Recently in Hawthorne Category

Jonathan Strickland, the 18-year-old pilot we wrote about Sunday (see story here), passed his commercial pilot's test on Monday. 
His (very proud) father sent an e-mail on Tuesday to tell us about Jonathan's latest accomplishment.
With this under his belt, Jonathan can work as a flight instructor and get paid to fly. The Inglewood teenager has been piloting planes since he was 14 and has most recently worked toward his dream of becoming a commercial pilot at Hawthorne's Beach Cities Aviation Academy.
He has already broken several records for his early accomplishments.
In the fall, he plans to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Ariz.

The new balance of power on the Hawthorne City Council was on display at Tuesday night's council meeting as a law restricting council discussion was overturned.
Newly elected Councilwoman Angie English won a bid to get rid of a May 2008 ordinance that limited comments by council members to 10 minutes. The council then was led by Mayor Larry Guidi, and the ordinance was called "the Danny law" by then-minority members Councilmen Danny Juarez and Gary Parsons.
The nickname referred to Juarez's tendency to ask a lot of questions at meetings and discuss community affairs for more than 10 minutes. In 2008, Guidi and his supporters complained that Juarez talked too much during the meeting.
On Tuesday, Councilwoman Ginny Lambert -- who supported the 2008 ordinance -- jokingly referred to it as "the Danny law" and abstained from voting to repeal it. "You want us to be able to speak longer than five minutes?," Lambert asked English.
English said: "I feel that we all here as elected officials should have the opportunity to speak."
The vote was 4-0, with Lambert abstaining.

Readers, let's hit it:

A Rolling Hills Estates attorney was shot in his driveway Monday night. The man is in critical condition died at Torrance Memorial Medical Center this morning.

Monday's rain went away but will come again another day -- like Thursday. Check out pictures of yesterday's storm.

Los Angeles Unified School District leaders are set to vote today on a three-year budget plan today that includes massive lay-offs of teachers, administrators and school workers to close a $495 million deficit.

Two Torrance High alumni and one of their mothers have been arrested in a shooting death last week of a Harbor Gateway man.

Hey, times are tough: Why not rob a Christmas tree lot for $70 and apologize in the process like this guy allegedly did?

Kaiser Permanente hosted a free surgery day Monday, providing gratis procedures for about a dozen uninsured patients on waiting lists for months.

El Segundo-based Boeing said Monday it had acquired the first on-orbit signals from an Air Force satellite launched over the weekend.

Leuzinger High's boys basketball team thinks it has the skills and roster to get to another shot at CIF. And Serra High's team isn't too shabby either.

Readers, so much news today:

The owners of the South Bay Galleria want to revamp a 11-acre piece of property adjacent to the Redondo Beach mall with a $32 million retail complex. This development -- curiously titled SouthBay South -- would replace the old bowling alley site, as well as buildings that once housed CompUSA and Thrifty Drug.

Boxing champ Mike Tyson was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after a Wednesday night scuffle with the paparazzi.

Speaking of LAX, why don't you mosey over to our South Bay History blog to read up on the providence of the iconic Theme Building?

The heads of the west coast's six largest ports -- including Los Angeles -- are in China touting their facilities to Asian shippers in hopes of luring back business.

Two robbers who held up an Inglewood autoparts store who led Hawthorne police on a freeway chase in a high-jacked car are still at large after about nine hours of searching Wednesday.

Make sure you check out pictures of Hermosa Beach's candlelight Veteran's Day ceremony

Serra High's defensive end duo are best friends who place weekly wagers on who gets the most sacks.

A Manhattan Beach developer is responsible for the Santa Fe springs housing tract being touted as the largest solar-powered residential community in the United States.

Coming at you, readers:

The South Bay's first female military casualty in Afghanistan dreamed of joining the Armed Forces since she was a child growing up in Hawthorne.

It's a gorgeous day in the South Bay, but, boy, was it windy last night.

Swine flu shots will be rationed according to risk groups, the county has decided, and El Segundo has canceled its November clinic after the havoc at a weekend Redondo Beach clinic.

Hermosa Beach will keep its post office branch, but might have to head to a different locale in town to drop off mail.

A registered sex offender has been arrested in Hawthorne for allegedly exposing himself to a group of students walking home from school.

