The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 12

Advertisement iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Buv today's deal $60 for an ogills facial Bevex (Reg. 12 LATEXTRA WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2013 LATIMES.COMLANOW IjADEAI5.COM Cos Atifldes ffifmcs Caltech's president is leaving ALLEN J. SCHABEN Los Angeles Times VIGIL FOR SLAIN DEPUTY Joelle Walters, left, daughter Kassidy Walters, 13, son Mitchell Walters, 9, and husband Rodney Walters of Yucaipa stand under umbrellas during a memorial service Tuesday for San Bernardino County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremiah MacKay, who was killed by fugitive ex-LAPD Officer Christopher Dorner. Jean-Lou Chameau, bound for Saudi Arabia, kept the school in strong financial shape. Larry Gordon and Monte Morin The president of Caltech, Jean-Lou Chameau, announced Tuesday that he would step down from the leadership of the prestigious science- and math-oriented campus in Pasadena at the end of the current school year and become head of a new and well-endowed university in Saudi Arabia.

Chameau, a French-born civil engineer, has been president of Caltech since 2006 and helped the school maintain its high international academic rankings and achieve greater financial stability during a recessionary period of retrenchment at many other colleges, education experts said. In statements released Tuesday, Chameau did not cite any reason for leaving Caltech other than the opportunity to become president of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. The graduate-level school enrolled its first students in 2009 and, in English, educates men and Woman's body in hotel's water Authorities say the remains are those of a Canadian who was last seen on Jan. 31. By Andrew Blankstein and adolfo flores For days, residents of the Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles believed something was amiss.

At least one said there was flooding in one of the fourth-floor rooms, while others complained about weak water pressure. At least one of those complaints led a hotel maintenance worker to check Tuesday on one of the large metal water cisterns on the roof, where he discovered the body of an unidentified woman in her 20s at the bottom of the tank. Authorities said late L.A. community college district chancellor to quit Los Angeles Times CHAMEAU joins King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. women together, to the dismay of some Islamic fundamentalists.

It was founded with a $10-billion endowment from the oil-rich Saudi royal family. "Until recently, I believed I would complete my career at Caltech and retire in Pasadena. I did not expect, however, to be presented with a unique and life-changing opportunity to lead KAUST," said Chameau, 59, in a statement. He said he was drawn to that campus' plans for "a 21st century university that serves as a beacon for learning and re search and for contributions that both make to human welfare." Chameau declined requests to be interviewed Tuesday, Caltech staff said. See Chameau, AA2 the multibillion-dollar building program.

"The chancellor who leads this remarkable albeit challenging district must take the long view and make a long-term commitment, something I'm unable to do," he said in the email. LaVista was not available for comment. In the memo, he said he would pursue "other opportunities that combine my professional and family interests." LaVista, 69, became chancellor in August 2 010 and earns an annual salary of $370,000. His resignation is effective June 30, giving the Board of Trustees time to recruit a new or interim chief, he said. LaVista presided over the colleges as the state was mired in a severe budget crisis, with public higher education systems especially hard hit.

California's 112 community colleges operate in a decentralized system of 72 districts governed by boards of trustees; those boards appoint chancellors. The two-year colleges play a vital role in Califor-See Chancellor, AA2 Catalina group under scrutiny The state investigates allegations that the island conservancy's executive director misused funds. AA3 Special effects pioneer dies Petro Vlahos greatly improved the "blue screen" composite-image process. AA4 Complete Index AA2 Lottery AA2 California AA3 Obituaries AA4 Weather AA6 found tank play," said LAPD Sgt. Rudy Lopez, noting that the location of the remains "makes it suspicious." Los Angeles police investigators searched the roof of the Cecil with the aid of dogs when Lam was reported missing about three weeks ago.

