818 Roundup: Slump in students, swapping stories and a plea deal
New sixth grader Haik Koushian, 11, of Burbank, looks at room assignments on a door window on the first day of school at John Muir Middle School in Burbank on Monday, Aug. 17, 2015.
Good morning, 818. Today is Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016. Temperatures for today are forecasted to reach a high of 74 and a low of 46, according to the National Weather Service.
Here are your local headlines:
Public Safety
Burbank man arrested after stabbing
A 22-year-old Burbank man was arrested Monday night after allegedly stabbing his girlfriend’s friend hours after pushing his girlfriend to the ground during a fight, police said. Earlier in the day, the suspect, John Benne, had reportedly pushed his girlfriend to the ground during a fight, so the woman brought her friend that evening to the suspect’s home, where she planned to take him belongings and talk. Burbank Leader
Teen makes sharp threat
A teenager was cited Sunday after allegedly brandishing a 10-inch knife at a bicyclist while driving in a van with his mother, police said. Glendale News-Press
Former coach takes plea deal
A former Burbank High School varsity girls volleyball coach was sentenced Tuesday to 90 days in jail after pleading no contest to having a sexual relationship with a former student six years ago, officials said. Glendale resident Kyle Roach, 28, pleaded no contest to one count of oral copulation of a minor, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. Burbank Leader
Under the influence, under arrest
Glendale police arrested six drivers on suspicion of impaired driving during a DUI saturation patrol last week, officials said. Glendale News-Press
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Education
Fewer students anticipated at Burbank schools
The number of students attending Burbank’s 20 schools is expected to dip below 15,000 during the 2016-17 academic year, according to school officials, who discussed the latest trend during a recent meeting. Burbank Leader
Glendale Unified hones in on new superintendent
The Glendale Unified school board appears to be closing in on their months-long search for its next superintendent. Although not confirmed, it appears the Glendale school board’s finalist for the job may be Winfred Roberson, Jr., the current superintendent at Davis Joint Unified School District. Glendale News-Press
Civic News and Politics
On a different track
A valuable perk handed to Southern California from the bullet train project — a 2012 decision to build the first operating segment from Burbank north into the Central Valley — is being reconsidered by state officials. Los Angeles Times
Charged up
It may sound like a promotion a pizzeria would advertise, but 30 minutes is all a new fast-charging station recently installed behind Glendale City Hall needs to juice up 80% of an electric-car battery. The station, known as a “level 3” model, requires the swipe of a credit card for use and can be accessed by the public at any time. Glendale News-Press
In the Community
Tell me your story
Local residents shared true, personal stories in five-minute presentations at a “story slam” Monday night at the Burbank Little Theater, home of the Grove Theater. The event, hosted by the Burbank Library, attracted four storytellers of various experience levels and about two-dozen audience members. Burbank Leader
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Ryan Fonseca, ryan.fonseca@latimes.com
Twitter: @RyFons
