Tuesday Travel Ticker: LAX reports crime drop

Major crimes reported at LAX dropped 26.7% last year, and overall crime continues to decline, according to 2012 statistics released this week by Los Angeles Airport Police. Robberies dropped from three in 2011 to one last year. Two aggravated assaults were reported each year. In 2012, there were 17 reports of burglary from locked vehicles, a decrease of 10.5% over 2011 . . . . National Park Service authorities announced they will issue permits to limit the number of Half Dome hikers to 300 a day to reduce congestion in a wilderness area and make the hike safer. In a blow to environmentalists, the park also decided to keep in place the heavy metal cables that hikers use to steady themselves on the 45-degree final climb . . . . Former President Bill Clinton headlines a star-studded list of celebrities teeing off in the amateur field of the PGA Tour event Jan. 14-20 in La Quinta. The event, formerly the Bob Hope Classic, includes radio and TV personality Carson Daly, actor Craig T. Nelson and singer Michael Bolton . . . . National Park Service officials are blaming low water levels and a decline in business for the upcoming closure of the Echo Bay Marina fuel dock and boat slip facility on the northern part of Lake Mead, AP reports . . . . Universal Orlando Resort’s Mardi Gras 2013 is celebrating “N’awlins� on select nights from Feb. 9 to April 20. The family-friendly version of the Mardi Gras bash will include performers Demi Lovato, the Steve Miller Band and Pitbull . . . . How great is this ski season shaping up to be for Lake Tahoe? Alpine Meadows has snow depths of up to 95 inches; Homewood, 79 inches; Squaw, 119 . . . . In Incline Village, Diamond Peak Ski Resort celebrates learn to ski and snowboard month with $29 packages Jan. 14-18 . . . . Jim Rogers and the “Undercover Boss� team will visit Ventura Ranch KOA as part of Friday’s CBS episode . . . Travel quote of the day: “From pastrami sandwiches and artwork woven from lint to the exoticism of cactus gardens and the splendor of Yosemite — [Huell Howser] brought us the magic, the humor and poignancy of our region. We will miss him very much.� (KCET on Monday on Howser’s death)

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