Sports — Landis appeal rejected, must forfeit Tour de France title
PARIS — After a long arbitration process, 2006 Tour de France winner Floyd Landis was found guilty today of doping. Landis must forfeit his title and is also banned from the sport for two years. While the decision came today, the arbitration hearings (and the mob of European press that followed) were held at the Pepperdine Law School last July. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jyjDmlUh8XW7t59IMnHMN3pg7FmA
Nation — Democratic bid to end Iraq war funding fails in Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The surprise joint proposal from Russ Feingold, D-Wisc., and Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., intended to cut off funding for military operations in Iraq. The proposition garnered only 28 votes, 32 shy of its needed goal. This comes a day after Democrats came closest to challenging President Bush by limiting troop deployments. That vote was seen as the best chance for Democrats to change the course of the war, but came only four votes shy of their goal. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/20/washington/20cnd-cong.html?ref=us
World — Bin Laden declares war on Musharraf
CAIRO — Osama bin Laden is back with another tape, this time decrying Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf as the newest infidel who must be eliminated due to his role in a recent raid by the Pakistani military on a supposed militant mosque. Bin Laden said the raid, “demonstrated Musharraf’s insistence on continuing his loyalty, submissiveness and aid to America against the Muslims … and makes armed rebellion against him and removing him obligatory.” http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/09/20/alqaeda.pakistan.ap/
California — Storm headed for Southland is downgraded
LOS ANGELES — While it is only September, warnings all week told Southland residents to prepare for the year’s first winter storm. However, after quickly riding the jet stream down from British Columbia, the storm has stalled over the Santa Barbara coast and weakened significantly. Earlier estimates of up to 3 inches of rain over the Southland have dissipated to predictions of only a quarter to a half-inch. Temperatures will still drop on Friday, however, as the storm comes into the area.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cold21sep21,0,3174405.story?coll=la-home-center
Malibu — Cross Creek, Las Flores projects underway
MALIBU, CALIF. — Long awaited improvements to the “Main Street” of Malibu, Cross Creek Road, and Las Flores Park began last week. The $2 million Cross Creek project will include continuous sidewalks, new pavement, and a redesigned street complete with diagonal parking spaces. The $3.8 million Las Flores Park project seeks to revive the creek and develop the park, which is currently all but a dirt lot. http://malibutimes.com/articles/2007/09/19/news/news4.txt