Week In Review

Johns’ attorney wants jurors to know in the trial scheduled to start this week that his client was taking over-the-counter cough medicine and prescription drugs to deal with her grief when she struck Tift.

Johns faces charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and driving under the influence.

BUSINESS

County janitors: Strike imminent on the horizon

County janitors authorized their leaders to declare a strike this week, joining counterparts statewide at demonstrations near Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza.

While no walk-out is yet planned, organizers said that such activity is “imminent on the horizon.”

The janitors, many of whom make less than $8.50 an hour, say they are pushing for fairer wages in one of the lowest-paying counties for their profession in the United States.

Contractors counter that the janitors aren’t being realistic and that they can’t be expected to afford high increases in pay due to the state of the economy.