Scott Schaffer

Inspired by the radical notion that most of us don't live Jerry Springer lives, two Cal State Fullerton sociology professors, Myron Orleans and Scott Schaffer, have unleashed a new Web publication called the Journal of Mundane Behavior (http://www.mundanebehavior.org). Taking a fine-toothed comb to the quotidian, Mundane boldly takes on elevator talk, how we behave in libraries and what really happens during a morning shave. Its second issue appears next week.

Inspired by the radical notion that most of us don't live Jerry Springer lives, two Cal State Fullerton sociology professors, Myron Orleans and Scott Schaffer, have unleashed a new Web publication called the Journal of Mundane Behavior (http://www.mundanebehavior.org). Taking a fine-toothed comb to the quotidian, Mundane boldly takes on elevator talk, how we behave in libraries and what really happens during a morning shave. Its second issue appears next week.

A federal grand jury Thursday indicted the longtime boyfriend of Burbank Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy on four counts of drug and weapons violations. Scott Schaffer was indicted on charges of trading guns for cocaine, cocaine possession with the intent to distribute the drug, selling firearms to a known felon and using cocaine while possessing guns. Police found cocaine, ammunition and guns in Murphy's home. Schaffer's attorney said his client would plead not guilty at his arraignment Monday.

The boyfriend of a former Burbank city councilwoman faces a maximum sentence of life in prison after pleading guilty to a charge related to his trading two handguns to a gang member in exchange for cocaine. Scott Schaffer, 52, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to using a handgun to further a drug-trafficking crime. He is scheduled to be sentenced in June.

Taxi companies began offering a flat-rate fare Thursday between downtown Burbank and the Media District, saying they hope to reduce traffic congestion as well as increase business. Under the new plan, up to four passengers will be able to ride for a flat rate of $3.50, said Scott Schaffer, general manager of Checker Cab. Trips between the Media District and downtown usually cost from $6 to $8. The new rate is similar to a flat fare recently introduced in downtown Los Angeles.

A Los Angeles cab company has agreed to pay the state $45,000 in penalties for repeatedly making illegal contributions to City Hall politicians. The tentative settlement between Bell Cab Co. and the California Fair Political Practices Commission is part of a three-year series of state and local investigations of campaign money laundering in Southern California that has netted more than $1 million in penalties.

Federal prosecutors Wednesday charged the longtime boyfriend of a Burbank city councilwoman with weapons and drug violations. Scott Schaffer, companion of Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy, is being held on suspicion of trading guns to a gang member for cocaine. Schaffer's attorney said his client would plead not guilty at his arraignment Monday. Schaffer was arrested July 13 after authorities found a gun registered in his name at the home of a Vineland Boyz gang member.

A Burbank city councilwoman facing felony charges of cocaine possession and child endangerment resigned from the council Tuesday night. "The distractions caused by my personal issues should not be a factor that the council should have to deal with," Stacey Jo Murphy wrote in her letter of resignation, which was read aloud at Tuesday night's City Council meeting. Murphy, 47, a former mayor of Burbank, was arrested July 13 after her home was searched in an investigation of a street gang.

Burbank City Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy was charged Tuesday with cocaine possession and child endangerment after authorities allegedly linked her to a violent street gang. Murphy, 47, was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor count of child endangerment, Deputy Dist. Atty. Thomas Krag said. According to a criminal complaint filed in Superior Court, the child-endangerment charge involved a 12-year-old boy under Murphy's care.

After falling far short of their fund-raising goal for the city's 1991 Tournament of Roses Parade float, leaders of a Glendale group that solicits money for the annual entry said this week that they are planning a full-time fund-raising campaign. Organizers of the nonprofit Glendale Rose Float Assn.

A San Fernando Valley taxi firm is under investigation by city officials for possibly operating without insurance--a violation of city taxi rules punishable by revocation of the firm's operating permit, city officials said Thursday. A representative of San Fernando Valley Checker Cab acknowledged that the firm's insurance was canceled in December but said that the company picked up a new policy before the old coverage expired.