Saturday’s “The Future of News” panel at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books was quite a raucous event. Panelists were James Taranto, editor of the Wall Street Journal’s opinion website, ABC News political analyst Mark Halperin and Times editor James O’Shea (whose introduction met with hisses and boos). The discussion was moderated by Marjorie Miller from the Times, who opened with the comforting observation that ”we don’t really have a clue about the......

Rat poison was found on the imported wheat in the recalled pet foods and is the likely culprit of reported animal deaths & illnesses, according to the Department of Agriculture and the EPA. ABC News reports: A source close to the investigation tells ABC News that the rodenticide, which the source says is illegal to use in the United States, was on wheat that was imported from China and used by Menu Foods in......

- Hillary Clinton announces her bid for 2008 presidency - LAT - Outspoken in opposition to abortion rights, Republican Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas also announced his presidential bid - CNN - Burbank Police wound a suspect at the Ramada Inn - CBS2 - Mountain Lion Spotted In Beverly Hills - NBC4 - "California parents could face jail and a fine for spanking their young children under legislation a state lawmaker has promised to......

- California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has surgery on his broken femur that got busted during a ski trip in Idaho. No word if he had any other work done while under the knife - ABC News - Angels give $6.5 mil to Shea Hillenbrand to play first base. Shea was the fella who wrote "the ship is sinking" on the Blue Jay blackboard before he was traded - ESPN - LA's richies give more......

- John Kerry calls the President stupid, President and his bros are too stupid to know that they were being called stupid, so Kerry calls them stupid again - johnkerry.com - The Political Director of ABC News is stupid - Tristram Shandy via Martini Republic - Drew Brees doesn't want his mom to use his image in her stupid election - Austin Statesman - Vice President Cheney says Charles Rangel "doesn't understand how the......

The stars are just like us! They marry Baywatch babes off the beach of Saint-Tropez, ABC News reports. Anderson wrote about her upcoming nuptuals with Kid Rock on her blog today: Yes. I'm finally getting remarried...it's been a whirlwind... spontaneous but well thought through. Feels like I've been stuck in a time warp. Not able to let go of MY family picture...it's been sad and lonely and frustrating....I've raised my kids alone in hope......

ABC News is reporting that Kobe Bryant has settled his civil suit with the same woman who accused him of rape over a year and a half ago. As Lakers fans, LAist is relieved to see this issue finally come to an end. We will never know what happened that one night in Colorado, but at this point, we're happy that both parties are relatively satisfied. Now the Lakers can move on, and the......

ABC News reports (via blogging.la) that Westsiders should boil their water until further notice. An icky-poo reservoir leak might lead to intestinal illness, the DWP says, but boiling will kill any nasty bacteria. One alternative is mixing bleach in your water, which sounds just about as appealing as drinking your pool. As Westsiders wisely abandon their taps, we have to wonder: will Beverly Hills residents be brushing with Evian tonight? Pellegrino? Fiji Water? Vittel?......