Solstice Canyon hike: The stats

Just off the Pacific Coast Highway between Pepperdine University and Point Dume, Solstice Canyon is an unusually scenic hike to the ruins of a once-grand private estate. Along the way are magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean.

1. From the PCH, turn on Corral Canyon Road, find one of two public parking lots or grab a space on the street if you're not there early enough, about a quarter mile inland. Catch the stone stairs leading to the TRW Trail from just below the public restrooms.

2. Continue on the TRW Trail as it crosses a paved road and parking lot, then meets the Rising Sun Trail and begins to climb to the ridge. While you're climbing, enjoy increasingly dramatic views of the ocean behind you, the mountains before you and the colorful canyon-clinging hillsides around you. If you hear squawking bird calls, look into the canyon to catch sight of the bright green wild parrots.

3. The Rising Sun Trail will follow the ridge, then wind along a canyon wall dotted with sage and wild anise before beginning a rapid descent through a series of switchbacks to the ruins of the Roberts estate.

4. Architect-to-the-stars Paul Williams designed the elegant "Tropical Terrace" home for Fred and Florence Roberts in 1952. A fire destroyed the structure in 1982, but its stately skeleton remains. Wander among the dry pools where guests once swam and among the waterfalls at the rear of the residence.

5. Return along Tropical Terrace Trail, a wide dirt road (paved occasionally) through the sycamore- and oak-lined canyon.

6. Follow the fork to your left for a shadier, quieter stroll, or stay to the right for a more direct route back to your starting point.

::

The stats

Distance: 3.4 miles

Difficulty: 4, on a scale of 1 to 5

Duration: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Details: Dogs on a leash are OK. Free parking. Metro bus line 534.

Fleming is the author of "Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles" and "Secret Stairs East Bay: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Berkeley and Oakland."

charles.fleming@latimes.com

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

16.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Basketball notes: Miami Heat's Chris Bosh evaluated for medical issue

Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat underwent testing at a hospital Thursday to assess a medical issue related to the area around his lungs, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press.

Bosh and the team were expecting to have a better grasp of the situation Friday, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because neither the player nor the team had disclosed any specifics publicly.

It was unclear if Bosh was admitted to the hospital, or simply underwent testing.

Miami plays at New York on Friday night. Bosh did not fly with the team Thursday.

Bosh was not feeling well and was sent home by the team from practice Wednesday. Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said at Thursday afternoon's practice, when Bosh was missing again, that he remained "under the weather" but offered no specifics on his condition.

Bosh is averaging 21.1 points and 7.0 rebounds this season. He signed a five-year contract worth just over $118 million last summer, and played Sunday night in the All-Star Game in New York — his 10th appearance in the NBA's showcase game.

Bosh said before the All-Star break that he was looking forward to some time off to rest and recover from some nagging issues, though did not specify what those were.

::

The Sparks signed guard Elina Babkina of Latvia, giving the WNBA team its fourth new player in recent weeks. Babkina played in the Russian League last season, helping her team to the league finals.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

16.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Solstice Canyon hike: The stats

Just off the Pacific Coast Highway between Pepperdine University and Point Dume, Solstice Canyon is an unusually scenic hike to the ruins of a once-grand private estate. Along the way are magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean.

1. From the PCH, turn on Corral Canyon Road, find one of two public parking lots or grab a space on the street if you're not there early enough, about a quarter mile inland. Catch the stone stairs leading to the TRW Trail from just below the public restrooms.

2. Continue on the TRW Trail as it crosses a paved road and parking lot, then meets the Rising Sun Trail and begins to climb to the ridge. While you're climbing, enjoy increasingly dramatic views of the ocean behind you, the mountains before you and the colorful canyon-clinging hillsides around you. If you hear squawking bird calls, look into the canyon to catch sight of the bright green wild parrots.

3. The Rising Sun Trail will follow the ridge, then wind along a canyon wall dotted with sage and wild anise before beginning a rapid descent through a series of switchbacks to the ruins of the Roberts estate.

4. Architect-to-the-stars Paul Williams designed the elegant "Tropical Terrace" home for Fred and Florence Roberts in 1952. A fire destroyed the structure in 1982, but its stately skeleton remains. Wander among the dry pools where guests once swam and among the waterfalls at the rear of the residence.

