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Reports on the US Labor Department's release of a list of clothing contractors that were cited for labor law violations. Reason for the release; Comments of Maria Echaveste of the department's Wage and Hour Division; Criticisms against the list.

Part II. Reports that immigrant workers consider the United States labor office a last resort to settle any claims against their employers. How the agency operates; Acknowledgements by assistant labor commissioner for Los Angeles, Greg Rupp; Disadvantages of operating with the agency. INSET: Disappearing agency..

Reports that Italy International Corporation, which was listed on the federal government's `good guy' list and which consumers were encourage to support, was raided by investigators from California. Citations which were filed against Italy International by the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement; Amount of money which Italy was fined; How Juan Li, the owner of Italy pleaded to the charges against his company; Reasons for the actions against the company.

Focuses on the Santa Ana Work Center in California, that assists unemployed workers and persons looking to change their careers. Growth of the so-called `one-stop' career centers nationwide; Idea behind the establishment of the centers; How the centers are managed and provided for; Uncertainty about the future of the centers; Statements from Patricia Nunn, the facility's director and one of its founders. INSET: Where to go..

Reports on the plan of Coldwell Banker Corp to reenter the commercial real estate market. What the company plans to sell; Number of offices owned by Coldwell; Reason for the move by Coldwell; Name of the unit that Colwell will operate; Comments from Chandler Barton, president and chief executive officer of Coldwell.

Announces an unemployment decrease in Southern California, and a steady recovery of its local economy. Hiring of 1,000 employees by Hughes Electronics Corporation; Drop of 1.1% in the banking industry; Comments from David Hensley, regional economist for Salomon Brothers in New York.

Reports on the plans of California labor investigators to inspect 1,00 apparel contractors and manufactures in 1996, an increase from the amount inspected in 1995. Circumstances surrounding the inspection increase; Number of facilities inspected in 1995; Response to the state's plans.

Reports that surf wear designer, Shawn Stussy, is resigning from the position of president of Stussy Incorporated, but will maintain his position as consultant to Stussy. reason for his resignation; Background information on Stussy; Comments from Frank Sinatra Jr.

Presents information on the accumulation of debt through the use of credit cards by college students in the United States. Experiences of Michael Puccini during his senior year in college; Comments form Pucchini; Statistics on credit card usage by students; Part of overall consumer debt in Southern California; Financial inexperience of young contributing factor; Comments from Gary Stroth, consumer credit counsellor.

Presents information on the types of loans taken out by three couples in order to buy homes in California. Information on 100% equity loan taken by Ted, and Stephanie Kaminsky of Anaheim Hills; Low down payment loan taken by Robert, and Angela Mendoza of Long Beach; $25,000 loan for Charlie, and Beth Dean of Mentone. INSET: The bankruptcy option, by Janice L. Jones..

Presents information on the change in mortgage lending for Californian home buyers in the nineties. Information on what's available include low down payment home loans; Comments from Rick Cossano of Countrywide Funding in Pasadena; Remarks from Nima Nattagh, of TRW REDI Property Data; Information on more flexible credit standards offered. INSET: Homes on the fiscal fault line, by Kirk Christ..

Reports that although Southern Californians are scarcely out of recession, they are being tempted by credit offers, and plunging into debt. How Caroline Livingston's inability to resist a Visa card offer has put her into serious debt; Survey conducted by Clarita Incorporated on the debt situation; Anxiety of economists. INSETS: Increasing signs of strain, by Kirk Christ.;On the brink..

Reports on the increased turnout of post-Thanksgiving Southland consumers, who flocked to Southern California shopping centers, bringing a hopeful sign that the holiday shopping season could give as added boost to the recovering Southland economy. Percentage increase of consumer turnout compared to that of 1994; Consumers' caution about spending due to economic uncertainties.

Informs about the decision of union leaders representing Disneyland workers to accept a contract proposed by the authorities, which were rejected earlier by most of the voting members. Details.

