Morning Buzz

Morning Buzz: Downey murders, Prop 30 support plunges, shark falls from sky

Five members of a Downey family were shot, three of them fatally, in a series of attacks at their business and home on Wednesday. The gunman remains at large and police aren't sure why the family was targeted. LAT, DN

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection supervisor was arrested this morning on charges of accepting bribes to allow others, including his ex-wife, to smuggle goods into the United States so they could avoid paying duties and taxes.

Support has plunged by nine points in the last month for Gov. Jerry Brown's Proposition 30, a USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll found, with 46% of registered voters saying they now support the initiative and 42% oppose it. LAT
Plus: Molly Munger isn't sorry. LA Weekly

Is California's initiative process out of control? Which Way, LA?

The City Council voted 12-2 for preliminary approval of a law that will ban pet shops from selling dogs, cats and rabbits obtained from commercial breeders. LAT, LA Weekly

The DA ruled that Downey police officer Steven Gilley was justified in shooting and killing a fleeing man he believed (incorrectly) to be a robbery suspect with an automatic weapon. LAT

In today's "welcome back to the city" press conference for the upcoming Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, the mayor standing with Breeders' Cup officials will be Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. LANG

shuttle-heading-hangar-gary.jpgAEG's Tim Leiweke urged the business community to step up with donations to help the California Science Center display the Endeavour space shuttle. LA Weekly

Colin Powell, who just endorsed President Obama for reelection, was announced as the featured speaker at the Los Angeles Urban League Whitney M. Young, Jr. Awards Dinner on April 26.

A two-foot long leopard shark fell out of the sky near the 12th tee at the San Juan Hills Golf Club in San Juan Capistrano on Monday, then was taken alive back to the ocean five miles away by course staff. A scientist at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point speculated that a bird dropped the fish. LAT

State Fish and Game officers captured a 60- to 70-pound bobcat in Simi Valley on Wednesday night after it killed a family dog. DN wires

Today is a red flag parking day in hillside areas of the city of Los Angeles due to the winds.

San Francisco crushed Detroit and pitcher Justin Verlander in game 1 of the World Series, winning 8-3 with three home runs by third baseman Pablo Sandoval.

Surfboard designer Donald Takayama, who first made his mark at Velzy-Jacobs Surfboards in Venice, died of heart problems at age 68. LAT, Hawaiian Pro Designs

Jeff Blatnick, the Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling who carried the US flag at the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Los Angeles games, died in upstate New York at at age 55. LAT


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Morning Buzz: Wednesday 4.16.14