BRIEFLY TEEN DIES AFTER CRASH IN VALLEY.

WOODLAND HILLS - A 17-year-old boy riding in a minivan was killed late Friday in Woodland Hills when he was hit by a man driving too fast on the wet roadway, a California Highway Patrol officer said Saturday.

San Diego resident Garrett Owen Roades died at a hospital about an hour after the crash, said CHP Officer Bruce Gaines.

The collision occurred on the westbound Ventura Freeway near the Topanga Canyon Boulevard on-ramp about 10 p.m. Friday, Gaines said.

A 20-year-old man driving a Ford Explorer entered the freeway going about 25 miles per hour, Gaines said. But the driver lost control because of the wet road and speed too fast for conditions, spun and struck a passing Chrysler minivan, Gaines said.

Garrett, who was in a passenger seat, suffered fatal injuries, Gaines said.

The Ford's driver was not arrested, Gaines said. The man may still face vehicular-manslaughter charges, he said.

- City News Service

Absentee ballot deadline Tuesday

Tuesday is the deadline for applying for an absentee ballot for the Nov. 5 election.

Registered voters can pick up an absentee ballot in person at the county Registrar-Recorder/Clerk's Office in Norwalk, return the form on the back cover of sample ballots or make a request in writing.

Forms are available in Room 3002 at the Registrar's Office, 12400 Imperial Highway.

Written requests should include the voter's name, address and signature, and be sent to the RR/CC Office, Absent Voter Section, P.O. Box 30450, Los Angeles, 90030-0450.

By law, requests for absentee ballots cannot be made by telephone, because a signature is required.

Voters who apply for an absentee ballot but do not receive one within a week can call Registrar's Office at [phone].

- City News Service

State money goes to San Fernando 

SAN FERNANDO - The city of San Fernando was awarded $2.7 million in state money toward the construction of an aquatic facility.

The San Fernando Regional Pool Facility will include separate recreational and competitive swimming pools, and a 14,000 square foot community center building.

Total cost for the facility will be $5.7 million, with the county granting the city an additional $500,000 toward its construction.

The state funds were available through the Park Bond Act of 2000 under the Murray/Hayden Youth Services Grant Program.

- Daily News

$75,000 in funds for scholarships

The State Farm Companies Foundation has set aside $75,000 in scholarship funds to encourage teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District to pursue certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Eligible candidates can receive up to $2,000 to cover the $2,300 certification fee. The National Board will administer the scholarships through its newly established National Board Scholarship Program.

California teachers who attain national certification are awarded a one-time state bonus of $10,000 and an additional $20,000 for teaching in low-performing schools.

- Daily News

Ex-state worker's hiring spurs probe

SACRAMENTO - Secretary of State Bill Jones said he will investigate whether the employee in charge of evaluating voting machines in California improperly took a job with a voting machine manufacturer.

Louis Dedier, the state's director of voting systems the last two years, left this month for a job with Omaha, Neb.-based Election Systems and Software.

At least one competing company filed a complaint, concerned that Dedier could share information he learned about competing systems with his new employer, said Jones' spokeswoman Beth Miller. She would not identify the company.

- Associated Press 

Police investigate Northridge deaths

NORTHRIDGE - Police on Saturday were investigating the apparent murder-suicide of a married couple found shot to death in the bedroom of their Northridge home.

The two, described as being in their mid-70s, were discovered about 10:30 a.m. by police responding to a request to check at the home in the 8900 block of Debra Avenue, said Officer Jack Richter of the Los Angeles Police Department.

It appeared that the man shot his wife before turning the gun on himself, Richter said.

The husband and wife, whose names had not been released, had lived at the home about one month, and family members said the woman had been in poor health, Richter said.

- Daily News