BRIEFLY PLEA IS NOT GUILTY IN INFANT'S DEATH.

SAN FERNANDO - A North Hills woman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder and assault charges for allegedly killing her newborn son earlier this month.

Maria Legarda, 23, is accused of killing the child and putting his body in a trunk at her residence.

She reportedly then went to UCLA-Olive View Medical Center, where hospital personnel notified police.

She is due back in San Fernando Superior Court on Sept. 10, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence to require her to stand trial on one count each of murder and assault on a child causing death.

- City News Service

County to study foster-child panel

In response to reports earlier this year that Los Angeles County government spends an average of $65,000 to $85,000 a year to house and educate foster children who receive poor educations, the Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to study the creation of an Education Coordinating Council.

The Children's Law Center of Los Angeles recently convened a group of community leaders for an education summit to discuss ways to improve the education of abused and neglected children.

- Daily News

Encino residents battle condo plan

ENCINO - A group of residents opposed to plans for 22 condominiums in Encino plan to rally the community's newly elected neighborhood council to oppose the project.

The Encino Community Council, one of about 100 advisory neighborhood councils in Los Angeles, will decide whether to take a position on the three-story condominium complex at the corner of White Oak Avenue and Rhoda Street at its meeting this evening. The public meeting is planned for 7 p.m. in the Encino Community Center's main auditorium, 4935 Balboa Blvd.

The project's supporters include Encino Community Council President Richard Leyner. He said the condominiums would enhance property values in the area and that the developer has accommodated residents' concerns about traffic and parking.

- Daily News

County broadens benefit eligibility

The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to extend the same death benefits to domestic-partner survivors of county employees as married partners now receive. Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky led the charge for the change that is expected to cost between $1 million and $3 million more per year. The official estimate is $2.2 million.

- City News Service

Davis appoints 2 to appeals court

Gov. Gray Davis on Tuesday elevated two Los Angeles Superior Court judges to the state Court of Appeal's 2nd Appellate District.

The appointments of Madeleine Flier and Laurie Zelon are subject to confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.

Flier, 63, of Encino has been a judge since 1977 and was the first woman to achieve the rank of assistant city attorney in the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office.

Zelon, 50, of Pasadena was appointed to the Superior Court in 2000 by Davis.

- City News Service

LAUSD sets sights on Hughes, Hesby

Despite protests from San Fernando Valley residents, the Los Angeles Unified School District board on Tuesday took the first step to reopen Hughes Middle School in Woodland Hills and Hesby Elementary in Sherman Oaks but dropped plans to reopen Oso Elementary School in Woodland Hills.

The board voted to formally put the Hughes and Hesby projects on the district's strategic execution plan, a status that enables design and environmental studies to proceed. District officials envision Hughes reopening as an international business and trade magnet high school and Hesby as a K-8 school.

- Daily News

3.8 quake shakes Valley residents

An earthquake followed quickly by a small aftershock jolted residents in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday.

The initial 3.8 quake at 11:02 p.m. was about 5 miles west of Valencia, and the 2.7 aftershock a second later about 6 miles west, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

- Daily News