5. Return along Tropical Terrace Trail, a wide dirt road (paved occasionally) through the sycamore- and oak-lined canyon.

6. Follow the fork to your left for a shadier, quieter stroll, or stay to the right for a more direct route back to your starting point.

::

The stats

Distance: 3.4 miles

Difficulty: 4, on a scale of 1 to 5

Duration: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Details: Dogs on a leash are OK. Free parking. Metro bus line 534.

Fleming is the author of "Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles" and "Secret Stairs East Bay: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Berkeley and Oakland."

charles.fleming@latimes.com

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

16.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ducks not proud of their play after loss to Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-1

It would be understandable if the Ducks were losing close games during these post-All Star, pre-playoff dog days of the NHL season.

But after producing another sloppy, inconsistent effort Wednesday in a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning — the Ducks' fifth loss in six games and seventh in their last 10 — it's clear they're experiencing something worse than a lapse in concentration or lack of interest after building a big lead in the Pacific Division.

"This is not how we want to be playing right now," defenseman Ben Lovejoy said after the Lightning scored all four goals in the second period. "This isn't a case of other teams coming in and beating us. We think when we're playing the right way, when we're playing our style, nobody is going to beat us. We're not there right now. We need to get better."

A lot better. And at least, they know it.

"We're not sitting there thinking, 'We played a pretty good game, why didn't we win?' That's not the case," Lovejoy said. "We know how we played. We're not proud of it."

Their play was slipping before they lost Sami Vatanen to a leg injury and productive left wing Matt Beleskey to a shoulder injury this week. It didn't help Wednesday that defenseman Hampus Lindholm was scratched — he apparently aggravated an injury that kept him out of a game last week — but no one stepped up to fill those voids.

In fact, they stepped back in ugly unison.

They had a good start Wednesday, led by left wing Patrick Maroon's forceful, physical effort. He also scored his first goal in nine games, planting himself by the right post and jamming a rebound past Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop at 4:17 of the first period.

Everything looked good for the Ducks. "I thought our first period was probably one of the best periods we've had all season," Corey Perry said. "We were physical, we were fast, we were moving the puck. And we were shooting. Those things are a part of what this team is all about and that's how we have to play."

And then they stopped playing that way, mesmerized by the Lightning's speed. As Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau noted, his defensemen had few hits — one by Francois Beauchemin and one by Josh Manson — because they couldn't catch opponents to get a body on them.

"The first period was the way we wanted to play tonight," Perry said. "I don't know what happened in the second."

Tampa Bay controlled the pace and the puck in the middle period while outshooting the Ducks, 20-5, and scoring in two-goal clusters early and late in the period. The Ducks have given up at least four goals in four of their last five games, a losing formula for a team that insists it can't get caught up in a track meet but too often does.

"We relaxed," Lovejoy said. "We didn't play nearly as well. We had far too many turnovers. We couldn't get the puck out of our zone."

Tampa Bay pulled even at 4:31, when Anton Stralman, in the left circle, deflected a shot by Brian Boyle past Gibson. The Lightning took the lead after an intended clearing pass by Ryan Getzlaf was held in the zone and led to a shot by Jason Garrison. Gibson stopped that, but the rebound went to Ondrej Palat, who fed Tyler Johnson in front.

Moments after Ducks winger Rene Bourque shot high on a breakaway, the Lightning expanded its lead to 3-1. Stralman's shot from the right point appeared to glance off Beauchemin and Cam Fowler, creating chaos in front. Gibson tried to push the puck under his leg to get a stoppage, but Fowler jabbed his stick beneath Gibson's right pad and the puck went in, a goal credited to Nikita Kucherov.

Steven Stamkos triggered a shower of boos from fans at Honda Center when he took a cross-ice pass from Alex Killorn and rifled a shot past Gibson from the left circle at 19:39. The Ducks gave fans few reasons to cheer in the third period.

"We know we're a good team. When we play at our best level, no one can beat us in this league," Maroon said. "When we play very strong hockey we're big and physical, and we're getting away from that right now."

