On March 12, Juan Garcia, a 53-year-old homeless man, was brutally murdered in an alley in the Westlake District, just west of downtown Los Angeles. At first, the police were stumped; there were no known witnesses and few clues. Then a 43-year-old undocumented immigrant who witnessed the crime came forward and told homicide detectives from the Rampart station what he saw. Because of his help, a suspect was identified and arrested a few days later while hiding on skid row. Because the witness was not afraid to contact the police, an accused murderer was taken off the streets, and we are all a little bit safer. Stories like this are repeated daily in Los Angeles.

WASHINGTON An open letter to black women:

It's about the need to be beautiful, I know.

The recession emphasized yet again the importance of education in landing a good job and holding it. Studies have shown that those with post-high school degrees are more likely to be employed, even during tough economic times.

Talk to your teen about safe driving

The city of Rock Hill might consider an innovative 10-year plan to house the homeless in available apartments in the city. But with winter coming, it is reassuring that local organizers have a plan in place to ensure the homeless will have shelter.

A recent audit of the state prison system might not vindicate the Department of Corrections entirely, as its director Jon Ozmint claims. But it once again indicates that the prison system is doing a good job under difficult circumstances.

In reference to Wesley Rash's letter of Oct. 21: He is correct in assuming that being white and voting Republican in the last election, I did not vote to send any Democrat to Washington. I also can assure him that in the future, I seriously doubt that I will vote to send any Democrats to Washington.

Federal authorities did little to dispel reports that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the al-Qaida leader who allegedly helped plan the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, soon will be indicted in federal court in New York. If this occurs, we finally — after many false starts — will have a courtroom showdown deserving of the otherwise overused label “trial of the century.”

If a bank gives you a mortgage, it sets the rates, right? If a credit card company issues you a Visa, it tells you the terms, correct?

The project to widen S.C. 901 and create a “back door” to Rock Hill has cost much more than first anticipated, but chances are good that the investment ultimately will pay off in more development of southern York County.