Wednesdays

BURBANK — The Burroughs High girls' basketball squad is headed to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 2-AA playoffs. Powered by a suffocating defense that surrendered just one field goal in the first half, the Indians will now meet Inglewood in the quarters after getting by Saugus, 52-34, at Burroughs Saturday night. "Our defense was solid," said Indians Coach Vicky Oganyan, A Glendale High graduate, who has now guided the team to the furthest its been during her seven-year run at the helm.

BURBANK — Yahoo Inc. has begun laying off more than 1,500 workers around the world, including an undisclosed amount at its Burbank campus on Empire Avenue, the Internet giant announced Wednesday. The action follows Yahoo’s October promise to slash 10% of its global workforce to cut $400 million a year in costs as the company struggles against bleak earnings estimates and weak revenue figures. “We have begun to notify impacted employees,” spokesman Brad Williams said.

Members of the Burbank Police Department, led by four developmentally disabled athletes, handed off the Special Olympics torch to their Glendale counterparts Wednesday in a 5.5-mile leg of a ceremonial run to signify the start of the games Friday in Long Beach. Burbank employees handed off the torch at Glenoaks Boulevard and Alameda Avenue to members of the Glendale Police Department, who passed on the torch to officers of the Los Angeles Police Department Northeast Division. “Glendale police puts out such a great effort and support for the Special Olympics,” said Kim Bondie of the Tri-Valley Special Olympics chapter.

BURBANK — The three-month-long Writers Guild of America strike that crippled Hollywood and resulted in lost wages totaling more than $2 billion is slowly drawing to a close. Writers guild leaders unanimously supported a tentative three-year contract that calls for increased DVD residuals and a larger share of profits for projects streamed on the Internet, two of the main reasons writers stopped work on Nov. 5, guild spokesman Gregg Mitchell said. The agreement would double the rate that writers are paid for movie and television shows sold online, establish the union’s jurisdiction over programming created for the Internet and provide payment for entertainment that is streamed on websites, according to the terms of the agreement released by the guild.

BURBANK — Capping off a turbulent month of meetings and political maneuvering, the homeless shelter at the Burbank National Guard Armory opened Wednesday night with a tepid response from the area’s transients. “It’s a relief to get this open,” said Andy Bales, chief executive of Union Rescue Mission, the organization running the facility. “We would have liked it to open on the first [of December], but at least it’s open now.” But their joy was tempered by the lack of people; just six individuals, one from Burbank, showed up. “We expected more people,” Bales said.

Desi Alvarado slid down an inflatable slide with her hands in the air. After she landed, she ran barefoot toward her father. "One more, one more," the 4-year-old said as she grabbed another ticket from her father's hand. She went back up the slide, and her 2-year-old brother, Ethan, followed. Desi, Ethan and dozens of children, parents and visitors took part in Burbank's "Summer Nights at the Burbank Town Center" block party on Wednesday. The outdoor event, which is in its fourth week, featured activities for children, food and retail vendors and a movie after sundown.

VAN NUYS — In no time, Kathryn Poet and Jade Terry found themselves on the diamond surrounded by stars. Make that a cast of all-stars that included the duo. Poet and Terry each played a role Wednesday afternoon in helping the East Team notch a 7-3 victory against the West Team in the San Fernando Valley Classic All-Star Game at Birmingham High. Poet, who graduated Sunday from Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, scored a key insurance run in the eighth inning and played left field for three innings in game geared for top seniors from the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Antelope and Conejo valleys.

Jackson Bell Heirs of those killed in the Armenian genocide have until Wednesday to file claims to receive their share of a $20-million insurance settlement. New York Life last year agreed to settle the 1999 class-action lawsuit filed by descendants of victims of the 1915 genocide. They accused the insurance company of not paying out 2,300 policies purchased by their slain relatives in the Ottoman Empire, officials said. People can find out if they are eligible by calling the Armenian Insurance Settlement Fund or visiting its website and checking the list of victims' names.