• NPR's "Morning Edition" ran a story today from inside the county's Twin Towers jail in Downtown, calling it the country's largest mental institution. NPR.org
• The LAPD lost a $500,000 federal grant to help reduce its unexamined DNA samples because of a paperwork issue. LAT
• The transit tax hike moves closer to ballot, maybe. LAT
• The Rev. Rick Warren's dialogues with McCain and Obama signal a victory for the good guys in the culture war, says editor Rob Eshman: "We will now get to see what happens when a thoughtful adult takes over from the goofballs, windbags, con artists and media whores who have led most of the battles until now." Jewish Journal
• The housing plan passes the City Council envisioning 113,000 new homes by 2014 and an inclusionary zoning clause to mandate low-income units in new apartment and condo projects. LAT, DN
• Attorney Ron Galperin says he's ahead in fundraising in the 5th council district race. Campaign site
• Here's what a former NYT Hollywood correspondent has learned about the tabloids: "it is usually the principals involved who provide the crucial details, for money. That's why the information is so often on the nose." Sharon Waxman
• The $2.2 million Los Angeles Fire Department Fallen Firefighter Memorial will be unveiled today in Hollywood. DN
• Fee on containers at the Port of Los Angeles may get diverted to the Central Valley. LAT
• In a post yesterday on Hulk Hogan TMZ took a little shot at limited liability corporations without noting the site is owned by AOL LLC. TMZ
• Jeffrey Fleishman of the Los Angeles Times "has been writing wonderful dispatches from Egypt and the rest of Africa that capture the struggles and beauty of everyday life." News Gems
• Up close and personal with chef Josef Centeno, formerly at Lot 1 in Echo Park. Metromix
• The Big Boy statue from the now-closed Wilshire Boulevard Big Boy is for sale on eBay. Curbed LA

Also: I'm on a panel tonight at the Central Library's Aloud series entitled "Los Angeles Without the Los Angeles Times?," with LAT California Editor David Lauter, Villaraigosa chief of staff Robin Kramer, Los Angeles Magazine editor Kit Rachlis, USC Annenberg director Geneva Overholser, Yaroslavsky deputy Joel Sappell and Downtown activist/blogger Brady Westwater.