Too far away for their comfort.

Follow Helene Elliott on Twitter @helenenothelen

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

16.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ducks not proud of their play after loss to Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-1

It would be understandable if the Ducks were losing close games during these post-All Star, pre-playoff dog days of the NHL season.

But after producing another sloppy, inconsistent effort Wednesday in a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning — the Ducks' fifth loss in six games and seventh in their last 10 — it's clear they're experiencing something worse than a lapse in concentration or lack of interest after building a big lead in the Pacific Division.

"This is not how we want to be playing right now," defenseman Ben Lovejoy said after the Lightning scored all four goals in the second period. "This isn't a case of other teams coming in and beating us. We think when we're playing the right way, when we're playing our style, nobody is going to beat us. We're not there right now. We need to get better."

A lot better. And at least, they know it.

"We're not sitting there thinking, 'We played a pretty good game, why didn't we win?' That's not the case," Lovejoy said. "We know how we played. We're not proud of it."

Their play was slipping before they lost Sami Vatanen to a leg injury and productive left wing Matt Beleskey to a shoulder injury this week. It didn't help Wednesday that defenseman Hampus Lindholm was scratched — he apparently aggravated an injury that kept him out of a game last week — but no one stepped up to fill those voids.

In fact, they stepped back in ugly unison.

They had a good start Wednesday, led by left wing Patrick Maroon's forceful, physical effort. He also scored his first goal in nine games, planting himself by the right post and jamming a rebound past Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop at 4:17 of the first period.

Everything looked good for the Ducks. "I thought our first period was probably one of the best periods we've had all season," Corey Perry said. "We were physical, we were fast, we were moving the puck. And we were shooting. Those things are a part of what this team is all about and that's how we have to play."

And then they stopped playing that way, mesmerized by the Lightning's speed. As Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau noted, his defensemen had few hits — one by Francois Beauchemin and one by Josh Manson — because they couldn't catch opponents to get a body on them.

"The first period was the way we wanted to play tonight," Perry said. "I don't know what happened in the second."

Tampa Bay controlled the pace and the puck in the middle period while outshooting the Ducks, 20-5, and scoring in two-goal clusters early and late in the period. The Ducks have given up at least four goals in four of their last five games, a losing formula for a team that insists it can't get caught up in a track meet but too often does.

"We relaxed," Lovejoy said. "We didn't play nearly as well. We had far too many turnovers. We couldn't get the puck out of our zone."

Tampa Bay pulled even at 4:31, when Anton Stralman, in the left circle, deflected a shot by Brian Boyle past Gibson. The Lightning took the lead after an intended clearing pass by Ryan Getzlaf was held in the zone and led to a shot by Jason Garrison. Gibson stopped that, but the rebound went to Ondrej Palat, who fed Tyler Johnson in front.

Moments after Ducks winger Rene Bourque shot high on a breakaway, the Lightning expanded its lead to 3-1. Stralman's shot from the right point appeared to glance off Beauchemin and Cam Fowler, creating chaos in front. Gibson tried to push the puck under his leg to get a stoppage, but Fowler jabbed his stick beneath Gibson's right pad and the puck went in, a goal credited to Nikita Kucherov.

Steven Stamkos triggered a shower of boos from fans at Honda Center when he took a cross-ice pass from Alex Killorn and rifled a shot past Gibson from the left circle at 19:39. The Ducks gave fans few reasons to cheer in the third period.

"We know we're a good team. When we play at our best level, no one can beat us in this league," Maroon said. "When we play very strong hockey we're big and physical, and we're getting away from that right now."

Too far away for their comfort.

Follow Helene Elliott on Twitter @helenenothelen

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

16.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ducks not proud of their play after loss to Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-1

It would be understandable if the Ducks were losing close games during these post-All Star, pre-playoff dog days of the NHL season.

But after producing another sloppy, inconsistent effort Wednesday in a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning — the Ducks' fifth loss in six games and seventh in their last 10 — it's clear they're experiencing something worse than a lapse in concentration or lack of interest after building a big lead in the Pacific Division.

