AROUND L.A.

City synchronizes traffic on Wilshire

Los Angeles city officials on Wednesday announced the completion of a major traffic signal synchronization program along Wilshire Boulevard to try to help improve traffic flows along the corridor.

"Today, we are giving commuters in Los Angeles the green light," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said at a news conference where the final light was added to the system. "This synchronizes over 250 traffic lights between Wilshire and Hollywood and commuters will see traffic move more quickly."

The program cost $5.5 million.

College applicants face early deadline

Midnight Saturday is the deadline for students to apply to seven California State University campuses that traditionally have accepted applications months later.

The seven are Cal State L.A., Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State Bakersfield, Cal State Sacramento, Cal State East Bay, Cal State San Bernardino and Cal State Monterey Bay.

An even earlier deadline, Feb. 1, has already passed for 16 other campuses in the Cal State system.

Memorial service to honor Grant

An invitation-only March 6 memorial service is planned at the historic Pantages Theatre in Hollywood to celebrate the life of the late Hollywood Honorary Mayor Johnny Grant.

The service will begin at 10 a.m. Grant, often called Hollywood's greatest cheerleader, died Jan. 9 in his penthouse at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

16 face Medi-Cal fraud charges

Sixteen people have been arrested for allegedly luring pregnant women into a fake health clinic in Los Angeles and fraudulently billing the Medi-Cal program for at least $2 million, state Attorney General Jerry Brown said.

The group allegedly hired recruiters to persuade pregnant women walking on the street outside the clinic to visit the facility by offering about $30 or other incentives.

Brown says the women, who were told to sign up with fake names, would receive unnecessary tests, enabling the clinic to generate false Medi-Cal claims.

-- Staff and Wire Services