Gallerie Z, the Gardena-based national chain of funky home decorations, has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The Lakers beat the Clippers opening night. Check out pictures of the game.

Readers, let's get to it:

The family of a 13-year-old autistic boy Tasered by Hawthorne Police officer last year has filed a federal lawsuit seeking class-action status.

Tony Lopez Perez, the Redondo Beach man accused of killing Cori Daye Desmond, pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder Tuesday.

Just weeks after Gardena High School was placed on a list of a dozen underperforming schools that could be taken over by outside operators, its principal has quit.

What are you doing tomorrow as part of the Great California ShakeOut, a massive statewide earthquake drill?

Rep. Jane Harman talked to South Bay business leaders Tuesday in her annual State of the Region address.

UCLA basketball coach legend John Wooden turns 99 today. Why don't you congratulate him?

Folks broke ground Tuesday for a new senior housing development in Carson.

Readers, all the cool kids know what's happening in the South Bay:

The Redondo Beach man arrested in connection to the killing of a Torrance waitress apparently lied to friends and co-workers about a storied career in law enforcement and military.

The former Hawthorne resident held for 14 months in the United Arab Emirates will be released soon.

A union dispute over getting Columbus Day as a paid holiday made lines extra long Monday at the South Bay's Department of Motor Vehicles offices.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed and vetoed a bevy of bills with South Bay impacts.

San Pedro added a whole new batch of athletes Monday to its Sportswalk to the Waterfront. Check out pictures of the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Torrance this week will begin talks about redeveloping local sumps into athletic fields.

The head honchos of this El Segundo aircraft parts manufacturer aren't afraid to get their hands dirty.

Brothers Bryce and Jake Miller are working together to lead Mira Costa High School's boys water polo team to victory this season. Check out pictures.

Readers, let's hit it:

The non-profit South Bay Literacy Council, which has taught people to read for 28 years in the area and operates on $40,000 a year, could fold. Office rent has doubled for the agency and its 85-year-old fundraiser is retiring.

Centinela Valley Union High School District is facing a civil rights complaint alleging the agency unlawfully eliminated an English language learners program from Hawthorne High school.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has filed complaints against four companies operating at the Port of Los Angeles for alleged pollution.

Budget cuts have forced the Harbor-area animal shelter to pick up three more zip codes of coverage, further straining the San Pedro facility.

Between a massive expected recall and accusations of a patent violation, it's been a rocky year for former automobile golden child Toyota, whose U.S. marketing and sales arm is based in Torrance.

Readers, let's get to it:

Police are investigating a double homicide in Wilmington last night.

Proposed state legislation would limit how employers can use credit checks to screen potential hires, like one Hawthorne woman who believes she was passed over for two jobs because of bad credit.

Several South Bay survivors of drunk driving victims are participating in this weekend's Mothers Against Drunk Driving fundraiser.

A new extradition law means means an ex-con wanted in Washington and found in Gardena goes free.

Manhattan Beach residents tonight can give their two cents about how parking restrictions might help ease Sand Dune Park use.

A Rancho Palos Verdes landowner can't use his extensive property for parties or weddings, city planners have ruled.

South Bay residents now has two more places to spend money they don't have: Kohl's opens Sunday at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach, and Howard's, an electronics chain, took the space vacated by Circuit City in Torrance.

Readers, let's hit it:

Rep. Jane Harman has apparently shifted her previous position that any new troops in Afghanistan would be citizens. In an op/ed she's penned, Harman has called for higher troop levels there if the Afghan government can deliver anti-corruption measures.

Gardena city leaders Tuesday night selected its city clerk to fill the seat vacated by Steve Bradford, now an assemblyman. Check out tomorrow's paper for more details.

A new Lomita home for domestic violence victims and their children hosts a gala to raise money in this rotten economy.

Sorry, friends, but you've gotta limit your roosters to just one in Los Angeles, thanks to a new ordinance approved Tuesday.

The man who allegedly sexually assaulted and beat a 69-year-old woman beyond recognition on a Hawthorne street last week has been charged with forcible rape and attempted murder.

A Gardena man pleaded no contest to shooting his ex-con father during an argument. How's that for a nuclear family?