Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
Selected items from the media, our in box and other LA Observed sources. Posted occasionally — often in the morning.
Anger spilled out of a packed auditorium in Venice on Thursday night as residents and activists blasted Los Angeles police officials over an officer's fatal shooting of an unarmed homeless man. LAT
Even the Masons are baffled that three LA members, including someone who works for Kamala Harris' state AG's office, started (and were arrested for) a private Masonic police force. LA Weekly, Bee, LAT
Dan Walters writes that the political war over Proposition 13 "that’s been brewing for nearly four decades finally erupted Thursday – maybe." Bee
In the fourth year of the California drought, "the water shortage is having real consequences, not only for the everyday lives of residents, but for the policies and political fortunes of their elected officials as well. A crisis that is estimated to have cost the state’s economy more than $2 billion last year alone has upended an unsustainable status quo and raised uncomfortable questions for politicians from Gov. Jerry Brown to local mayors." Todd Purdum/Politico
Starbucks has decided to find a source for its Ethos bottled water outside of California after residents of a small town near Merced questioned the company's right to tap a nearby spring. Puget Sound Business Journal
The New York Times editorializes that California should take the costly step of measuring how much water that rights holders actually use. NYT editorial
Antonio Villaraigosa's new girlfriend appears to be actress Kristanna Loken, best known for playing the villain in "Terminator 3." LA Weekly
Plus: Villaraigosa wants to be governor but won't say when. Fox News Latino
Carolyn Ramsay has raised more money than rival David Ryu in the race for the 4th Council district seat. LAT
Los Angeles County launched an Open Data website "that gives the public easy, one-stop access to millions of detailed county records across an array of topics." Link
And our former governor:
Arnold Schwarzenegger aims to reinvent himself in the just-okay #Maggie. Our review: http://t.co/dzP39Vlwuc pic.twitter.com/VJyA2rqgNw
— Vulture (@vulture) May 8, 2015
ESPN and Bill Simmons, the founder of Grantland, are parting ways after failing to agree on a new contract. NYT, Deadspin
KABC has its new news director: Rob Elmore, who has been news director at WTVD in Raleigh-Durham. He succeeds Cheryl Fair, who was promoted to general manager of the station. TVSpy
Digital news at Channel 4:
Delighted to welcome @anniezyu, audience engagement fellow @ProPublica & former @arizonarepublic @PulliamFellows, to the @NBCLA team.
— Sara Catania (@Catanify) May 8, 2015Jia-Rui Cook has been promoted to editor of Zócalo Public Square, succeeding Sarah Rothbard. Cook has been managing editor and formerly was a science writer for the LA Times and JPL. Zócalo
Edward Wright, a former Los Angeles Times desk editor who wrote an award-winning series of mysteries set in post-World War II Los Angeles, has died of lymphoma complications at age 75. LAT
When the U.S. introduced the measles vaccine, childhood deaths from all infections plummeted. Scientists think they might know why: Benefits of the measles vaccine go way beyond the measles. NPR
LA Times columnist Robin Abcarian columnizes that "you don't have to be a surfer to identify with surf culture." LAT
In car-obsessed LA, Learning to Love Mass Transit. NYT
USC has a class it calls in selfies: "Writing 150: Writing and Critical Reasoning: Identity and Diversity." LA Weekly
Cajun food landmark Harold and Belle's in Jefferson Park is undergoing renovation. Eater LA
Solley's Deli in Sherman Oaks will close June 6. Eater, SFVBJ
Du-Par's is opening a new coffee shop on Ventura Boulevard in Encino on May 19, with 1938 prices for the day.
Green Dot Public Schools on Saturday will rename the newly renovated baseball and softball fields at Locke College Prep Academy after two of Locke High School's most famous alumni: baseball Hall of Famers Eddie Murray and Ozzie Smith.
Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal had an 8-RBI game yesterday — and rookie Alex Guerrero smashed another home run. MLB.com
PHOTOS: Storm brings lightning, rain, hail to Southern California http://t.co/6HX5Zz0dG8 pic.twitter.com/IlQG0EcTz6
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) May 8, 2015Tina Fey took off her dress for David Letterman last night. http://t.co/LKdkxFHFuZ pic.twitter.com/4wBvfDiflf
— Beast Video (@beastvideo) May 8, 2015