SOUTHLAND BRIEFLY : FREIGHT TRAIN HITS, KILLS MAN ON TRACKS.

SAN FERNANDO - A man was hit and killed Wednesday night by a freight train traveling 50 mph after he ignored the engineer's bells warning him to step off the Southern Pacific railroad tracks, police said.

The man, believed to be in his mid-40s, died at the scene of the 8:15 p.m. collision near Brand Boulevard and Truman Street, said Detective Lance Steaman of the San Fernando Police Department.

The victim's identity was withheld pending notification of family.

The crossing arms - with the clanging bells and flashing lights activated - had lowered at the Brand Boulevard intersection. The man was facing the approaching northbound train, but it wasn't clear whether he saw or heard it, Steaman said.

``It's possible that he was intoxicated. We're going to be waiting for the toxicology reports from the coroner's office,'' Steaman said. ``We don't know the reason he was on the tracks.''

SOURCE: - Daily News City contractors must keep old staff

Despite fears from Mayor Richard Riordan about the impact on business, the Los Angeles City Council adopted a measure Wednesday requiring new businesses winning city contracts to retain workers.

The measure is scaled back from a previous version approved in November in that it applies only to those workers making $15 an hour or less who have been on the job for at least a year rather than all employees.

Also, the earlier measure had applied to all city contracts of at least $10,000. That threshold was raised to $25,000.

SOURCE: - Daily News

Funding requested to open new jail

Alarmed that overcrowded jails are resulting in the early release of criminals, city officials asked the state Legislature on Wednesday to use a state surplus to finance the opening of the 4,000-bed jail that has been built in Los Angeles but sits empty for lack of funds.

In separate motions, council members Laura Chick and Marvin Braude sought council action to ask legislators to tap part of the state's $250 million surplus to provide the $90 million annually needed to operate the new jail in Los Angeles County.

SOURCE: - Daily News Abandoned market damaged by blaze

VAN NUYS - Fire damaged an abandoned market in the 6600 block of Van Nuys Boulevard on Tuesday night, fire officials said.

The blaze broke out in the one-story commercial building about 10:35 p.m. and was under control by 10:53 p.m., said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Jim Wells.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The damage amount was not available.

SOURCE: - Daily News Pact to improve 911 system OK'd

The City Council awarded a $4.7 million contract Tuesday for the design of an upgrade to the city's emergency communications system, including the 911 telephone lines inadequate to handle the call load.

``This is a very significant piece of improving our 911 system,'' Councilwoman Laura Chick said of the contract awarded to TRW Inc. to design and manage the implementation of the upgrade.

The construction of the upgrade is expected to bring the cost of the overall project up to $15 million. The project is funded by bonds approved by the voters.

SOURCE: - Daily News Trash-truck driver incentives urged

City Councilman Marvin Braude proposed Tuesday that the city offer trash-truck drivers financial incentives to operate more efficiently and boost recycling on their routes.

Noting that the city already has committed to cutting Sanitation Bureau costs by 25 percent through June 1999, Braude suggested in a motion submitted to the council that any savings above annual budget reduction goals be shared 50-50 with the drivers.

The proposal was sent to a council committee for study.

SOURCE: - Daily News New policy sought on low-flow toilets

In an effort to expand water-conservation efforts in Los Angeles, City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter proposed Tuesday that all homeowners be required to replace conventional toilets with low-flow fixtures when they sell their property.

In a motion submitted to the council and sent to committee, Galanter said 600,000 old-style toilets have been replaced under an existing Department of Water and Power program, but that the pace of replacement has diminished.

SOURCE: Daily News