ALHAMBRA: Newspaper publisher Frank Arcuri has filed...

ALHAMBRA: Newspaper publisher Frank Arcuri has filed a lawsuit against Monterey Park Mayor Judy Chu and Alhambra Councilwoman Barbara A. Messina, alleging they asked local merchants to boycott Arcuri’s newspaper. The publisher of the Citizens Voice, a free community newspaper published twice a month, filed the lawsuit March 15. Arcuri has regularly published stories that have been critical of Messina and Chu. Messina and Chu both deny any wrongdoing. “He (Arcuri) will have to tell the truth. I have no problem telling the truth. But he’s in outer space,” Messina said. Chu added, “Arcuri has filed 16 lawsuits against public officials and we’re the 17th.”

AZUSA: The City Council voted to support a California police chief’s resolution calling for a federal ban on guns that hold more than six bullets and require gun owners to store their unloaded weapons in a locked area. Councilman David O. Hardison dissented. The council is expected next month to vote on an ordinance requiring the registration of ammunition purchases.

COVINA: The City Council has voted against plans to open a proposed bingo game center at the former Builder’s Emporium store on San Bernardino Road. The Foundation for Children’s Positive Identification Video, a nonprofit group that wanted to build the bingo parlor, said it would have generated $25 million a year, with 5% of that amount promised to the city.

MONTEREY PARK: A citizens group said it submitted to the city clerk on Wednesday more than 3,500 valid voters’ signatures to get a proposed ban on new billboards in the city on the ballot. The City Council banned new billboards six years ago but is negotiating with an outdoor advertising firm over whether to overturn that decision.

PASADENA: The City Council has abandoned efforts to pass a two-year city budget one week before new members take office May 1. The council vote ends an attempt to pass a budget eight weeks ahead of the usual schedule. Five of six candidates for three open seats had complained about budget deliberations, saying a new council should make the decisions.

SOUTH PASADENA: Animal Commission Chairwoman Mavis Minjares has been dismissed by the City Council for what officials say were violations of the Brown Act in managing the body’s meetings. City officials allege that Minjares, who ran against the mayor in a 1989 council race, changed the agenda order, denied the public the right to speak and failed to give proper notice of meetings. Minjares did not return telephone calls.

--KEVIN UHRICH and RICHARD WINTON