BRIEFLY : TAX GROUP FILES SUIT IN HOME WORK LEVY.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association challenged the city's home worker ordinance in a lawsuit Friday, saying it should be subject to an election under a new state proposition.

The lawsuit contended the tax should be subject to a public vote under provisions of Proposition 218 before being allowed to go into effect, said attorney Richard Fine.

``The home occupations ordinance requires those who work out of their home to pay a $25 annual registration fee for the privilege of working in their own home,'' Fine said. ``After paying the annual registration fee, the workers could then be taxed under the city's business tax laws.''

Ken Bernstein, city planning deputy, said no vote was needed because the city was simply extending an already approved business tax to include home businesses.

- Daily News Staff and Wire Services

County given OK to clear waterways

Los Angeles County Public Works Department crews are slated to begin clearing 95 flood-control channels of vegetation and debris today after finally receiving clearance from state and federal government officials to proceed.

The Los Angeles district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granted permits to the county Friday to start clearing the channels in preparation for El Nino. Public Works Director Harry Stone said the work would begin today.

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Council approves cleanup of wash

As the city continues its preparations for the potential El Nino winter storms, the Los Angeles City Council on Friday authorized a $50,000 cleanup of the Little Tujunga Wash.

Under the action, approved 12-0 by the council, private firms will be hired to expedite the dredging of the wash.

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Man in fake beard robs Radio Shack 

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - A gunman wearing a fake beard robbed a Radio Shack and other people inside the store Friday night, authorities said.

The man, described as 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 225 pounds, stormed into the store in the 13000 block of Victory Boulevard at 7:08 p.m., showed a gun and demanded money from the cash register and from several people inside the store, said Lt. Len Hundshamer.

He received $800 from the cash register and more from either customers or employees, and then fled on foot, the lieutenant said. Nobody was injured during the holdup.

Witnesses described the man as wearing a fake beard attached with an elastic band, said Hundshamer, of the Los Angeles Police Department's North Hollywood Division.

``Halloween comes early,'' Hundshamer said.

In what police said might be a related incident, a pedestrian was robbed at gunpoint around 7:40 p.m. in the 11400 block of Victory.

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Judge dismisses challenge to arena

The Los Angeles Arena Co. won its second victory of the week, with a Superior Court judge throwing out a lawsuit Friday challenging the environmental studies for the $300 million project.

Judge Aviva Bobb said Obayashi Inc., which owns land in the area that could be condemned for purchase, failed to follow the proper guidelines in challenging the environmental studies.

A second lawsuit filed against the development by residents of the area is still pending.

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Police seek to talk to molest victims

The Glendale Police Department is looking for young male victims who may have been approached for sex by a 34-year-old La Crescenta man arrested earlier this week.

Michael Pappas was arrested and booked into the city of Glendale's jail Tuesday on suspicion of forgery and petty theft, said Sgt. Rick Young.

Young said investigators also suspect that he took taxi cabs in Glendale and Los Angeles to approach minors for sex.

Police said Pappas is 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs 200 pounds and is balding.

Police request that victims call Sgt. Kim Lardie at [phone]. Young said the identities of victims would not be released to the media.

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