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News, notes and observations from LA Observed and selected media sources. Sometimes daily, often in the morning.
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 today that Hobby Lobby does have the right to cite religious objections and not pay for mandated contraceptive coverage for its employees. NYT, LAT
SCOTUS also ruled 5-4 that "partial public employees" did not have to pay fees to labor unions representing them, but declined to strike down a decades-old precedent that required many public-sector workers to pay union fees. NYT, LAT
It's that time: media report cards on Mayor Eric Garcetti's first year in office. "Free of drama or big risks," says DN's Dakota Smith. "Garcetti took a low-risk approach in his first year," writes the LAT's Michael Finnegan and David Zahniser. "Garcetti's work this year has been satisfactory," says the LAT editorial board. "While the questions aimed at him are getting tougher, he and his staff believe they are on the right track," says Rick Orlov at the DN.
Garcetti himself reflected with Conan Nolan on "News Conference." NBC 4
Garcetti has created a nonprofit organization to raise money for some of his initiatives, including efforts to boost cultural tourism, find summer jobs for low-income teens and revitalize the Los Angeles River. The Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles has collected more than $2.3 million. LAT
With the $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Clippers hanging in the balance, a judge is set to hear oral arguments and determine today if the terms of a family trust alone are enough to confirm Donald Sterling was properly removed as trustee and allow his estranged wife to sell the team without his consent. Last week, Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas suggested that the trust seemed so unambiguous and clear that “I could decide this case in five minutes.” AP
The city of LA's plastic bag ban kicked in for small retail stores. Had applied to supermarkets before. DN
Shoddy LAPD record keeping muddies murder statistics. DN
Rail service could be in the future of the Valley's Orange Line busway. LA Register
Burbank's Bob Hope Airport opens new people mover to connect to rental car center in July. KPCC
NASA is due to launch an orbiting carbon observatory atop a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg AFB at 2:56 a.m. (PDT) Tuesday morning. Coverage on NASA TV or in SoCal if it's clear you can step outside and look toward the west. Universe Today, @NASAJPL
A Huffington Post editor deems historic West Adams a "forgotten"neighborhood of Los Angeles. HuffPost
The new New Yorker has an excerpt of Hector Tobar's forthcoming book, "Deep Down Dark," on those Chilean miners who were trapped underground. TNY
Facebook's mood-manipulation also wasn't very good science. Smithsonian
Brand Bookshop in Glendale is going to close in August after 29 years, according to an employee. News-Press
An East LA tree known as "El Pino Famoso," featured in Taylor Hackford's 1993 gang film "Blood In Blood Out," has gained a cult following, with visitors from around the world. LAT
Fox sportscaster Erin Andrews drinks from the Stanley Cup and tweets about it. The Kings' Jarret Stoll is her boyfriend:
Drink it in...it always goes down smoooooooth pic.twitter.com/iNd04cpKXy
— Erin Andrews (@ErinAndrews) June 23, 2014NOW: United flight to John Wayne Airport diverted after emergency slide deploys midair. pic via @TMAG1C pic.twitter.com/GtvbilQXY9
— Ryan Parker (@TheRyanParker) June 30, 2014@LARegisterNews @ericjspitz I'm a 7-day subscriber but have NEVER received a Sunday edition. Called customer service many times to no avail.
— Nathan Masters (@nathanmasters) June 29, 2014— nick pants (@nick_pants) June 20, 2014
