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Includes some catching up from last week...
In a state with nearly 38 million people, few have more influence than the top 100 donors to California campaigns – a powerful club that has donated overwhelmingly to Democrats and spent $1.25 billion to influence voters over the past dozen years. California Watch
About 1.4 million more Californians are registered now than in February 2008, the year of the last presidential primary election. Capitol Weekly
The email from actress Sarah Jessica Parker carries the subject line "I'm hosting" and begins: "Kevin -- It's my honor to invite you to take part in an event I'm hosting at my home with the President and First Lady on June 14th." She lives in New York.
The police reform measure Charter Amendment F, which limited police chiefs to two five-year terms and set up a mechanism for more civilian review of officer misconduct, passed 20 years ago by a margin of 2 to 1 in perhaps the greatest victory of "the frayed and battered [Tom] Bradley coalition of African Americans, Latinos, Jews and other white liberals," says Raphael Sonenshein. LAT op-ed
The DA's race has moved, thankfully, beyond the candidates each trying to be "tougher on crime" than others. LAT
City Council district maps return to the agenda this week, with Councilman Bernard Parks talking lawsuit. DN/Orlov's Tipoff
Assemblyman Mike Davis might have the strongest potential fundraising network in the 9th City Council district, and Councilman Huizar’s chief of staff Ana Cubas could be the most well-known inside City Hall, but when it comes to money and the 2013 race, they both trail a police veteran. Terry Hara, an LAPD deputy chief who in March launched his candidacy for the seat being vacated by termed-out Jan Perry, is the first person gunning for the post to raise $50,000. Downtown News
The plan to visually wall off Grand Avenue on Bunker Hill with new towers and retail is in turnaround since apparently everyone now gets that was a bad idea. LAT
Manuel Figueras, a longtime staff member to Councilman Richard Alarcon, struck and killed a pedestrian in March while driving a city-issued vehicle in North Hollywood, LAPD officials said. He stayed at the scene and has not been charged. DN
Barry Cappello, the lawyer who represented Wendy McCaw in all that ugliness over her war on Santa Barbara News-Press staffers, has sued McCaw for $411,933 in unpaid fees. SB Independent
Steve Lopez draws a link between recreational drug users in Los Angeles and the cartel violence in Mexico. LAT
The Los AngelesTimes handed out its internal editorial awards in the building at a lightly attended post-deadline event that left attendees muttering about the lack of chairs. List of winners
Hieronymus Charities, the family foundation of best-selling mystery writer Michael Connelly, donated $10,000 to FairWarning, the Los Angeles-based online nonprofit publication that "seeks to provide robust, public interest journalism on issues of health, safety and corporate conduct." .
Items from the late agent Sue Mengers' estate are going up for auction through Bonhams, including her desk and record albums. NYT
The New York Times Travel online section did a short slide show on Atwater Village. NYT
E3, the video game industry's largest annual trade show, opened Monday in Los Angeles -- but it's threatening to relocate in 2013 over issues around the construction of the proposed Farmers Field and rebuilt convention center. Company Town, Downtown News
How LAPD detectives landed so quickly on a suspect in the April shootings of those two USC students from China. Neon Tommy
The mother of an LAPD officer was found murdered in her South Los Angeles home hours after the officer dropped her off. LAT
The planned shutdown of Van Nuys Airport's main runway for repaving will now last only days, not weeks as feared. DN
An original 1970 Arby's with the neon hat and chuckwagon-shaped building closed in Pomona. David Allen
The Petersen Museum tribute last week to Carroll Shelby began with a full minute of Shelby engines revving, there and at other locations at the same time. NYT
Artisanal food trucks have hit Paris as well. NYT
Former Lakers player and Sparks coach Orlando Woolridge died at his parents' home in Mansfield, La. He was 52. DN
Also: Ex-Laker LeRoy Ellis. NYT
Richard Dawson, the British-born actor and comedian who became known as the host of "Family Feud," died here Saturday of complications of esophageal cancer. Earlier TV watchers knew him on “Hogan’s Heroes.” He was 79. NYT
Kathryn Joosten, the Emmy-winning character actress who played the crotchety but lovable Karen McCluskey on “Desperate Housewives” and Mrs. Landingham, the president’s secretary on “The West Wing,” died Saturday at home in Los Angeles. She was 72 and had lung cancer. NYT
Steve Greenberg's cartoons for LA Observed are a finalist in the cartooning category for the Los Angeles Press Club's Southern California Journalism Awards.
