California Attorney General

Three years after falling short in a bid for higher office, Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo has taken the first step toward launching a second campaign for California attorney general, a spokesman said Thursday. Term limits prevent Delgadillo, 48, from seeking reelection as city attorney this year. Papers filed with the secretary of state this week allow Delgadillo to begin fundraising for a statewide campaign for attorney general in 2010, according to Delgadillo spokesman Stephen J.

After a 16-month investigation that revealed "gross misconduct and widespread abuse" by the Maywood Police Department, California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown announced Tuesday that he would seek a court order to impose reforms on the troubled force. His comments coincided with the release of a 30-page report that detailed the findings of the investigation into the tiny department, which polices the densely populated cities of Maywood and Cudahy southeast of downtown Los Angeles.

The California attorney general's office sued a group of Los Angeles-area individuals and their operations, alleging they ran illegal schemes that siphoned more than $3 million from small San Diego County businesses. In three lawsuits filed Thursday, the state accused eight individuals and their companies of duping the businesses in separate scams by sending official-looking mail warning them of consequences if they failed to pay fees promptly. The fees sought ranged from $150 to $250, according to the suits.