If you're a sex offender and you've already moved away from nearby schools, parks, swimming pools and libraries in Riverside County, you've got to one thing to your rather lengthy not to-do list. When Halloween rolls around this year, you have to tear down your decorations, turn off your lights and promise not to open your front door. The supervisors of Riverside County believe that Halloween is a loophole for sex offenders, because it's the one day every year when the children come to them instead of vice-versa. more ›

Gear up the parental fear machine, it's Halloween! Adding to a long list of regulations that deliberately ignore the uncomfortable fact that most children are sexually abused by people that they already know, Riverside County is considering a rule that would prohibit registered sex offenders from hanging Halloween decorations on October 31, would require them to leave their outside lights off that day, and would ban them from answering the door during the same hours. more ›

Our state laws regarding cellphone use while at the wheel of our cars, and while we're riding on two wheels, are staying status quo. Tuesday, Governor Jerry Brown vetoed State Bill 28, which would have seen fines for illegal cellphone use while driving double. The bill also included new legislation that would have applied to bicyclists' use of cellphones. more ›

Congressman Howard L. Berman, however, wants to legislate helicopter noise away. He put forth his "Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act" on Thursday, with the hopes of reducing the noise disturbance from low-flying helicopters in Los Angeles County. more ›

On Tuesday, the City Council’s Planning & Land Use Management Committee (PLUM) will hold a public hearing downtown to address the Community Care Facility Ordinance, a proposed measure aimed at establishing rules for sober-living homes, boarding houses and other "nuisance group homes that have proliferated in residential neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley," notes the Daily News. more ›

When it comes to condom use in the local porn business, Los Angeles County officials are opting to keep their hands to themselves. more ›

Current law: don't pay five parking tickets, you get booted and/or towed. Possible future law? Don't pay three or four parking tickets, you get booted and/or towed. The latter is the dream of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, according to a 2009-10 State Legislative Program packet submitted to a City Council committee for consideration later this afternoon. more ›

The road to legalizing marijuana for all in California takes another step tomorrow. The California Assembly Public Safety Committee tomorrow will hold an informational hearing "on the implications of taxing and regulating marijuana similarly to alcoholic beverages," according to a press release from Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), chair of the committee and author of the legislation. more ›

"The billboard industry is like a creature in a science fiction movie that expands to fill any space that you make for it, and then asks, 'Have I got your attention yet?' Yes, the city believes it is fighting 'Swamp Thing.' An extremely wealthy Swamp Thing." That's City Planning Commissioner Michael Woo, as quoted by Curbed LA, at today's billboard press conference dealing with new legislation that proposes to place a two-year moratorium on digital billboards until safety studies come out. As usual, lawsuits from the billboard industry are expected to be filed against such an action. (Photo of digital billboard via Ban Billboard Blight) more ›

Seattlest watches as a S.L.U.T. is born and Seattle Flickr users go nuts over a local art installation. A restaurant critic demands a Diner's Bill of Rights over a gnat next to her drink, and, in lieu of a Portlandist, Seattlest debates with itself over the identity of the Northwest's crown jewel. Seattlest also joins the guys from Fantagraphics for an ill-fated gun party in the woods. more ›

Photo at Universal Studios by nopantsxris via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr more ›

With unseasonable weather descending upon much of North America, schools getting ready to reconvene, and sports seasons getting exciting, it's a busy time of year for us here in the Ist-A-Verse. Luckily, even with all the things we have to do, we still managed to get together to let you know what we've all been up to. more ›

Guest Day Editor Zuma Dogg will be joining LAist with a few posts throughout the day. Read his introductory interview here and check out his site as well as Mayor Sam where he contributes. He also wrote an article in the current edition of the LA Weekly Dear Los Angeles City Council, We all know legislation, administration and meetings take up a good amount of your time, whether ZD shows up that day, or not.... more ›

Via Think Progress and Bob Geiger, it looks as though we may finally be seeing Democrats grow a spine: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced a few hours ago that he intends on forcing Republican obstructionists to stay in the Senate, over night if necessary, if they want to filibuster the Iraq withdrawal legislation. Here are a few key excerpts (for the whole schlemiel, head over here): more ›

It must feel flattering to be Air Quality Management District chairman William Burke. After all, how often can a legislator claim to have a bill introduced by colleagues whose sole purpose would be to ensure that he/she remains in office indefinitely? more ›

