Time Limit

A three-hour time limit on tarmac waits for airline passengers will soon become law, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said today at an unofficial hearing on airline passengers' rights. The Capitol Hill event drew both supporters and critics of the legislation, which would force airlines to create plans to deplane passengers after three hours and would require the carriers to provide basic services such as food and water while travelers are waiting on planes. "We're on the one-yard line today," Boxer said, telling the packed room that the long process of making the measures into law is almost over.

I believe that Assemblyman Gil Ferguson should be reelected. I am a retired teacher, and our association was futilely attempting to notify our members of the opportunity to buy into health insurance at the same rate we were paying as a teacher before retirement. There was a time limit. Statewide, the efforts of chapters were unable to break through the mire of bureaucracy to include our insurance announcement. I called most of our local representatives. Almost last on the list was Gil Ferguson.

In a strange draft-day maneuver, the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys negotiated a trade, thought they had it consummated but ultimately had to call it off, causing Denver to slip several notches in the draft order and the Cowboys to lose the player they wanted to select. The Broncos tried to trade their spot in the third round and actually had made a deal with Dallas, giving up the choice in exchange for Dallas' fourth- and fifth-round picks.

Determined to save 54 ficus trees in Santa Monica, activists on Thursday appealed a judge's ruling allowing the city to remove the trees along 2nd and 4th streets as part of an $8-million beautification project. At issue is the legal question of when activist Jerry Rubin and others should have filed the lawsuit challenging the city's plan, said the group's attorney, Tom Nitti. A lower court judge sided with the city, ruling that the group should have sued within six months of the October 2005 approval of the streetscape plan.

The City Council introduced an ordinance last week that would prohibit the display of nudity or "descriptive words which would harm the senses of a child" in public places, City Atty. Dick Jones said. Blinder racks covering at least the lower two-thirds of the objectionable material would be acceptable under the ordinance.

The Army decided Thursday to study the issue of returning mules to active duty. The decision was made by a group of staff officers who met at the Pentagon in response to a directive from the Army chief of staff, Gen. John A. Wickham Jr. Lt. Col.

Quarterback Chad Grier threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Hargrove on Richmond's fourth overtime possession to lift the Spiders to a 52-51 Yankee Conference victory over Massachusetts Saturday. Under Yankee Conference overtime rules, each team is given successive possessions at the opponent's 25 until one team scores. If a team scores, the other team has to tie or better. There is no time limit in the overtime.

Re "Hayden Takes Brunt of the Attack From Opponents at Debate," Elections / 5th City Council District, Feb. 11. The article about the Feb. 10 debate belittled the rivals ("as they popped up and down in their seats") and failed to adequately distinguish their responses to questions. To save time answering questions, we were instructed to stand up at our seats. My response to a crucial question about working conditions in sweatshops around the world was omitted. When the public continually looks for the lowest price for any product (which is our right)

Re "Parking tickets a hot issue," Perspective, Feb. 16 I am a psychologist, and a few years ago I was leaving a shelter for homeless women in Los Angeles when an abused woman was brought into the shelter. I immediately sat with her to start a crisis healing process. When I left and approached my car, I was being issued a parking ticket for exceeding the specified time limit on the street (I wasn't parked at a meter). I pointed to the Good Shepherd Center and explained the services for abused women and that I was counseling a woman in crisis.