Lisa Glatt, professor of creative writing at Cal State Long Beach, is on her way to the big time - and we couldn't be happier for her. Glatt's novel, A Girl Becomes a Comma Like That, has been optioned by Andrew Wagner. We're a big fan of Lisa's because whenever we see her at a local reading, she commands the room with her intense stories and mordant wit. It doesn't matter who she reads with,......

Following a flap from an LA Times article that found 60,000 LAUSD students attend school within 500 feet of a freeway, the school district is looking into ways it can reduce the health hazards for kids close to pollution-filled freeways. Maybe the school district can use the $53 million in funds they're trying to recoup to build domes over playgrounds. Thousands of birds and an immeasurable amount of fish have died as a result......

George Bush issued the fourth veto of his presidency today, nixing a bill that would have provided insurance to poor children. Bush said the program was too costly, apparently cool with the fact that the Iraq war now costs over $455-billion. That's B for billion. And B for Bitch. Curbed LA takes a gander at a new development planned for West LA. In as much as the structure looks like a monument to cubism,......

Los Angeles is cleaning up after a wet weekend that drenched the southland and knocked out power to thousands. Want asthma? LAUSD is building seven new schools near freeways, despite scientific studies saying such construction could damage the children's lungs. Huell Howser is here. That's amazing! The city's neighborhood councils could be in for some major changes. Maybe now, you'll actually understand what they are. A Los Angeles man suspected of shooting his pregnant girlfriend......

The Long Beach Blues Festival On Saturday and Sunday, Sept 1st and 2nd, the Long Beach Blues Festival at Cal State Long Beach will celebrate its 28th year. The Juke Joint stage provides music between sets on the main stage. Although event producer, station KKJZ 88.1 FM, is now operated by Global Jazz, Inc. they are continuing the tradition. Music starts at 10:15am and ends at 6pm. On Saturday, the lineup includes Buddy Guy, Dr.......

M. Ward, Victoria Williams @ El Rey Dengue Fever @ Temple Bar Morrissey @ Pasadena Civic Auditorium Gladys Knight @ Gibson The Monolators, Repeater, The Friends of Dennis Wilson @ Mr. T's Bowl KRS-One @ The Knitting Factory Ladysmith Black Mambazo @ Cal State Long Beach Pierre de Reeder @ The Mint Margaret Cho @ Largo Mose Allison @ The Jazz Bakery Ron Sexsmith, Annie Stela @ The Troubadour G Love & Special Sauce,......

The Daily News tunes in to Howard Stern's premiere satellite radio broadcast, counts the number of times he uses the f-word. Cal State Long Beach has a new president, F. King Alexander; the Long Beach Press Telegram checks in on his first day of school. Apparently he did not use the f-word. Pasadena middle school students have lunch with Samuel L. Jackson as part of a program that helps them make it to college.......

The vast majority of contemporary architecture aims for the middle, or winds up satisfying few elements of collectively desirable criteria. Then there's the rare architect whose work advances distinctive style and material innovation, along with as-crucial intangibles (think timelessness and elements of context). Discussion centered around the "Los Angeles school" of architecture has now thankfully moved past Gehry and Meier to include other resourceful, inspired builders and designers in our midst. Among those at......