Heat, fire, a blog fight, and a van that drives itself. A modest start to the short week. Ease your sunburned hand on over to the link.

Southern fried

Fires, blackouts, and triple-digit temps as the SoCal heat wave spreads misery this weekend. The LAT puts Duke Helfand, Scott Glover and James Ricci on the weather story.

We are the world

Everyone has Los Angeles wildfire stories today, even Mu Xuequan in China View.

Even the Dodgers are hot

Tony Jackson in the DN revels in new starter Esteban Loaiza's win.

Hotel California (Redevelopment Agency)

With $50 million in hand, the CRA quietly goes shopping for seven run-down SROs to hand over to experienced operators. City Council approval still pending. Evan George in the Downtown News.

On the road

A self-driving van named Alice, engineered to travel driverless over a 100-mile desert course, gets ready to roll at CalTech. Elise Kleeman in the Pasadena Star-News.

When blogs attack

A little convoluted but worth it: Daily News reporter Rachel Uranga gets attacked by Glenn Spencer of the American Patrol in the anti-immigration group's blog. Gustavo Arellano takes him on in the OC Weekly's staff blog.

Perishables

Sand castles as high art. The LAT's Ashley Powers hits the beach.