Lindsay William-Ross

It wasn't his policy, and he doesn't really like it: Los Angeles Unified School District John Deasy is sending the district's lame new less-homework policy to detention until it can shape up and be better for their students. The LAUSD's controversial homework policy went into effect this summer, and mandates that homework represent no more than 10% of a student's total grade.

John Levin, 47, was found guilty last month of murdering his wife Michelle and microwaving his Pomeranian to death, and yesterday he was sentenced to 16 years in prison, plus parole for life after release, according to the Glendale News-Press.

A cyclist riding westbound on 8th Street at around 7:30 Tuesday night in Downtown L.A. was struck and killed by a motorist driving on the same road. The motorist, a 37-year-old male driving a Chevy Avalanche, was allegedly "distracted" and had "possible road rage," says the Daily News.

Are animals being cared for in shelters run by L.A.'s Animal Services Department actually being stolen and sold for profit? It's possible, and City Controller Wendy Greuel has announced today her intention to conduct an audit aimed at uncovering just what is going on behind the scenes there.

Special elections aren't cheap, but Council District 15 needs one to replace Janice Hahn, who was sworn in yesterday as the Congresswoman from California's 36th District. The L.A. City Council debated mightily about the $1.5 million price tag for a special election to replace the departed councilwoman, but they did manage to set a couple of dates, reports the Daily News.

Authorities from multiple agencies banded together to bust 28 suspects thought to be affiliated with a prolific South Bay Tagging Crew. Those suspects are thought to be involved in ASC, or "Art Sex Crime," a crew tied to about $100,000 in damage to the Metro Green Line and local school property, according to the Daily Breeze. At least nine arrests have been made, and more are expected.

Sometimes bankruptcy works, and sometimes it's just time for a total liquidation. Borders, the big box bookseller who hit financial woes and began shutting down select locations recently, is throwing in the towel, and closing up all of their remaining 399 stores.

Things are so tough at the United States Post Office that not only does it seem certain that Saturday mail delivery will end soon, but the Postmaster General himself fears that in 15 years "we'll be talking about delivering mail three days a week," reports USA Today.

They make a superior tea latte to that other company with the mermaid logo, and you can get a pretty solid sugar high from their ice blended beverages, and now New Yorkers get to enjoy Los Angeles import Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. The news sent a ripple of cheery shockwaves through the city, like your beloved half and half rippling through your morning cup of joe.

Angeleno Magazine has revealed the publication's picks for the creme de la creme of local chefs and restaurants, and now it's time to party. Their 9th Annual Restaurant Awards, the Live & Dine LA Event, will be celebrated in grand (and delicious) style this Sunday, July 24th, and the public is welcome to get themselves a ticket and bring their appetites.

To celebrate the re-opening of all 73 Los Angeles Public Library locations for Monday hours today, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa made some time to read a story to some kids following a press conference at Central Library. Villaraigosa's Sr. Press Secretary, Sarah Hamilton, whose imminent departure made headlines today, posted this photo to her Twitter.

Los Angeles has smog--lots of it--and the Environmental Protection Agency is taking some legal heat for it. A federal lawsuit filed yesterday calls out the EPA for essentially not doing enough to crack down on our polluted air.