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ANAHEIM PRESS
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 - JANUARY 18, 2015
anaheimpress.com
Congested 57 Freeway Gets Some Much-Needed Help by Vickie Vértiz Over a small three-mile stretch of the 57 Freeway heading north that leads to the 91 Freeway in Anaheim, the Orange County Register reports that more than 150,000 people drive over it every day. To most local drivers, that part of the 57 freeway is known as one of the most congested parts of the freeway, said the paper. Luckily for commuters, Caltrans and the Orange County Transportation Authority held a news conference recently and unveiled a proposed $41 million project to help alleviate, and once and for all, solve the congestion. "It [is] important to get people where they want to be in a safe and timely manner, and most important, it gets people home to their families," Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait told the paper. Among the plans is adding a lane to the 57 Freeway heading northbound from Katella to Lincoln avenues. The planned changes also include an HOV,
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Nine Hotels Opening in Resort District Hotel Inventory to Add More Than 1,500 Rooms By Jay Burress
analyze DNA samples from criminals, while protecting our constitutional rights. “The Buza decision could cripple law enforcement, preventing them from using DNA to solve crimes and get violent criminals off the streets,” explained Gatto. “It’s time to overhaul the
Anaheim Resort District hotel development is moving at a vigorous pace with nine brand new hotels being added in 2014 -2015. The new additions will offer Anaheim area convention and leisure travelers more options, such as the return of the Hyatt brand to Anaheim and a portfolio of new and engaging familyfriendly hotels. Collectively, these properties will bring more than 1,500 guest rooms and suites to the Anaheim Resort area. “Nearly $200 million dollars is currently being invested by major hotel brands into Anaheim Resort District in hotel development and renovations. This is a testament to our appeal in the marketplace,” said Jay Burress, president and CEO, Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau. “Anaheim continues to evolve as a distinctive and inviting location and our latest hotel development will help keep our destination fresh and competitive in the leisure and convention market.” Three Anaheim Hotels Added in 2014: The Hyatt Place Anaheim Resort (178 guest rooms), and two (2)
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- Photo by David Lofink
or carpool lane, a continuous lane along with the rebuilding of eight freeway ramps. "There [is] more capacity to get on and off the freeway, particularly off the freeway, so therefore letting traffic move freer in the mainline of the
freeway," said Darrell Johnson, CEO of the Orange County Transportation Authority at the press conference. Improving the road is very important for a region some Please see page 3
Bill to Create New DNA Testing Regime to Solve Crimes Introduced In December, a Court of Appeal struck down California’s criminal-DNA-testing program contained in Proposition 69. In People v. Buza, the court found several aspects of California's DNA-testing practices unconstitutional, dealing a huge setback to law enforcement’s ability to solve crimes. For CSI-like crime solving to resume in California, policymak-
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ers must now come up with a constitutional framework that addresses the court’s concerns. Assemblyman Mike Gatto, a former constitutional lawyer, today introduced AB 84, which would allow DNA testing to resume in the state. The legislation would bring forensic investigation into the 21st century and create new tools for law enforcement to collect and