LETHAL CHOICES: Until Friday’s postponement, Burbank killer...

LETHAL CHOICES: Until Friday’s postponement, Burbank killer William Kirkpatrick Jr. was scheduled to be the first in state history to be executed by lethal injection. Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, injection has become the most common means of carrying out the ultimate sentence nationwide. Kirkpatrick’s execution was delayed two months. VALLEY BRIEFING (B2).

FASTER TIMES: The conversion of four more Valley high schools--Monroe, North Hollywood, Francis Polytechnic and San Fernando--to four-year campuses is as unwelcome to some as homework on prom night. “I’m afraid I might get flushed down a toilet,” said a 13-year-old. The school board is set to vote on enrolling ninth-graders this week. (B1).

WINDS OF CHANGE: Saturday’s balmy weather should give way to the season’s first big storm, which might cause some residents to break out the sandbags. Forecasters predict an inch of rain, along with winds gusting up to 55 mph. “We’ve had it pretty nice with the storms so far,” said weather service spokesman Stuart Seto. “But this one is going to be a lot different.”

ROOT DIRECTORY: Tree lovers in Santa Clarita have gone high-tech. The city now has a computerized inventory of tree diseases and other leafy data. “Residents are very interested in their trees and they often call us with questions,” said Rick Putnam, parks and recreation director. “When we do it manually, it’s hard to keep track.”

HARD CELL: Denied a city permit to build a 62-foot antenna at a Granada Hills school, L.A. Cellular is still hoping to find a spot for the unpopular spire. . . . “We’re trying to look at other alternatives,” said spokesman Steve Crosby, warning of a “gaping hole” in cell phone coverage if a site can’t be found.