July 2, 2009 

Toyota’s free safe-driving program — Toyota Driving Expectations — designed to educate Los Angeles teens and parents about crucial defensive-driving skills, will take place July 11 to 12 and Aug. 8 to 9, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., in Torrance.

California reportedly ranks second among states with the highest number of fatalities involving teen drivers in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

To help reduce teen car accidents, Toyota has reached out to teens by serving as official sponsor of National Safety Month’s Teen Driving Week, June 1 through 7. 

In July and August, Toyota will offer 24 four-hour sessions over two weekends.

To register, visit: www.toyota drivingexpectations.com. 

County of Los Angeles residents will have the opportunity to discard household hazardous waste such as antifreeze, unused pharmaceuticals and car batteries, among other items, at the next free Countywide Household Hazardous Waste Roundup.

The event takes place July 25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Compton Airport, 901 W. Alondra Blvd., Compton.

Because hazardous waste can pollute the environment, it is illegal to discard these items in trash cans, sinks and storm drains. The roundups are part of a campaign to promote public awareness of proper disposal practices of household hazardous materials and e-waste, and to provide a convenient, free disposal option.

Information: (888) CLEAN LA, www.888CleanLA.com, or (800) 238-0172, www.lacsd.org.

(AP) — A new poll shows the Los Angeles Police Department is enjoying high popularity among the city’s residents.

The survey, commissioned by the Los Angeles Times and conducted by a bipartisan pair of polling firms, shows the department is posting gains in public opinion across all demographics, including among black and Latino residents, who have had a long history of tension with the police.

The recent poll of 1,500 registered voters found almost eight out of 10 said they either “strongly approve” or “somewhat approve” of police performance.

The response was 18 percentage points higher than in the Times’ last such survey in 2005.

Two-thirds of respondents said they approved of how Chief William Bratton is doing his job.

The poll’s margin of error was plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris is under fire for reports that a job training program run by her office allowed illegal immigrants charged with felonies to avoid prison by training for jobs they couldn’t legally hold.

The Back on Track program has been touted by Harris, who is running for state attorney general, for reducing recidivism among first-time, nonviolent drug offenders.

The Los Angeles Times reported June 22 that some undocumented immigrants took part in the program, though it is unclear how many.

Harris acknowledged that letting the immigrants participate was a “flaw in the design” of the program. She says the issue was corrected about one year ago, when she became aware of the problem.

(AP) — Metro workers in Los Angeles will receive extra training after reports that some handicapped passengers have fallen from their wheelchairs while riding city buses.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board approved the action June 25. The board also called on Metro Chief Executive Art Leahy to talk to labor unions about penalizing those who mistreat disabled passengers.

Undercover video by ABC7 showed broken equipment and drivers who said they were untrained or too busy to help secure wheelchair riders on buses.