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Hotter yet again today, last week for McCourt v. McCourt, more polling mania in the state election races, plus Jose Huizar, Ari Swiller and more.
- It might be even hotter and drier today around the L.A. area. There is a red flag alert from the National Weather Service, but not from the LAFD. Fox 11 meteorologist Rick Dickert tweeted at 8:20 a.m. that "Temp has been near 100 all morning at flight level of 1000' due to inversion..Most areas (except immediate coast) will reach 100 today!"
- Dodgers CFO Peter Wilhelm is expected to take the stand in the McCourt v. McCourt trial, likely testifying on Jamie's knowledge and understanding of the key post-nup agreement. Settlement talks broke down with the sides reportedly $300 million or so apart. Dodger Divorce, LAT
- Councilman Jose Huizar plans to propose a package of election reforms including expanded vote-by-mail balloting, instant runoff elections and allowing people to register to vote on Election Day. LAT, DN-Orlov
Plus: Add Orlov: Austin Beutner plans to be replaced as head of DWP in October. - Huizar will co-host a Sept. 30 cocktail fundraiser for the L.A. Streetcar project at L.A. Live with Eli Broad, Rick Caruso and Tim Leiweke. Downtown News
- Strategists, spokespeople, pollsters and purse-carriers for Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina "all went berserk over the weekend, trying desperately to shoot down" the new poll by the Los Angeles Times and USC. But their arguments are "baloney," says Calbuzz.
- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's nine-point lead over Republican Lt. Gov Abel Maldonado has slipped to just four points in the lieutenant governor's race, according to Field Poll results released today. Steve Cooley leads Kamala Harris 35-31 in the AG race. Bee
- More of Brown's campaign money, about 45%, comes from Oakland than anywhere else. Neon Tommy
- Mayor Villaraigosa's weekend schedule billed his attendance at a PETA gala. Girlfriend and animal activist Lu Parker also accompanied the mayor to a Friday reception at UCLA for the president of Chile.
- Ari Swiller's Kern County wind farm scheme hits some local opposition. Ron Kaye
- Pat Boone and Andrew Breitbart were the stars of a Tea Party event in Beverly Hills. LAT, Variety
- The Times says the county is dragging its feet on a request to divulge salaries of its highest-paid employees, but some of the info was int he LA Weekly earlier this month. LAT, LAW
- Joel Kotkin's latest rag on California governance: "First, let's find some adults, like former Speaker Robert Hertzberg or GOP financier Gerald Parsky, who know what it is to run a business and comprehend that the economy actually matters, and get them to head up a commission on the economy. Second, our leaders and policy elites must engage the emerging new business leadership of the state, which is increasingly immigrant, Asian and Latino." New Geography
- Visiting with the regular paparazzi who work LAX. LAT
- The Tournament of Roses has sold the name for the first time and next year's event will be known as the 122nd Rose Parade, Presented by Honda. LA Now
- Anisette Brasserie in Santa Monica announced its closure this weekend, but also may reopen under new ownership. Eater LA, NBC 4
- A new study confirms what some in the technology industry have long sensed: Apple commands an inordinate amount of the media’s attention. NYT
- Bloomberg is hiring more than 100 people in Washington and has leased new space as it prepares to launch its Web-based government information venture, Bloomberg Government. WashPost