"This is not how we want to be playing right now," defenseman Ben Lovejoy said after the Lightning scored all four goals in the second period. "This isn't a case of other teams coming in and beating us. We think when we're playing the right way, when we're playing our style, nobody is going to beat us. We're not there right now. We need to get better."

A lot better. And at least, they know it.

"We're not sitting there thinking, 'We played a pretty good game, why didn't we win?' That's not the case," Lovejoy said. "We know how we played. We're not proud of it."

Their play was slipping before they lost Sami Vatanen to a leg injury and productive left wing Matt Beleskey to a shoulder injury this week. It didn't help Wednesday that defenseman Hampus Lindholm was scratched — he apparently aggravated an injury that kept him out of a game last week — but no one stepped up to fill those voids.

In fact, they stepped back in ugly unison.

They had a good start Wednesday, led by left wing Patrick Maroon's forceful, physical effort. He also scored his first goal in nine games, planting himself by the right post and jamming a rebound past Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop at 4:17 of the first period.

Everything looked good for the Ducks. "I thought our first period was probably one of the best periods we've had all season," Corey Perry said. "We were physical, we were fast, we were moving the puck. And we were shooting. Those things are a part of what this team is all about and that's how we have to play."

And then they stopped playing that way, mesmerized by the Lightning's speed. As Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau noted, his defensemen had few hits — one by Francois Beauchemin and one by Josh Manson — because they couldn't catch opponents to get a body on them.

"The first period was the way we wanted to play tonight," Perry said. "I don't know what happened in the second."

Tampa Bay controlled the pace and the puck in the middle period while outshooting the Ducks, 20-5, and scoring in two-goal clusters early and late in the period. The Ducks have given up at least four goals in four of their last five games, a losing formula for a team that insists it can't get caught up in a track meet but too often does.

"We relaxed," Lovejoy said. "We didn't play nearly as well. We had far too many turnovers. We couldn't get the puck out of our zone."

Tampa Bay pulled even at 4:31, when Anton Stralman, in the left circle, deflected a shot by Brian Boyle past Gibson. The Lightning took the lead after an intended clearing pass by Ryan Getzlaf was held in the zone and led to a shot by Jason Garrison. Gibson stopped that, but the rebound went to Ondrej Palat, who fed Tyler Johnson in front.

Moments after Ducks winger Rene Bourque shot high on a breakaway, the Lightning expanded its lead to 3-1. Stralman's shot from the right point appeared to glance off Beauchemin and Cam Fowler, creating chaos in front. Gibson tried to push the puck under his leg to get a stoppage, but Fowler jabbed his stick beneath Gibson's right pad and the puck went in, a goal credited to Nikita Kucherov.

Steven Stamkos triggered a shower of boos from fans at Honda Center when he took a cross-ice pass from Alex Killorn and rifled a shot past Gibson from the left circle at 19:39. The Ducks gave fans few reasons to cheer in the third period.

"We know we're a good team. When we play at our best level, no one can beat us in this league," Maroon said. "When we play very strong hockey we're big and physical, and we're getting away from that right now."

Too far away for their comfort.

Follow Helene Elliott on Twitter @helenenothelen

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

16.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lawmakers delay vote on raising cat ownership limit from three to five

The Los Angeles City Council delayed voting Tuesday on a proposed change to the city code that would ease the limit on the number of cats residents can own.

Under the current law, residents are barred from owning more than three cats without a kennel permit. The proposed change would raise the limit to five.

Following lengthy public testimony from animal activists and city officials, Councilman Paul Koretz, chairman of the city's Personnel and Animal Welfare Committee, suggested waiting another 60 days before the three-member committee votes on the item.

"We've been having an ongoing discussion with various folks on this issue, and a couple of pieces are still up in the air," Koretz said.

If approved, the proposed feline ownership limit would head to the full City Council for consideration.

Supporters of the change, including Koretz, argue that the new limit promotes the adoption of cats, which are less likely than dogs to find new owners out of shelters.

"We have to try and adopt out more cats. The most likely takers are people who already have them in their home," Koretz said.

Others chafe at the inflexibility of the three-cat cap.

"Three is an arbitrary number," said Christi Metropole, the founder and executive director of the Stray Cat Alliance. "You can live in a one-bedroom apartment and have three cats, and you can have a mansion and have three cats."

