Beltway sniper John Allen Muhammad to be executed today in Virginia

Beltway sniper John Allen Muhammad is scheduled to be executed this evening in Virginia.

According to the article by Times reporter David G. Savage, Muhammad was convicted in 2003 of the shooting rampage that occurred the year before. Of the 16 people shot, 10 died.

U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft made the choice seven years ago to send Muhammad, then 41, and his teenage accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, to Virginia to be tried despite the fact that more of the mayhem took place in Maryland.

In 2002, Maryland had put the death penalty on hold because of racial unfairness. So while only three of the killings took place in Virginia, a death sentence was a possibility in that state. Thus Ashcroft chose Virginia to hold the trial.

Malvo was convicted of the murders, but because of his young age, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

The prosecution and families of the victims have said they are comforted by the sentence. The Supreme Court justices turned down a final emergency appeal from Muhammad's lawyers that he needed more time to develop his appeals since the process has taken place at a rapid pace.

So the question is, is this execution happening too quickly? Was it right that Muhammad was tried in Virginia instead of Maryland? Or do you agree with the speedy execution?

-- Kelsey Ramos

Photo: John Allen Muhammad listens to the jury's recommendation of death in Virginia Beach Circuit Court on November 24, 2003. Credit: Getty Images

Oprah reportedly is considering leaving Chicago for her L.A.-based OWN cable network in 2011

Rumors are flying around the Web that the Oprah Winfrey show may soon be packing up its longtime broadcast syndication in Chicago and moving to her new Los Angeles-based cable network, the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Even though OWN has yet to launch, there has already been a considerable amount of controversy with the channel’s executives, as three top programmers have left the venture in the last six months.

Winfrey’s production company Harpo Inc. has not confirmed the rumors, saying only that the iconic talk show host would make a decision by year's end. The show’s contract with syndicator CBS Television Distribution expires in 2011.

Meanwhile, people on Twitter don’t need any concrete details to spread rumors around the social network like wildfire, using the hashtag "#Oprah" -- here are some of today’s tweets about Oprah’s predicted move:

JakeJNelson: Its not like anyone is watching anyway...What would be so entertaining about #Oprah

milordsuccotash: #Oprah braves move to her OWN network!! Great move O, she owns and controls her brand!

courtneywade: O is off her rocker.

Henjealy: OMG, WHAT? Probably leaving us for some Olympic-laden city. I see how it is.

What are your thoughts? Do you think Oprah is wise to consider making the switch to her OWN network? Can she survive on cable, away from syndicated broadcasts? Let us know below.

-- Kelsey Ramos

Photo: Oprah Winfrey on the set of her show in 1996. Credit: Los Angeles Times

12 killed in shooting at Ft. Hood Army base in Texas

A shooting at Ft. Hood Army base in Texas this afternoon has left at least 12 people dead and 31 wounded.  ABC News identified the shooter as Maj. Malik Nadal Hasan. [Update: A previous version of this post stated that there were other shooters.]

Army deputy chief of staff Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli has been at the head of the efforts to reduce the number of Army suicides, which hit a three-decade high in 2008. [Update, 5:01 p.m.: A previous version of this post said Gen. Chiarelli was headed to Ft. Hood today. The Army tells us he is not.]

News organizations are offering updates as quickly as they can. Twitter users are also expressing their concern and speculation on the social network, using the hashtags “#fthood” and “#forthood.” Topping the trending topics, which show the most popular topics at any given time, are “Fort Hood,” “Texas” and “Major Malik Nadal.”

Here are some of the tweets about the shootings:

Lizzs_Lockeroom: Why does it always take a tragedy to bring attention to a long standing problem on soldiers mental health...

TormentedOne: They give us: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage.

Swineheart: A guy would have to "have his head on straight" to get to Major. Seems more likely an ideological issue.

How did you react to news of the shooting?

-- Kelsey Ramos

Photo credit: Reuters

'This Is It': Does the Michael Jackson documentary redeem or fail to acquit?

The posthumous Michael Jackson documentary, “This Is It,” reported less-than-impressive numbers on opening night but has since garnered hope with its increasing ticket sales, says our Company Town blog.

The box-office surge is partially due to its popularity overseas (like in Japan), but also because of positive word-of-mouth recommendations.

However, readers’ reactions to the film still mirror public opinion seen and heard after Jackson’s sudden death in June: a battle between sympathy for the tragedy of losing a legend and repulsion to repeated allegations of child molestation during his life.

Times film critic Ann Powers gave the documentary an overall positive review, and some readers agreed:

Natalie wrote: 'This Is It' speaks loud and clear to debunk all the myths about Michael Jackson that media/tabloid has implanted in the public's mind. He is a true genius who masters his craft, yet he is also humble and childlike. There is so much talent and goodness in this man that the world has just chose to ignore -- and now we've lost him forever. This film is a gift to all of Michael's fans and music lovers.

