Mike Roe

When it comes to budget cuts, libraries are often at the top of the list. Due to budget cuts, libraries in Los Angeles have laid off a quarter of their staff. The upcoming election's Measure L seeks to allocate more money to libraries.

The Los Angeles City Council today is expected to address the city’s worsening budget crisis. Last week, the city administrative officer said a plan to privatize nine city-owned parking garages had fallen through because the Council had placed too many restrictions on the proposed contract. That’s opened up a more-than $50 million hole in L.A.'s already beleaguered budget. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says the deal can be saved. Most on the Council seem to disagree. In an interview with KPCC’s Frank Stoltze, Councilman Greig Smith – who sits on the budget committee – called the plan ill-fated from the start.

A federal judge halted executions in California five years ago over concerns about sloppy executions. One deficiency he noted was the state’s death chamber at San Quentin. The judge said its design prevented staff from adequately monitoring inmates during executions. Today, KPCC's Julie Small toured the death chamber at San Quentin, joining federal judge Jeremy Fogel, who halted executions there five years ago.

Governor Brown delivered his state of the state address Monday night to a joint session of the California Legislature. He focused as promised on his proposal to close next year’s $25 billion deficit. KPCC’s state capital reporter Julie Small was in the Assembly chambers for Brown’s address.

Governor Jerry Brown talks to Californians this evening, laying out his plan to close a $25 billion state deficit. The State of the State address is at 5 p.m. John Myers covers state politics for the California Report and offers his analysis of what Brown will try to do in his speech.

Businessman Meyer Luskin has donated $100 million to the University of California-Los Angeles, the second largest gift in UCLA history. UCLA says the donation will be split equally between the UCLA School of Public Affairs and a planned residential conference center.

Jazz and blues singer Barbara Morrison has worked in the music business for more than 35 years. She’s performed and recorded with legends like Ray Charles, James Moody and Etta James. Now she’s opening the new non-profit Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center in Leimert Park to help revitalize the once-vibrant hub of African American culture and arts.

The Los Angeles City Council, heading into the Martin Luther King holiday weekend, voted to cut $18 million. That's a dent in the $63 million deficit for this year, but there's still a ways to go, as well as a projected $360 million deficit for the coming fiscal year. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spoke with KPCC's Larry Mantle Tuesday about the budget, layoffs and more, providing a state of the city for 2011.

In his first week as Los Angeles County's new public defender, Ronald L. Brown said he would avoid wrongful convictions of people who are misidentified as culprits in crimes.

Later this morning, Jerry Brown becomes governor of California – again. Brown faces a $28 billion budget problem. John Myers of KPCC's sister station KQED in San Francisco provides his insight on what Brown's governorship holds.

The Los Angeles police union is asking the city to stop hiring new officers and to fill in gaps by paying existing officers for overtime, according to the Los Angeles Times. Police Chief Charlie Beck and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa say that's a bad idea.

After refusing to concede last night, Carly Fiorina conceded today in her bid for Barbara Boxer's U.S. Senate seat. Boxer declared victory on election night, despite Fiorina's initial refusal to concede.