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Politics don't favor a Latino seat, Mexico's president comes to town, crime and pot shops, Rainey poses a question on class, World Peace gives away money and more plans for Pacific Standard Time.
Plus: Iran has released those two American hikers.
American hikers Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal, held in Iran for more than two years, were released today through Oman. NYT
John Schwada flags another California solar company to keep a political watch on. Native Intelligence
Even though the demographic trends favor adding a Latino seat on the county Board of Supervisors, the politics do not, says Gene Maddaus. LA Weekly
Mayor Villaraigosa will welcome Mexican President Felipe Calderon to Los Angeles this evening and attend a closed screening of the television special, "Mexico: The Royal Tour."
Crime increased in the areas where pot shops were forced to close last summer, a "flawed" Rand study found. LAT, DN, LA Weekly
Reps. Maxine Waters and Laura Richardson were among the four Democrats (and 10 Republicans) to make the "most corrupt" list of the liberal-leaning Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Breeze
Media columnist James Rainey asks, "will America and the American media finally dig in for a serious conversation about class?" LAT
Bay Area journalist Mark Glaser has lost kidney functioning due to polycystic kidney disease and is asking friends to join in a fundraising walk Oct. 9. Personal website
Seven secrets of a highly profitable criminal organization, with photos, by Bill Rempel, author of "At the Devil’s Table – The Untold Story of the Insider Who Brought Down the Cali Cartel.” ( Huffington Post
Filmmaker John Waters wrote the Baltimore Sun to object to the paper's move of film writer Mike Sragow to another yet-to-be disclosed assignment. Sun
Alex Cohen is today's guest host on KPCC's Madeleine Brand show.
Metta World Peace, the former Ron Artest, holds a 10 a.m. press conference at the Grammy Museum to give away $285,000 in proceeds from the sale of his 2010 LA Lakers championship ring to mental health charities from around the country.
In the new film "Moneyball," Jonah Hill nails his depiction of Paul DePodesta, the former general manager of the Dodgers, says Bill Plaschke: "Hill nails his shy mannerisms, his uncomfortable silences, his awkwardness in sharing his newfangled theories with old men spitting tobacco into cups, his fear in dealing with players." LAT
The Board of Education voted to name a newly opened North Hills elementary school with a focus on the arts after Grammy Award-winning guitarist Carlos Santana. DN
Writers Bloc has added an event with Michael Moore and Anne Thompson on Thursday. Website
Hollywood Heritage Inc. received a $5,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for rehabilitation and mechanical upgrades for the 1895 Lasky DeMille Barn.
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County will present "Artistic Evolution: Southern California Artists at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 1945-1963" as its contribution to Pacific Standard Time, starting Oct. 2. That day, more than 25 participating museums will be free.