LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (Metro) Inspector General, Karen Gorman, served for nearly three years in an acting capacity and as the agency's chief ethics officer. Previously, those roles were separated to avoid conflicts of interests, the Los Angeles Times reports.

By qualifying her appointment as "acting," Metro officials have hamstrung Gorman, according to her predecessor, William Waters, who retired as inspector general in 2007. He contends that Gorman "has no real independence" because board members can remove her without penalty, unlike someone hired for a defined term.

Metro directors plan to hire a permanent inspector general this year, a move that might boost the office's resources and eliminate Gorman's dual role. For the full story, click here.