Extra, Extra

Photo by wendypants via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

• More economic news... bad news. The Governator says that he will have to cut funding within law enforcement, health care and education budgets to cope with the worsening budget deficit.
• 300 birds that were killed in a Sylmar fire may have been victims of animal abuse. The Department of Animal Services and the LAPD Animal Cruelty Task Force are now investigating.
• Probably no bigger story than the Proposition 8 Gay Marriage ticket. Many religious groups have spent BIG BUCKS to pass the initiative.
• Just nasty... Over 250,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the streets and ocean in Laguna Beach. Let us repeat that... 250,000 GALLONS! Yuck.
• More economic news... bad news. Hard times for Californians and Americans have found pets suffering too. You lose your job, you can't afford to keep that dog, or cat, or horse...
• After an investigation into the background of hospital workers revealed that over 150 of 1600 employees had criminal records, a new policy for background checks was announced by LA County officials.
• Desperation? A legitimate cry for balance and fairness? McCain and Palin are crying foul over the LA Times' handling of an Old Obama videotape. Less than a week to vote!
• Finally, a candid and telling look at the effects of the recent LA Times layoffs by Daniel Hernandez's Intersections Blog. He talks of some very good writers who were able to "...connect dots for the daily news report across cultures, languages, borders, and disparate neighborhoods -- which, really, is what life in L.A. is all about." Sad times indeed for LA culture.