Extra, Extra: Take a Load Off...It's Friday

Photo by Ross Reyes via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

• A trial that is trying to tackle the very conflicting and confusing marijuana sale laws currently on the books got underway today in Federal court here in LA. LAist is keeping tabs on the ongoing movement to legalize marijuana in California--an option that might make it onto the November ballot.
• Another headline-making trial is the one against the makers of the Bratz dolls. Today the CEO of MGA Entertainment, who make the incredibly popular scantily clad child-vamp dolls with absurdly large heads, said he would seek a mistrial because a juror made an ethnic slur about him.
• Everything's all ring-a-ding-ding-ringing in Downtown. Why? Because they have the most payphones.
• Rick Caruso's shopping-experience domination has hit a snag in Arcadia. It was determined this week that more investigation into the environmental impact of the proposed location is needed. No surprise that rival shopping mega-name Westfield was part of the opposition.
• Turns out texting can be very dangerous.
• Fun words in an otherwise cursory article about a lawsuit: "Burlesque queen," "dominatrix," "fetish film," and "giant glass swan."
• Ever wonder why we vote on Tuesdays? Ever expect Kirsten Dunst would be the one to explain it to you?
• And for the Canadians among us--at least those who crave the dish of fries smothered in gravy and cheese known as poutine--this week LAist's food friend Jonathan Gold helps the hungry find the frites since the Canadian Cafe in Monrovia is no more. (Dusty's in Silver Lake and the Alibi Room in Culver City.)