports that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to request that court officials bar television coverage of any retrial of O.J. Simpson. Spiralling costs of trial to county; Television coverage prolonging proceedings; Comments from Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky; Total trial costs; Comments from Douglas E. Mirell, an attorney representing the American Civil Liberties Union; Request denied to make media share in broadcasting costs of trial.

Reports on Los Angeles County supervisors' request that the court prohibit television broadcast of any retrial of the Orenthal James Simpson murder trial in Los Angeles, California. Impact of broadcast on the length of the trial.

Reports on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors' approval of an agreement related to the construction of the Disney Concert Hall. Fundraising for the beleaguered project; Default of the lease agreement.

Reports that elderly legal immigrants in Los Angeles, California are concerned about the proposed welfare reform being debated over by the US Congress. Exclusion of most legal immigrants from receiving federal social benefits; Ineligibility of immigrants to Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, and in-home support services.

Reports on the decision of Gary Klausner, presiding judge of the Los Angeles County superior court to reorganize jury system aimed at easing work stress on juries. Financial limitations; Implementation of juror appreciation program; Goal of reforms.

Reports on the May 30, 1995 decision of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to approve an agreement that will allow Health Services Director Robert Gates to leave office with a pay increase and a sweetened benefits package. Gates' announcement of his resignation from the post by November 1, 1995; Board members' comments on Gates and his eventual termination if he had not resigned.

Reports that Los Angeles County Health Director Robert C. Gates will receive a $25,000 pay boost and a lucrative retirement package after negotiating with county officials. Proposal of Gates to reduce the scope of medical services in county facilities; Criticisms against Gates; Concern over Gates' health.

Reports on a resolution passed by Los Angeles County, California's Board of Supervisors seeking broad authority to restrict the scope of the county's general relief welfare program. Emotional debate over how far the county government should go to aid its neediest residents; Criticism of the action by social welfare advocates; Board's request for authority to rein in costs in several welfare areas.

Reports on the proposed elimination of the general relief welfare program in Los Angeles County, California. Recommendations from Chief Administrative Officer Sally Reed; Annual cost of the program.

Reports on the Securities and Exchange Commission's opening of a formal investigation into allegations that Wall Street brokerage firm, Smith Barney, fooled Los Angeles County into a million dollar bond deal. Comments from Mark Saladino, principal deputy in the county counsel's office; Charges that Smith pocketed million dollar fees on deal.

Reports that Los Angeles County's projected spending deficit has increased to hundreds of millions of dollars, as officials warns that county faces a possibility of its cash depleting at the end of the fiscal year. Comments by Auditor-Controller Alan T. Sasaki; What the cash flow problem represents; Authority give n to Sally Reed, Administrative Officer, to review and approve acquisition of supplies and services in all departments.

Reports on evacuations of federal employees in the United States in light of bomb threats on April 19, 1995 in Southern California. Names of areas receiving threats; Description of evacuation in downtown Santa Ana; Comments from Deputy U.S. Marshall Bruce James at the U.S. Courthouse in Los Angeles.

Reports that a foster child who was sexually abused by the son of her foster parents, won a $208,000 lawsuit from Los Angeles County. Background information on case; How the settlement will be paid; How the money will be used; Comments from teen's attorney Linda Wallace Pate and foster parents attorney Mark Weinstein; Description of emotional condition of young woman.

Reports that the Board of Supervisors in Los Angeles (L.A.), California have banned the act of horse tripping, one of the features of the `charreada' or Mexican rodeo. Examination of popularity of the `charreada' in L.A. and other places; When ban will go into effect; Comments from Pedro Vaca, California-based president of Federacion de Charros.

Reports on the opposition of private businesses over the Los Angeles County's decision to sell civil files from the Superior and Municipal court systems. Reason county decided to sell information; Charges made by the private industry; Questions if public data can be considered a financial resource; Lawsuit filed by Mead Data, TRW, and Dunn and Bradstreet against the county.

