After 30 years of planning, the MagLev project between Anaheim and Vegas lost one of its biggest proponents last month to a train part of the federal high-speed rail corridor. Nevada Senator Harry Reid is now behind the DesertXpress between Southern California and Las Vegas that would mainly go along Interstate 15. Unfortunately, the phase planned right now only goes between Vegas and Victorville. Why Victorville? Their website explains:

• Why did the police close down Pershing Square this afternoon? A manhunt ensued for three jewelry suspects involved in a jewelry store theft.
• LA Weekly's cover story this week is all about environmental activism in the city, or the lack thereof: "Activists leave the street-fighting to the little guys. The city’s environmentalists must increasingly deal with the fact that labor unions, big businesses and politicians are embracing a green economy to solve their own financial and political woes."
• California attorney general Jerry Brown is aiding the investigation into Michael Jackson's death. The DEA is also helping.

So California is issuing IOUs for the first time since 1992. They carry an interest rate of 3.75%, but that's apparently on an annual basis only earning about ten bucks for every thousand you're owed. But that's not stopping people from trying to buy them on Craigslist! Unlikely it's for profit, it's probably just for the kitsch souvenir factor.

This year marks the 30th anniversary since the NoHo Arts District began to change from scary, dirty and dangerous to the still-blossoming arts and theatre neighborhood. Part of the neighborhood's redevelopment includes three gateway arches, one of which will be revealed next week by prolific public artist Peter Shire, who may be known for his work at the Wilshire/Vermont Subway Station, Union Station, Elysian Park, LACMA, West Hollywood and various other places around town.

                     

As the summer emerges from June Gloom, sure, the clubs were still hopping. But above that, June saw the largest electronic dance music event in LA's history, the Electric Daisy Carnival. The 13th annual megamegarave featured 135,000 revelers over two days (daze?) If were weren't in a recession there might have been 135,007 attendees. It was Coachella meets Burning Man meets a sweaty warehouse meets a USC football game. That's a good thing.

Starting today, the Paley Center will be showing rare and vintage footage of Michael Jackson from TV shows dating back to 1971. We're talking episodes of "The Tonight Show", "The Flip Wilson Show", and the Jackson Five's own show "The Jacksons". Check out the Paley website for dates and times.

Art collective OJO brings a new kind of social networking to MOCA tonight from 7 to 10 p.m. with their interactive "Flesh Car Crash," where the audience will be encouraged to take part in a communal music session. Musicians will pack themselves into two small cars, and each vehicle powers a variety of instruments and noise-making objects. Sound chaotic yet? The cars will also be moving during a "choreographed game of chicken." The FREE event is part of the downtown museum's Engagement Party series in which artists are given a three-month residency for the first Thursday of the month.

NYC transplants decry LA's apparent lack of hardcore Italian delis. That is, until a clued-up Angeleno points that Negative Nancy to Bay Cities Deli and Bakery. If New York were a sovereign nation (it's not,) its local embassy would be this Santa Monica hotspot.

The Santa Monica Pier Twilight Dance Series kicks off tonight at 7 pm at the pier. Tonight’s free concert features the Playing for Change Band -- an Internet project that enlisted musicians from all over the world in a viral video and led to the creation of a CD that benefits street musicians and homeless populations. Also on the bill: Bushman (Jamaican Roots Reggae). So bring a picnic and your dancing shoes.