Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has awarded more than $6 million in Workforce Investment Act funds to help veterans returning to the civilian workforce. More than 1,500 newly discharged veterans will receive help finding jobs in high-growth occupations in California such as health care, emergency medical technology, construction, security, law enforcement and computer services. The 12 agencies receiving the grants have committed matching funds of almost $4 million to further expand their job training programs for a total investment of nearly $10 million. The grants will focus on identifying military transferable skills and determining career pathways to industries that offer livable wages, benefits and career advancement opportunities. The projects funded will also provide supportive services, placement and follow-up through case management programs expected to run through December 2009. Veterans who have served in previous wars may also qualify to receive assistance.

Low-cost carrier JetBlue will begin daily flights between Burbank and Washington, D.C. in May, the first ever-non stop service to that city from the San Fernando Valley. The airline also adds in May one daily non-stop flight between Burbank and LasVegas. JetBlue began its service at Bob Hope Airport in 2005 and currently serves Kennedy International Airport in New York City, and Salt Lake City.

IPC The Hospitalist Company has added Innovative Physician Services LLC to its group of national affiliated practices. Massachusetts-based IPS is a regional medical group specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation combined with internal medicine hospitalist services. The affiliation marks the Hospitalist Co.’s entry into New England. Headquartered in North Hollywood, the Hospitalist Co. is a physician group practice company focused on the delivery of hospitalist medicine services.

Alien robots bested pirates from the Caribbean and otherwise in head-to-head competition at the Sixth Annual Visual Effects Society Awards taking place Feb. 10 in Hollywood. “Transformers” won four of the five of the categories in which it was nominated along with “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” walking away with Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Movie and Best Single Visual Effect among others. “Pirates” won for Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Motion Picture and Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Motion Picture for the tentacle-faced pirate Davy Jones. It was a sea change of sorts for Disney’s multi-million swashbuckling franchise, which last year swept all six categories for which it was nominated. The effects for both films were done by Industrial Light & Magic, the special effects division of Lucasfilm Co. Disney fared well with its latest animated film “Ratatouille,” winner of three awards, including Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Motion Picture in which it competed with four live action films. The Encino-based VES presents the awards for the best effects, compositing, animated characters and use of models and miniatures in feature films, television, commercials, music videos and video games. Academy Award-winner Steve Spielberg, director of such effects-laden films as “Jurassic Park,” the Indiana Jones trilogy, “Jaws,” and “E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial” was presented with the society’s Lifetime Achievement Award by Dennis Muren, last year’s recipient of the award. While the society’s awards categories cover all aspects of professional effects, something should be done for those just starting their careers, Spielberg said. “I’d suggest a student film award to really encourage gifted animators, visual effects artists and future directors to have an incentive to get into this business,” Spielberg said. The VES has over 1,500 members in 16 countries.

Striking television and film writers will cast votes Feb. 12 on whether to end the three-month strike that has crippled the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. A deal was reached between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers that pays writers for programming streamed online and doubles the rate paid for movies and TV shows sold online, the Los Angeles Times reported. The Guild board and negotiating committee approved the contract on Feb. 10. Payment for content distributed through new media became the main sticking point in the dispute. Writers began their walk out Nov. 5 after the two sides failed to negotiate a new contract.

Capstone Turbine Corp. narrowed its net loss for the third quarter, according to the company’s latest financial statement. The Chatsworth-based manufacturer of micro-turbines posted a loss of $7.7 million, or a loss of $0.05 per diluted share, on revenues of $9.2 million for the quarter ending Dec. 31. For the same period last year, the company had a net loss of $8.5 million, or a loss of $0.08 per diluted share, on revenues of $5.7 million. The 61 percent increase in revenues for the third quarter was attributed to continued growth in the American, European and Asian markets.

More than 100 people were taken into custody following an immigration raid at a Van Nuys printer supply company. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided Micro Solutions Enterprises the afternoon of Feb. 7. Eight employees were arrested on federal criminal charges of allegedly providing fake information and 120 were held on being in the country illegally, the Associated Press reported. An ICE spokeswoman said the criminal warrant that was the basis for the raid remains under seal, the AP reported. About 40 of the employees, including the elderly and those with children, were released until a hearing before an immigration judge, the AP said. Micro Solutions manufacturers and distributes toner cartridges, inkjets and other printer accessories.

Members of the Writers Guild of America will meet on Feb. 9 to hear the points of a new contract with the major Hollywood studios. Support for the deal by the members is necessary for Guild leadership to call off the three-month television and film writers strike. The Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are finalizing the details of a three-year contract, the Los Angeles Times reported. The writers began their walk out Nov. 5 after negotiations failed to reach a new contract. The main sticking point between the Guild and the studios was how much writers should be paid for their work when distributed online and through mobile devices.

Los Angeles City Council President Pro Tem Wendy Greuel issued a statement on the U.S. Census Bureau’s decision to continue recognizing the San Fernando Valley as a unique geographical region. The decision of the bureau to overturn its previous recommendation to eliminate the San Fernando Valley as a unique geographic area deserving of its own Census data pleased Greuel. “Although this decision might seem relatively small, we rely on the Census data to put the public’s tax dollars to work more efficiently. Using the figures, we have been able to better understand the social and economic conditions of the region,” she stated. “This gives us a specific picture of how Valley needs differ from the needs of other Los Angeles neighborhoods. Census information indicates where to strategically locate transit lines, how to identify poverty and analyze growth in the region. The hard data helps us lobby for funds from the state and federal governments to address these vital issues.” Greuel, along with business and political leaders such as Congressman Brad Sherman, won special Census designation status for the Valley in 2005.

Power-One Inc. wrapped up what is chief executive called a challenging quarter with a net loss of $6.5 million. The fourth quarter financial performance of Camarillo-based manufacturer of power conversion products was affected by factory inefficiencies, logistics costs and $1.8 million in legal costs associated with a patent lawsuit. The $6.5 million net loss, or a loss of $0.07 per diluted share, on revenues of $132.2 million for the quarter ending Dec. 31 was lower than the net loss of $14.2 million, or a loss of $0.16 per diluted share, on revenues of $116.2 million for the same period in 2006. While sales increased for the year, not all with the company went as planned, said CEO Bill Yeates. The high priority is to improve gross margins and steps taken to accomplish that include closing facilities in Texas and Hungary and increase use of the facility in China, Yeates said.