BRIEFLY INMATE SUCCUMBS AFTER SUICIDE TRY.

A Ventura County jail inmate who had been on life support after hanging himself with a bedsheet has died, authorities said Friday.

Manuel Roa, 38, of Oxnard died at 11:25 p.m. Thursday at Community Memorial Hospital, coroner's investigator Armando Chavez said.

Another inmate spotted Roa hanging from an upper bunk about 4:25 p.m. Wednesday, sheriff's spokesman Eric Nishimoto said. Roa had just returned to his cell from a video arraignment on drug charges, he said.

Roa's death is the second suicide inside the jail in two months. A 39-year-old Newbury Park man killed himself Dec. 21.

- Daily News

Group criticizes gay license 'stunt'

An attempt by three gay couples to obtain marriage licenses in Beverly Hills was a ``publicity stunt'' authored by a ``sue-happy lawyer,'' a group opposed to same-sex marriage claimed Friday.

The Campaign for California Families held a news conference in downtown Los Angeles, and convened a second later in Santa Ana, to discuss its legal efforts to offset challenges to the state ban on same-sex marriages.

CCF Executive Director Randy Thomasson said ``same-sex `marriage' is illogical, unconstitutional and immoral. Marriage is only for a man and a woman.''

Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred orchestrated Thursday's attempt by the gay couples to get marriage licenses at the Beverly Hills Courthouse, anticipating that they would be denied. Afterward, she said would file a possible precedent-setting lawsuit over a state ban on same-sex unions.

- City News Service

Family sues clinic over man's death

The family of a Los Angeles-area man who died of congestive heart failure sued a Tujunga clinic and a doctor Friday for allegedly failing to properly diagnose and treat the man.

Florencio Tenorio died Dec. 14, 2002, shortly after going to the Morada Medical Clinic, 7709 Foothill Blvd., for treatment of a persistent cough, according to the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit.

Tenorio's wife and five children seek unspecified monetary damages.

- City News Service

House of Blues guard stabbed

WEST HOLLYWOOD - Three men were arrested after one of them stabbed a security guard at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip early Friday, authorities said.

Sheriff's deputies working a special disco-sushi event were flagged down by someone in the crowd outside the nightclub at 8430 Sunset Blvd. about 12:45 a.m. and told that someone had been stabbed, said Lt. Melvina Apodaca of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's West Hollywood station.

The deputies found a 32-year-old security guard who ``had been stabbed after an altercation with people outside who were not allowed inside the club,'' Apodaca said.

The guard was hospitalized with nonlife-threatening wounds after he identified three men involved in the attack, the lieutenant said.

Chauncey Hawkins, 28, William Reyes, 23, and Teon Tanqueray, 26, were each booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, she said.

- City News Service

Hells Angel sues Ventura, state

VENTURA - Hells Angels leader George Christie Jr. filed claims alleging that his civil rights were violated when he was denied entry to the Ventura County Fair because of his biker attire.

In claims Thursday against the city and the state Department of Agriculture, the agency that operates the fairgrounds, Christie said he was turned away from the fair in August after he refused to remove a Hells Angels vest with the motorcycle club's logo.

Fair policy bars anyone wearing clothing, visible tattoos or other articles with the name or insignia of a criminal street gang from entering the state-owned, 62-acre fairgrounds. The policy identifies 20 street gangs, including the Hells Angels.

- Associated Press

New idea to cut city business tax

The co-chairman of a committee looking at ways to simplify Los Angeles' business tax unveiled a proposal Friday to cut the tax by 15 percent over five years.

Jack Walker, co-chairman of the Business Tax Advisory Committee, proposed further reductions in the business tax if the initial measure brings more business - and tax revenue - into Los Angeles.

- Daily News