• An L.A. Times blog covers the news about the paper eliminating its own California section, under headline "L.A. paper loses local news section." L.A. Now
• The federal investigation of Cardinal Roger Mahony's handling of the sexual molestation by priests puts new focus on U.S. Attorney Thomas O'Brien. LAT
• Mayor Villaraigosa and LAPD chief Bratton unveiled a new plan to fight gangs and steer potential members into safer activities. DN
• The water content of the Sierra snowpack is 61% of normal, perhaps signaling a third straight relatively dry year for the state's water supply. LAT, Sacto Bee, SF Chronicle
• The list of co-hosts for a Jerry Brown governor fundraiser here next week "looks a lot like the A-list from the days when vintage cowboy boots, shag haircuts and L.A. cool were all the rage," says Tina Daunt. LAT
• Paul McCartney will play the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, as will Leonard Cohen. Pop and Hiss
• Breeze crime reporter Larry Altman was interviewed for a CBS "48 Hours Mystery" story airing Saturday on the the so-called Lomita Black Widow, whose husbands turned up dead in two countries. Breeze
• TV reporter smashed by giant bubble on camera. Kent Shocknek
• Mike Sonksen gets a nice little profile for his Mike the Poet performances around town, "the hardest-working bard in Los Angeles." LAT

Programming note: No KCRW segment today or next Friday. It's pledge break time.