Victims of our geography

As more people live beyond the mountain ranges that ring metro Southern California, expect more traffic chokes of the sort that followed the I-5 tunnel closure in Newhall Pass. LAT, DN

At least nine people in tunnel can't be found

Authorities cannot account for the occupants of nine vehicles caught in the I-5 tunnel inferno. They didn't die in the fire, but they haven't contacted the CHP about their cars either. LAT

Britney Spears booked at Van Nuys jail

She showed up about 9 pm, was booked and fingerprinted, and given a court date for the misdemeanor counts of hit and run and driving without a valid license in a parking lot mishap on Aug 6. DN

Tim Leiweke on Downtown

Transcript of his visit yesterday with the Times' editorial board to talk about L.A. Live, the Nokia Theatre and AEG's plans for Downtown..

Pivotal votes on phone tax

For the mayor's plan to get on the ballot, the City Council must vote it on unanimously. But council members Greig Smith and Dennis Zine are playing hard to get, so far. LAT

Weiss recall dropped

Not much surprise here: the ticked-off residents of one Westside neighborhood admitted they can't get the signatures to recall Councilman Jack Weiss. LAT, DN

Ron Prescott, 68

The retired LAUSD lobbyist who reached the district's number two job died at home in Baldwin Hills of complications from cancer.