Burbank-based Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and SEGA have announced that they are launching a massive multi-player game centered around the Matrix. The new online service incorporates the Matrix film into a PC-based game featuring the characters, music and settings of the matrix. The companies will also include a live events team that will act as actual Matrix characters for missions and player-organized events. The service will be available at game retailers and will require a monthly subscription of $14.99.

California State University Channel Islands has received a four-year $774,000 grant to develop “gender equitable” lesson plans. The grant, awarded to the University by the United States Department of Education, Women’s Educational Equity Act Program, will be used to implement face-to-face workshops and online courses to middle and high school math, science and technology teachers in California and Hawaii. The program guides teachers to create classroom projects that encourage females to pursue higher-level courses and careers in technical fields. The project curriculum, which is aligned with state standards, Title IX, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges guidelines, was also designed to help teachers to meet program improvement and professional goals as well as to support efforts to increase state test scores.

Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) will present a check for $180,000 in federal funds to El Proyecto Del Barrio on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Winnetka facility located on 20800 Sherman Way. The ceremony is not open to the public. The funds will be used to develop a new medical wing for HIV/AIDS patients at the S. Mark Taper Foundation Center for a Healthy Community in Winnetka. In November, Sherman announced the approval of almost $2 million in federal funds for the Valley, which will go toward adding lanes to the 101 freeway, renovating the Northeast Valley Health Center, expanding the North Valley YMCA and purchasing equipment for High Tech High at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys.

Warner Pacific Insurance Services announced it has been named Kaiser Permanente’s first General Agency partner, and will be offering Kaiser’ medical plans to more than 20,000 agents and brokers throughout California.. Warner Pacific will be offering all of Kaiser’s small group medical plans including co-payment plans, deductible plans, POS plans and dental and chiropractic riders. “By adding Kaiser Permanente’s integrated health care system to our portfolio of carriers, we are offering a broader selection of employee benefit plans for small business owners,” said David Nelson, Warner Pacific Vice President.

Mayor James Hahn has proposed a new incentive to protect Los Angeles’ entertainment industry from being lured away by other cites, states and countries offering strong financial incentives. “Other cities, other states and other countries are luring our film industry away with powerful financial incentives. I’m fighting back with incentives of our own to make an offer that will be hard for filmmakers to refuse,” Hahn said in a prepared statement. “Protecting our entertainment industry isn’t about millionaire producers and move stars. It’s about the people who hang the lighting, drive the trucks and build the sets. And it’s about our economy,Hollywood generates $30 billion and 200,000 jobs for Los Angeles.” The mayor’s proposed incentive would reimburse productions for 5 percent of below the line costs of up to $12.5 million, for a maximum of $625,000 per production. The maximum amount the city would pay in the first year of the proposal would be $15 million, $2.5 million more than New York City’s recently enacted film incentive program offers. Hahn’s proposal is subject to approval by the Los Angeles City Council.

The Valley Industry and Commerce Association’s Board of Directors threw their support behind House Bill 444, the Hybrid HOV Lane Access Act introduced by Congressmen Brad Sherman and Darrel Issa. The bill, should it become law, would legitimize Assembly Bill 2628, which was turned into a law on January 1 to allow single-occupant hybrid vehicles that achieve at least 45 miles per gallon and reach a clean-air standard to use California carpool lanes. Bonny Herman, president and chief executive officer of VICA, said that HR 444 is crucial in order for AB 2628 to remain valid. Since federal funds finance the construction of the state’s carpool lanes, the assembly bill needs federal approval. “HR 44 4is merely a formality to dot the Is and cross the Ts on existing AB 2628, guaranteeing that Californians don’t lose a good thing because of a simple administrative procedure,” Herman said in a news release. “Additionally, it may contribute to the development and increased production of new automotive technologies at no cost to the taxpayer.”

A report issued by the Public Policy Institute of California indicates that residents of Los Angeles County are more and more unhappy abut traffic and the cost of housing. Fewer residents are happy with the level of police protection and parks, beach and recreation facilities, and a growing number are worried about the region’s long-term progress. According to the report, 33 percent of county residents plan to leave Los Angeles County within five year. In 2003, only 17 percent said they planned to relocate over five years. Seventy four percent of respondents said congestion on freeways is a big problem, and 64 percent said the same thing about the availability of affordable housing. More residents gave the economy favorable ratings compared with last year — a majority of people said things are going very well or somewhat well. However, the Institute reported that 37 percent expect the county to be a worse place to live in twenty years. Read the full report.

Earl Scheib Inc. reported a net loss of $1.3 million or $0.30 per diluted share for the company’s third quarter ended January 31, an improved earnings performance versus the same period last year when the company recorded a loss of nearly $2 million or $0.45 per diluted share. The Sherman Oaks-based operator of auto paint and body shops said its revenues had risen to $9.7 million for the third quarter, an 8.1 percent improvement over the same period last year when the company recorded revenues of $9 million. Officials at the company said the revenues increased despite the closure of a number of units since last year. Same shop sales for Earl Scheib increased 7.9 percent for the period.

Natrol Inc. landed in the black for 2004, logging net income of $1.9 million or $0.13 per share for the period, compared with a net loss of $1.5 million or $0.11 per share for the prior year. Sales at the Chatsworth-based maker of nutritional supplements increased 9.1 percent to $79.3 million, compared to $72.7 million in 2003. Natrol said its diet category performed especially well in 2004 as did such core items as Natrol Ester-C. The company also improved its distribution in club stores, which offset weaknesses in its raw material business and sports nutrition supplement category.

Buena Vista Home Entertainment will release five movie titles this spring on the Universal Media Disc video format that plays on the PSP (PlayStation Portable) handheld entertainment system. The company will release “National Treasure,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” “Reign of Fire,” “Kill Bill Vol. 1,” and “Hero” in the United States and Canada. It will make other titles available throughout the year. “Buena Vista Home Entertainment is excited to move forward with our movies on this format. With its crisp picture, ease of use and quick response mechanisms, the PSP is poised to revolutionize portable entertainment systems throughout the world,” said Buena Vista President Bob Chapek. “We are confident that the five titles we announced today appeal to the new PSP consumer.” Buena Vista Home Entertainment is the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax, Dimension and Buena Vista videocassette and DVD product. The company is a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.