Photo by Tyler S Andrews via LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr The forecast for California for the coming months is drought--no surprises here. In fact, it's going to be the "the fourth driest year in the last 114 years," according to KNBC.com, and we're expected to have "below-average rainfall for the third year in a row." So the Department of Water Resources is trying to get resourceful by setting up a program for growers......

The city's Energy and the Environment Committee met this morning and passed a water waste crackdown plan, making way for a full city council approval, which will likely occur in September. "The 'drought busters' plan crafted by the Department of Water and Power seeks to punish residents who water their lawns between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., car owners who wash their cars without 'shut-off devices' on their hoses and restaurants that serve water without......

Today, Governor Schwarzenegger declared a statewide water drought and ordered immediate action to address the issue. Via the Sacramento Bee: The Republican governor will sign an executive order that seeks to accelerate water transfers to shortage areas, pursue federal assistance and improve coordination between government agencies. The order does not impose statewide water rationing but attempts to reduce water use by bolstering state and local conservation programs Locally, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California......

The Metropolitan Water Board is set to approve a controversial new "drought plan" for Southern California. More updates on the tragic Oxnard shooting that has left one student seriously injured and possibly dead. Twelve top Defamer posts from outgoing editor Mark Lisanti, via...some guy's Tumblr account. Teh internets! Are you a lazy asshole? But a romantic lazy asshole? Well, check out last minute V-Day flower bargains from the Daily News' Bargain Hunter Blog. File......

Yesterday at a press conference with Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard regarding the renewal of a Sister City relationship, Mayor Villaraigosa went off topic, but with good reason: water woes could be ahead, according to the Daily News. With the fires, extreme water drought and light snowpack this year, water is tight. Earlier this summer, the mayor made a call for the public to voluntarily reduce water use, hoping for a 10% decrease (even......

Last minute plans? Try some culture via ExperienceLA's calendar. Or try our picks for tonight: Canon at Union Station, Pee Wee's Big Adventure at Angel City Drive-In, or Tonight in Rock. Toady, Oprah Winfrey held a swanky fundraiser for Barack Obama south of Santa Barbara expecting to raise $3-million. Hot chick boards Southwest plane, finds her seat, gets kicked off for being too sexy. The LA Triathlon is tomorrow morning. Find out if you'll......

- EMI announces that it will offer MP3s on iTunes without the dreaded DRM and a blogosphere rejoices - boingboing - Two bald eagle chicks were born on Catalina Island over the weekend - Daily Breeze - Beverly Hills Unified School District gets nearly $1 million for accepting 159 students into Beverly Hills High who don't live in the district, but are enrolled under a diversity program. Only problem, most of those being brought......

#58 Tallahassee man shoots a one-pound duck, brings it home, puts it in the fridge, two days later his wife asks, "is that a live duck in our fridge or are you just happy to see me." - WREG #59 Palm Beach fines Donald Trump $1,250 a day for his huge flagpole - Orlando Sentinel #60 Ft. Lauderdale literally about to nickel and dime their townsfolk by adding 250 more parking meters - Sun-Sentinel......