State officials say "agreements in principle" have been reached by three state and federal agencies regarding the cleanup of the Department of Energy's Santa Susana Field Lab in the hills south of Simi Valley.  Boeing (at one time Rocketdyne), NASA, and DOE operated the site from 1949 to 2006.  It was used to develop and test rocket engines and it also contained a nuclear research facility.  The overall site is 2800 acres, but DOE operated 290 acres and NASA 451.  The cleanup involves toxic and radioactive substances that contaminated the surrounding areas.  Linda Adams, Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency called the agreements in principle "a significant step forward" in cleaning up the site to the highest environmental standard.  Adams added, "We applaud DOE and NASA for their efforts."

A major crackdown was carried out Thursday on those people found trespassing on the railroad tracks and surrounding Union Pacific property from the western edge of Camarillo to the eastern edge of Ventura.  The sweep was conducted from 10 AM to 1 PM and involved Oxnard Police, Union Pacific Police, Sheriff's Deputies from Ventura and Los Angeles counties and the Department of Homeland Security.  They were looking for people who were on railroad property when they shouldn't.  That included pedestrians, bicyclist, and vehicles.  In included the entire length of the tracks, including road crossings.  They were also looking for people who ignored railroad crossing arms, warning signals, and signs.  During that period, Oxnard Police say officers witnessed 60 violations.  They say 4 people were arrested for trespassing and 20 drivers were issued citations.  Violators face $200 to $500 fines and possibly even jail time.  In the United States, California was ranked number two last year when it came to highway-railroad collisions with 121.  Ninety-one of those were fatal, 61 involved trespass-related collisions with fatalities, and 42 were trespass related collisions with injuries.

An Oxnard tow truck drive accused of running down a mother and her two children Tuesday has denied the charges against him.  45-year-old Mehran Khamseh pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.  Those charges include driving under the influence of drugs, causing great bodily injury, plus charges of mayhem.  He is also facing a second strike under the three strikes law.  Prosecutors say if he's convicted on all counts, Khamseh could get more than 20 years in state prison.  His bail was set at more than half a million dollars, but he's actually being held on no bail because he is a parolee, and because he is accused of being an illegal immigrant.  He will be back in court later this month.  Meanwhile the two children, a boy, 1, and a girl, 3, are recovering from critical injuries.  Their mother, 19-year-old Alma Lopez of Oxnard, is recovering from moderate injuries sustained in the incident on Vineyard Avenue at Simon Way.

Cal Penal Code section on mayhem

203.  Every person who unlawfully and maliciously deprives a human
being of a member of his body, or disables, disfigures, or renders it
useless, or cuts or disables the tongue, or puts out an eye, or
slits the nose, ear, or lip, is guilty of mayhem.

Ventura Police are asking anyone who may have been the victim of a vehicle burglary in the predawn hours of Thursday, especially in the residential areas south of Ventura College.  Police say they arrested a 17-year-old male from Ventura who was in possession of items believed stolen from at least 4 or 5 vehicles in the area around Dean Drive and Westmont Street.  Some of the items included a purse, money, and food.  Police say the teen took the items from unlocked vehicles in that area.  They believe there may be other victims out there and they are asking any victims to give them a call.

Oxnard Police are looking for the suspect in an armed robbery Wednesday night.  It happened shortly before 9 PM at the Warehouse Shoe Sale in the 2300 block of Saviers Road.  Police say the suspect, wearing a ski mask and armed with a handgun, got away with an undisclosed amount of cash from the register.  No one was hurt.  Police described the suspect as a Hispanic male in his 20's.  He's 5'8" and 170 pounds.

Former Oxnard boxing champ Roberto Garcia has pleaded no contest to a charge of disturbing the peace by fighting in connection with an incident at a Ventura nightclub in the spring of 2009.  It's an infraction.  Garcia was sentenced to the two days in jail he already served after the incident at the club Hush.  Initial reports accused Garcia of getting involved in a fight and resisting arrest.  Later investigation indicated that the other person started the incident and Garcia was just defending himself.  Prosecutors agreed to reduce the misdemeanor charge to an infraction and Garcia pleaded no contest Wednesday.  A no contest plea is considered a guilty plea by the court.  The other charge against the 35-year-old Garcia was dismissed.