BRIEFLY.

MTA cops arrest tagging suspect

VAN NUYS - Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials on Wednesday captured a notorious graffiti tagger suspected of causing more than $7,000 in damage to the new Orange Line Busway project.

Francisco Hernandez, 19, was taken into custody at his home in the 10500 block of Victory Boulevard about 7:30 a.m., said Detective Shawn Moreno with the MTA's Transit Services Bureau. Hernandez was booked at the Malibu-Lost Hills sheriff's station on suspicion of vandalism and was being held in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Hernandez is believed to be responsible for vandalizing construction equipment and soundwalls along the Orange Line construction corridor, said TSB Lt. Pat Jordan. A significant amount of damage was done to a bridge at the intersection of Victory and Balboa boulevards.

Authorities also gathered evidence at Hernandez's home that could lead to further tagging arrests, Moreno said.

- Daily News

Three suspected of stealing mail

BURBANK- Burbank police arrested three people Tuesday morning on suspicion of stealing 102 pieces of mail from private mailboxes the night before.

The mail was stolen in the middle of the night from mailboxes in the Sherman Oaks area, Burbank Detective Matt Ferguson said.

Criminals can use stolen mail for purposes of identity fraud, Ferguson said. The three arrested have been charged with felony receiving stolen property.

- Daily News

Woman injured by big-rig truck

SHERMAN OAKS - A 58-year-old woman was severely injured Wednesday after she was hit by a big-rig truck while crossing the street in the 4400 block of Van Nuys Boulevard, authorities said.

The woman stepped in front of the truck at a crosswalk at the corner of Van Nuys Boulevard and Moorpark Street, authorities said. She was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center.

She suffered a significant loss of blood and her right leg was so damaged it might have to be amputated, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Melissa Kelley. The driver of the big-rig was not cited or arrested, said Lt. Steven Allen with the Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Traffic Division.

- Daily News

El Segundo wins skirmish in court

A county panel voted Wednesday to uphold an appeal filed by the city of El Segundo to block Mayor James Hahn's $11 billion Los Angeles International Airport modernization plan.

El Segundo Mayor Kelly McDowell said the action by the Los Angeles County Airport Land Use Commission ``drives home the point that LAX has not been constrained to 78.9 million annual passengers.''

Los Angeles officials, however, have long argued that the commission has no legal grounds for the action.

- City News Service

Post office to be named for Charles

A Los Angeles post office will be renamed after the late musician Ray Charles under a bill the House unanimously passed Wednesday.

The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Diane Watson, D-Los Angeles, designates the facility at 4960 W. Washington Blvd. as the ``Ray Charles Post Office Building.''

Charles, 73, died in June at his home in Beverly Hills.

- Daily News

Harman bill would hike port funding

Rep. Jane Harman, D-El Segundo, introduced legislation Wednesday to increase funding for port security.

Her bill, introduced with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, establishes a new grant program in which money would be based on the risk of terrorist attacks and funded by customs duties collected at each port.

- Daily News