BRIEFCASE GAS PRICES RIS FOR SECOND WEEK.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

Gas prices across the region rose for the second consecutive week this week, with increases expected to continue for at least the next few weeks, the Automobile Club of Southern California reported Friday.

The average price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded regular was $2.629 in the Los Angeles area Friday morning, 4.9 cents more than last week, 6 cents more than last month and 29 cents more than at this time last year, according to the Auto Club.

Delta pilots lobby for their contract

WASHINGTON - The pilots union of Delta Air Lines Inc. sought to show Friday that flying a commercial plane with the lives of hundreds of passengers at stake is a stressful, time-consuming and heavily regulated job that requires a lot of training and professionalism and - ultimately - good pay.

Union lawyers called several retired and current Delta pilots to testify before an arbitration panel that will decide whether to allow the nation's third-largest carrier to void its pilot contract and impose up to $325 million in long-term pay and benefit cuts. The union says it will strike if its contract is thrown out.

One of the retired pilots, Kim Welch, said he didn't take a certain prescription cholesterol medication because federal regulations could have prevented him from flying.

Coffee Bean set to brew at Ralphs

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, a Los Angeles-based specialty coffee and tea retailer, will set up on-site cafes in some Ralphs Grocery Co. stores, the company announced Friday.

The agreement strengthens the ``Proudly Brew'' program that began last year and placed the chain's coffees, teas and hot chocolate in more than 320 Ralphs service delis.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will immediately replace Seattle's Best Coffee in 11 existing cafes. The initial agreement is for two dozen in-store cafes, with plans to double that number throughout the three-year contract.