R Keith Mcdonald

The son of Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-Carson) recently filed a sealed request in federal court seeking to delay indefinitely his imprisonment for corruption on the grounds that his mother had health problems and that he needed to take care of her. Even though the court denied R. Keith McDonald's request, which was filed in February and first reported by the Los Angeles Wave, it has raised questions about the health of the 67-year-old congresswoman, who is up for reelection in November.

Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-Carson) has taken a six-week leave of absence from Congress after being diagnosed with cancer, her office said Wednesday. "The congresswoman wishes to thank everyone for their expressions of love, well wishes and prayers," a statement issued by her office said. "She will maintain a limited schedule in her district and is requesting respect of her privacy at this time."

Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-Carson) has taken a six-week leave of absence from Congress after being diagnosed with cancer, her office said Wednesday. "The congresswoman wishes to thank everyone for their expressions of love, well wishes and prayers," a statement issued by her office said. "She will maintain a limited schedule in her district and is requesting respect of her privacy at this time."

The son of Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-Carson) recently filed a sealed request in federal court seeking to delay indefinitely his imprisonment for corruption on the grounds that his mother had health problems and that he needed to take care of her. Even though the court denied R. Keith McDonald's request, which was filed in February and first reported by the Los Angeles Wave, it has raised questions about the health of the 67-year-old congresswoman, who is up for reelection in November.

A board member of one of the state's largest water districts pleaded guilty Monday to extortion and money-laundering charges, and agreed to cooperate with federal authorities in a wide-ranging corruption probe. West Basin Municipal Water District Director Tyrone Smith is the 11th defendant to plead guilty since the FBI began investigating corruption in Carson three years ago. The Carson-based West Basin district serves nearly 1 million residents in southwest Los Angeles County and other areas.

A former elected member of a Los Angeles-area water district board was sentenced to two years in prison Monday for soliciting and laundering a $25,000 bribe. Tyrone Smith, 47, of Ladera Heights is one of a dozen people who has been convicted in what began three years ago as an FBI investigation of municipal corruption in Carson.

An influential politician was sentenced to 41 months in prison for bribery and fraud Monday, becoming the 12th person to be convicted in a wide-ranging federal investigation of corruption in the city of Carson. R. Keith McDonald, son of Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-Carson) and once president of the West Basin Municipal Water District board, asked for leniency.

It took only a few minutes Wednesday for three former Carson City Council members to describe how a U.S. congresswoman's son paid them thousands of dollars in exchange for their votes. Manuel Ontal, Darryl Sweeney and then-Mayor Pete Fajardo testified Wednesday that R. Keith McDonald, who is charged with bribery, extortion and money laundering, gave them envelopes stuffed with $5,000 in cash for their votes. "I voted because I was asked by Mr. McDonald and I was promised money," Fajardo said.

The former head of a public agency that provides water to nearly a million Los Angeles County residents was convicted Friday on federal bribery, money laundering, fraud and conspiracy charges. R. Keith McDonald, who served as president of the West Basin Municipal Water District board, was found guilty of receiving $30,000 in kickbacks in exchange for the awarding of a multimillion-dollar pipeline contract.

The approval of term limits by voters in 1990 is having its first major impact this year. One result is more than the usual number of intraparty battles in the March 26 primary election. Here is a look at some them in Southern California. The list does not include general election opponents. STATE SENATE * 17th District: Republican Don Rogers is leaving because of term limits.

South Bay voters will find record numbers of candidates and unusual acrimony in once-sleepy water district races. In years past, the candidates for four-year terms on the West Basin Municipal Water District's board spent little money on the races, which have been described as typically nonpartisan, nonpolitical elections where press coverage is limited and fund raising is not customary. But this year, nine candidates are on the ballot for three open seats.

TIME TO CROON: At the last minute, Rancho Palos Verdes Councilwoman Susan Brooks tried to change the tune in her bitter race with incumbent Rep. Jane Harman but not the tone. Addressing a packed hospitality suite on election night, Republican Brooks and daughter Meredith sang a song about Harman (D-Rolling Hills) and President Clinton to the strains of "My Guy." The tone, however, remained negative.