Zach Behrens

November 2nd is a big election day for California. Residents will vote on nine propositions and for a number of elected officials, most notably Governor, Attorney General and U.S. Senate. Currently, 16.99 million Californians are registered to vote, but are you? Monday, October 18th is the last day to register. If you need, the Secretary of State's office has put together an informative webpage on registering....

Mayor Huang Well here's a lede you don't read everyday. Courtesy of the LA Times's Sam Allen: "The mayor of the city of San Gabriel was in custody Friday on charges of felony robbery and assault after he allegedly took a woman’s purse and sped down a residential street with her clinging to the side of his sport-utility vehicle." Luckily the woman, who clung to the car for more than a quarter mile, was...

Supporters and protesters gather during a news conference in front of Dorris Place Elementary School in Elysian Valley where California Attorney General and Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Jerry Brown spoke on Thursday (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Despite the "whore" controversy, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown is leading Republican opponent Meg Whitman by 6 points, according to the latest poll from Rasmussen. "The numbers: Brown 50%, Whitman 44%. likely voters has a ±4% margin of error," explained...

A mobile billboard on Fulton Avenue in Sherman Oaks | Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist A state law that will take effect January 1st will allow local governments to regulate mobile billboards, those unhitched trailers that display advertisements and are left on streets for weeks or months at a time, mostly in the San Fernando Valley. Complaints over the years have piled up about the signs because residents see them as blight, a public safety...

Sunset over the San Fernando Valley | Photo by Mark Luethi via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr Abbot Kinney is quite popular these days: parking, valet and food trucks will be a big topic issue at the Venice Neighborhood Council next week. Sarah Palin on California: it "has unfortunately become a case study in failed liberal policies." Intelligentsia in Pasadena will start serving alcohol tomorrow. The White House will be lit in pink tonight...

The Obama Administration this week said they would "vigorously enforce" marijuana laws, even if voters approve Prop 19, which would legalize the drug for recreational use. "Let me state clearly that the Department of Justice strongly opposes Proposition 19. If passed, this legislation will greatly complicate federal drug enforcement efforts to the detriment of our citizens," Holder wrote in a letter to former chiefs of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, according to the LA...

Industries that support Prop 26 | Chart via MAPLight.org Among the nine propositions Californians will be voting on in the November 2nd election, Prop 26 is not getting much attention. How could it, though? Taxing rules, when compared with marijuana, state parks and climate, is not exactly a sexy topic. But that doesn't mean it's important and could mean major change for the state. Basically, Prop 26 "expands the definition of a tax and...

Love 'em or hate 'em, AOL's push for hyper local news took two more steps this week in Southern California. More specifically, Patch.com launched websites in the unincorporated community of Altadena and the city of South Pasadena. Behind the two sites are editors with masters degrees in journalism.

View a larger version of this map (.pdf) Public transportation in Los Angeles today received a boost with the news of a large loan from the federal government. Metro will receive more than a half billion in loaned funds for it's nine-mile Crenshaw/LAX light rail line, which will take riders between the Green Line at LAX and the Expo Line, which is currently under construction. "Today is a very good day," said Senator Barbara...

Detail of the L.A. rally logo There was major disappointment earlier this week when organizers of the L.A. offshoot of Jon Stewart's rally in Washington D.C. were denied a permit to gather in downtown's Pershing Square. Officials with L.A.'s Recreation and Parks Department told the LA Weekly the park could not accommodate crowds as it prepares for Downtown on Ice, which begins November 18th and were willing to work with organizers in finding a...