Shelters Security

There are few forces of persuasion more powerful than a Chicago winter. Yet when wind chills here begin their annual fall to depths low enough to freeze human skin, it still takes artful persuaders to convince the hardiest of die-hards to come in from the cold. As temperatures plunge toward zero and below, teams of Chicago emergency services workers take to the streets to cajole transients into coming indoors for the night.

There are few forces of persuasion more powerful than a Chicago winter. Yet when wind chills here begin their annual fall to depths low enough to freeze human skin, it still takes artful persuaders to convince the hardiest of die-hards to come in from the cold. As temperatures plunge toward zero and below, teams of Chicago emergency services workers take to the streets to cajole transients into coming indoors for the night.

Veteran animal control Officer Dennis Smith pulled his truck up to the cages at the Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control Center. He walked to the side of the truck, gently opened the door to a small holding cell and slid a rope around the neck of a pit bull he had found wandering in Arcadia. With a tug of the rope, the dog wearily jumped out, its tail drooping between its legs, and followed Smith to one of a dozen stacked metal cages.

Veteran animal control Officer Dennis Smith pulled his truck up to the cages at the Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control Center. He walked to the side of the truck, gently opened the door to a small holding cell and slid a rope around the neck of a pit bull he had found wandering in Arcadia. With a tug of the rope, the dog wearily jumped out, its tail drooping between its legs, and followed Smith to one of a dozen stacked metal cages.

A second series of meetings with residents of neighborhoods surrounding parks will be held Saturday by the Department of Parks and Recreation. City officials will conduct a forum at four park sites to receive public views on how city parks are run, said Wayne Lowery, parks and recreation director. Residents are being asked to share ideas on changes to park services and equipment as well as recreation programs.

Rival Christian militias exchanged tank and artillery fire Wednesday in East Beirut, violating a shaky 12-day-old truce and sending panicked civilians to underground shelters. Security sources said that troops loyal to Maj. Gen. Michel Aoun and fighters of the Lebanese Forces militia fought at dawn around the hilltop neighborhood of Ashrafiyeh.

City leaders this week approved construction contracts for several large-scale public works projects, including the Community Transportation Center and renovation of Los Robles Golf Course. At their regular meeting Tuesday, council members unanimously approved: * Spending $11.7 million to install a new irrigation system and tee boxes, replace putting greens and build a new banquet center and pro shop at the city-owned Los Robles Golf Course.

From the City Hall in Mission Viejo to elementary schools and civic meetings in Brea, volunteers are passing the hat this month so that two National Guard armories can remain open for Orange County's homeless. The armories in Santa Ana and Fullerton have been used for the past three years as a place of warm refuge for up to 250 homeless people on cold, wintry nights. They are due to open again today with rain forecast.