Extra, Extra

"Via the Via" by Atwater Village Newbie via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

• Another day, another set of layoffs. This time its the Irvine-based pharmaceutical company Allergan. They are set to send home 460 employees.

• SoCal schools are in bad shape. Teachers are threatened. The water might have lead. Now word that the 32nd district have one of the highest percentages of uninsured kids in the state.

• OK let's get this straight. This dude wants to spend over $8 billion on a yoga facility for state prisoners? He is defending it saying that a similar facility is already in place.

• Curbed LA has video proof that Santa Monicans are still driving people nuts with their exercising. C'mon people we just want to use the stairs.

• Cigar smokers rejoice! In Long Beach anyway... The City Council amended the anti-smoking law to allow cigar smokers to light up in cigar lounges. Makes sense...

• The new LA Times website is going through a mini overhaul. LA Observed released the memo from their website editor announcing some changes.

• Finally, a woman who was crowned runner-up to Miss California 2008 has dropped her lawsuit. She filed last year claiming negligence, fraudulent concealment, misrepresentation, false advertising, intentional infliction of emotional distress plus a violation of her civil rights. The pageant officials stripped her of her title because of a mistake in adding the votes. Ouch...