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Curated news, notes and observations most weekdays from LA Observed.
The death toll in Egypt's crackdown on crackdown on supporters of the deposed president, Mohamed Morsi, has climbed over 500, including several journalists. LAT, NYT
Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, 28, abruptly announced her retirement from tennis, barely a month after her biggest win. BBC
The California Supreme Court refused Wednesday to revive Proposition 8, ending the last remaining legal challenge to same-sex marriage in the state. LAT, SF Chronicle
California water officials are proposing a dramatic redesign of two massive water diversion tunnels planned for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a concession to delta residents. Bee
Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner testified in Sacramento in support of SB 606, to require the consent of a legal guardian before minors can be photographed or videotaped by paparazzi who lie in wait. LAT
The Times has done another story on the Hollywood earthquake fault and its impact on proposed developments. LAT
How a Special Forces hero and a group of moms ised the special trigger to take back Weigand Elementary School. LA Weekly
Los Angeles Unified has begun funding about $30 million in settlements reached with 63 children who claimed they were molested by two teachers at Miramonte Elementary School. DN
The City Council voted Wednesday to create an "urban village" of shops, town homes and a park and gardens to replace Jordan Downs, the notorious Watts housing project. LAT, CNS
How do you solve a problem like Bob Filner? The Atlantic
Google's position on email privacy misrepresented by media reports. Mashable
A note from NYT executive editor Jill Abramson on how the paper handled its website outage yesterday. Romenesko
Persuading pay-TV distributors to carry Al Jazeera America and getting people to watch it is a real challenge to the new network. LAT
The tale of the fictional LA journalism source, Victor Frisbie (or Frisbee.) Zocalo
David Kipen and Lynell George are among the new group of USC Annenberg/Getty Arts Journalism Program fellows. Newswise
Adam Leipzig's Cultural Weekly is a LA-based but has done an all-Detroit issue.
Add former top Lee Baca aide Paul Tanaka to the growing list of challengers to the sheriff's reelection. Tanaka brings more baggage than most. As for Baca, "He's both popular and vulnerable," said Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of the Edmund G. "Pat" Brown Institute of Public Affairs at Cal State L.A. "On the one hand, he's a very skilled politician, very popular in many of the communities in the county and a known reformer and progressive. At the same time, he has tremendous flaws in managerial areas that have caused all kinds of headaches in the department." LAT
A federal ICE agent who was the subject of a police search in Los Angeles was found safe. The search last night closed a lane of the Hollywood Freeway near Silver Lake boulevard. AP
For the second time in four months, a former employee of Chivas USA has filed suit against the club, accusing team officials of flouting employment laws, temporarily hiring undocumented coaches and discriminating against non-Latino employees. Daily Breeze
Does Los Angeles appreciate its wild animals? A panel discussion of the local wildlife, native or not. SoCal Wild, Zocalo
Gas station owner on La Brea who plans to see Banksy mural steps forward. NYT, LAT
Public transit Is worth way more to a city than you might think. Atlantic Cities
FedEx pilots flying at night at LAX take extra steps to reduce the noise they generate. Daily Breeze
The Valley mother who helped her teenage daughter and two friends vandalize a Northrdge home with a swastika formed of maple syrup has completed her community service at a Jewish food pantry and more. DN
The Chinatown Walmart is slated to open later this month. KPCC
The Dodgers went into the 9th inning trailing 4-2 — and won dramatically again. Eight straight wins, only 8 losses since June 22. ESPN LA
About last night:
Go turn on TV and watch replay of Puig's latest insane throw. #Dodgers
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) August 15, 2013
After that Puig throw, Roberto Clemente fist bumped Carl Furillo
— Phil Gurnee (@meercatjohn) August 15, 2013
The DODGERS are amazing this year. Something truly magical about them... so much fun to watch the games and listen to the great Vin Scully
— Robert Hilburn (@roberthilburn) August 15, 2013