Informs about the condemnation of Walt Disney Co. by fifteen Florida legislators for extending health benefits to the partners of gay and lesbian employees in a letter addressed to Disney Chairman Michael Eisner.

Reports on the Walt Disney Co. which is planning to extend health coverage to the partners of gay and lesbian employees from January 1, 1995. Information on the lobbying effort in the company on the issue; Details on the policy adopted by the Disney company and the benefits of the policy; Response to the policy from gay activists and anti-gay groups.

Reports on the arrest of Thuy Vinh Le of Orange County, California by federal authorities, for allegedly arranging a number of fraudulent government-backed loans for unsuspecting Vietnamese-owned businesses forcing the Small Business Administration (SBA) to change its practices. Views of the SBA on the fraud loans; Comments from Assistant United States Attorney Nathan Hochman.

Cites a `Los Angeles Times' poll in 1995 finding that California consumers are increasingly pessimistic about the state's economic recovery. Orange County Annual Survey's finding that one in four residents has been personally affected by the county's bankruptcy filing; Continued job growth in California.

Focuses on recession, wage stagnation and corporate cuts which causes the employees in California to do overtime work. Experience of Ray Dellerba, President of Eldorado Bank in Irvine; Reason for the same; Tabular and graphical study of overtime work and multiple jobs among California production workers; Opinion of various people on earning more. INSET: Longer days..

Informs about the decision of James P. Hoffa, son of the legendary Teamsters president James R. Hoffa, to run for president of the Union, as announced on August 30, 1995 in the `Larry King Live' show in Los Angeles. Other competitors for the post; Speculation over Hoffa's prospects in the bid.

Talks about L.L. Knickerbocker Co., a television marketer that had been marketing a line of cosmetics made by Michael Elam, a Corona del Mar doctor whose medical license was canceled in 1980 because of charges of malpractice and fraud.

Features Express Manufacturing Inc., an electronics company in Santa Ana, California. Number of employees; Owners; Revenues in 1994; History of the company.

Profiles Edward C. Allred, owner of the Los Alamitos Race Course in Orange County, California. Details of Allbred's purchase of the race course; Challenges facing the track; Three major breeds that race at Los Alamitos; Career history of Allred.

Reports on the anticipated benefits of US President Bill Clinton's decision to normalize relations with Vietnam, for the businessmen of California. Expectations of Californians from normalization of relations; Views of experts on the same.

Presents the detail of the Chapman University's midyear economic report about Orange County's economic recovery and job expansion as reported on June 27, 1995.

Reports that the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing has been swamped with sexual harassment complaints. Enforces employment and discrimination laws; Slow legal process; Comments from Rose Fua, an attorney for Equal Rights Advocates; Increase in complaints; Sexual discrimination likened to racial discrimination; How the department deals with complaints; Cost of sexual harassment cases; Cases closed because of insufficient evidence;

Reports on odds faced by carpenters in Southern California who has staged a strike and demands better pay and benefits. Comparison with the strike of drywallers; Court responses regarding the carpenters' strike; Comments from some carpenters.

Focuses on the implications of Dow Corning Corp.'s filing for bankruptcy protection on lawsuits filed against it by women who receive breast implants manufactured by the company. Marie Walsh's formation of a network of women complainants against the company; Walsh's reaction to Dow's financial troubles; Description of events which led to the company's legal and financial woes. INSET: The Dow Corning saga..

Reports that the Small Business Administration (SBA) has extended its loan guarantees. SBA's performance for the 1995 first quarter; Efforts of the SBA to reduce small business lending; How SBA district offices in Los Angeles and Santa Ana, California have approved business loans, totalling $708 in a six-month period; Popularity of real estate loans; Comments from SBA spokesman, Mike Stammler. INSET: SBA loan approvals..

Reports on the expectations of Rockwell International Corporation, to complete the $3.2-billion sale of its aerospace and defense operations to Boeing Company. Information on the deal between Rockwell and Boeing; Terms of the agreement.

