Napolitano

Johnette Napolitano may be the first budding rock star since Elvis Costello to begin her career by vowing to remain true. Just as Costello titled his first album "My Aim Is True," Napolitano--lead singer for Concrete Blonde--opens the group's debut LP with a song called simply "True." While the number is a general expression of self-affirmation, it was tempting to think Napolitano had the record industry in mind when she sang it Tuesday night at the Bacchanal club here.

The budget battle in Washington that is forcing cuts to federal budgets has already resulted in delays and long lines at some of the nation's largest airports, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Monday. At a breakfast meeting with the news organization Politico, Napolitano said her agency is cutting overtime pay and sending out furlough notices to customs officers and airport security screeners. As a result, she said lines have already increased 150% to 200% at airports, including Los Angeles International Airport and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

The Obama administration launched its long-expected legal attack on Arizona's strict new immigration law Tuesday, arguing that only Washington can set the nation's rules for arresting illegal immigrants. The government said Tuesday that its immigration enforcement policy "targets … dangerous aliens," including violent criminals, gang members, drug traffickers and others "who pose a danger to the national security and a risk to public safety," whereas the Arizona law would force federal officials to cope with a flood of illegal immigrants who pose no danger.

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano will not seek the open U.S. Senate seat in her home state of Arizona, preferring to remain in the Obama Cabinet, a spokesman confirmed Friday. The former Arizona governor informed Democratic leaders of her decision this week, coming to a quick decision following incumbent Republican Sen. Jon Kyl's announcement he would retire when his term expires in 2013. "She cares deeply about Arizona, but the Secretary intends to continue doing the job that the President asked her to do -- protecting the American people from terrorism and other threats to our country," Sean Smith, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement.

A few hundred immigration activists descended Sunday on Pomona College to protest Arizona's controversial anti-illegal immigration law and the policies of commencement speaker Janet Napolitano, secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Demonstrators said Napolitano has continued to expand immigration programs that they say were precursors to Arizona's law, which requires police officers to check the immigration status of anybody they stop and suspect may be here illegally.

The City Council has decided to appoint a new member to fill the council seat vacated by Grace M. Napolitano, who was elected to the Assembly last month. A special election, which would have cost the city $50,000 to $55,000, was ruled out, Mayor Robert J. Arthur said. The council will accept applications beginning Monday until noon, Dec. 23, and plans to make a decision by Jan. 4, Arthur said. Each candidate will be interviewed at a public session Dec. 30, he said.

Grace Musquiz Napolitano's upset victory has sent a shock wave through the city's political establishment. Because of Napolitano's election to the City Council, Norwalk will have a new mayor Tuesday, and in the coming months the city also may have a new city administrator. Napolitano's victory also ensures a confrontation with other council members in the next few weeks over what she has characterized as lavish city spending at out-of-town seminars and conferences.

Ten years ago, at a time when "Women in Rock" stories were still trumpeting the likes of Grace Slick, Heart and Linda McCartney, a revolution was getting under way in Los Angeles. On the then-growing L.A. club scene, it was hard not to notice that--especially compared to certain Eastern burgs--a disproportionate number of those at the forefront of this city's scene were charismatic, gutsy, mercurial women: X's Exene Cervenka, the Motels' Martha Davis, the Go-Go's. . . .

Johnette Napolitano, one of the most fiery and colorful figures on L.A.'s rock scene for a decade, is closing the book on Concrete Blonde. The trio plays the Wiltern Theatre on Saturday, then returns there March 10 for a farewell show . The band's often turbulent music succeeded X's as the rock chronicle of Los Angeles' state of mind.

"Calling from the station, calling from the edge of desperation. . . ." That's Johnette Napolitano on the line, and it sure didn't take the feisty L.A. singer long to get back into fighting form. Barely a year after the end of Concrete Blonde, she's leading another trio into battle against the demons. She doesn't always vanquish them, but she never gives them less than the fight of their lives.