Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
News, notes and observations are after the jump. Also see Mark Lacter's morning headlines at LA Biz Observed and follow us on Twitter.
- A series of not necessarily coincidences helped LAPD detectives nab the suspected Westside Rapist. LA Weekly
- Mayor Villaraigosa, the LAPD and the head of the Police Protective League all planned to slam the state budget deal this morning, focusing on the possible early release of prisoners.
- The Coalition of LA City Unions ratified the deal with the mayor to delay raises and accept early retirement to stave off widespread layoffs and furloughs. LAT
- Unable to win union concessions, Mayor Villaraigosa approved a plan to reduce staffing of several fire companies and ambulances on a rotating basis starting Aug. 6. MyFoxLA
- LAPD detectives and federal drug agents searched the Houston offices of Michael Jackson's physician looking for evidence in what they're calling a possible manslaughter case. LAT
- Too many coroner staffers accessed Michael Jackson's death certificate. LAT
- The county's Office of AIDS Programs and Policy is launching its most comprehensive community outreach campaign ever to encourage HIV testing, saying one in four of those with HIV in Los Angeles County don't know it.
- The broker found slain inside a Westchester house twice had his license to practice real estate suspended for failing to pay child support, state records showed. Daily Breeze
- EnviroReporter.com unveiled a redesigned website with blog and another report by Michael Collins on the Santa Susana Field Lab. EnviroReporter
- Downtown's own little summer of love. Blogdowntown
- It's the summer nights festival on Glendale Boulevard in Atwater. Atwater Village Newbie
- Tribune has money to pay bonuses, but not the Times' cable bill, says Soo Youn. Faster Times
- Five curators have left LACMA or will leave the staff soon, and the search for a Chinese art specialist has dragged on for nearly three years. LAT
- First they came for our taco trucks. Then they deported some family members. Now our roosters. LA Eastside
- Former county Assessor Alexander H. Pope died at age 80. LAT