Those of you who've been following the presidential race as closely as I have (and, really, who hasn't?) are no doubt aware of the conventional wisdom surrounding Hillary Clinton's candidacy – namely that she now appears unbeatable. Pundits and reporters alike have been buzzing about her insurmountable lead – often clocking in in the high double digits – over her next two closest rivals, Obama and Edwards, for what has seemingly been weeks now....... [continue]

Eric Richardson of Blogdowntown snaps the above shot from a downtown commercial shoot yesterday: "Pictured is one scene from the commercial being shot, where a gaggle of females drop their workout to come press up against the window and see some brown guy. I would hope this'll make more sense by the time we see it on TV." Out best guess is that he is made out of chocolate. Los Angeles could soon be... [continue]

The MTA will be testing a new 65-foot-long prototype bus - which can hold up to 131 sitting and standing passengers - on the Orange Line busway for one year starting this week. Nicely done: L.A. City Councilman Richard Alarcon drafted a measure 2 months ago that would've drastically reduced traffic congestion on one block of one street in Panorama City - namely the one where his house is located. Who's down with Gov....... [continue]

The movement to recall LA Westside Councilman Jack Weiss is going strong with close to half the signatures necessary already in. The Governator wants HIS healthcare plan enacted, Democrats be damned! The Big One could be up to 15 times larger than the 1994 Northridge earthquake, according to a newly released study by USC geologists. Why not try your hand at naming chef Alain Giraud's newest brasserie? The second in a series of "All-American... [continue]

Following weeks and weeks of stalling, the State Senate is finally getting ready to pass the budget bill after securing the crucial vote of Senate Republican leader Dick Ackerman. Good news in the environmental department: San Bernardino County authorities have just agreed to start cutting back on their greenhouse gas emissions after monitoring conditions over the next 30 months. Secretary of State Debra Bowen is going after ES&S for selling close to 1,000 uncertified... [continue]

Don't forget to head out to the LA Tofu Festival and Sunset Junction Street Fair this weekend! Several large Japanese corporations are working with Japanese American community organizations in L.A. to bring a massive float to the U.S. for the first time. The very "principled" Republicans senators in the California legislature are citing fiscal sanity and their constituents as the primary factors driving their continued stalling on the budget bill. A man was hit... [continue]

All eastbound lanes between Sepulveda and La Cienega boulevards on the 105 Freeway will be closed from 3 AM to midnight this weekend and next for filming. L.A. 11st District City Councilman Bill Rosendahl introduced a resolution today to impeach President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. An ideal way to find all the farmers' markets in the L.A. region: LA Farmers' Market Mapplet. Jamie Foxx is shooting for another Oscar with... [continue]

Deadliest attack of the Iraq war claims at least 250 lives and as many as 500. Want to learn more about the local opportunities and challenges presented by global warming? Check out the Global Warming Forum at Cal State LA tomorrow from 9 AM to 3 PM. Progress made in improving California's public school system stalled this year after two years of promising gains. The L.A. City Council says no dice to Home Depot's... [continue]

Free agent Brevin Knight, formerly with the Charlotte Bobcats, has just signed on with the Clippers. Where can you find the top 10 taco places on the West Side? Don't forget to check out the Sunset Junction Street Fair this upcoming weekend! Avowed pedophile Jack McClellan was arrested twice today on the UCLA campus. A mechanic was stabbed with a screwdriver when he tried confronting two car burglars a few days ago. A tip... [continue]

Not letting the bedbugs bite is getting harder than ever these days. Deeming it "troubling" and "unacceptable," Mayor Tony is urging federal officials to take steps to prevent a repeat of this weekend's Customs and Border Protection computer glitch that stranded some 20,000 travelers. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag warning - signifying a higher risk of wildfires - for the L.A. County mountains that will remain in effect until Wednesday...... [continue]

Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, i.e. Bush's "war czar," thinks it "makes sense" to consider a return to the military draft. Students are teaching educators about the crises facing many local high schools and teenage dropouts. Health officials are cautioning that Panorama City residents may be at great risk of contracting West Nile virus - with most confirmed cases arising in that region. Residents of Borrego Springs, a small resort and retirement community in... [continue]

An "Eater LA" reader reveals just how wrong San Francisco Chronicle critic Michael Bauer still is. Police officials revealed details of the Burbank shooting rampage that led to the deaths of three people. Good news public transit fans: local officials broke ground on a $640-million project that will include eight new Expo Line stations. Catch legendary comics writer Peter Bagge (of Hate, MAD and Weirdo Magazine fame) at the Secret Headquarters tonight (did I... [continue]

LAT tells us what L.A.'s top 25 "culinary bargains" are (find more Foodie news from today here). Did you know that a Louis Vuitton store also qualified as a public art gallery? Sex, scandal and assault at the Playboy Mansion: oh my! The Walk of Fame's stars have been temporarily "displaced" to make way for the construction of the new W Hotel. City Beat pleads L.A. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo's case. A woman in... [continue]

More congestion insanity: the L.A. City Council has just approved a rethink in planning rules to allow more downtown developments. Tom Hanks, his wife Rita Wilson and Nia Vardalos have filed suit in Los Angeles alleging they weren't paid their full percentage "share of net profits" for the hit "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." 10 individuals and businesses face federal charges of accidentally starting large wildfires. Officials at Angel Stadium have pledged to work... [continue]

RIP: Veteran KTLA newscaster Hal Fishman passes away at age 75. Southern California's 11 bridges are A-OK, officials said based on recently completed emergency inspections. To reward him for his groundbreaking and much talked-about late night show "Last Call", NBC has decided to give Carson Daly a two-year extension. Way to secure last place, NBC. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has decided to resign from DreamWorks Animation SKG's board of directors and to sell close... [continue]

Oh, ouch. That's gotta hurt: There's one vote that Rudy Giuliani definitely can't count on in his 2008 presidential bid: his own daughter's. According to the 17-year-old Caroline Giuliani's Facebook profile, she's supporting Barack Obama. But, wait, it gets better: On her profile, she designates her political views as "liberal" and—until this morning—proclaimed her membership in the Facebook group "Barack Obama (One Million Strong for Barack)." According to her profile, she withdrew from the...... [continue]

Indiana Pacers star power forward Jermaine O'Neal wants to be traded to the Lakers. Bad. Even Southern California is starting to feel the pinch of congestion and overcrowding. Frustration with a lack of action at the federal level has prompted states to enact a raft of new immigration laws in the first 6 months of 2007 - more than twice the number that was passed during the same period last year. A North Hollywood...... [continue]

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has launched an inquiry into allegations of racism and discrimination within the LAFD. Two men have filed suit against the L.A. Zoo and the city to stop construction of a $40 million elephant exhibit and to prevent it from having elephants on the grounds, alleging instances of abuse and neglect. Bring on the air pollution: the South Coast Air Quality Management District board voted to approve, 8-3, rule changes...... [continue]

Boy, it's certainly heartening to see that we're still making good "progress" on the whole "winning hearts and minds" objective: Here at this searing, dusty U.S. military base about four miles west of Baqouba, Iraqis — including interpreters who walk the same foot patrols and sleep in the same tents as U.S. troops — must use segregated bathrooms. Another sign, in a dining hall, warns Iraqis and "third-country nationals" that they have just one...... [continue]

Gee, I wonder what tipped them off: California transportation officials will immediately inspect 69 of the state's most vulnerable steel-deck bridges. And the frozen yogurt wars rage on... A man, believed to be a property caretaker, was fatally mauled by a dog on Ving Rhames' property. How desperate can you get? Fox News is offering Republicans $15 to attend an upcoming taping of the "Half Hour News Hour" - a right-wing (and shoddy) version...... [continue]