BRIEFLY.

Union head made `errors,' he says

Former Los Angeles City Councilman and L.A. County union Chief Martin Ludlow expressed regret Monday in his first public comments since being indicted on felony conspiracy charges stemming from his 2003 council race.

In brief comments outside a downtown courthouse, where his arraignment was delayed until Wednesday, Ludlow told reporters he was accepting responsibility for ``very bad judgment errors.''

Officials say Ludlow is expected to plead guilty to the county charges - campaign finance violations - and has agreed to plead guilty to a separate charge of violating federal labor law. He is not expected to serve any jail time but will likely face fines and be barred from holding elected office for four years and a union post for 13 years.

-Daily News

Hardware store robber is at large

THOUSAND OAKS - Police were searching for a robber Monday who held up a hardware store over the weekend and got away with an undisclosed amount of cash, authorities said.

The robbery occurred about 8 p.m. Sunday at the Orchard Supply Hardware store on East Avenida de los Arboles. A man wearing a ski mask held several employees at gunpoint, took the cash and left, police said. Nobody was injured.

Anyone with information about the robbery can call Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (805) 494-TALK.

- Daily News

Metrolink makes crossings safer

SIMI VALLEY - Metrolink has completed $750,000 in improvements to railroad crossings on roads throughout the city to make them safer for motorists and pedestrians, officials said Monday.

The improvements include barriers to help prevent people from driving around closed crossing gates and Z-shaped sidewalks that force pedestrians to look down the tracks.

There are also signs and street markings to draw drivers' attention to the presence of the crossings.

Officials said $700,000 for the project came from Caltrans and $37,000 from the Ventura County Transportation Commission, and similar improvements are scheduled within a year on other sections of the Metrolink routes in Ventura County and the Antelope Valley.

- Daily News

Lake View library branch wins prize

LAKE VIEW TERRACE - The Los Angeles Public Library's Lake View Terrace branch won an award Monday for its environmentally friendly design features.

The Lake View Terrace branch library received the platinum-level ``Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Award'' from the U.S. Green Building Council during a ceremony attended by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilmen Alex Padilla and Tony Cardenas.

The 10,700-square-foot branch was recognized for its temperature control system, including windows that automatically open and close to circulate air throughout the building, library spokesman Peter Persic said.

- City News Service

Trial against city set to begin today

A civil rights lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department stemming from a deadly 1997 shootout outside a Northridge bar is set for trial today in federal court.

Members of the LAPD's controversial Special Investigations Section fatally shot three robbery suspects near the Classroom Bar on Feb. 25, 1997. A bystander wounded by police gunfire settled with the city for $975,000 in 2001.

The plaintiff in the lawsuit, Gina Nicoletti, was a singer at the bar who alleges she was used as ``bait'' and suffered injuries and trauma.

Her attorney, Stephen Yagman, said he may call high-ranking current and former city officials to testify at the trial.

- Daily News