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If Councilman Alarcon goes down for not living in his district home, it could be because he forgot to leave the water running. Plus more notes inside.
- Californians' gloom over the present and future economy is at a level rarely seen, according to the latest Field Poll. They are profoundly, even historically, pessimistic about the state's economy, their personal finances and job opportunities and have little faith that prospects will improve anytime soon. Bee
- Gov. Schwarzenegger got one of the biggest laughs with a reference to the size of Tony Curtis' private parts at the actor's funeral in Las Vegas. Capitol Alert
- In response to Monday's report in the Times, the Schwarzenegger administration blocked welfare-card spending and ATM withdrawals at popular out-of-state vacation spots. LAT
- Oral arguments are scheduled today at the Supreme Court in the case of the JPL employees who are opposed to stringent new background checks to keep their jobs. LAT Op-Ed
- Voting by mail began Monday for the Nov. 2 election. DN
- The Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs release its sixth State of the City report this morning at Cal State LA.
- Last night's Bell City Council meeting was cancelled when only one member showed up, although public comment went on. LAT
Plus: Ex-police chief's disability status didn't prevent him from exercising. LAT
And: Ex-city manager Robert Rizzo is still behind bars and officials are making it hard for him to make bail. LAT - Spurred by a new report showing the city of Los Angeles has failed to collect more than $540 million in delinquent debts, officials announced a host of measures Monday to begin recouping the money. DN
- DWP bills showing very low water and power use may make it hard for Councilman Richard Alarcon and his wife to claim they were living at the home in his district, not outside the district as the DA claims. LAT
- A West Hollywood liquor store clerk had eight shots fired at him by a sheriff's deputy with bad aim — all missed. LAT
- Tribune was given a new deadline of Oct. 15 to emerge from bankruptcy, while negotiations contonue with creditors on a possible reorganization of the company. The Wrap, Chicago Tribune
- Television columnist Michael Ausiello is leaving Entertainment Weekly to start a TV site for MMC, the company behind Deadline.com, Movieline.com and HollywoodLife.com. Ausiello Files, Nikki Finke
- Die Hard" director John McTiernan was sentenced to a year in federal prison for lying to the FBI and a federal judge about his role in the wiretapping case of disgraced Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano. LAT
- Los Angeles magazine dining editor Lesley Bargar Suter talks about buying a house in Glassell Park. Curbed LA
- Loyola Marymount University named David W. Burcham as the university’s next president.
- Donald Duke, the owner and publisher of Golden West Books, died Sept. 27 at his home in Southern California. He was 81. Trains.com
- Maury Allen, a New York baseball writer who was tied to the Brooklyn Dodgers, died at age 78. NYT