211 warning as mask wearing proliferates

This from our friend Mike Alerich at the bank 211 blog:

Due to the Swine Flu concern and the proliferation of citizens wearing face masks Banks, Businesses and everyday people should be extra cautious and aware of their surroundings; Who-What is behind that mask?. Not paranoid just use common sense and never “Assume” anything.
Common street thugs by nature are cowards and hide their face behind ski-masks and ladies pantyhose while preying on innocent victims, now during this crisis they can blend in with the crowds for a 20 cent throw-away mask.

For addition photos of ‘Medical Mask’ bank robbers go to   www.scorpio-security.com, Mike’s other site.

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LA County investigates possible Claremont Swine Flu

This from reporter Amanda Baumfeld:

Los Angeles County Health Services has a press conference scheduled for today at 3 p.m., Kissell added.
Meanwhile, Our Lady of the Assumption School, a Claremont private school notified County Health Services of a potential problem at the school.
“We have been in touch with the Department of Catholic Schools and the Department of Public health and they will advise us,” Bernadette said.
The principal would not comment further.

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Cause of fatal Walnut crash still under investigation

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WALNUT — A vase of flowers marked the spot Sunday where a young woman was killed and three young man were badly injured in a solo-car crash early Saturday.

The crash occurred about 4:30 a.m. on westbound Amar Road between Braes River Drive and Creekside Drive.

Jennifer Marie Garcia, 21, of West Covina was pronounced dead at the scene.

A vase of flowers with a note reading, “May God be with you,” stood in front of the tree where the car struck Sunday, amidst shards of shattered glass and plastic.

The cause of the crash remained under investigation Sunday, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.

 Here’s the original story.

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Swine flu pandemic?

The CDC’s Swine Flu page

WHO’s Swine Flu page

AlertNet’s survey of worldwide reaction to outbreak

The story of a community spared in the 1919 world flu pandemic — a study by the University of Michigan. (includes links to contemporary accounts from the San Francisco Chronicle and San Francisco Examiner)

Here’s the latest from the Associated Press regarding the outbreak of Swine Flu and the possibility the virus could mutate into a more dangerous strain:

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The world’s governments raced to avoid both a pandemic and global hysteria Sunday as more possible swine flu cases surfaced from Canada to New Zealand and the United States declared a public health emergency. “It’s not a time to panic,” the White House said.

Mexico, the outbreak’s epicenter with up to 86 suspected deaths, closed churches, markets and restaurants. Few people ventured onto the streets, and some wore face masks. Canada became the third country to confirm cases, in six people, including some students who — like some New York City spring-breakers — got mildly ill in Mexico. Countries across Asia promised to quarantine feverish travelers returning from flu-affected areas.

The U.S. declared the health emergency so it could ship roughly 12 million doses of flu-fighting medications from a federal stockpile to states in case they eventually need them — although with 20 confirmed cases of people recovering easily, they don’t appear to for now.

Make no mistake: There is not a global pandemic — at least not yet. It’s not clear how many people truly have this particular strain, or why all countries but Mexico are seeing mild disease. Nor is it clear if the new virus spreads easily, one milestone that distinguishes a bad flu from a global crisis. But waiting to take protective steps until after a pandemic is declared would be too late.

“We do think this will continue to spread but we are taking aggressive actions to minimize the impact on people’s health,” said Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

President Barack Obama’s administration sought to look both calm and in command, striking a balance between informing Americans without panicking them. Obama himself was playing golf while U.S. officials used a White House news conference to compare the emergency declaration with preparing for an approaching hurricane.

“Really that’s what we’re doing right now. We’re preparing in an environment where we really don’t know ultimately what the size or seriousness of this outbreak is going to be,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told reporters.

Earlier, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the outbreak was serious, but that the public should know “it’s not a time to panic.” He told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Obama was getting updates “every few hours” on the situation.

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Woman shot inside Pico Rivera Veterans of Foreign Wars post

PICO RIVERA — A woman was shot inside a Veterans of Foreign Wars post early Sunday when a gunman opened fire from an SUV, officials said.
The incident was reported about 1:10 a.m. at the VFW post at 4865 Durfee Ave., Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. Juan Chavez said.
The woman, estimated to be in her 40s, was shot in the shoulder, he said.
The injury was not believed to be life threatening, he added.
The shooter was inside a passing dark-colored SUV, Chavez said.
A further description of the attacker or the vehicle was not available.
It was not clear Sunday whether the VFW post was targeted, or if the shooter may have been shooting at someone outside the building, the sergeant said.
No one answered the phone at the post Sunday.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s Pico Rivera Station at (562) 949-2421.

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*Man struck by shrapnel at shooting range

*UPDATED:

ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST — A man suffered a glancing wound to the head Sunday when a piece of bullet ricochetted and struck him at a gun range in the Angeles National Forest north of San Dimas, authorities said.
The incident was reported about 1:15 p.m. at the Burro Canyon Shooting Park, 22100 East Fork Rd, Los Angeles County Fire Department Supervising Dispatcher Melanie Flores said.
“It was one of those shooting anomalies,” Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Tim Bloom said.
The man, estimated to be in his 20s, suffered an apparently minor wound, however he was flown to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center by helicopter as a precaution, the captain said.

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246 weapons collected in San Dimas “Gifts for Guns”

SAN DIMAS — The “Gifts for Guns” collection in San Dimas was a success Saturday, authorities said, as 246 guns, including half a dozen assault weapons, were gathered, officials said.

The exchange, in which people trade firearms for gift cards good at local retailers, took place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., officials said.

The event, initially scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., started an hour early as people were already lining up, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Craig Boyett said.

More than $24,000 worth of gift cards from retailers such as Walmart, Target and grocery stores were handed out, he said.

Deputies paid $100 in gift cards for most working rifles and handguns, $50 worth for non-functioning guns and $200 worth for assault weapons, Boyett said.

For information on future Gifts for Guns exchanges, visit the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Web site at www.lasd.org.

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Police seek missing brothers

ALHAMBRA — Police sought the public’s help Saturday in finding two young brothers who left for a tutoring session Thursday and never arrived, authorities said.
Tial Thawng, 14, and Hniang Nawl Thawng, 11, were last seen walking away from their home in the 100 block of South Olive Avenue, Alhambra police Sgt. Gabriel Ponce said in a written statement.
They were supposed to go to a tutoring session but never arrived and haven’t been seen since, he said.
Both brothers speak Burmese and some English, Ponce said.
Tial Thawng is described as 5 feet, 4 inches tall and of thin build, the sergeant said. He was last seen wearing light-colored hooded sweat shirt, a black t-shirt, blue shorts and a black and white backpack.
Hniang Thawng is described as 4 feet tall and of thin build, officials said. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, tan shorts, a black jacket and a red backpack.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Alhambra Police Department.

Pictured: Hniang Thawng – top, Tial Thawng – bottom.27128-Hniang Thawng Mug-thumb-300x322.jpg
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