Zach Behrens

Jerry Brown Although California Attorney General and former Governor Jerry Brown hasn't officially declared his gubernatorial intentions, he's winning against candidate and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, according to two polls reported by the San Francisco Chronicle: "On the statewide level, a poll taken last week of 600 likely Democratic voters by the Sacramento firm Moore Methods showed Brown in the lead for the 2010 primary, 49 percent to 20 percent. A second poll...

Silvia Mardini was last seen on Friday. Then on Saturday, she sent text messages to her family indicating that she was in danger, the Los Angeles Police Department announced today in hopes that the public could help locate her. Mardini was seen Friday running errand around 6 p.m. driving her silver 2003 Ford Focus, 4-door, license number 5DQM267. She's described as white, with dark brown hair, brown eyes, 5 ft. 5 in. tall and weighs about 120 lbs.

Photo by honeybeejen via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's goal of 10,000 officers on the force is nearing reality, reports the Daily News. Although the LAPD's website states there are 10,004 sworn officers, officials are not celebrating yet. That's because veteran officers are retiring at a rate of 40 a month. With only 10% of applicants making the cut (and then they're off to six months of training), building the department...

Ouch. No wonder it's tough to find a job in Los Angeles. July's unemployment numbers for the state are not looking too good. 11.9% is, once again, a record high, according to the LA Times. A few months back in may it was a record breaking 11.5% and then 11.6% in June. California lost 35,800 jobs last month (and 760,000 over the last year), which is more than any other state. That ties us...

To once again bring attention to the massive budget cuts of state parks, the California State Parks Foundation has declared the next two weekends to be those of advocacy. "The Save Our State Parks (SOS) Campaign is holding 'I ♥ State Parks' weekends of action from now through Labor Day to unite state parks supporters," the nonprofit announced. "Events will take place in many state parks throughout California and online. The 'I ♥ State...

An 8-inch cast iron pipe began leaking water into the streets of Hollywood and West Hollywood this afternoon, prompting street damage and minimal closures. At 3:37 p.m., LADWP was notified of the leak and immediately began work to shut down the water and repair the pipe at 1042 North Vista in Los Angeles, just south of Santa Monica Blvd. Some customers may have their service shut off and at least one building's subterranean garage...

A straw poll posted within a Daily News story today is asking readers if they would use the "subway to the sea" of not. So far, with only around 200 votes as of this writing, it's a split vote. Earlier today, the poll indicated losing results for subway ridership. Posting to his Facebook page, former LA Times transportation reporter Steve Hymon notes that "if most of those readers are from the Valley (perhaps a dubious presumption), it's impressive that 48% would ride."

Found in Eagle Rock | Photo by sadjeans via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr There's always the popular and monthly Downtown Art Walk (2nd Thursday of the month) and tonight is the first Downtown Fashion Walk. Enjoy! The Nom Nom Truck, a Vietnamese Taco Truck, has finally hit the Westside and Eater LA has a little reader report from the sidelines. LA Weekly digs into the sex scandal allegedly involving Andrew Adelman, who oversees...

It's rare that we hear thunder out here, so it could be a nice change as long as lightening strikes do not start fires. The National Weather Service is reporting the possibility of thunderstorms in Southern California beginning this afternoon: "The threat of thunderstorm activity will begin this afternoon across the mountains and Antelope Valley. As upper level disturbances rotate across the region, the threat of showers and thunderstorms will spread to the entire...

Photo by guamafro via Flickr Around 6:30 a.m., a North Hills Walgreens on the 15300 block of Nordhoff was involved in an armed robbery. The suspects fled--there could be up to four of them--and police caught up with at least one of them, who began an hour long standoff as he refused to come down from a warehouse roof in Van Nuys. Up there, he paced back and forth talking on his cell phone...

Photo: wools How many times have you placed something you don't need anymore on the sidewalk hoping it will disappear someday soon? A fridge? A bed? A mattress? A desk? If you didn't call 3-1-1 to request a free bukly item pickup, that's illegal dumping, which can be punishable with high fines or some jail time. The Department of Public Works reported today that in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year (that...

A Killer Music Festival: On Saturday, September 5th, FYF Fest will host a Save Our State Pars festival at Los Angeles State Historic Park in Chinatown. For $20 that will will go towards helping keep state parks open in California, audiences can see over 20 bands including the Black Lips, No Age, Mika Miko, Crystal Antlers, Peanut Butter Wolf, Avi Buffalo and many more. Check out the full line up here. Meet the Politician:...