Reports on plans by the Board of Supervisors, in charge of beaches to withdraw the services provided by lifeguards and maintenance crews at some of the most popular beaches, from May 2, 1995. Amount of money spent each year for service costs at local beaches; Comments from Supervisor Deane Dana.

Reports that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will begin to broadcast weekly board meetings on television. Public's lack of knowledge about the county government; Improvement in the public perception when the Los Angeles City Council went on TV; Cost of the broadcasts; Views of Judy Hammond, public affairs officer.

Reports on an internal investigation that was launched by Smith Barney Incorporated, in relation to allegations that were made by former employee which suggest that Smith Barney deceived Los Angeles County in 1993; Denial from Smith Barney, about breaking a deal with the county; Contents of a written statement by Smith Barney; Further information about the allegations.

Reports that the Los Angeles County Fire Department is trying to improve communications and training procedures to prevent problems associated with wildfires. Statement from Fire Chief, P. Michael Freeman; Reference to the Calabasas/Malibu fire in 1993; Contents of a report prepared by the the Department for the Board of Supervisors; Recommendations for better improvement; Fire Department to issue comprehensive report.

Reveals that parents who have full or part-time jobs that do not pay enough to move them above the poverty line make up a majority of poor families in California. Report to be released by Children Now; Number of children who lack basic necessities; Impact of an overhaul of federal welfare laws on poor families; Other highlights of the study.

Focuses on the recentlty enacted federal welfare law in the United States and it's effects on grandparents acting as parents. Reference made to Bonnie de la Cruz; Grandparents acting as parents said to be a growing American phenomenon; Comments from senior analyst with the American Association of Retired Persons' Public Policy Institute, Faith Mullen.

States that a number of youths continue to be victims of their parents or caretakers, according to the annual report on the abuse and murder of children in Los Angeles County. Number of youngsters killed by their guardians or parents in 1995; Types of fatal abuse; Detailed information on the report released on November 15, 1996 by the Los Angeles County Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect. INSET: Child deaths..

Presents information about local elections in California with reference to delays caused by machinery breakdowns and absentee voting. Reference made to the district attorney race between Gil Garcetti and John Lynch; Comments from Registrar-Recorder, Conny McCormack.

Reports that California must move people off public assistance and into jobs in the next few years following 1996 to satisfy federal welfare guidelines. Statistical information on unemployment from the state Department of Social Services; When these federal guidelines took effect; Comments made by Jack Kyser, chief economist with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation.

Reports on objections to the proposed construction of a sports complex in Los Angeles, California that would house the Kings and Lakers. Whether the arena could hurt the city's convention center; Cost of the project.

Recommends the bus ride when going about Southern California. Interesting spots which can be reached through the bus; Estimated travel time; Average bus fares.

Looks at a method of phone fraud being utilized by thieves in California, and which is costing telephone companies and customers millions of dollars. How the fraud works; Impact on the telephone industry; Details on efforts being made to curb it; Persons who have been affected.

Presents information on a settlement between the Caring for Babies With AIDS agency and the California Department of Social Services, for the agency agreed to restructure its administration and improve staff training. Withdrawal of charges of physical and emotional neglect against the agency; Detailed information on the settlement finalized on September 9th, 1996; Comments from Marsha J. Jacobson of the Department of Social Services.

Reports that on August 29, 1996, United Way of greater Los Angeles announced its plans to increase the amount of money it awards to local charities this year, which will be done for the first time since 1990. Factor which contributed to the increase; Number of health and social welfare organizations the group helped to fund; Amount of money received during its 1995-96 fund-raising drive; Other information on the group.

Reports that Jamie Scott Enyart, a Hollywood special effects artist, was awarded $450,600 as compensation for photographs that police confiscated after the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Details on the case; Accusations against Enyart by city attorneys; Significance of Enyart's photographs; Comments from Enyart.

