In what has to be one of the most ridiculous mash-ups between our government and food since the Reagan administration proposed ketchup and relish be classified as vegetables comes word Congress is so desperate to keep pizza on school lunch menus they are declaring that two tablespoons of tomato paste as used on the pizza is also a veggie. more ›

Thanks to its massive air pollution problem, California currently enforces the strictest car emission standards in the country. These stringent practices may be in jeopardy, however, due to the Energy Tax Prevention Act, newly proposed legislation at the federal level, according to SFGate. more ›

Democratic US Congresswoman Jane Harman is resigning her post, and "will take over as director of the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington," says the Washington Post. Harman, 65, who "represents a Democratic-safe district is suburban Los Angeles, including Redondo Beach, Torrance and Carson," was first elected to the House in 1992, and after a losing bid for Governor, reclaimed the seat in 2000, notes the AP. more ›

This morning, officials from various groups, including two L.A. City Councilmembers, will urge Senator Dianne Feinstein to continue her support and leadership of California's high speed rail proposal and $4 billion in funding designated in the 2010 transportation spending bill. more ›

If you're willing to brave the chill of DC in January to see some warmth injected into the White House and to rep LA in the crowds, there's only one way to get tickets: Ask your local Congressional rep. LAist's sister site DCist explains the process via a press release:

Tickets to the 56th Inaugural Ceremonies will be provided free of charge and distributed through Members of the 111th Congress. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies does not provide tickets to the public. Members of the public interested in attending the Inaugural Ceremonies should contact their Member of Congress or U.S. Senators to request tickets.