Under the proposed rule, a household could have up to five cats, but only three of the felines would be allowed to roam outside. The others would be confined to living indoors. 

Owners of five or more cats would have to pay license fees ranging from $55 to $150 and agree to annual inspections.

Some opponents say the proposal would promote hoarding, and many find the enforcement system infeasible or nonexistent.

"It provides no mechanism to ensure that additional cats beyond three are kept indoors," said Travis Longcore, science director for the Urban Wildlands Group, and Dan Silver, executive director of the Endangered Habitats League. The pair submitted an opposition letter addressed to Koretz and other committee members.

"Any scheme that mixes indoor, outdoor, and indoor/outdoor cats at an address is clearly not meant to be enforced," Longcore and Silver wrote in their letter.

In another letter, Susan Taylor, executive director of Actors and Others for Animals, said her organization supported raising the cat limit but questioned whether the city has the resources to conduct inspections.

"It seems incredulous that a proposal that requires so much manpower is getting serious consideration," Taylor wrote.

All cats would have to be spayed or neutered, a law that's already on the books. Landlords' rules on pet ownership would still trump the city's cap.

Dogs are also capped at three, but no other pets have ownership limits.

For breaking news in California, follow @MattHjourno. 

Times staff writer Sarah Parvini contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

16.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lawmakers delay vote on raising cat ownership limit from three to five

The Los Angeles City Council delayed voting Tuesday on a proposed change to the city code that would ease the limit on the number of cats residents can own.

Under the current law, residents are barred from owning more than three cats without a kennel permit. The proposed change would raise the limit to five.

Following lengthy public testimony from animal activists and city officials, Councilman Paul Koretz, chairman of the city's Personnel and Animal Welfare Committee, suggested waiting another 60 days before the three-member committee votes on the item.

"We've been having an ongoing discussion with various folks on this issue, and a couple of pieces are still up in the air," Koretz said.

If approved, the proposed feline ownership limit would head to the full City Council for consideration.

Supporters of the change, including Koretz, argue that the new limit promotes the adoption of cats, which are less likely than dogs to find new owners out of shelters.

"We have to try and adopt out more cats. The most likely takers are people who already have them in their home," Koretz said.

Others chafe at the inflexibility of the three-cat cap.

"Three is an arbitrary number," said Christi Metropole, the founder and executive director of the Stray Cat Alliance. "You can live in a one-bedroom apartment and have three cats, and you can have a mansion and have three cats."

Under the proposed rule, a household could have up to five cats, but only three of the felines would be allowed to roam outside. The others would be confined to living indoors. 

Owners of five or more cats would have to pay license fees ranging from $55 to $150 and agree to annual inspections.

Some opponents say the proposal would promote hoarding, and many find the enforcement system infeasible or nonexistent.

"It provides no mechanism to ensure that additional cats beyond three are kept indoors," said Travis Longcore, science director for the Urban Wildlands Group, and Dan Silver, executive director of the Endangered Habitats League. The pair submitted an opposition letter addressed to Koretz and other committee members.

"Any scheme that mixes indoor, outdoor, and indoor/outdoor cats at an address is clearly not meant to be enforced," Longcore and Silver wrote in their letter.

In another letter, Susan Taylor, executive director of Actors and Others for Animals, said her organization supported raising the cat limit but questioned whether the city has the resources to conduct inspections.

"It seems incredulous that a proposal that requires so much manpower is getting serious consideration," Taylor wrote.

All cats would have to be spayed or neutered, a law that's already on the books. Landlords' rules on pet ownership would still trump the city's cap.

Dogs are also capped at three, but no other pets have ownership limits.

For breaking news in California, follow @MattHjourno. 

Times staff writer Sarah Parvini contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

16.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Radical militants kill 4 Tunisian National Guard near Algerian border

Radical militants killed four members of the National Guard in the mountainous Kasserine region near the Algerian border, Tunisia's Interior Ministry said early Wednesday.

The brief statement blamed "terrorists" for the attack but gave no other details. Local radio added that the attack took place around midnight and the militants fled with the guardsmen's weapons.