Looks into deaths in the Latino community of Los Angeles, California, due to the ingestion of contaminated oysters. Government's emergency action; Directive to test oysters from the Gulf of Mexico; Proposal for the publication of health warnings against oysters in Spanish and English.

Focuses on the social impact of the July 26, 1996, rape case at the Watts housing project in Los Angeles, California. Police account of the incident; Area resident Kimberly Meadows' account of a previous rape case.

Reports on the death of Robert Belcher, guard of a Brinks armored van at a Bank of America branch in Los Angeles, California. Search for the three gunmen who fled empty-handed; Residents' account of the crime.

Reports on a plan to revitalize chemically contaminated industrial sites in South-Central Los Angeles, California. Creation of the California Center for Land Recycling; Aims and plans of the center; Potential investments for the project.

Highlights the renaissance of parks in Los Angeles, California. Offering of organized recreation programs; Problem of overuse; Attendance at the parks; Funding for parks.

Reports on the results of a study conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health on the high risks of taxi drivers as victims of workplace violence in Los Angeles, California. Number of workplace-related deaths among taxi drivers in 1994; Taxi drivers' adoption of safety measures to reduce the risks.

Reports on the plans of new United States citizens on how they would celebrate their first Fourth of July celebration in the US. Factors that lure immigrants from other countries; Watching the fireworks; Planning for a big party.

Reports that a Carnival Cruise Lines ship on which dozens of passengers were stricken had passed an unannounced inspection and appeared to be free of any contaminants that would account for the outbreak. Incident being downplayed by the authorities; Claim by passengers that the illness was much more widespread; Results of preliminary testing of stool samples from some of the sick passengers.

Reports on the finding that a program which offers youths scholarships and cash to stay in high school averted five times as many serious crimes as California's three strikes law. Rand Corp. study's first attempt to measure the cost-effectiveness of social programs aimed at reducing youth crime; Important aspects of the three strikes law; Estimated reduction in serious crime and the corresponding costs per year.

Presents information on the Los Angeles welfare-to-work program called GAIN--Greater Avenues for Independent Living which tries to cultivate business who are willing to hire welfare recipients. Description of the work of Frank Mora; Details on the program; Success of the program; Response to the program.

Reports that more time has been granted to California to comply with a federal welfare law, which states that in 25 percent of all families receiving public aid, at least one parent must be working or in a work-related activity. Frustration over the lack of details emerging from Washington on the welfare changes.

Reports on the funeral of 7-year-old Sherrice Iverson who was killed in a Nevada casino over the 1997 Memorial Day weekend. Comment from Carol Johnson, a family friend who sang a tribute to Sherrice; Events leading up to Iverson's death; Identification of Iverson's accused murderer.

Assesses the questions that arose when Californian Governor Pete Wilson proposed an additional $300 million to the state's child care system. Problems affecting the child care system in California; Benefits of funds to system.

Discusses the response of employers in California to efforts made by Governor Pete Wilson to persuade them to hire persons on welfare. Information on welfare reform efforts; Reasons for the hesitation in employing welfare recipients; Measures taken by Wilson to persuade employers.

States that according to a study by two University of Southern California (USC) researchers, an overhaul of the United States welfare system could have a negative effect on Los Angeles County, California. Poverty which could occur as a result of welfare overhaul; Amount of money which the county could lose annually; Comments from USC professor Jennifer Wolch; Other findings of report.

Reports that on April 6, 1997 Pedro Carvajal, a convicted rapist and burglar awaiting sentencing was caught, about 14 hours after he disappeared from a bed check at the maximum security facility at Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic, California. Information on the search for Carvajal; Comments made by Los Angeles County sheriff's spokeswoman Deputy Carrie Stuart; Details on Carvajal's convictions.

Reports that Mary Cross, a mother who has AIDS, has been told by welfare administrators that despite her physical frailties she may have to enter the work force to continue receiving welfare benefits. What proponents of the welfare overhaul suggest; What this mean for welfare recipients like Cross; Information on Cross' life; Problem faced by Cross relating to her children.