News Briefs

Heart disease is leading Glendale killer

Coronary heart disease was the leading cause of death among Glendale residents in 2007, according to a Los Angeles County Department of Public Health report released on Tuesday that detailed mortality rates and top causes for premature death.

In Glendale, 594 people died from heart disease; coronary heart disease was also the leading cause of death countywide in 2007, according to the report. In Glendale, the second leading cause of death was emphysema and chronic obstruction pulmonary disease, with 125 deaths, followed by stroke with 124, then pneumonia and influenza with 117 and lung cancer with 112.

When age was factored in, the second cause of premature death for people younger than 75 was suicide, followed by motor vehicle crashes, lung cancer and then drug overdose, according to the report.

The number of people who died in Glendale in 2007 was 2,386, according to the report.

Drayman to appear on Zarian’s show

Councilman John Drayman is scheduled to appear live Thursday on “The Larry Zarian Show” to discuss Glendale’s employee retirement position.

Glendale could be on the hook for part of former Police Chief Randy Adams’ bloated pension as a result of his $457,000 salary at the city of Bell. Meanwhile, city executives continue to negotiate possible benefits concessions with the city’s police and general employee unions.

City managers and firefighters have already agreed to pick up a larger share of their health care and pension contributions, and reduced benefits for new hires.

The two will also likely discuss the implications of a proposal to give federal housing assistance preference to military veterans, despite there already being hundreds of low-income residents on the wait list.

The show airs at 7 p.m. on Charter Cable Channel 380. The viewer call-in number is (818) 547-3668.