Jessica P. Ogilvie

In today's Extra, Extra, Wendy's faces a tomato shortage, a Southland couple is held hostage by Somali pirates, flash flood warnings are in effect, and a man has sued a sushi restaurant. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports.

A woman who claims she was a literary scout for Maverick Films and that she discovered "Twilight" and "The Lightning Thief" as possibilities for feature films says that she hasn't been paid what she's owed for the two -- "Twilight," obviously, went on to become a huge success. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Nanette Shipley has only been given a small part of what she's owed:

Put down whatever you're eating before you read this. A trial began today for a man who was accused of ejaculating into the water bottle of a female co-worker. Michael Kevin Lallana of Fullerton, 31, plead not guilty to the charges. According to KTLA, on two separate occasions, Lallana went into his colleague's office, "deposited his semen into a water bottle that was on his co-worker's desk," and then left it there.

In this edition of Extra, Extra, Serene Branson speaks, Pasadena confronts water rates and no more Border's, sex toys are stolen and In-n-Out faces stiff competition. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports.

Sarah Jessica Parker, haven't you had enough? Let me be the first to tell you that I was one of the original "Sex and the City fans." Yes. I'm not ashamed. I participated in girl's nights, where we drank and watched the show on HBO. I was one of those people who went to opening night of the first movie (I think...OK, that may or may not have happened), and I dutifully went to SATC2, knowing that the chances of it being horrible and sad were high.

Today's Extra, Extra brings you trademarks in wording, bad wedding photography, parking structures rejected, and the face of Jesus. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports.

Photo by evanjacobs1 via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr A panel of judges on the California State Supreme Court agreed today to take on a case in which they'll decide whether the proponents of Proposition 8, ProtectMarriage, have the legal standing to appeal a ruling from August of last year that struck down Prop 8. The twists and turns of the case, since its inception, go something like this: Proposition 8 passed...

People with balding heads may have reason to rejoice: researcher at UCLA have stumbled upon a drug that appears to both prevent hair loss from occurring, and regrow hair that's already gone. According to KCBS, the drug's effects were discovered while scientists were studying the effects of stress on the digestive system. After causing mice to overproduce a stress hormone in mice and then treating them with the medication, the researchers found that three months later, mice who had gone completely bald had hair.

Today's Extra, Extra offers an update on Elizabeth Taylor and Jamie Oliver, as well as convictions in both the murder of a high school football player, and home invasions targeting elderly women. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports.

Photo by jpfmack via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr You know, people really overestimate how long it takes a person to deal with decades of recurring drug problems. Take Charlie Sheen, for example! Sure, it may seem like he's been dealing with massive addiction issues lately, and yes, it's possible that his publicist mentioned that he had checked into rehab. But he's fine now, guys! Stop being such sticks-in-the-mud! In fact, Sheen...

Today's Extra, Extra brings us an update on CBS reporter Serene Branson, big doings at the LA Times, some news about strawberry milk, and a new community garden. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports.

Photo by CitySkylineSouvenir via Flickr If you've been paying attention to overhead signs recently, you've no doubt seen (and questioned) the huge billboards in which Ken proclaims his love for Barbie. By way of background information, Ken and Barbie are toys made by Mattel, Inc., so that wasn't real. Nor is the announcement that fictional, plastic Barbie has said "yes" to fictional, plastic Ken's fictional marriage proposal, but that hasn't stopped Mattel from sending...