School security. In the wake of the deadly school shootings in Connecticut, America’s second largest school district plans to hire one-thousand “security aides” to be deployed on its campuses. Under the $4 million program, a minimum of two people – unarmed, but equipped with radios – will be assigned to patrol more than 400 LAUSD schools. The security aides will be trained to respond to threats, mediate student conflicts and conduct metal detector searches. District officials say they hope to hire many employees who were previously laid off for the new positions. AP
Ballona nature center. The Annenberg Foundation is expected to sign an agreement with state officials today to build a $50 million nature center at the Ballona Wetlands. The plan has the blessing of numerous government agencies but it’s getting a mixed reaction from local environmental groups. The charitable foundation is proposing to build a 46,000-square-foot facility on one acre of the wetlands between Marina del Rey and Westchester. The interpretive center would have wildlife exhibits, classrooms, offices, an auditorium and space for an animal adoption and care program. Friends of the Ballona Wetlands supports the project. But another local group, the Ballona Institute, says the land should be preserved solely as wildlife habitat. L.A. Times
Dodger deal. The Dodgers and Time Warner Cable have made it official. The team and the media company announced today that they’ve inked a 25-year deal that will give the Dodgers their own cable channel. The deal is worth at least $7 billion and it begins in 2014. The Dodgers will stay on Fox for the upcoming season. The new Dodgers channel will be known as SportsNet L.A. That’s not to be confused with the new Lakers channel – known as SportsNet – that’s also a Time Warner collaboration. Time Warner is expected to seek as much as $5 per month from other local cable providers to carry SportsNet L.A. That could make everyone’s cable rates go up, whether they watch the Dodgers or not. ESPN
Earthquake alert. State Senator Alex Padilla is pushing for the creation of a statewide earthquake warning system. Padilla says the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy a couple months ago proves the need for a warning program. Padilla’s asking for $80 million to deploy the system, which would come from federal and state funds along with private sector investment. Padilla says the system would rely on software developed by scientists at the California Institute of Technology, U.C. Berkeley and the U.S. Geological Society. The system would collect data from a statewide seismic network, recognize when an earthquake is under way, and send alerts about the estimated time and magnitude of the quake. KABC
Deputy shooting. A Culver City man killed by L.A. Sheriff’s Deputies after a car chase was shot seven times, including five times in the back, according to a report from the county coroner. Jose de la Trinidad was a passenger in a car that deputies tried to pull over for speeding last November 13th. After a brief chase, de la Trinidad got out of the car. Deputies said he appeared to be reaching for a weapon. But a witness says the 36-year-old father of two was holding his hands above his head when he was shot. Multiple investigations are underway. L.A. Times