UNEVEN INCOME: Economically speaking, there are two...

UNEVEN INCOME: Economically speaking, there are two San Fernando Valleys. U.S. Census data show that the average annual household income levels in the west Valley surpass those of the east. . . . Elevation is also a sign of prosperity. The neighborhoods with the three highest income levels are in the hills. See Valley Briefing (B5).

MURDER MOTIVE: The defense of Lyle and Erik Menendez will center on claims they were abused by their mother and father. They are accused of the shotgun slayings of their parents . . . Prosecutors contend greed led the brothers to kill. (B1)

ELECTRIC AERIALISTS: Speed was not the only criteria for winning the Linemen’s Rodeo . . . But if you could shinny to the top of a 45-foot pole and scamper down in 17 seconds you were a contender. The annual competition pits workers from seven local utility companies against each other in a test of skills repairing the high-voltage lines. (B1)

TOUGH QUESTIONS: U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer spent her Saturday fielding questions from about 200 constituents at Reseda High School (B3) . . . She got a quick pulse on Valley viewpoints, drawing boos, for example, when mentioning new taxes and stricter controls on the sale of guns. She was also pitching President Clinton’s plan to reduce the budget deficit.

STILL ROYAL: Remember the old TV (and radio) show “Queen for a Day?” . . . It crowned some 5,000 women over the years, and some of them still get together to share memories and enjoy each other. Columnist Scott Harris (B1) went to a meeting the other day and reports: “Never before had I been in the presence of so much royalty.”

Valley Wealth

Communities with highest average household incomes. Encino-Tarzana: $86,548 Sherman Oaks-Studio City-Toluca Lake: $70,679 Chatsworth-Porter Ranch: $67,613 Source: 1990 U.S. Census Bureau data