Anaheim Ca

As the city of Anaheim inches further away from building a professional football facility near Angel Stadium, it may be putting itself on a collision course with an old adversary -- Angels owner Arte Moreno. City officials late Tuesday reduced the number of potential developers of lofts, office towers and retail districts on the land from five to three.

Police are investigating a possible homicide Wednesday after firefighters found a human body on fire in a backyard container the size of a trash can. "Someone in the area reported seeing smoke," said Sgt. Rick Martinez of the Anaheim Police Department. The body was found about 12:15 p.m. behind a home in the 900 block of North Winter Street. A man living in the house was detained for questioning. Police were also searching for other people believed to be staying at the house, including children.

TAKE 500 truckloads of dirt. Add a few dozen snorting motorcycles, a bunch of 70-foot jumps, some booming pyrotechnics and 45,000 screaming fans, and you've got one of the fastest-growing motorsports in the country in all its deafening, live glory. Last weekend marked the beginning of the Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series. It's known simply as Anaheim 1 to those in the know, but for those who aren't, it's sort of like the Fourth of July, the Grammys and the Super Bowl all rolled into one.

Already known for its sports teams, convention center and world-famous amusement parks, Anaheim may be adding a little culture to the mix. City Council members are enthusiastically supporting a call from music, theater and dance groups for assistance in building a performing arts center or district. "It has been said that creativity is the currency of the future," said Councilman Harry Sidhu, one of three council members who backed the idea at Tuesday night's council meeting.

A controversial plan to allow low-cost housing in Anaheim's resort district has been rejected by city planners. But the City Council, despite strong objections from the Walt Disney Co. and other business leaders, appears inclined to override the decision and move the project forward. The Planning Commission vote Monday marked the latest in a simmering debate over putting housing in the city's resort district, a dispute that has pitted housing advocates against the city's largest employer.

A proposal to build housing near Disneyland has escalated into a battle of wills between the entertainment giant and key Anaheim officials, who once could be counted on to follow Disney's every lead. Although some Anaheim City Council members see the project as a way to add needed housing to Orange County's second-largest city, Disney says it would disrupt the tourist environment and street scene it has worked hard to create outside the gates to Disneyland and California Adventure.

In Anaheim, even the tie goes to Disney. A pitched battle between housing advocates and Disney officials turned into a political convention of sorts Tuesday. Low-wage employees -- a few near tears -- and well-connected business types -- many wearing red "Save the Anaheim Resort District" stickers -- vented over the future of the city's tourist neighborhood.

A coalition of 20 faith-based organizations, environmental groups and labor unions has created a community development agreement that would compel builders in the Anaheim sports district to meet prevailing wage standards and construct low-cost housing and child-care facilities. The deal would be similar to one in San Diego in which homes, shops and offices were built around the Padres' new downtown baseball stadium, Petco Park.

First there was the party, then came the hangover. In the same week an invitation-only party was held to celebrate Disney's recent victory over a developer who wanted to build housing in the city's resort district, the City Council was looking into reopening debate on the matter. SunCal Cos., the developer that proposed the 1,500-unit project that included 225 low-cost units, contested last week's vote on grounds that Councilwoman Lucille Kring should have been cleared to vote on the proposal.

Maintaining its aggressive posture, Disney officials filed suit Monday against the city of Anaheim as part of the entertainment giant's continuing efforts to thwart a residential development in the resort district. The suit comes as the Anaheim City Council ponders whether to reopen debate on a controversial proposal to build 1,500 condominiums and apartments, including 225 units for lower-income residents, near Disney's amusement parks. The project was killed this month on a split council vote.