Extra, Extra: What Would Nelly Say?

Photo by delara-photos via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

• The trial of Juan Manuel Alvarez began today. Among his charges are 11 counts of murder for the January 2005 incident involving him parking his car on the tracks and causing a Metrolink train to derail.
• The stretch of San Diego beach closed to the public last week following a fatal shark attack has reopened. Swimmers are cautioned to keep close to the water's edge.
• In addition to that shark attack last week there was a deadly bear attack against its trainer, and now some Irvine residents got scared by a bobcat they thought was a mountain lion. Bobcats and sharks and bears, oh my!
• Although our area's big fires are grabbing the headlines, today also saw a "metal dust" explosion and fire at a Chatsworth business. One person was taken to the hospital following the blast.
• And what came first, the heat or the fire? Top comment caught in all casual conversations today: "Man, it's hot out!" Why yes, yes it is. Record-breaking hot.
• Things are looking grim in the newspaper game. The OC Register announced today that they'll be laying off 5% of its workforce--approximately 80-90 jobs--due to decreased circulation. Online is where it's at, baby!
• Think that everyone else in the country loves as Angelenos? Turns out not so much. BloggingLA shares a recent survey done by Travel & Leisure that says folks elsewhere think our city stinks in terms of safety, friendliness, public transit, and pizza, among others. But we've got good shoes!