Free Republic

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The city of Los Angeles is facing big budget problems, and now it seems jobs that were once exempt from looming layoffs may also be on the chopping block. A Los Angeles City Council committee ordered analysts Monday to consider slashing police and fire department jobs, and the cuts will not stop there. The L.A. City Council chambers were standing room only Monday as a budget and finance committee held a first hearing on layoffs and cutbacks in city services. It's grim.

Indianapolis - Many people start the New Year with resolutions, and Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson is no exception. 2007 holds many challenges for the state's largest city. 2006 ranked as one of the city's worst years for violent crime. It's why Peterson puts battling crime as his number goal for the New Year. That means finding money to pay for new anti-crime initiatives aimed at keeping enough officers on the streets and moving people through the criminal justice system faster. Peterson said he's putting together a funding plan to take to state lawmakers. "Not to ask the state for money...