STOCKTON - The California Highway Patrol's Warrant Service Team served a search warrant and found a fugitive hiding in the attic of a home in the 8300 block of Colonial Drive about 7:30 a.m. Friday, authorities said.

Authorities apprehended a man wanted for a drug-related federal warrant in the back of La Petite Academy around 2 p.m. Friday.

Isn’t it funny how Oscar races can evolve over the span of just a few weeks? Since awards season first began in late December, we’ve seen several key races completely change course, sometimes more than once.

We were in the weeds for most of the summer, and browsing the wide release schedule for the next couple months makes it clear that things are only going to get worse before they get any better. But this too shall pass, and before we know it we’ll all be basking in the sweet, comforting glow of the fall movie season, in the company of Steven Spielberg, P.T. Anderson, Ang Lee and James Bond. But rewards must be earned, and for the time being we’ve just gotta grind it out.

I’m not even sure what to say at this point, besides thank God summer’s over. It has been quite an ordeal, and I suppose it’s only fitting that that the season goes out on a grossly disappointing note involving a sub-par sequel. Now we’ve just got to contend with that uneasy transitional period between the summer and fall movie seasons, and we may actually have some good movies to talk about. I’m waiting with breath that is bated.

As “The Expendables 2” rolls into theaters across the globe (look for the review next week), the 2012 summer movie comes to a close — and I honestly can’t remember ever being more depressed as a moviegoer.

Last week I offered a few brief thoughts on some cultural issues surrounding the movie theater shootings in Aurora, Colo., and events that have taken place since then suggest that I failed to address one of the key questions surrounding this tragedy: Is it safe to go to the movies anymore?

Every time I drive past Twin Cities Road, it reminds me of my days at San Quentin. The Richard A McGee Correctional Training Center, located just west of 99, is where correctional officers prepare to "walk the toughest beat in the state."

You may have noted that last week’s review of “The Dark Knight Rises” lacked any mention of the tragedy in Aurora, Colo. This was not meant as a show of disrespect to the victims, but as recognition that regardless of its now-infamous status, Christopher Nolan’s concluding Batman film deserved to be discussed on its own merits, as a movie — not as the alleged trigger that set off a madman’s rampage.

This week’s review of “The Dark Knight Rises” comes a little later than I had initially hoped, but oh well — it’s never too late to spread good news. And I advise you to enjoy the good times while they last, because the rest of the summer looks pretty dicey.

Galt police arrested a fugitive early Sunday on outstanding warrants tied to the alleged assaults on her former boyfriend and his new girlfriend in Sacramento earlier this year.

The fugitive, 26-year-old Tina Barron, was featured on “America’s Most Wanted” television show on April 27.

Barron was apprehended shortly after 12:30 a.m. Sunday in Galt with assistance from members of the Joint Elk Grove-Galt SWAT team.

A parolee who had evaded police officers for months was caught Thursday night after a high-speed chase and a foot pursuit.

A 61-year-old man who has been named a fugitive from justice by county officials in Arkansas will appear in Lodi court today.

A second set of human remains was found Friday on the former property of convicted killer Wesley Shermantine Jr. in San Andreas.

February typically serves as a dumping ground for weak studio films that offer an easy alternative to “mainstream” audiences who don’t see Oscar bait, but this year has brought some welcome surprises.

Leonard Padilla is known throughout the country for his colorful reputation as a bounty hunter who tracks down fugitives, searches for the remains of murder victims and enjoys talking all about it.

Cyndi Vanderheiden's remains are likely located in Calaveras County, said nationally known bounty hunter Leonard Padilla, who added that he's willing to pay convicted killer Wesley Shermantine Jr. $15,000 to show where her body is located.

More than 20 law enforcement officers carrying assault rifles swarmed a rural Lodi residence Tuesday and arrested a man accused of robbing nearly a dozen banks in San Joaquin County.

President Barack Obama has announced that the world's most wanted terrorist, al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, was killed by U.S. forces on Sunday at a compound deep inside Pakistan.

Although I am not very familiar with the work of Elizabeth Taylor (my film interests tend to run more toward the post-1965 New Hollywood), I would be remiss not to acknowledge her death on Wednesday at the age of 79. And although I definitely need to brush up on my 1950s melodramas, I know enough to admire the woman. In addition to delivering strong performances in the few early roles I’ve seen her in (most notably the Tennessee Williams adaptations “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and the oft-neglected “Suddenly Last Summer”), she was also key to the success of 1966’s monumentally important “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, which served as a much-needed slap in the face to the era’s Hays-code social mores, and also won Taylor a second Oscar as best actress.

Lodi will get a taste of Hollywood tonight as actors hang out and sign autographs at a screening of the independent film "In the Eyes of a Killer" at the Lodi International Film Festival at Hutchins Street Square.

Been doing a lot of catching up these past few weeks, watching a bunch of recent DVD releases and bracing myself for the avalanche of new films that the studios have been holding for the prestige-heavy final weeks of the year. I like to focus a bit on limited releases this time of year, so like I said last week, the reviewing schedule is kind of up in the air for the remainder of 2010. Blame the unpredictable art-houses, man — I just work here.

If you’re going to rob a bank, don’t leave your attorney’s business card behind.

The following movies start this week: