The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 1

DESIGNATED AREAS HIGHER 74PAGES latimes.com Authorities missed an opportunity years ago to catch the suspected Grim Sleeper serial killer before a final victim was slain, because his DNA was never collected as required under a2004 law, according to interviews and records reviewed by The Times. Lonnie David Franklin genetic profile was supposed to be added to the DNA databank of offenders because he was on probation for a felony when voters approved Proposition 69, a sweeping expansion of the DNA collection. The Los Angeles County Probation Department was given the task ofobtaining DNA samples from tens of thousands of local offenders who were on probation when the law went into effect in November 2004. The department began collecting DNA samples nine months later. By then, Franklin was no longer under its supervision.

Thousands of other offenders may alsohave avoided providing asample during the same period, officials said. More than a year later, the Grim Sleeper struck again. Ahomeless man found the body of Janecia Peters on South Western Avenue on New Day 2007. The 25- year-old had been shot and covered with a garbage bag. DNA tests helped link her killer to other slayings by the Grim Sleeper dating back to the 1980s.

Her mother, Laverne Peters, said the failure to collect DNA reinforced her belief that authorities could have done more to catch the serial killer sooner and prevent her death. life could have been possibly Peters said. the part going to think about a lot if Franklin, 57, was charged last week with 10 murders committed during two separate periods. The first, between 1985 and 1988, claimed the lives of seven women. The next period began in 2002 with the slaying of 15- year-old Princess Bertho- mieux.A year later, the body DNA check missed in Sleeper case Suspect should have given a sample under Prop.

69, but delays in getting county equipment allowed him to avoid it. Jack Leonard DNA, SUSPECT: Lonnie Franklin Jr. was off supervised probation when county got up to speed. Is it possible to save a generation without breaking any eggs? the tricky question the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, FedEx and hundreds of volunteers are beginning to answer this week as they dig up more than 70,000 turtle eggs on the gulf shore and transport them to the oil-free beaches of Cape Canaveral, be hatched in a warehouse and released into the ocean.

one of the most ambitious wildlife nest reloca- tions ever attempted, biologists said, a risky experiment to prevent widespread mortality of five threatened and endangered turtle species. is the largest egg translocation ever done in the U.S., and possibly in the said Michelle Pico, director of marine programs at the National Fish and WildlifeFoundation. a grand Plans call for digging up hundreds of turtle nests on theFlorida Panhandle and 80 in Alabama, each containing about 100 ping-pong sized eggs. Biologists layer the eggs and wet sand in Styrofoam coolers and load them onto customized, shock-absorbent woodpal- lets that are transported hundreds of miles in a giant FedEx truck. Success is far from guaranteed.

Truck vibrations could damage the fragile eggs. The embryos might de- Carolyn Cole Los Angeles Times PRECIOUS CARGO: Coolers of turtle eggs are carried off a beach in Gulf Shores, to a FedEx truck, which will haul them to Cape Canaveral, Fla. Saving sea turtles one egg at a time Hundreds of nests are being transported from the oil-tainted gulf to unaffected east coast. Alana Semuels reporting from gulf shores, ala. Eggs, I is another broiling morning in capital as TV reporter Falah Azzawi, decked out in ketchup-colored shirt and tie, entersan alleyway with his microphone.

People of all ages follow the bleached platinum- haired man as if the Pied Piper. tell the government we need they shout. trusty cameraman, Nadhem, follows as well, huffing as his boss strides up the alleyway. Azzawi barks at Nadhem constantly: the generator wires, film the sewage, film the The rotund video- grapher, oozing sweat, pans his camera. As America begins to draw down its troopsseven years after the invasion of Iraq, Azzawi represents the grittiest of the reporters.

