News briefs

L.A. school district still uses dirty buses

The school district still has 1,200 diesel-belching buses on the
road despite a year-old effort to get rid of the old buses.

A recent UCLA study found that youngsters who ride old, smoky
buses are exposed to 70 percent more unhealthy diesel soot than
those who ride in passenger cars.

But the cash-strapped Los Angeles Unified School District
doesn’t have enough money to replace all the buses. New ones
cost from $65,000 to $135,000 each.

“˜”˜I drive downtown every day, and you can’t
help but notice the black smoke fumes,” said school
board member Marlene Canter. “˜”˜Money is tight, but you
can’t sacrifice the health of our kids.”

Divided Peterson trial jury gets lecture from
judge

REDWOOD CITY “”mdash; Jurors deliberating Scott Peterson’s
fate got a lecture from the judge Monday, apparently after finding
themselves deeply divided and unable to reach a consensus on the
murder charges.

Judge Alfred A. Delucchi summoned jurors to the courtroom Monday
just an hour and half after they resumed deliberations. They got
the case Wednesday afternoon and spent the weekend sequestered in a
hotel after deliberating through Friday.

The judge reissued instructions on several key points.

“˜”˜The people and the defendant are entitled to the
individual opinion of each juror,” the judge said.
“˜”˜Do not hesitate to change your opinion for the
purpose of reaching a verdict if you can do so.

“˜”˜The attitude and conduct of jurors at all times is
very important,” he added. “˜”˜It is rarely
helpful for a juror at the beginning of deliberations to express an
emphatic opinion on the case.”

Compiled from Bruin wire services.