State of the City and gangs

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's speech and budget cuts, his plan for a big trash fee hike to pay for cops, and his new anti-gang plan are reported dissected. LAT, DN, Orlov, CityWatch, WitnessLA
Note: Tonight's Which Way, L.A.? on KCRW will have gang czar Jeff Carr, journalist Celeste Fremon and maybe others discussing the gangs issue. Nope, preempted tonight. May air tomorrow.

Blacks and Special Order 40

The LAPD's policy of not asking about immigration status is a hot-button issue on the African American community, says Earl Ofari Hutchinson. LAT Op-Ed
Related: Latino groups defend Special Order 40. DN

Another Northridge-sized quake almost certain within 30 years

Chances are lower for a bigger quake, but scientists see the risk as higher in SoCal than in NorCal. Aside, I wonder whether the Times has an earthquake specialist left on staff. It used to be a key beat where the Times led, and chances are very good it will be needed again. LAT, DN

Tagger gets year in jail, but cop and DA angry

Gustavo "Guser" Romero, 23, of South Los Angeles damaged $108,000 worth of property during his two-year graffiti spree that included Metro buses and 52 acts of vandalism. The DA wanted a long prison sentence, and the sheriff's deputy who spent two years tracking down Romero said, "I'm shocked....That's why the city and county are messed up like they are." DN

Two murders in East Los Angeles, again

Once again a pair of shootings separated by minutes and not much distance. LAT

Shooter of El Segundo officers had record

Jonathan Belvin Taylor, 24, spent most of 2007 in prison after a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was killed Friday night after shooting two El Segundo police officers in a crowded movie theater lobby. The officers are recovering. Daily Breeze

Joe Francis' next trial will be in Los Angeles

Federal tax evasion case will be moved from Reno. AP

On the set with Steve Lopez

Patrick Goldstein devotes today's The Big Picture column to a visit with his Times colleague on the set of "The Soloist," the movie being shot based on Lopez's columns and book on street violinist Nathaniel Ayers. LAT

There's measles among us

The first case in Los Angeles County since 2006 was diagnosed in a hospitalized pre-schooler who had not been vaccinated. LAT

Overholser a package deal for USC

David Westphal, Washington editor for the McClatchy newspapers, is leaving to become an executive in residence in the USC Annenberg School of Communications. His wife, Geneva Overholser, is the newly named director of the School of Journalism. E&P

Mediaweek.com to relaunch

New site hits May 5 with video, podcasts and more.