You know that beautiful corridor between Westwood and Brentwood on Wilshire - all that grass, and lack of skyscrapers, and what's the word: open space? It belongs to the Veterans. It's called the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs campus. George Bush and the feds want it, they want to be able to build on it, and lease or sell it to Big Business. And when it looked like the $120 billion Iraq War spending bill... more ›

What with all the political hubbub brewing this year over issues like The War, immigration, abortion, political corruption, we’re pretty sure the Farm Bill is going to get the shaft as far as public conversation is concerned – just like in 2002, when its passing was totally overshadowed by 9/11 and the ensuing hysteria. Frankly, it’s a damn shame. This is one issue that actually has a chance of raising bipartisan support – even... more ›

#132 Largo city manger's plans to become a woman got found out by the local paper. So instead of letting the paper announce it, he announced to the people of Largo to be understanding of his upcoming procedure. Nearly 500 people squeezed into City Hall and most asked for his head. At the end of the meeting the council decided to fire their city manager of 14 years. [Post-Trib] more ›

"It's insulting to take the bus" Wad at MetroRiderLA bemoans dumb people who write to the Daily News (MetroRiderLA) USC study explains the obvious, but for good measure According to a recent USC study, children who grow up near freeways will have double the risk of stunted lung development. So basically, it's saying that if you take the bus, you are not to blame for dead and deformed lung children (CBS2) Hope they add... more ›

This man had balls people Devastating to our local Armenian community and those of us who enjoy free speech, editor of Agos Armenian Daily newspaper in Turkey, Hrant Dink, was assassinated. "The assassination of Mr. Dink is not only an attack on the Armenian community of Turkey; it is an assault on freedom of speech, truth, and justice everywhere," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said on Friday. "Mr. Dink spoke frankly and courageously about the history... more ›

- 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... more ›

Today, the Information Technology Administration (ITA) along with the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE), announced some Los Angeles E-Democracy, as they call it. What does this mean? A bunch of online toys for us city nerds. Here's some of what they've done in the past 24 months: Online Council Votes: stalk follow your councilmember's voting track record. Online Council File Index: Keep track of any legislation considered and/or acted upon. Online Council Docs: We... more ›

We've got no problem with gays. We've got no problem with Christians. Hell, some of our best friends are Republicans. What we have a problem with are people with power who live gigantic lies and influence legislation that they don't really believe in. Ted Haggard would love it if gays got married, or if gays truly had equal rights. He'd love it because then it wouldn't have been so hard for him to admit... more ›

First off, let us say that drunk driving is bad. Really bad. You should be taking the bus, no? Maybe even ride the Holly Trolley around in circles until 4 a.m. to sober up. more ›

shredding moms Yesterday moms in Laguna Niguel skated a bowl in a mothers' day fundraiser. "Kids are proud to have a nonconforming parent," the LA Times writes, which puts a nail in the skating-as-rebellion coffin for us. Wait, we hear more banging — it's 35-year-old mother Jenny Sparks, who tells the paper: "Skateboarding is the new Jenny Craig." more ›

buns in the oven? Anna Nicole Smith, who just had the Supreme Court side with her (sort of) against her nasty stepson, is rumored to be pregnant — with twins. Our favorite part of the story is the name of her lawyer, who issued a non-denial of the pregnancy yesterday: he's Howard K. Stern. more ›

The day started with students walking out again to show their opposition to the Sensenbrenner Bill and ended with the Senate Judiciary Committee approving legislation that would make it possible for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US to seek citizenship without first having to return to their home countries. Eric at blogdowntown's worries that the students had no idea what they were protesting will be addressed tomorrow as LAUSD will feature classes discussing the Bill and the issues surrounding it in middle and high schools throughout the county. more ›

In the wake of all the Golden Globe coverage, we nearly forgot to mention that several California cities made a not-so-prestigious list this weekend. The National Coalition for the Homeless, a nonprofit organization that focuses on justice, economic justice, health care justice and civil rights issues, released a list of the 20 meanest cities in America in 2005. more ›

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is poised to make a decision that could affect the video game industry in a major way. Sometime in the next few days, Schwarzenegger may either sign or veto a bill prohibiting the sale of violent games to minors. The bill would prohibit the sale of “especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel” games to people under the age of 18. The possible penalty for breaching this law would be a fine of $1,000. If he does not veto the bill by Saturday night, it would become law next year. more ›

The election of Antonio Villaraigosa as Los Angeles mayor continues to have a "musical chairs" effect through city politics, as the players jockey for better seats to get their issues heard. This time it's the unions aiming for the political equivalent of floor seats at Staples Center. more ›