Search team looking for missing nursing student finds body

arch team looking for a missing nursing student discovered a body Saturday near a secluded dirt trail in the Bay Area community of Sunol, east of Hayward, authorities said.

Crime scene investigators were inspecting the badly decomposed body, which was found in a brushy area near Pleasanton Sunol Road at Verona Road, said Sgt. J.D. Nelson of the Alameda County Sheriff's Department.

The body was discovered about 10:30 a.m. by member of a search party made up of family members and volunteers looking for 26-year-old Michelle Le, who went missing in May.

Investigators said it could not immediately be determined whether the body was that of Le. Because of the condition of the remains, not even the gender could be discerned, according to a news release by the Hayward Police Department. Police said the Alameda County coroner's office will make a determination on the identity.

Firefighters gaining on Santa Clarita blaze

A fire that had burned through about 600 acres in an uninhabited area near Mint Canyon in Santa Clarita was expected to be contained by Sunday evening, fire officials said.

The Mint fire started about 8 a.m. Saturday and spread rapidly, but was 50% contained by Saturday evening. More than 300 firefighters were working on building a fire line after the blaze's progress slowed, with the exception of a few hot spots.

Officials said one firefighter suffered a minor injury to his shoulder -- a sprain or strain, said fire information officer Nathan Judy of the U.S. Forest Service. No structures were damaged. 

Judy said calm winds and humidity around 40% were aiding the firefight.

Twenty-six aircraft assisted in the effort to fight the blaze in rolling hills with very limited access near Sierra Highway and California Highway 14, officials said.

Police investigate after body found in Pasadena

Pasadena police are investigating the death of a man whose body was found lying on the ground early Wednesday morning.

Officers responded to a call about 12:45 a.m. regarding a body behind businesses in the 900 block of East Washington Boulevard, according to a police statement.

The man was described only as black and about 30 years old.

Police could not be immediately reached to provide further details.

Amber Dubois' mother found remains of nursing student Michelle Le

n remains that have been positively identified as those of missing nursing student Michelle Le were discovered by the mother of murdered Escondido teenager Amber Dubois.

Carrie McGonigle was one of about two dozen people participating in a search organized by the Le family for the missing 26-year-old.

McGonigle said her 1-year-old yellow Labrador, named Amber in memory of her daughter, led her to the remains Saturday near an Alameda County park. McGonigle's 14-year-old daughter was killed in 2009.

Le, 26, was working at a hospital in Hayward, Calif., on May 27 when she went to her car to retrieve something. She was never seen alive again.

Security cameras in the hospital garage revealed that Giselle Esteban, 27, who went to high school with Le in San Diego, was in the garage about the time Le disappeared, Hayward police said. Esteban was arrested this month in connection with Le's disappearance.

Traces of Le's DNA were found on one of Esteban's shoes, and cellphone records show that Esteban's phone and Le's were in the same area after Le disappeared, police said.

Kelly Thomas: D.A. to discuss possible charges against officers

ge County Dist. Atty. Attorney Tony Rackauckas plans to hold a news conference Wednesday morning to announce whether he will file criminal charges against the six officers involved in the death of homeless Fullerton man Kelly Thomas.

Officials from the district attorney's office have said they were awaiting toxicology and other test results from the coroner before making a decision on the case. That report was handed over to the district attorney's office Tuesday, but the findings were not made public.

Thomas, a 37-year-old homeless man with schizophrenia who was a regular presence in downtown Fullerton, was injured July 5 during a confrontation with the officers, who witnesses said beat him until he was unconscious.

He died five days later, after being removed from life support.

L.A. school board opposes mayor in battle over redevelopment funds

The Los Angeles Board of Education voted Tuesday to join opponents of local redevelopment agencies in the legal battle over who should control funds that are held by these agencies.

The school board’s decision puts it at odds with L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who has backed keeping funds with redevelopment agencies, including the one controlled by the city of Los Angeles.

Billions of dollars are at stake statewide. Locally, the issue is whether these dollars should reside with the city—to help it spur development projects—or with counties and school districts.

Until now, a school-board majority closely allied with the mayor has been officially silent on the issue, even though the cash-strapped school district could reap substantial benefit by a transfer of these funds. But the political ground shifted somewhat at Tuesday’s meeting.

The resolution to take sides—and oppose the mayor’s position—was brought forward by recently elected school board member Bennett Kayser. With financial support from the teachers union, he  narrowly defeated a candidate who was backed by Villaraigosa. Kayser took office in July.

Kayser's resolution called for filing an amicus brief with the California Supreme Court over who should control the contested funding. The brief would make legal arguments supporting the transfer that has been advocated by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The school board approved the item in closed session and did not discuss the matter in its public meeting.

Joining Kayser were board members Steve Zimmer—who sometimes votes with the mayor’s bloc, and Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte, an outspoken critic of the mayor. The fourth and deciding vote was  that of Richard Vladovic, a longtime mayoral ally who was just reelected. The mayor’s closest ally, school board President Monica Garcia, abstained. Two board members, Tamar Galatzan and Nury Martinez, did not attend Tuesday’s meeting.

L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy, who has enjoyed Villaraigosa’s support, said he had no position on the board’s action, but that, in general, he supported efforts to bring in revenue to the school system. Deasy declined to comment when asked what the legal intervention was likely to cost.

The mayor's office said Villaraigosa, who is traveling, was unavailable for comment.

-- Howard Blume

Day laborer ordinance: Redondo Beach puts off decision on appeal

ral appeals court struck down Redondo Beach’s controversial day laborer ordinance, the City Council late Tuesday delayed a vote on whether to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The city’s 1989 ordinance bars individuals from standing on street corners and soliciting work from motorists. Last week, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals called the ordinance an "unconstitutional restriction on speech" in a 9-2 decision.

Late Tuesday, after two closed sessions, City Atty. Mike Webb announced that the council had "no reportable action." He added that the item will be put on the council agenda for the Oct. 4 meeting.

The council has 90 days from Friday to file an appeal.