"The Republic of California, by WishByNight via LAist Featured Photos Pool on Flickr.

• A commuter train collided with a stalled car today and, no, it wasn't at The Grove. It happened in Sylmar and no injuries were reported, unlike at some places. Ahem, Grove, Ahem.
• In asking massive corporations pay for glitzy events is Schwarzenegger in the pocket of big business, or is he saving taxpayers millions of dollars? Or is he upset that Harrison Ford gets to have his fun while the former Terminator has to preside over a multi-billion dollar deficit? Discuss.
• Tree huggers unite! Environmentalists plan to continue their battle with Santa Monica City Hall this week after the city tried to launch what one CBS reporter called "urban deforestation." The city planed to cut down 23 Ficus trees they said were damaged and promised to replace them with 254 gingko trees. Activists called the move bullshit.
• Two women and their dog were rescued in Temescal Park near Tarzana today after being stranded in the canyons deep trail. Apparently, their dog got away from them and, after giving chase, were lost and disoriented. Firefighters helped them out and told them that if they can't figure out how to walk a simple trail they don't deserve to be hiking. (Well, they should have.)
• Get out while you can! A mysterious irritant at a Sherman Oaks convalescent home sent two staffers and four patients to the hospital after they complained of a respiratory related illness. A HazMat team was sent to check it out, but, I mean, sometimes my Grandfather farts and it smells really bad. But you don't say anything and everyone sort of laughs. You know how it is.
• Today's Washington Post profiles artist Shepard Fairey, an Echo Parker who created the "Hope" poster featuring Barack Obama. In the piece, Fairey shows off a thank you letter he received from the presumptive Democratic nominee. "Your images have a profound effect on people, whether seen in a gallery or on a stop sign," wrote Obama.
• And what of Obama? Today, he drew his largest ever crowd, 75,000 people to a Portland, Oregon rally. Hillary Clinton attended a church service at State Street United Methodist Church in Bowling Green Sunday morning where she was treated to a "lengthy sermon on the temptations to commit adultery." Captive audience, I'm sure.