For All Time wrote: Through 'This Is It' we learn more about the kind of person MJ really was inside than the last 30 years of slanderous gossip about him. His relentless pursuit of musical perfection, his rare kind of professionalism with fellow players and his unmatched energy level will never be seen in show business ever again.

But others stood by their opinion that Jackson’s personal problems overrode any good brought about by his music:

David wrote: Cant we let this narcissistic madman fade away?? Oops..there is still cash to be squeezed out of him.

archangel wrote: Oh, please Jackson "channeling God"! And which channel was he tuning into during his drug induced God delusions? The Baby Channel, Barney, Comedy Central, the Doper Channels (MTV/VH1). I'm in a quandary deciding which the worse pathos is; Jackson for his mediocre, tainted and trashed legacy... or the media for squeezing this landfill stench from a dead guy just to rack up the sales? Enough!

joel wrote: of course foreigners would cough up the money to see jackson they think he was a god. most countries over there think its ok to molest a child.

If you have seen “This Is It,” tell us what you think. Do you think we ought to appreciate a great film honoring this departed musical legend? Or is it impossible to separate Jackson’s personal life -- and his controversial relationships with children -- from his music?

And if you haven’t seen the film, are you planning on attending? Are you waiting for the inevitable DVD? Or have you had enough of the King of Pop?

-- Kelsey Ramos

Photo: Movie poster for "This Is It." Credit: Sony Pictures

Readers still split about Rihanna and Chris Brown as 'Rated R' is set to drop

It has been almost nine months since Chris Brown was arrested for assaulting Rihanna while the then-couple drove home from a pre-Grammy party, an incident that caused a huge uproar in the music community and among fans. Brown was sentenced in August to five years of probation and 180 days of community labor.

After the assault, readers responded passionately, both defending Chris Brown and supporting Rihanna as a victim of abuse:

What wrote: Plaxico gets 2 years of his life taken away for taking a gun into a club and shooting himself accidentally in the leg. Harming no one but himself. Chris Brown gets probation for beating the crap out of Rihanna. Our justice system/prison business is extremely flawed.

General wrote: I don't care if she spit in his face and called him an idiotic womanizer. I don't care if she called him every name you can think of. There is no excuse for what he did. A picture tells it all and he doesn't look too hurt to me. Biting someone? That is just sick.

Shakaila Jones wrote: I LOVE MY Christopher Maurice Brown 4get rihanna. I am ANTI-Rihanna right now. She has slaughtered Chris's good name and I dont like her at all. I didnt like when they started dating cuz she took my man and now because of this heck no. I never will like her again. Now everytime people mention chris brown name they are going to call him an abuser and all that nonsense. I will do anything to clear Chris name and rid him of that triffling, jealous, mean, RIHANNA!!!!!!!

Later this month Rihanna will return to the music scene with the release of her new album, “Rated R.” The album features the eye-opening serious single “Russian Roulette” that marks her music comeback from the February incident -- yet regardless of where Rihanna stands, the feelings of our readers remains strongly polarized (comments after the jump):

'The Oprah Effect': Is Christmas in October naughty, or nice?

It's not surprising that there is buzz after today's Oprah Winfrey Show (she seems to have that effect on people frequently), but this time many are wondering if Oprah's featured offer is just an early example of the acceleration of Black Friday's rabid consumerism. All this, and Halloween hasn't even arrived yet.

On the second segment of her show today, Oprah announced an exclusive sale at Payless ShoeSource: a link to a coupon for 50% off one’s entire purchase. (The offer is only good in stores from now until the close of business Friday, Oct. 30. That's tomorrow, folks -- so if you're interested, don't delay on printing that coupon.)

(Perhaps unrelated to the Christmas season, but still worth mentioning, is another offer recently released by Boston Market. The restaurant chain's coupon, which offers customers the choice of a quarter white meat or a three-piece dark meat meal with mashed potatoes and cornbread for $1, was a response to KFC's free-chicken day on Monday, Oct. 26. Boston Market makes no attempt to hide that the promotion is an attempt to steal KFC's thunder; its coupon reads "$1 Real Chicken Meal: Always better than just a FREE piece of chicken." The offer is good until Nov. 1.)

Hollywood's Museum of Death: 'Carpe diem' reminder or inappropriate?

You don’t have to wait until Nov. 1 to celebrate the Day of the Dead -- head on over to Hollywood’s Museum of Death and live it up now.

Today, The Times' Bob Pool shares the grisly details about the mummified heads, reenacted mass suicides, and how-to videos for embalming a body in Cathee Shultz and J.D. Healy's museum. (A photo gallery shows some of the museum’s authentic death artifacts and museum visitors’ reactions to them.)