Every week, he tours down corruption and hectoring officials about their shortcomings. His program, the is broadcast on a small independent channel called Al Diyar. People greet him by name and he receives up to 50 letters a day. Defyingthe 120-degree heat, he saunters into the restaurant and barbershop part talk- show host, part rabble- rouser but always sentimental. in Shukr he tells the viewer.

been power here in seven days, Azzawi barks his words, then dabs his face with a silky red handkerchief. He protects his eyes with Bono- style black sunglasses. Azzawi often delivers off-the-cuff commentary on whatever is on his mind. Now he begs the restaurant chef to fry him an egg. someone want Iraq, COLUMN ONE Iraqi reporter risks all to tell all Voice of the people shows where the government has failed Ned Parker and Raheem Salman reporting from baghdad California Chief Justice Ronald M.

George, who presided over the often turbulent restructuring of state courts and wrote the ruling that temporarilygave gays the right to marry, said Wednesday he would step down in January after a 38- yearcareer in the California court system. George, 70, a moderate Republican who was often the swing vote on the state high court, said he wants to retire while he is the prime of physical and mental decision stunned his colleagues at the court when he informed them Wednesday during a closed, sometimes tearful meeting. George has often said he had the only job he would want. Gov. Arnold Schwarzen- egger has until Sept.

16 to appoint a new chief justice, who would then face a retention vote on the November ballot. George said he had recommended that Schwarzenegger nominate a judge with administrative court experience. will be one of the most important legacies that Gov. Schwarzenegger has to he said. George, who has served as chief for 14 years, oversaw the blending of municipal and superior courts into a single trial court system and its transfer from county control to the state judicial branch.

On the bench, George has been an extremely influential jurist, leading the court from the center and frequently casting the vote that determined whether the conservative or the liberal wing prevailed. He tended to vote more often with the CHIEF JUSTICE RETIRING Moderate Republican Ronald George wrote the 2008 ruling that allowed gays to marry. Maura Dolan reporting from san francisco George, Out-of-state UC students to increase Arecord number of non- Californians, who will pay much higher tuition, plan to enroll in the revenue-hungry school system. LATEXTRA, AA1 FDA panel backs diabetes drug But advisors reviewing Avandia recommend tighter supervision and increased warnings. LATEXTRA, AA1 Big movie night The Hollywood Bowl will once again pay tribute to Bugs Bunny and film music.

CALENDAR, D1 Dodgers, Angels continue chase Andre Ethier says the Dodgers will be healthier in the second half of the season. But the Angels might still be lacking in firepower. SPORTS, C1 World A3 Nation A14 California AA3 Weather AA8 Printed with soy inks on partially recycled paper. 79 8594400075 A Greek tradition updated A new generation of tavernas in Athens is adding exciting twists to classic dishes, but the food remains simple enough to inspire the home cook. Above, a view at the restaurant Kuzina.

FOOD, E1 Diane Kochilas IS A CITY MANAGER WORTH Bell a big town, or a wealthy one. But some of its top officials are paid two or three times as much as their counterparts elsewhere Source: Contracts between Rizzo and Bell Los Angeles Times $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 $400,000 $500,000 $600,000 $700,000 1993: $72,000 1998: $156,000 2002: $249,990 2005: $442,000 2010: $787,637 Robert salary history as chief administrative officer Bell, one of the poorest cities in Los Angeles County, pays its top officials some of the highest salaries in the nation, including nearly $800,000 annually for its city manager, according to documents reviewed by The Times. In addition to the $787,637 salary of Chief Administrative Officer Robert Rizzo, Bell pays Police Chief Randy a year, about more than Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck or Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and more than double New York police commissioner. Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia makes $376,288 annually, more than most city managers. Top officials have routinely received hefty annual raises in recent years.

contract calls for raises each July, the same as his top deputy, according to documents obtained under the California Public Records Act. Rizzo, who has run day-to-day civic affairs since 1993, was unapologetic about his salary. a number people choke on, maybe in the wrong he said. could go into private business and make that money. This council has compensated me for the job Spaccia agreed, adding: would have to argue you get what you pay Bell Mayor Oscar Her- nandezdefended the salaries.

city is one of the best in the area. That is the result of the city manager. not because Isay it. because my community says Jeff Gottlieb and Ruben Vives Bell,.