Focuses on the wage increase in the Southland's garment industry due to the passage of Proposition 210 in California in November 1996. Views of investigators about the increases wages; Number of contractors not paying the increased wages; Comments from Rick Rice, a spokesman for the state Department of Industrial Relations.

Reports on the decline of workplace sexual harassment complaints in California. Comparison with the number of sexual harassment allegations in 1995; Reasons for the decline of sexual harassment complaints; Efforts of companies to prevent sexual harassment.

Reports on the criticism of Oceanside, California-based Harry Singh & Sons' receiving the 1996 Agricultural Employer of the Year after allegations that the farm had not paid overtime wages to its workers. Farm's completion of housing project for workers in 1990; Exemption of farm workers from federal overtime rules.

States that California's state and federal labor investigators found several sweatshop violations during a raid on the Southern California's garment-manufacturing industry. Information on the results of other sweatshop raids; Electrical problems found at the sweatshops; Comments from deputy chief of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Mark A. Carleson.

Reports that in California, Labor Department officials have accused Newport Beach denture manufacturer, Glidewell Dental Ceramics Incorporated, of failing to pay overtime to about 300 of its workers. Estimated amount of money the employees were cheated out of; Allegations denied by Glidewell; Information on the dental manufacturing company.

Reports on the increase in California's taxable sales during the first quarter of 1996. Total value of taxable transactions; Sales figures' consistency with other economic indicators; Business types that benefitted from the increased spending.

Reports on the government's failure to root-out garment sweatshops in Southern California. Effect of political infighting on enforcement; Breakdown of the Targeted Industries Partnership Program; Comments of Jose Millan, founder of the program.

Addresses the safety problems at circuit board industry in the United States. Drill machine accident of Jose Robles at Tustin Circuits; Work conditions; Cost control savings of shop owners at expense of safety and environmental regulations; Case presentations on worker safety violations.

Reports on a decline in the California's jobless rate from April to June 1996. Addition of jobs by nonfarm employers; Unemployment rate; Job growth.

Reports on Walt Disney Co.'s plans to build a new theme park in Anaheim, California. Features of the proposed theme park; Background on the company's business operations.

Focuses on the split among Southland members in California over the selection of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters's president for 1996. Race between James P. Hoffa and Ronald R. Carey for the presidency; Scheduled nomination of candidates during the organization's convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Membership profile of the Teamsters union.

Reports that state labor officials have secured a court order forcing the California Market chain to shut down its Garden Grove store in California. Allegations that California Market's stores do not have workers' compensation insurance; Refusal by grocery chain to close down despite court order.

Reports on the plans of Robert Reed Rogers to retire as chairman and chief executive officer of Comparator Systems Corp.

Reports on the Labor Department's awarding of a $3 million grant to assist in finding employment for at-risk youths in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles officials' pledge to match the grant with $4.3 million in public funds and private-sector funds; Particular activities covered by the grant.

Reports that Clothes Connection, a large garment maker that caters to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is planning to shift production to Mexico. Reason for the transfer of operation; Number of employees by the company in Santa Ana, California during its peak; Plan of the company to maintain a shipping and distribution center in California.

Reports on the decline in unemployment rate in California in May 1996. Comparison of employment gain with national trends; Factors behind decline in jobless rate.

Reports on Texas Instruments Inc.'s announcement that the US Patent and Trademark Office has ruled that one of its engineers is the rightful inventor of the single-chip microprocessor. TI's claim that it had finally prevailed in its formal challenge to the controversial patent awarded in 1990 to inventor Gilbert P. Hyatt; Affirmation that engineer Gary Boone is considered to be the prior inventor of the technology.

Reports on the raids conducted by labor authorities on garment factories in Orange County, California.

Reports on the controversy surrounding the stocks of Comparator Systems Corp. Tale involving shell firms; Use of stocks to pay executives in lieu of salary.

Reports that shareholders who have filed suit against Comparator Systems Corp. in California sought to freeze the assets of the company and a brokerage that has been accused of manipulating its stock. Deferral of ruling pending presentation of additional information by Comparator and brokerage La Jolla Capital Corp.