IN BRIEF
CITY'S FINANCIAL WOES
Elko orders hiring freeze, may face big budget shortfall
Elko is imposing a hiring freeze, but City Manager Curtis Calder says that if tax revenues continue to drop the city could still face a $200,000 budget shortfall.
The City Council on Tuesday approved keeping currently unfilled positions vacant. It made an exception for a police records technician position that officials say will be filled.
Calder says sales tax revenue is down about 10 percent for the first two months of the fiscal year, and says the northeastern Nevada city would look next to cut services and supplies.
Police will be most affected by the freeze, because the department has the most vacancies.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Decorated, cigar-smoking Marine runs for Congress
A decorated Marine veteran famously photographed smoking a cigar after the fall of Baghdad is running for Congress in California's most southern district.
Nick Popaditch announced Tuesday that he is seeking the Republican nomination to unseat Democrat Bob Filner. Known as "Gunny Pop," the 42-year-old Popaditch was awarded the Silver Star for combat actions in Fallujah, where he was blinded in one eye by a rocket-propelled grenade.
California's heavily Democratic 51st Congressional District stretches along the Mexican border from San Diego's suburbs to the Arizona state line.
HALLOWEEN ATTACK
LAPD hunts for man wanted in girlfriend-abuse incident
Police in Los Angeles are seeking a man they say tortured, raped and poured battery acid on his girlfriend during a Halloween attack.
Police say 30-year-old Miguel Herrera got into a heated argument with the woman after she showed up late at his South Los Angeles apartment.
Capt. Art Miller said Wednesday that Herrera told the woman he wanted to teach her a lesson. Miller says he punched the woman, stabbed her with a knife, whipped her with an electrical cord, poured acid on her and tried to make her drink the acid.
Police say Herrera followed the woman's car but she eluded him. She was treated at a hospital and released.
POLICE ARREST MAN
Iraq war veteran killed while installing cable in California
Trevor Neiman survived three tours of duty in Iraq and a stabbing attack that punctured his lung before he was beaten to death while installing cable television service at a Southern California home.
Neiman, 25, was attacked when he went to work in Victorville, said Jodi Miller, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
She said authorities have arrested 45-year-old Johnny Acosta for investigation of murder. Acosta, who is related to a resident of the home, called deputies and surrendered, Miller said.
CHARACTERS ON HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD
Spider-Man impersonator arrested in Los Angeles
A Spider-Man impersonator was arrested on outstanding criminal warrants Wednesday after an incident in which he allegedly slugged a man on Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles police said.
The altercation, reported about 12:30 p.m., became the latest in a string of incidents involving people dressed as movie characters and celebrity look-alikes vying for space -- and attention -- along the tourist-filled corridor that includes Grauman's Chinese Theater.
Christopher Loomis, 39, was being held on outstanding misdemeanor warrants in lieu of $5,500 bail, police said. Costumed impersonators portraying the likes of Elvis, Superman and others have worked on Hollywood Boulevard for years.
