Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
The mayor spent how much to get his people on the school board? That and more after the jump.
News
Spending big for school board control
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spent $3.5 million to help his three candidates win seats on the Board of Education. LAT
Home Depot suffers setback
The City Council voted to take a detailed look at the controversial Home Depot store proposal in Sunland. LAT, DN
Supes to release some memos again
County supervisors restored a policy that makes public many of the memos from county attorneys on settling legal claims. LAT
No more stinking badges
AG Jerry Brown issued an opinion that could chill the practice of sheriff's and police chiefs issuing honorary badges to people they like or who give them money. LAT
Inside job
A former aide to Rep. Howard McKeon and a former executive at The Signal are trying to get retained as PR advisers to the school board in Santa Clarita, and have advised many of the board members in the past. DN
Noted
Image gets a makeover
Rose Apodaca is wrapping up her consulting gig at the LAT's Image section. Variety style editor Monica Corcoran is joining the section.
30 years ago today
On Aug 1, 1977, KNBC's news helicopter crashed in the Valley killing photographer George Spears and pilot Francis Gary Powers, who had gained notoriety in 1960 for being shot down in a secret U-2 spy plane over the Soviet Union. He was traded for a Russian spy in 1962.
Another Theresa Duncan piece
LAT editorial page researcher Swati Pandey tells how she became hooked on Wit of the Staircase.
Yeah, Mayor Bloomberg takes the subway
He gets driven to the station in a city Suburban. NYT
