PUSHCART TRUCE: A compromise is upcoming in...

PUSHCART TRUCE: A compromise is upcoming in the pushcart vendor dispute, which pits Latino entrepreneurs against L.A. laws that frown on street sales as an unhygienic tax dodge. Supporters and foes revealed their suggestions--special zones are one--before a City Council committee hearing (B5). . . . The council will probably get the issue, hot in the East Valley, in November.

TEEN ABUSE CHARGE: Parents and teen-agers battling over eating habits can consider this one: A well-to-do Westlake stockbroker and his nurse wife were ordered to stand trial on charges they forced a 16-year-old daughter to sleep outside to keep her out of the fridge at night (A3). . . . Their defense: only way to keep her from eating salty foods, bad for a heart condition that required four operations.

FATHER FIGURE: Chris Shinnick rarely lacks for advice. The El Camino Real High running back (above) is the son of former NFL player Don Shinnick, and three of Chris’ brothers played college football (C8). . . . Shinnick led his team to a 3-0 start and made the only touchdown against Sylmar last week.

HIGHER AUTHORITY: James Ambrose McGrath admitted at his trial that he committed a string of Valley bank robberies, including a $430,000 Tarzana job that was the biggest in L.A. history (B4), but offered this defense: “The Lord specifically commanded me to rob the banks.” . . . His lawyer urged jurors to find McGrath, who blames a massive conspiracy involving the candy business, innocent by reason of insanity.

FLAWED WORK: Cal State Northridge’s new art exhibit is “The Chicano Codices.” It’s an effort to explore Chicano identity through sculptures and other works inspired by codices--manuscripts of picture writing--of the ancient Mayas and other Mesoamerican cultures (F6). . . . A Times critic finds it worthy in aim, flawed by cliches and slapdash execution.