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Mayor Eric Garcetti is facing a major test of his power: DWP union leader Brain D'Arcy, "who ran a brutal campaign against him in the May election," is trying to line up City Council support for a new salary deal for Department of Water and Power workers. Write Michael Finnegan and David Zahniser: "The high-stakes political drama has been building for weeks in private conversations and closed-door meetings at City Hall. It has prompted Garcetti to risk an early and potentially ugly public fight with a powerful critic...[and] also raises the possibility of a struggle between Garcetti and Council President Herb Wesson, who has been pushing for a quick deal with the DWP union." LAT
Also: The DWP has paid $35.5 million since 2010 for extra days off that aren't covered by a 10-sick day cap. LAT
The FBI, Internal Revenue Service, district attorney and U.S. attorney’s office have formed a task force to investigate reports of political corruption in Orange County, the FBI confirmed Wednesday. Voice of OC
In a new critique of how minorities are treated in the Antelope Valley, a judge has ruled that Palmdale violated state voting laws by maintaining an election system that stymied Latinos and blacks from winning office. LAT
Democratic Party officials ask San Diego Mayor Bob Filner to quit as new allegations get out. LAT, Reuters
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has confirmed five human West Nile Virus (WNV) infections in Los Angeles County, the first cases of the 2013 season. County Public Health
Public Health and U.S. Forestry Service officials have temporarily closed the Broken Blade, Twisted Arrow, and Pima Loops of the Table Mountain Campgrounds in the Angeles National Forest after tests confirmed a positive test for plague in one ground squirrel. Just a precaution, but thing really new: "Plague has been known to reside in the ground squirrels population in the San Gabriel Mountains." Via press release
Former New York Times and Bloomberg journalist Michael Janofsky is now editing LA School Report, after founding editor Alexander Russo says he was pushed out. "Disappointed as I am, I remain proud to have helped make LA School Report as much of a success as it has been and I wish the journalists who are involved with the site good luck," says Russo. "I'll still be writing about LAUSD in magazines and online -- and I'll be watching closely to see if it remains the feisty, independent site that it's been up to this point." This Week in Education
Bookstore looks to open new chapter in Westwood. Daily Bruin
Twitter Can Tell Whether Your Community Is Happy or Not. Atlantic Cities
California newspaper (the Register) defies industry wisdom to stay alive – and prospers. The Guardian
YouTube’s new LA studios brings Silicon Valley dollars to Hollywood creators. KCRW
Editor and columnist Robert Rector writes a nice goodbye tribute to Janette Williams of the Pasadena Star-News: "A person of exceptional wit, grace, intelligence and talent has left us." Blog
NFL reporter Judy Battista has left the New York Times for NFL Media. Plus Jenn Brown, an LA-based ESPN reporter and host, also goes to NFL Media. Sherman Report
In Japan, a company is buying advertising space on the thighs of young Tokyo women. They are urged to wear miniskirts and long socks to "draw attention to the campaigns." The Guardian
From the roundup for "Off-Ramp" this weekend on KPCC: "Meet Paul Brockman, a builder from Lomita who, over the last 50 years, has collected 55-thousand dresses. The obsession started because he loved the swishing sound of taffeta as he twirled his wife across the dance floor. But his wife and kids say it’s time for the dresses to go, so he’s holding a huge sale this weekend." Off-Ramp
Tom Explores Los Angeles is a new series of YouTube videos in which Tom Carroll visits various sites around LA.
Chipotle stages bogus Twitter hack for promotional campaign. CNET
Raunchy, racist jokes were the entertainment at sheriff's gathering, then Baca gave the comedian a plaque. LAT, CNS
The 16-year-old Chinese student who was killed by a fire truck at the Asiana Airlines crash site at San Francisco International Airport was pulled from the plane by a rescuer and laid on the ground near the left wing, where a highly regarded veteran firefighter driving her vehicle solo ran the girl over. KGO
A new national college ranking by Forbes and an outside consultant put Stanford #1 and Pomona College #2. Forbes
Californians Consider a Future Without a Nuclear Plant for a Neighbor. NYT
Chris Stone is a musician in Santa Barbara with a website called Screaming Stone, which publicizes instrument thefts. KCRW
Helen and Les Brown of Long Beach were born on the same day, Dec. 31, 1918. They celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary this year, then Helen died on July 16 and Les died the next day. Press-Telegram
Sunset Boulevard between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard in West Hollywood will be closed from 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2013 until 7 a.m. on Sunday, August 4, 2013 for the Sunset Strip Music Festival.
"Tommy and Frank," a short documentary by award-winning writer and director Richie Keen, looks at the relationship by former pitcher Tommy John and the LA surgeon who saved his career, Dr. Frank Jobe. Grantland
Also: The story of the Compton Cricket Club
The Baseball Reliquary's Shrine of the Eternals is the hall of the almost famous. Sports on Earth
Now come the media obituaries for Art Ginsburg, the founder of Art's Deli who died earlier this week. LAT, DN
My first TV job. #ThrowBackThursday Eureka, CA 1984. pic.twitter.com/wQj5lUmjKY
— ABC7Marc (@ABC7Marc) July 25, 2013