The attack took place near Mount Chaambi, a national park on the Algerian border that has provided refuge to Al Qaeda-linked Islamist radicals blamed for attacks against army and politicians in Tunisia for the past two years.

The attack comes as Tunisian forces on the Libyan border are on high alert in the wake of the murder of 21 Egyptian Christians in Libya by another radical Islamic group. Tunisia is also bracing for an influx of Egyptians fleeing Libya.

Since Tunisians overthrew their secular dictator in 2011, kicking off the region-wide Arab Spring, they have come increasingly under attack by Islamic militants.

Despite the efforts of Tunisia's small army, attacks have continued around Mount Chaambi near the city of Kasserine. The militants in the area are believed to be part of the Oqba bin Nafaa radical group, the military wing of Ansar al-Sharia, whose leaders fled to Libya in 2013.

Algerian and Tunisian forces are attempting to coordinate their efforts to control the rugged region, which straddles the border between the two countries.

On Monday, Algerian forces killed a militant carrying explosives near Tebessa, just across the border from Kasserine.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

16.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Judge blocks Obama policy that would shield millions from deportation

A federal judge in south Texas issued an injunction Monday temporarily blocking a program President Obama announced in November that would defer deportation for about 5 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.

The injunction and an accompanying 123-page order issued by U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen in Brownsville bar federal immigration officials from implementing Deferred Action for Parents of Americans, or DAPA, and expanding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.

Hanen's ruling came two days before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services was set to start accepting applications for the program.

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted praise for the order late Monday, saying it "stops the president's overreach in its tracks."

"We live in a nation governed by a system of checks and balances, and the president's attempt to bypass the will of the American people was successfully checked today," Abbott wrote.

The judge's order bars federal immigration officials from implementing "any and all aspects" of the program that Obama announced in November.

After the White House and the GOP couldn't reach agreement on comprehensive immigration reform, Obama announced that he would act on his own and used his executive authority to defer deportation for about 4.7 million immigrants illegally in the United States.

DAPA includes more than 4 million who have lived in the United States for at least five years and are the parents of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.

Obama also expanded DACA, which allows young people brought into the United States as children to apply for deportation deferrals and work permits.

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment that were made after midnight.

Led by Texas, 26 states promptly sued, arguing that Obama had overstepped his constitutional authority by acting without congressional approval.

The administration has argued that Obama acted within his constitutional powers, a position supported by four lawyers who formerly served as general counsel to the immigration agency.

"This injunction makes it clear that the president is not a law unto himself, and must work with our elected leaders in Congress and satisfy the courts in a fashion our Founding Fathers envisioned," Texas Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton said in a statement late Monday.

Don Reay, executive director of the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition, called it "a very good decision."

"This is something that should be handled legislatively — it's too big of an issue for one person to dictate it," Reay said, adding that he hopes the decision will "make Congress realize they need to start doing something — they need to work together. Maybe this will precipitate something, not further the chasm."

Supporters of the president's immigration policies noted that the case was expected to be appealed.

"We're obviously disappointed," said Nora Preciado, staff attorney with the Los Angeles-based National Immigration Law Center. "We also know that this is only the first step in a long legal battle and we remain confident that in the end, the expanded DACA and DAPA programs will go into implementation. We remain confident the president has acted within his authority and is on solid legal ground."

"Judge Hanen's ruling is not permanent and we are confident that it will be repealed in a higher court," said Cristina Jimenez, managing director of United We Dream, a Washington, D.C.-based immigrant advocacy group. "Republican attacks like this lawsuit do not scare us, they just focus our resolve to make these programs even more successful."

The president has been supported by about a dozen states, led by Washington state Atty. Gen. Bob Ferguson. Groups representing cities have filed friend-of-the-court briefs supporting Obama. The mayoral backing included New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Philadelphia.

Times staff writers Michael Muskal in Los Angeles and Kathleen Hennessey in Washington contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

10:54 p.m.: This story has been updated throughout.

10:14 p.m.: This story has been updated to include comments from United We Dream.

This story was originally published at 9:41 p.m.

16.38 | 0 komentar | Read More