Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
Even higher DWP rates now envisioned, Nikki Finke and the Hollywood Reporter don't agree on what she was offered, a longer Gold Line, dark days at Channel 35 and more.
- The Department of Water and Power actually intends to raise electricity bills by 37% over the next four years, not just the lesser hikes already proposed by Mayor Villaraigosa as a so-called carbon surcharge. LAT, DN
- The city's 1997 ban on soliciting at LAX, aimed at panhandlers from Hare Krishna and other groups, does not violate state constitutional guarantees of free speech, the California Supreme Court ruled. LAT, Daily Breeze
- Nikki Finke offers some details of the offer she says was made to make her editor of The Hollywod Reporter, while Richard Beckman, CEO of the trade's parent company, says in THR "there is no truth to the report" that Finke was offered the job of editor-in-chief.
- Only a matter of time until Meg Whitman drops another big chunk of her own money into the campaign for governor. Carla Marinucci
- The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board approved $690 million in funding for extending the Gold Line 11 miles from Pasadena to Azusa, with service possibly to begin as early as 2014. LAT
- How the city's budget cuts are draining Channel 35, the city's TV outlet. LA Weekly
Plus: Nine things the city did wrong to create its budget mess. LA Weekly - Opposition is heating up to the LAUSD's intent to drop most inter-district transfers and require students to return to schools where they and their parents don't want to be. DN, KPCC
- The state Air Resources Board abruptly stopped plans to require a cooling, reflective coating on car windshields after hearing that it could interfere with law enforcement monitoring of ankle bracelets on felons, with cellphones and with fast passes at toll booths. LAT
- A Superior Court judge rejected an attempt by the sheriff's deputies' union to block the Times' request for release of the identities of deputies involved in three controversial shootings. LAT
- Sheriff Lee Baca is wrong about the Council on American Islamic Relations, say David Lehrer and Joe Hicks. The Wide Angle
- Hotels in Santa Monica were sold out for the L.A. Marathon weekend, making merchants happy. SM Mirror