Healy says he hopes people leave not with nightmares about murder and demise, or fear about their impending mortality, but with a renewed appreciation for life.

After reading Pool’s article about the museum, are you going to visit the Museum of Death? If you have visited, do you agree with Healy that its grave exhibits encourage you to live life to the fullest?

Or are the displays -- like the room devoted to serial killers -- just offensive and inappropriate responses to serious tragedies?

-- Kelsey Ramos

Photo: A visitor looks at the display on the Heaven's Gate cult suicide.  Credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times

Medical marijuana for an L.A. Times columnist

For a lot of people, the details about medical marijuana can be hazy. Hundreds of dispensaries have grown like weeds around Los Angeles, some of which are open as late as fast-food restaurants (a blessed coincidence). But how does one get a prescription to use this medicine?

Thankfully, L.A. Times columnist Steve Lopez broke down part of the process in his column today about his visit to the medical marijuana doctor.

In his account, Lopez educates us about obtaining a marijuana “recommendation” from an obstetrician who had advertised as being someone who could write a script for the controversial bud. 

So the question is: Is Lopez’s account of visiting the doctor an accurate depiction of the experience?

Do you agree with him that we’re better off legalizing the plant? Or do the recreational users who abuse the system need to be, excuse the pun, weeded out?

Our interactive map of L.A. marijuana dispensaries shows which are licensed and which have been denied applications -- it also marks their proximity to schools, parks and libraries. What do you think about the location of these dispensaries? Does it matter that they are so close to schools and public spaces? Or do you consider this much ado about nothing?

-- Kelsey Ramos

Photo: Various strains of medical marijuana sit on a shelf inside Green Oasis, a medical mariujuana dispensary in Los Angeles. Credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

Did you watch the U2 concert at the Rose Bowl?

U2 was in sync. The Edge was electric. Bono was energetic. That screen was absolutely massive.

Throngs of concert-goers turned out for the U2 concert at the Rose Bowl on Sunday.

After all, it was the largest audience the Rose Bowl has ever hosted. U2's concert brought out tons of celebrities, including J.J. Abrams, Colin Farrell, Michael Bay and Danny DeVito.

The performance received rave reviews, and we want to hear all about your experiences.

Did you brave traffic and crowds to attend on Sunday? Were the streets as bad as some say? Were you impressed with the performance? Were the Black Eyed Peas a worthy opener?

If you decided to skip the show (hey, traffic was rough, and tickets were expensive or unattainable), did you watch on YouTube -- or should we say, U2ube?

Google hasn't yet released metrics, but the YouTube broadcast of the U2 concert was expected to attract millions. Did you have any problems with the stream?

Some were bound to have skipped Bono-mania entirely. Are you going to watch the rebroadcast online, or are you just not impressed with the Irish foursome?

-- Mark Milian

Photo: The Edge and Bono perform at the Rose Bowl. Credit: Associated Press

Sculpture installation at new LAPD headquarters: art or atrocious?

In today's column, Steve Lopez finds mixed reactions to the six cast-bronze pieces recently installed outside of the nearly completed LAPD headquarters downtown. Police Chief William J. Bratton said he walked by the installation to see whether "it's as ugly up close as it is when you're driving by." A passerby said, "It's nice, but is this a pig, or what is it?"

If you haven't seen the objects in person, take a look at a these photos. Let us know what you think of the installation.

Photo: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

'We did it for the show,' balloon boy explains, so does that mean it was a hoax?

Yesterday was a busy day for little Falcon Heene. One minute he's playing with his brothers as they tinker with a homemade balloon, the next minute the balloon is airborne, and soon after millions of people are under the impression that Falcon is aboard the craft as it speeds through the thin air of Colorado.

We now know that the 6-year-old spent five hours hiding in the attic of the family garage out of fear of being reprimanded for letting the balloon loose into the heavens. But around the Web, and even in our own comments, the phrase (and accusation) "Balloon Boy Hoax" is gaining momentum.

The cynicism about the young lad and his trial is due in part because, when asked by CNN's Wolf Blitzer on "Larry King Live" yesterday, young Falcon said, "Um, we did it for the show." The question was along the lines of "why didn't you answer when your parents called for you?" Thus the critics are assuming that the family, who has participated in a TV reality program, were all in on the commotion. When Blitzer pressed Richard Heene, the father became visibly agitated.

Later it was reported that Falcon himself got physically upset, twice, during interviews.

Loma Prieta earthquake was 20 years ago -- where were you?

