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Schwarzenegger's onus, Mozingo's series, neglected ponies, a chef in trouble with the law, the Lakers begin round three and a blogger's photo gets picked up. Plus the death of
Ronnie James Dio.
- By cutting the vehicle license fee and borrowing $15 billion early in his tenure, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger planted the seeds of the current state budget mess, George Skelton writes. LAT
- Los Angeles County's child welfare system has failed to complete investigations into child abuse hotline tips involving more than 18,000 children within the time mandated by the state, according to county records. LAT
- The L.A. Times is running a three-part, first-person series on staff writer Joe Mozingo searching out his family roots. He's white and has found African lineage in his family. Readers' Rep
- Councilman Richard Alarcon's plan to let a truck driving school open temporarily on the former Lopez Canyon landfill site has the neighbors in Kagel Canyon upset. LAT
- The foundering recall Villaraigosa campaign is planning to seek support in Arizona from businesses upset with the L.A. City Council boycott. Orlov/Daily News
- Eighteen neglected ponies were seized by the Department of Animal Services from a Sylmar ranch, and at least one has been euthanized. DN
- Prosecutors with the DA's office met with Charlotte Lewis, the British actress who claimed last week through lawyer Gloria Allred that she was sexually abused by Roman Polanski in his Paris apartment when she was 16 — 26 years ago. She provided no evidence and took no questions at a press conference. AP
- Juan-Carlos Cruz, former host of the Food Network's "Calorie Commando" show, was arrested on suspicion of soliciting homeless men to commit a murder for him. The target was his wife, says TMZ. LAT
- Merchants at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument have withheld a portion of the rent they owe the city for a second consecutive month, to protest an increase. Downtown News
- The Lakers begin round three of the NBA playoffs tonight at Staples Center against the Phoenix Suns, coached by former Clippers coach Alvin Gentry. Protesters may be on hand to take issue with Lakers coach Phil Jackson's support for the new Arizona immigration law. KABC 7, L.A. Wave
- Glen Walker, formerly on Channels 2/9, debuted as a weekend anchor on KTLA Channel 5. SoCalMediaScoop
Also: Andrew Mollenbeck is leaving KNX 1070 for WTOP in Washington, D.C. - Blogger Atwater Village Newbie's aerial photo of the Aaron Spelling mansion in Holmby Hills was picked up by Forbes, with credit. AVN
- Ronnie James Dio, singer with the heavy-metal bands Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Dio, died on Sunday in Los Angeles. He was 67 and had talked recently about having stomach cancer. NYT