BRIEFLY CARJACKING VICTIM DIES FROM BEATING.

A 63-year-old Van Nuys man died after he was beaten in a carjacking Sunday morning, officials said Wednesday.

Police said Juan Pablo Mendez died Sunday evening from injuries he suffered in the carjacking at a carwash in the 14500 block of Van Nuys boulevard.

Authorities said Wednesday that they were looking for Mendez's vehicle - a red 1995 Plymouth Voyager van with California license plate 4KHV800.

- Daily News

New Pepperdine building to open

MALIBU - Pepperdine University will open its new, three-story, state- of-the-art Center for Communications and Business when students return to school Monday.

Designed to accommodate the more than 1,200 undergraduate students majoring in communications and business - Pepperdine's two largest undergraduate academic disciplines - the center is located near the School of Law on the upper portion of the campus.

- Daily News

Week of events to welcome pupils

California State University, Northridge, has planned a weeklong series of events next week to welcome students back to school.

The week of Aug. 26-30 will feature a vendor fair, fashion show, hypnotist, international-student coffee hour and a welcome picnic with CSUN President Jolene Koester.

- Daily News

Tovar will head CSUN alum group

NORTHRIDGE - Irene Tovar, executive director of the San Fernando-based Latin American Civic Association, has been named president of the alumni association of California State University, Northridge.

- Daily News

Tagger sentenced to 180 days in jail

VAN NUYS - A member of the tagging crew known as ``Demon Killers'' was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 300 hours of community service after pleading no contest to graffiti vandalism over $400, Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo announced Wednesday.

Palo Alcazar, 19, of Van Nuys pleaded no contest to graffiti vandalism in Van Nuys Superior Court, the City Attorney's Office said.

- Daily News

Housing shortage topic of meeting

VENTURA - An all-day conference to address the housing crisis in Ventura County will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Clarion Hotel, 1055 Harbor Blvd.

Cabrillo Economic Development Corp., Housing Opportunities Made Easier and the Ventura County Economic Development Association are hosting the inaugural conference, which seeks to teach smart planning principles and finance tools to help solve the shortage of affordable housing.

To register, call [phone].

- Daily News

North Hollywood High locked down 

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - North Hollywood High School was locked down for an hour Wednesday afternoon after a student told authorities he saw a man with a gun on campus.

Los Angeles Unified School District and LAPD officers combed the school and the area in search of the suspect but came up empty-handed, officials said.

- Daily News

Pair of suspects held after chase

NORTH HILLS - Two car-theft suspects were arrested Wednesday afternoon following a short chase that ended with a crash, then a foot pursuit in North Hills, a sergeant said.

- City News Service