Questioning gang programs

L.A. spends $13 million a year on various anti-gang efforts, and really has no idea if they work. LAT

County budget drops 2.6% but avoids layoffs or major cuts

Chief Executive Officer William T Fujioka today unveiled a $21.9 billion proposed 2008-09 county budget that calls for a slight decrease in spending and positions, but no layoffs or major program cuts. DN wires

Electing judges

The Times editorial page studies the candidates for judge (and incumbents) because the races are obscure and someone should be looking. This year, six judges are being targeted by challengers recruited by a Carson minister who says he's concerned about appellate rulings in religious-rights cases. But all of his targets are Latino men. "All deserve to be retained against this pointless campaign." LAT

Trash fee won't pay for new cops

Even at $6 a month it's not enough to cover all the costs of adding 1,000 LAPD officers. DN

'Prominent Angelenos?'

The Times' opinion staff asked 40 people their views on Special Order 40, and the split is intriguing — the law enforcement experts and public officials say it's needed in some form, activists not so much. But the Times includes as "prominent Angelenos" gadfly Melrose Larry Green, "frequent Opinion L.A. commenter" Mitchell Young and a bunch of bloggers. LAT
Also: Bratton on Zine and Special Order 40. Orlov/DN

Pollution and the ports

The directors of Los Angeles and Long Beach discuss their differing ways of attacking pollution from trucks. LABJ opinion page

George Washington and the LAT

The paper wrote, "Washington (David Morse) so quickly tired of the infighting among his Cabinet and vagaries of public opinion that he stepped down from the presidency after a single term." Emphasis added. An LA Observed reader with a greater knowledge of history emails, "I know it is just a cable movie review...but still!"

Alan Rich lands with Bloomberg

The LA Weekly's former classical music critic will begin writing online weekly for Bloomberg. Laura Stegman

Homicide Report on CNN

Jill Leovy of the Times was featured prominently on CNN Friday in a feature about her homicide blog, by Kara Finnstrom and (former LAT reporter and gossip columnist) Ann O'Neill. CNN

Ducks out in the first round

There will be no Stanley Cup in Orange County this year. The Dallas Stars eliminated the Anaheim Ducks in six games. ESPN
Note: Lakers win first game of their NBA playoff series. LAT

Times ex-editors on Larry Mantle

Los Angeles Magazine columnist RJ Smith guests on KPCC's "Airtalk' during the 10 am hour to talk about his piece interviewing the six living former editors-in-chief of the L.A. Times.

Rosalie Ritz, courtroom artist was 84

She began with the Army-McCarthy hearings in the early 1950s and covered the trials of Charles Manson, Patty Hearst and O.J. Simpson, among others. Her trial illustrations are in a special collection at the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley. AP/Linda Deutsch