Lopez said he didn't know if the tanks were examined. "We did a very thorough search of the hotel," he said. "But we didn't search every room; we could only do that if we had probable cause" that a crime had been committed. Once a destination for the rich and famous in the 1930s and 1940s, the Cecil has gradually deteriorated mirroringthe decay of downtown Los Angeles, particularly in the skid row area. With rock-bottom rents and flexible stays, the historic See Body, AA4 features the smiling controller holding a sign that reads, "I sold you out." At least three of Perry's mailers include disingenuous criticisms of Greuel, a tactic that appears at odds with the plainspoken and upright image she has sought to nurture.

Among other things, Perry has criticized Greuel for supporting utility rate hikes and a city contract that Perry also voted to approve. Perry defends the at Former council members blame Rizzo Ex-Bell lawmakers say he duped them into thinking that their actions were legal. By Corina Knoll Time and again, witnesses depicted him as an oppressor who always had the last word, a controlling supervisor who threw around city money to manipulate people. A defense attorney dubbed him "the destructor of the city" while those ontri-al condemned him as the man who led them down the rabbit's hole, duping them into believing they were allowed to take home huge paychecks as part-time politicians in a small, working-class town. It may be months before Robert Rizzo actually takes a seat at the defendants' table to face corruption charges.

Yet, in many ways, the former Bell city manager is already on trial. In a courtroom with six former council members as defendants, it was Rizzo whose name was disparaged repeatedly by witnesses and defense attorneys. It became routine during the four-week trial for witnesses to deflect questions by say-ingthey had put their faith in Rizzo, or were too intimidated to question him. Later this week, jurors are expected to begin delib-eratingthe fate of the former council members accused of misappropriating city funds by drawing oversized salaries. But it was Rizzo's name that hung in the air throughout the trial.

City Clerk Rebecca Val-dez, the prosecution's first witness, said Rizzo was a mi-cromanager who kept his staff on a short leash. "Important events that happened in your life, like going to school, having a baby or buying a house he had to be the first one to find out," Valdez said, adding that she informed Rizzo of her wedding before she told her peers. Valdez said the former administrator insisted that only he deal with council members. One councilman, she said, was banished from City Hall by Rizzo and only allowed to reappear for meetings. Valdez said she learned not to ask questions and complied when Rizzo See Rizzo, AA5 Associated Press ELISA LAM was identified as the woman found in the water tank.

Tuesday that the body was that of Elisa Lam, 21, a Vancouver, Canada, woman last seen at the hotel Jan. 31. Police gave scant details about how the body might have ended up in the tank. "We're not ruling out foul many debates, presenting herself as a truth-teller willing to forthrightly confront the city's challenges. But away from the public forums, the councilwoman who represents South Los Angeles and part of downtown has unleashed a blistering attack on City Controller Wendy Greuel in an effort to draw fiscally conservative voters into her column.

Her latest mailer goes after Greuel's ties to the city utility workers' union and Daniel La Vista, who led the system during a severe budget crisis, will leave June 30. By Carla Rivera The chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District announced Tuesday that he will resign his post, leaving behind a system grappling with poor graduation and transfer rates and daunting budget cuts. Daniel LaVista made his announcement in a district-wide email in which he extolled the progress made in strengthening accountability and bringing better coordination to the nine-campus district but acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead. "Even with a healthier FY14 budget proposed for the state's community colleges, there are no quick fixes," LaVista said, for increasing student success, addressing accreditation problems and completing tacks as effective campaigning. "You target your mail and target your message," she said.

"Everybody does that. A smart person does." The mailers are part of a larger gamble Perry is making that she can weaken Greuel and siphon off votes in the relatively conservative San Fernando Valley, the controller's home base of support. Perry, who presents herself as pro-busi-See Attacks, AA4 JayL. CLENDENIN Los Angeles Times INVESTIGATORS GATHER on the roof of the Cecil Hotel on Tuesday. Police had searched the roof with dogs when Elisa Lam was reported missing.

L.A.'S RACE FOR MAYOR Perry aims to siphon Greuel's votes Councilwoman's attack mailers go out in the Valley, the controller's base. By Seema Mehta Jan Perry occasionally lets loose a subtle swipe at her rivals in the Los Angeles mayor's race. But for the most part she has been a polite voice in the campaign's.