There's no telling how all this will play out - the Stockton and San Bernardino bankruptcies are probably years from being resolved - but it's easy to see why the ratings agency would want to have a look.

You can blame a strong high pressure system over the southwest that was supposed to move east but never did.

They're seeking an injunction against the citywide ban, which is supposed to take effect Sept. 6.

When the stock of a very successful company loses more than half its value in the space of three months you figure it can't get much worse. Actually it can.

All told, not horrible but far from wonderful. What the numbers really show is a continued uneven recovery, with the Bay Area doing noticeably better than L.A., especially inland L.A.

California adds 25,200 jobs in July, Facebook stock still dropping, Apple shares hit high after four-month slide, and audit show miscues at Caltrans.

We're talking 56 percent over the next four years, according to projections by budget officials. Simply put, the city can't afford to pay what it owes current workers and retirees

Researchers found that applicants who ordered a glass of wine over dinner were viewed as less intelligent than those who ordered a soft drink.

Democrats accuse Paul Ryan of ending Medicare "as we know it," while Republicans accuse President Obama of robbing the program to the tune of $716 billion. What's the story?

Isaac Perlmutter has turned out to be a real problem, especially on the merchandising and licensing side, resulting in numerous departures.

Probably not (it's still early), but economists are wondering how much consumers will be willing to buy, what with heavy debt loads and meager wage gains.

Facebook shares taking another hit, L.A. gas prices are settling down, L.A. County has a new plan for the chronically homeless, and Socal port traffic only so-so.

They are proposing a ballot measure that would allow voters to determine pension policy for civilian employees.

The idea of going from L.A. to NY in an hour or so has been a tantalizing idea going back 50 or more years, but engineers have yet make much headway.

Keeping track of who does what is a lot tougher than it might seem - the L.A. metro area has more than 300,000 business establishments, and some of those aren't exactly trumpeting their existence.

What's nice to see is a TV person actually challenging a talking point instead of just sitting there blankly.

Gas prices settling down, L.A. inflation was tame in July, pot shop owners say they'll stay open despite the citywide ban, and reality TV having a sluggish summer.

Maybe Helen Gurley Brown was wrong: Maybe you can't have it all - at least when it comes to circulation.

Demand is comfortably below available supply this afternoon. But the heat wave is expected to continue through the week.

Gallup poll shows that 83 percent disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job - a stunning number considering that most incumbents will be reelected this November.

Time to check in on gas prices, stocks, and the unemployment rate - not the most important economic indicators, but the ones people are watching.

Not only did July homes sales in Southern California increase for the seventh straight month, but the median price neared a four-year high.

Gas prices rising sharply, solid July for retail sales, final tally on NBC's coverage of the Olympics, and Disney worker alleges that she was harassed for her religious beliefs.

Forget about billionaire Ron Burkle - at least for now. The likely buyer is NY billionaire Marc Lasry, whose holdings include the parent company of the National Enquirer.

That means keeping en eye on thermostats and not using heavy-duty appliances between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Some relief could arrive by Wednesday.

How do you hold onto the core constituency by proposing to phase out Medicare, at least in its current form, and restructure the tax system to favor the very wealthy?

Investigators found extensive damage in the cooling towers, pipe racks and heating tower from last week's fire.

Gas price increase slows down in L.A., more hot weather to puts strain on state power grid, BP sells its Carson refinery, and L.A.'s inability to draw major conventions.