This Week's Top News in the South Bay

Here is a look at some of the top stories this week in the beach cities and Palos Verdes peninsula.

Redondo Beach

CEC Deems AES Application to Repower 'Data Inadequate': AES Southland's application to repower the AES Redondo Beach power plant on Harbor Drive is "data inadequate," the California Energy Commission ruled Wednesday morning at its meeting in Sacramento. The ruling means that AES must resubmit a more detailed application to the CEC.

Letter: Safety Should Be City Hall's No. 1 Priority: The stabbings at the Galleria and the beating death on Pacific Coast Highway and Avenue F heightened my concerns about cuts to public safety staffing in Redondo Beach, writes Redondo Beach resident Elaine Cherlin.

Claim Forms Now Available for Power Surge Damages: Redondo Beach residents affected by a power surge in late November can now become part of the official police report by filling out a form at the Redondo Beach Police Department headquarters at 401 Diamond St. in South Redondo Beach.

Manhattan Beach

: A "malfunction" at the Chevron Refinery in El Segundo required a flare-up Tuesday, said Manhattan Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Ken Shuck. Flame and plumes of smoke were visible in the surrounding areas until about 3:10 p.m. when the flare-up stopped.

Redondo Man Accused of Watch Snatch in Manhattan Beach: A Redondo Beach resident was arrested Friday on suspicion of grand theft and burglary, Manhattan Beach Police Department public information officer Stephanie Martin said Monday. The charges stem from an incident at Prestige Jewelers inside Manhattan Village at about 3:20 p.m. Thursday.

Cloudy Tap Water Not a Safety Issues Says City Staffer: The cloudy water some Manhattan Beach residents and businesses may have seen Wednesday morning did not pose a safety issue, said Utilities Manager Raul Saenz, explaining that the typical sediment of calcium, magnesium and iron found at the bottom of the city's water pipes was stirred up by the amount of pressure generated on the water system when a fire hydrant was knocked off Wednesday at Highland Avenue and 45th Street.

M.B. Post Chef to Open New Seafood Spot: David LeFevre, the chef behind M.B. Post, is bringing another new venture to Manhattan Beach this spring, he told MB Patch Friday. Though he couldn't divulge where Fishing With Dynamite will be located, he did reveal that the 30-seat, 1,100-square-foot restaurant will feature seafood from vendors who use "sustainable seafood practices."

Palos Verdes

Man Electrocuted While Trimming Tree: A blackout affecting about 1,800 Southern California Edison customers in southeast Rancho Palos Verdes last Saturday afternoon was caused by a man who was electrocuted when he was trimming a tree, according to the city of Rancho Palos Verdes.

Dive Team Searches for 1981 Murder Victim Off PV: A sheriff's dive team searched Wednesday for the body of a woman who was dumped in 1981 off Rancho Palos Verdes.

Man Arrested in RPV Skateboard Theft: A 20-year-old San Pedro man was arrested Thursday in connection with the theft of an expensive skateboard from a Rancho Palos Verdes park in May. Steve Nocon, 20, was taken into custody by detectives from the Los Angeles County sheriff's Parks Bureau, who served a search warrant at his home, according to Deputy Paul Schrader.

: Henrietta "Etty" L. Allen—widow of professional football Hall of Fame coach George H. Allen, as well as mother of current Redskins general manager Bruce Allen and former U.S. Sen. George F. Allen (R-Va.)—died last Wednesday at her home in Palos Verdes Estates, the Washington Post reported. She was 89.

Hermosa Beach

City Council OKs Car2go Car Sharing Program: The Hermosa Beach City Council approved a resolution Tuesday that will allow for the city's participation in a proposed South Bay regional car sharing program. Run by the on-demand car rental company Car2go, the proposed program would encompass nine South Bay cities and allow customers to rent two-person Smart cars on a per-minute basis for short or even one-way trips.

Hermosa Mayor Named Alternate on Coastal Commission: Hermosa Beach Mayor Jeff Duclos has been named the California Coastal Commission’s South Coast alternate appointee, serving whenever the selected appointee, Long Beach Vice Mayor Robert Garcia cannot attend a meeting.

Taxi Driver Punched Twice in Alleged Road Rage Incident: A taxi driver was punched by two men in a "road rage" altercation of sorts, according to a Hermosa Beach Police Department report. The incident happened around 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 22 when pedestrians who were crossing against the light the intersection at Pier and Hermosa avenues engaged in a verbal argument with a taxi driver