Twenty years ago two 50-foot sections of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge collapsed because of the Loma Prieta earthquake. That wasn't the only damage. Indeed, 63 people were killed, about 3,800 people were injured, and the 6.9 magnitude quake caused over $10 billion in damage across the Bay Area.

The reconstruction of the Bay Bridge turned out to be the largest public works project in California history -- and it's still not finished two decades later.

As we look back to the quake that even postponed the World Series, we ask: What were you doing when the quake hit? Feel free to answer in the comments box below.  Did you take photos of the event?  We'd love to see them -- share them at The Times' photo-sharing site, Your Scene.

-- Tony Pierce

In this photo taken Oct. 17, 1989, a California Highway Patrol Officer checks the damage to cars that fell when the upper deck of the Bay Bridge collapsed onto the lower deck after the Loma Prieta earthquake in San Francisco. Credit: Vince Maggiora / San Francisco Chronicle

Balloon Boy alive and safe

For a few hours this afternoon, the nation turned its focus to an unlikely victim -- Balloon Boy.

A 6-year-old boy named Falcon Heene was believed to have crawled into a homemade balloon modeled after a UFO in Denver and found himself floating below the clouds. The Heene family was featured on the 100th episode of the ABC show "Wife Swap," which aired nearly two weeks ago.

CNN followed the balloon with cameras as news commentators quizzically ranted about how confusing this whole thing was. Tell me about it.

When the balloon was finally grounded, no one was found inside.

Finally, authorities confirmed that the so-called Balloon Boy was alive and safe.

The hubbub was followed intently by major news organizations, but the chatter was perhaps most prevalent and most immediate on Twitter. On the social network, endless tweets were focused on the event.

As rumors spread and the boy's safety remained uncertain, users signified their distress by Twittering concerned comments and appending the hashtag "#saveballoonboy."

Also on the Trending Topics list, which shows the most popular topics at any given time, was #balloonboy, Balloon Boy, Falcon and Colorado.

Here's a sampling of some of the more notable tweets reacting to the news of the boy being found:

Raychellie: Falcon Heenes (aka: balloon boy) should win the 2009 Hide and Seek award.

SethMyers21: Oh and by the way, THE KID SHOULD GET IN TROUBLE!!!!

Motownmutt: Hearing rumours that the balloon boy is grounded.

Franklinavenue: Today's coverage of "Balloon Boy" brought to you by Disney Home Entertainment. "Up" released on DVD and Blu-ray on Nov. 10!

How did you react to the Balloon Boy news?

Update after the jump...

Santa Monica considers raising parking rates to discourage automobiles

Santa Monica is considering raising its downtown parking rates to encourage people to use alternative means other than automobiles to visit places such as the Promenade. According to the story in today's Times, "a full day of parking would rise from $7 to $9 and on-street parking meters from $1 to $1.50 per hour. Meters might be converted to accept credit cards."

By boosting rates, officials intend to make the parking closest to the congested Third Street Promenade expensive enough that some visitors will instead walk, take the bus or park in more-distant garages. If it works, the city would benefit from smoother traffic flow, reduced pollution as fewer people cruise for spaces and a better return on land developed for public parking.

"What we're saying is: 'Parking's not free in Santa Monica anymore,' " said Councilman Bobby Shriver, who advocates changing the parking rules.

Santa Monica is one of several cities -- including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. -- turning to market-based pricing in an effort to keep parking lots busy with paying customers while making alternatives such as walking, cycling or taking public transit more appealing.

Some critics are concerned about the elderly, of whom there are many who reside at the beach city, who live on fixed incomes and will possibly be the most affected by the increases. Meanwhile, small business owners worry that it might discourage would-be customers from "popping in" to a bar or restaurant for a quick drink or snack.

So where do you stand? Do increased rates for parking meters slow you down from taking your car to certain parts of town? Will increased parking rates stop you from visiting Santa Monica or will you ride the Big Blue Bus the next time you head down there?

-- Tony Pierce

Photo: People enjoying Santa Monica Pier in August 2009. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

George W. Bush's new smart phone attracts Twitter zingers

Just when you thought people had grown tired of ragging on President George W. Bush, the zingers come back.

The Ticket posted news Tuesday about the former president getting a BlackBerry.

After a meeting with Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, we -- along with Stone -- had begun to wonder if Twitter could be next for Bush.

The Twitter world wasn't so enthusiastic about the less-than-popular politician coming to the party. The prospect incited disses not seen since the latter part of Bush's last term.

JashSF writes:

He's going to need a spell checker on there.

Barbapreta writes:

Oh my Gosh! Are you ready for e-bushisms!

RichardWildwood writes:

I can see how this is BB's ideal celeb advocate

Thesurfreport writes:

Doubtful as he probably can't count to 140.

-- Mark Milian

Twitter: @markmilian

Photo credit: Associated Press