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Re "Don't blame realignment," Editorial, Dec. 11 I disagree with The Times' assertion that it's off base to amend AB 109, the state's realignment law, to require that offenders with prior convictions for violent or serious crimes be subject to stricter supervision or sentencing requirements. Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck noted that Northridge quadruple homicide suspect Ka Pasasouk "certainly would've had an increased level of scrutiny via probation or parole absent [AB]

SACRAMENTO - California employers face new restrictions against shunting Sikh and Muslim workers out of public view for wearing turbans, beards and hijabs, under a bill signed Saturday by Gov. Jerry Brown. The measure could affect workplaces from Disneyland to San Quentin Prison. "This bill, AB 1964, makes it very clear that wearing any type of religious clothing or hairstyle, particularly such as Sikhs do … is protected by law and nobody can discriminate against you because of that," Brown told some 400 Sikhs and supporters at a rally of the North American Punjabi Assn.

SACRAMENTO — A trio of bills aimed at preventing abuses in the sale of high-mileage vehicles by Buy Here Pay Here used-car dealers appears to be winning strong bipartisan support and heading toward the governor's desk. Legislation by Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) won final passage Monday and was sent to Gov. Jerry Brown, who has 30 days to sign or veto it. Feuer's bill, AB 1447, requires the seller to provide a one-month or 1,000-mile written warranty to a buyer. On Tuesday, a companion measure, SB 956 by Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance)

SACRAMENTO - State lawmakers sent two road-related proposals to the governor Tuesday, one that would hike fines for Californians who use a cellphone while driving and another that would exempt hybrid drivers from toll charges in car-pool lanes. The cellphone bill, SB 1310 by state Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), would increase the current fine for driving while using a hands-on phone or text messaging from $20 to $30 for a first offense, and from $50 to $60 for a subsequent offense.

Who would be so cruel, so selfish, as to deny money for spinal cord injury research? Unless you wish further harm to people who are paralyzed or otherwise disabled by spinal injury, certainly you want Californians to open up their wallets to fund studies, right? Boiled down to its basics, that is the argument behind the well-meaning but misguided AB 1657, which would tack $1 onto moving traffic violation fines to fund spinal cord injury research. The asserted but questionable nexus between traffic tickets and medical research is that tickets are issued to drivers who violate the law, those violations usually constitute unsafe driving, unsafe driving causes car accidents, and car accidents are a leading cause of spinal cord injury.

SACRAMENTO - State lawmakers sent to the governor Monday a bill that would exempt drug users from prosecution if they seek medical help. Lawmakers from both parties said the measure was necessary to curb what studies show is a rise of overdose deaths in California. Drug users often do not seek help for fear of prosecution, they contended. The proposal by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) stipulates that it is not a crime to be high or possess illegal drugs or paraphernalia when seeking medical assistance.

WASHINGTON — The ads promised that if you used the Ab Circle Pro machine just three minutes a day, you'd lose weight fast. But the Federal Trade Commission said the only thing that would get substantially lighter was your wallet. In the largest FTC settlement ever concerning an exercise machine, the Ab Circle Pro marketers have agreed to settle deceptive-advertising allegations by refunding up to $25 million to people who bought the device, the agency said. The Ab Circle Pro , which cost as much as $250, was marketed largely via infomercials and pitched by fitness model Jennifer Nicole Lee. Ads featuring the machine were shown 10,000 times nationwide, according to the FTC. Marketers said three minutes on the device, which allowed users to swivel on a fiberglass disk, was the equivalent of 100 sit-ups and would cause them to shed 10 pounds in two weeks, the agency said.

WASHINGTON -- The marketers of the Ab Circle Pro -- an abdominal exercise machine that promised major weight loss with daily three-minute workouts -- agreed to settle deceptive advertising allegations by refunding up to $25 million to people who bought the device, the Federal Trade Commission said Thursday. The machine, which cost as much as $250, was marketed largely via infomercials and pitched by fitness model Jennifer Nicole Lee. Marketers said three minutes on the device, which allowed users to swivel on a fiberglass disk, was the equivalent of 100 sit-ups and would cause them to shed 10 pounds in two weeks, the agency said.

The Dodgers'Jerry Hairston Jr. is among a group of major leaguers whose ability to play capably at multiple positions enhances their value to their teams. A look five other top utility players: Jeff Keppinger, Tampa Bay Rays Keppinger has played in 27 games at third base, 18 at second base, and also has played first base and designated hitter. He has been especially effective against left-handed pitchers, batting .426. During his career, he's played every defensive position except for center field and catcher.