Three witnesses took the stand yesterday in the case where U.S. District Attorneys are trying former elected Orange County Sheriff Michael Corona for illegally winning his 1998 election, taking bribes and returning favors. Both a pilot and a tailor who were asked to give $1000 to his campaign and then reimbursed by friend and eventual assistant sheriff Don Haidl to avoid campaign contribution limits stood on the witness stand describing what they did and knew.......

Despite having returned back to his post just two weeks ago, today Orange County's beleagured Sheriff Michael Carona, announced his retirement from the job on the Department's blog. Carona is entwined in a mess of legal troubles that extend to include his wife and his mistress, Deborah Carona and Debra Hoffman, respectively, in its web. His previous hiatus took place under the auspices of him working on his case on federal corruption charges, in which......

Nataline Sarkisyan, the 17-year-old Northridge girl who died two weeks ago because her health care provider denied funding of a liver transplant, was buried yesterday. $151 million: That's the amount in salary and benefits that the The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers say that writers have lost since the beginning of the strike. $10.64: The new minimum wage or "so-called living wage" for workers at hotels near LAX. More than a 1,000......

Taylor Karras was reported missing by his mother yesterday, after running away from a Westminster social services facility where he was receiving therapy for autism. Around 9:30 p.m., the 15-year-old boy was found just a block from his North Tustin home. Orange County Sheriff's deputies spotted Karras pushing a shopping cart in the street, chased him on foot, Tasered him once, and handcuffed him. Only when a passing neighbor recognized Karras did the authorities......

We all know that freeways are dangerous. Our highly unscientific estimate is that there are about 30 highway traffic incidents reported every hour, which includes everything from "there's a couch in the breakdown lane" to multiple-car crashes with serious injuries. If you're morbid, try the link, which is to the CHP realtime online report center. We know, we're kinda morbid. Lately, freeways have been particularly hazardous for people on foot. Last night, a pedestrian,......