Don Foster

In a new book, "Author Unknown: On the Trail of Anonymous," Vassar College English professor Don Foster challenges the authorship of the poem known worldwide as "The Night Before Christmas." Foster concludes that an obscure New York poet, Maj. Henry Livingston Jr., is the author of "Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas," first published anonymously in December 1823 and later credited to theology professor Clement Clarke Moore.

CALTRANS' crusade to add more carpool lanes to Southern California freeways continues unabated; too bad the department doesn't know how many real carpools use them. Unless the department can show that the high-occupancy-vehicle lanes are actually reducing the number of cars on the road, its multibillion-dollar plan to add hundreds of miles of new HOV capacity around Los Angeles will be a colossal waste of taxpayers' money.

This much holds as true as the red in a sprig of holly: the 19th century poem known as "The Night Before Christmas" is where America's notions of Santa Claus spring--the jolly old man, his chimney dive with a bundle of toys, his sleigh aloft with Dasher and Dancer and company. So beloved are the verses that the poem, "Account of a Visit From St. Nicholas," is wrapped up in family memories worldwide, twined with a snug bow, and who but a Grinch would tug it loose?

In a new book, "Author Unknown: On the Trail of Anonymous," Vassar College English professor Don Foster challenges the authorship of the poem known worldwide as "The Night Before Christmas." Foster concludes that an obscure New York poet, Maj. Henry Livingston Jr., is the author of "Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas," first published anonymously in December 1823 and later credited to theology professor Clement Clarke Moore.

CALTRANS' crusade to add more carpool lanes to Southern California freeways continues unabated; too bad the department doesn't know how many real carpools use them. Unless the department can show that the high-occupancy-vehicle lanes are actually reducing the number of cars on the road, its multibillion-dollar plan to add hundreds of miles of new HOV capacity around Los Angeles will be a colossal waste of taxpayers' money.

A transient arrested for allegedly attempting to rape a woman in a downtown Los Angeles parking structure may be the same man who raped and robbed three other women in similar locations earlier this year, authorities said. Keith Roland, 29, was arrested after security guards recognized him from a police composite drawing, Los Angeles Police Lt. Don Foster said.

Los Angeles police were searching for a possible serial rapist and burglar who has victimized at least six women in the West Adams and Crenshaw districts, authorities said Wednesday. The intruder apparently preys on women who are alone, and has entered their homes through unlocked windows or doors, Los Angeles Police Lt. Don Foster said. The attacker has threatened several victims with a knife, but has not used it, Foster said.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has sued two former chief financial officers of HealthSouth Corp., claiming they signed false financial statements as part of a $2.5-billion accounting fraud at the rehabilitation giant. Michael Martin and Malcolm "Tadd" McVay were named in the suit, filed last week in federal court in Birmingham, Ala. Both men pleaded guilty in May to criminal charges in the case.

A former U.S. Navy fighter pilot was killed Saturday afternoon when his stunt plane spiraled out of control and crashed into the Santa Clara River during an air show at nearby Santa Paula Airport. Rick Fessenden, a well-known and experienced aerobatic pilot, was completing an aerial performance when he failed to pull his Berkut fiberglass plane out of a series of tight spins, witnesses said.

Police arrested three South Los Angeles residents Tuesday as suspects in a series of rapes, robberies and kidnapings committed in Playa del Rey, West Los Angeles, Silverlake and North Hollywood since early last month. Sandy Lee Dejurnett, 32; Dewayne Thomas, 19, and a 17-year-old juvenile were arrested at their homes after an intensive investigation triggered by a traffic accident. Lt.

This much holds as true as the red in a sprig of holly: the 19th century poem known as "The Night Before Christmas" is where America's notions of Santa Claus spring--the jolly old man, his chimney dive with a bundle of toys, his sleigh aloft with Dasher and Dancer and company. So beloved are the verses that the poem, "Account of a Visit From St. Nicholas," is wrapped up in family memories worldwide, twined with a snug bow, and who but a Grinch would tug it loose?

A 24-year-old man suspected in a string of at least 10 rapes in three cities was arrested early Saturday after running from a residence in southwest Los Angeles and leading police on a brief car chase, authorities said. Bruce Thorns, who resides in the 1200 block of West 67th Street, was booked on suspicion of robbery and held at Parker Center on $25,000 bail.

Former HealthSouth Corp. Treasurer Malcolm "Tad" McVay agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy and fraud charges in the growing accounting scandal at the rehabilitation giant, federal prosecutors said Monday. McVay is the 10th HealthSouth executive to reach a plea deal with the government and the fourth of the company's five former chief financial officers to be accused in the scheme. McVay, 41, is cooperating with authorities, prosecutors said. Although the investigation is only a month old, U.S.