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Boxer's popularity down, Pau Gasol seeks paparazzi help from the police, a gay bishop for L.A. gets approval and Metro may bring back beer and wine ads. Plus more after the jump.
- Sen. Barbara Boxer's popularity has faded appreciably and her negatives have risen, and Tom Campbell has an early lead in the Republican race to face her, says the Field Poll. Bee, CalBuzz
- The Lakers' Pau Gasol sought help from the Redondo Beach police because two men were following him, but they turned out to be Spanish paparazzi. Daily Breeze
- Behind the scenes with "supergraphic multimillionaire" Barry Rush. LA Weekly
- With Adam Nagorney heading to Los Angeles, the New York Times names Jeff Zeleny as the lead day-by-day political reporter, Matt Bai a political columinst and Jim Rutenberg as an investigative reporter on the politics team. Politico
- Almost half the city Department of Cultural Affairs’ full-time positions — 33 out of 70 — will be gone through layoffs, early retirement, or unfilled vacancies soon, general manager Olga Garay says. KPCC
- The Episcopal Church gave final approval Wednesday to the ordination of an openly gay bishop Mary Glasspool in Los Angeles. LAT
- L.A. may be going through an El Niño season of protests, a professor says. DN
- The 1st Amendment doesn't protect hostile Internet banter among teenagers if the messages can be taken as genuine threats of harm, a California appeals court has ruled in a lawsuit brought by the father of a 15-year-old student at Harvard-Westlake School. LAT
- A proposal to bring back beer and wine ads on Metro buses and rains after 13 years goes before a Metropolitan Transportation Authority committee this week. Zev Web
- Meghan Daum on the manifest destiny of Rielle Hunter. LAT Op-Ed
- "Grounded" from Donegal Books is a collection of the best of the 6,000 columns that John Bogert has written for the Daily Breeze. Website
- Cherie Currie of the original Runaways will read and sign her book "Neon Angel" Sunday at 4 p.m. at Book Soup.