Here is a look at some of the top stories this week in the Beach Cities and on the Palos Verdes Peninsula:
Redondo Beach
Runoffs Rule the Night; Measure A Too Close to Call: With the majority of the votes counted Tuesday, Patch projected a win in District 2 for current Councilman Bill Brand and runoffs in the mayoral and other council races. The results of Measure A are too close to call.
- Related: Redondo Beach Election Results
- Related: Redondo Beach Elections: What's Next?
Redondo Man Charged in Gardena Rape: A Redondo Beach man has been charged in connection with a rape in Gardena last year, and police believe he met the victim through a social networking site, the Gardena Police Department announced in a news release Tuesday. Corey Delaine Stewart, 40, was identified as a suspect through the use of DNA evidence, and the victim identified him as her attacker, police said.
Police: Woman Robbed in Parking Lot: A woman reported to police that she was assaulted and robbed Friday night as she walked to her car in a parking lot on Pacific Coast Highway in South Redondo Beach.
Manhattan Beach
Pink Slips for MBUSD Teachers: Pink slips for teachers in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District are coming. But on Wednesday night, the board of trustees, in an apparent slip up, only approved 19 certificated positions for layoffs instead of the 24.6 MBUSD Superintendent Mike Matthews that night recommended as an amendment to Resolution No. 2013-8.
Man Pulls Pocket Knife on Resident: A man found rummaging through a truck in the 3700 block of The Strand Wednesday around 6:30 a.m. pulled a pocket knife when confronted by the owner, said Officer Stephanie Martin of the Manhattan Beach Police Department.
Tony D'Errico Takes 3rd Council Seat: Incumbent Wayne Powell increased his first place finish Friday from 3,608 votes to 3,983 votes when the City Clerk's office announced the new and presumed final tally. The new figures include the 500+ ballots that weren't counted on election night.
MBPD Chases Subjects Onto 405 Freeway: Shortly before noon Monday, the driver of a rental car led Manhattan Beach Police on a chase on city streets and the 405 freeway southbound when he refused to pull over on a traffic stop, said MBPD Public Information Officer Stephanie Martin.
Hermosa Beach
Broadsided Vehicle Flips Over at Aviation and Prospect: A vehicle making a "left turn when it shouldn't have" was broadsided by another vehicle at the intersection of Aviation Boulevard and Prospect Avenue this afternoon, said Sergeant Steve Saylor of the Hermosa Beach Police Department.
Hermosa Runners Dominate 5K: Thirty-seven Hermosa Beach residents ran in Sunday's Village Runner St. Patrick's Day 5K, with 19 placing in the top 10 of their division. Overall, resident Andrew Lavey, 25, finished in 8th place, taking 3rd in the men's 25-29 in a time of 17 minutes, 52 seconds. HBer Denny Nivens, 55, placed 21st overall and 1st in the men's 55-59 in a time of 19 minutes, 48 seconds.
Driver in Motorcycle Collision Charged: A man driving an SUV involved in a collision with a motorcycle has been booked and charged for vehicular manslaughter, a misdemeanor, said Stephanie Martin of the Manhattan Beach Police Department Tuesday.
Palos Verdes
Rolling Hills Voters Approve View Protection Measure: With only a five-vote margin, Measure B—the second citizens' initiative ever placed on the Rolling Hills municipal ballot—has passed, according to final, official results from the city released Wednesday evening. Measure B, which amends the city's sometimes-controversial view-protection ordinance, looked as though it may fail Tuesday night; however, late vote-by-mail and provisional ballots pushed it over the edge for a 5-vote win.
10-Term Rolling Hills Councilman Loses Re-Election Bid: With all but 55 votes counted Tuesday night, it was projected that Bea Dieringer and Jeff Pieper would be elected to the Rolling Hills City Council, filling the two seats up for grabs and ending Councilman Thomas Heinsheimer's 41-year tenure on the council.
Man Banned From Rolling Hills: A man who pleaded no contest to grand theft in Rolling Hills and to identity theft and possession of narcotics in Redondo Beach received a suspended sentence of 5 years in prison, in addition to five years of formal probation with search and seizure conditions, on Wednesday.
