Jamiel Shaw murder case in court

Two witnesses described the shooting of the Los Angeles High School star near his Arlington Heights home at the preliminary hearing for Pedro Espinoza, the gang member whose immigration status set off the latest brouhaha over Special Order 40. LAT

DWP hiring 'too fast,' says commissioner

Board of Water and Power Commission President Nick Patsaouras is apparently at odds with CEO David Nahai, who says that plans to grow the workforce by 10% are overdue. "I think (the DWP) is gearing up too fast," says Patsaouras. DN

Villaraigosa talks up Israel trip

Villaraigosa touted agreements to enhance anti-terrorism efforts at LAX and the harbor, and defended the cost of the 18-member delegation he led. "I'm mayor of the city of Los Angeles, not some small town in the desert somewhere. We are a global city," Villaraigosa said. LAT, DN

Judge blocks L.A.'s billboard enforcement

Crackdown on the huge super-graphics affixed to buildings should stop pending a challenge to the city ordinance. LAT

Cortines is 'actual' LAUSD superintendent

The LAUSD's employing two superintendents "is both a response to - and a symbol of - the lack of accountability that has been rampant in the district for decades." DN editorial

Offshore oil drilling

Gov. Schwarzenegger said that President Bush (and by inference John McCain) are wrong about the ban on drilling off California contributing to high gas prices. LAT, DN

Ronaldinho coming to the Galaxy?

Not bloody likely, but soccer media are reporting that the Brazilian Barcelona star has an offer from the Los Angeles Galaxy worth 16 million Euros for playing and another 16 million in image use fees. They are also shooting it down, though general manager Alexi Lalas kept the speculation alive by saying, "Although this particular report is pure speculation, this is certainly the quality of player the Galaxy is hoping to attract in the future." El Mundo Deportivo via CBS 2, 90 Minutes, Soccer 365

Bonaventure sues Phil Spector over unpaid bills

The Downtown hotel says Spector and his defense team ran up $110,000 in charges after they stopped paying during his six-month trial last year. LAT

Lucy Yarick, lover of native plants

Yarick was a co-founder of the Theodore Payne Foundation and a longtime co-host, with her husband Burnell, of a Sunday morning gardening show on KIEV radio. She died June 12, according to an email from the foundation.