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Selected items from the media, our in box and other LA Observed sources. Posted occasionally — often in the morning.
The tar balls working their way down the Southern California coast have now reached Long Beach. Beaches are closed for four miles. LAT, NBC 4, AP, Heal the Bay
The City Council took another 13-1 vote in favor of the $15 minimum wage, but deferred whether to exempt unionized workers and certain trainees. LAT
Mayor Eric Garcetti nominated Deborah Ale Flint, the head of Oakland's airport, to lead Los Angeles World Airports, the city authority that oversees LAX. AP
California's ground subsidence is "starting to destroy bridges, crack irrigation canals and twist highways across the state," causing unknown millions damage to expensive infrastructure. Center for Investigative Reporting
Historian William Deverell: "The truth is that the water future of the American West probably lies somewhere between the dire despondency of Cassandra and the nonchalance of Pollyanna." Politico
What those who do celebrity drought-shaming get wrong. Gizmodo
Friends of the powerful Perez family won the three seats up for grabs on the city of Industry City Council. LAT
Nearly 10 months after Ezell Ford was shot and killed by two Los Angeles police officers, his mother said the same questions repeatedly run through her mind. LAT
Add Rick Perry to your list of Republican presidential candidates.
Rick Perry announces he will run for president: http://t.co/alZ1tCN28R pic.twitter.com/3rYwJNuiXn
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 4, 2015Ted Cruz does the mea culpa for telling a Joe Biden-is-a-joke joke after the death of Biden's son Beau from brain cancer. Talking Points Memo
Voice of San Diego filed records requests with the city of Carson for anything on the proposed NFL stadium for the Chargers and Raiders — and was told the city had nothing written down. You might remember, the stadium deal is reportedly pretty far along. Yeah, Voice of San Diego is suing.
The Television Academy today announced 156 nominations for the 67th Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards. CBS 2 anchor Pat Harvey will receive the Governor's Award. Emmys
Staffers at Gawker Media vote 75-25 to unionize. Hamilton Nolan explained the reasons in April. The post this morning on Gawker carries a staff byline.
Celeste Fremon's story on the downfall of Lee Baca as sheriff for Los Angeles Magazine won first place for reporting at the National City & Regional Magazine Association Awards.
John Montorio, once a senior editor at the Los Angeles Times, has left his latest position as a senior editor at the Huffington Post. Also: an anonymous former employee says people hate working at the Huffington Post and it's only going to get worse.
Caitlyn Jenner isn’t like other Vanity Fair cover models. So why is she styled like one? Los Angeles
"The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins: still the best selling fiction hardcover in Southern California independent bookstores. More bestsellers
Actor Jason Alexander does the mea culpa after slamming his "Seinfeld" partner Heidi Swedberg ("Susan") on Howard Stern. Entertainment Weekly
Kathleen Matthews, the wife of MSNBC host Chris Matthews, officially launched her campaign for Congress Wednesday in Silver Spring, Md.
I missed this: the Larchmont Chronicle has a new owner and publisher. John Welborne is the lawyer who led the move to return Angels Flight to downtown. Jane Gilman, who has run the paper for 52 years, remains editor. A transition advisory board includes Harry Chandler, Janet Clayton, Patricia Lombard, Neil Kramer, William Simon and other local residents.
Downtown LA office towers are remodeling in hopes of becoming desirable again. LAT
Traffic flow is a lot better on, and more especially around, the 405 on the Westside and Sepulveda Pass since the freeway was remodeled — just not at peak rush hour, when the lanes remain full. But the peak is shorter. Metro, KPCC
Silicon Valley moguls aren’t going to save the arts -- tech industry types think they're the best thing ever to happen to music and the arts. Don't believe them. Scott Timberg in Salon.
Join our 23,393 followers on Twitter: we post a different mix there just about every day.
Fireworks during the day. Good one, Venice.
— MariaElena Fernandez (@writerchica) June 2, 2015New data about the world's respect for America is sending Fox News into a full-blown existential crisis http://t.co/PKxmmLUdXD
— Salon.com (@Salon) June 4, 2015Print journalism is the process of discovering how a 250 word piece takes 3x as long to write as a 750 word one.
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) June 4, 2015Morning @LAObserved & just a friendly note ICYMI: 'twas a special 1st Tues. in June for music fans in L.A. last night pic.twitter.com/qXXBdv9RK2
— Jim A. Beardsley (@LAXjiMAB) June 3, 2015Dodgers' rookie out slugging Matt Kemp by a wide margin... https://t.co/q7yZURWwAh
— Kevin Roderick (@LAObserved) June 2, 2015