Space Shuttle Endeavour Will Delay Until Friday | LA Observed On the morning of Sept. 21, the SCA and Endeavour will take off from Dryden and perform a low-level flyover of northern California, passing near NASA’s Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif., and various landmarks in multiple cities, including Sacramento and San Francisco. The aircraft also will conduct a flyover of many Los Angeles sites before landing about 11 a.m. PDT at LAX. New York’s Soda Limits Could Boost Similar Efforts in CA | LA Times California health advocates hope their state will see some movement on limiting sugar-laced soda following action last week to cap serving sizes for sugary drinks in New York City. Politics, Hollywood Meet at USC Schwarzenegger Institute’s Inaugural Symposium | KPCC The USC Schwarzenegger Institute’s inaugural symposium will kick off on Sept. 24 with an all-star line up of politicians, journalists and Hollywood bigwigs to talk about leadership and innovation.  Trammell Crow to Build Clean Tech Complex in DTLA | LA Times Developer Trammell Crow will begin work on the $40-million CleanTech Manufacturing Center at 2425 E. Washington Blvd. on hopes of attracting tenants. Campaign 2012 Apps: Nine (Nearly) Free Election Apps to Make You Smarter than Your Phone | KPCC Tired of Angry Birds?  Looking for a smartphone app that’s more – well, political? Type in “election” into your smartphone app search and you’ll find plenty of helpful sites… and several fun ones. Here are a few of our faces.
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Space Shuttle Endeavour Will Delay Until Friday | LA Observed

On the morning of Sept. 21, the SCA and Endeavour will take off from Dryden and perform a low-level flyover of northern California, passing near NASA’s Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif., and various landmarks in multiple cities, including Sacramento and San Francisco. The aircraft also will conduct a flyover of many Los Angeles sites before landing about 11 a.m. PDT at LAX.

New York’s Soda Limits Could Boost Similar Efforts in CA | LA Times

California health advocates hope their state will see some movement on limiting sugar-laced soda following action last week to cap serving sizes for sugary drinks in New York City.

Politics, Hollywood Meet at USC Schwarzenegger Institute’s Inaugural Symposium | KPCC

The USC Schwarzenegger Institute’s inaugural symposium will kick off on Sept. 24 with an all-star line up of politicians, journalists and Hollywood bigwigs to talk about leadership and innovation. 

Trammell Crow to Build Clean Tech Complex in DTLA | LA Times

Developer Trammell Crow will begin work on the $40-million CleanTech Manufacturing Center at 2425 E. Washington Blvd. on hopes of attracting tenants.

Campaign 2012 Apps: Nine (Nearly) Free Election Apps to Make You Smarter than Your Phone | KPCC

Tired of Angry Birds?  Looking for a smartphone app that’s more – well, political? Type in “election” into your smartphone app search and you’ll find plenty of helpful sites… and several fun ones. Here are a few of our faces.

Sepulveda Pass Brush Fire Fully Contained After Scorching 90 Acres | KPCC A brush fire that started Friday in the Sepulveda pass near the Getty Center has been fully contained. Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department announced that the LAFD had the fire 100 percent in control around 1:40 p.m. Sunday, after tearing through 90 acres of land. Q&A with Dodgers co-owner Magic Johnson | Daily News From a well-hidden door that springs open from his wood-paneled office wall, Magic Johnson simply appeared. As if, of course, by magic. Amazon, Other Web Retailers Start Collecting CA Sales Tax | LA Times The days of mosttax-free Internet shopping in California are over. After years of controversy, the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon.com Inc., was set to begin collecting state and local sales taxes on California purchases at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. When Angelenos Can’t Beat the Heat, They Join it | LA Times Despite Saturday’s record-breaking temperatures, people are out and about — eating fried food at the L.A. County Fair, bicycling downtown and celebrating at Olvera Street. Preservationists Survey the Streets for Hidden Historic Gems | Daily News Acting sort of like architectural Indiana Joneses - without the whips and guns - they take photographs to document an area and collate the information on computers so that at some point the city will have an accurate accounting of the 880,000 separate properties spread out over the 468 square miles of Los Angeles.
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Sepulveda Pass Brush Fire Fully Contained After Scorching 90 Acres | KPCC

A brush fire that started Friday in the Sepulveda pass near the Getty Center has been fully contained. Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department announced that the LAFD had the fire 100 percent in control around 1:40 p.m. Sunday, after tearing through 90 acres of land.

Q&A with Dodgers co-owner Magic Johnson | Daily News

From a well-hidden door that springs open from his wood-paneled office wall, Magic Johnson simply appeared. As if, of course, by magic.

Amazon, Other Web Retailers Start Collecting CA Sales Tax | LA Times

The days of mosttax-free Internet shopping in California are over. After years of controversy, the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon.com Inc., was set to begin collecting state and local sales taxes on California purchases at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

When Angelenos Can’t Beat the Heat, They Join it | LA Times

Despite Saturday’s record-breaking temperatures, people are out and about — eating fried food at the L.A. County Fair, bicycling downtown and celebrating at Olvera Street.

Preservationists Survey the Streets for Hidden Historic Gems | Daily News

Acting sort of like architectural Indiana Joneses - without the whips and guns - they take photographs to document an area and collate the information on computers so that at some point the city will have an accurate accounting of the 880,000 separate properties spread out over the 468 square miles of Los Angeles.

Gov. Brown Signs Bill to Trim Public Pension Costs | LA Times The new law signed by California Gov. Jerry Brown increases the retirement age for new hires, caps benefits and requires employee contributions. UC Regents Brainstorm Changes if Voters Reject Prop. 30 | LA Times In what was described as a brainstorming session, UC regents on Wednesday raised the possibility of controversial policy changes — including varying tuition rates by campus and sharply hiking the number of out-of-state students — to cut costs and raise revenues. Cal Tech Ranked #10 best college, UCLA and USC Tied for #24 | KPCC Several California colleges made it onto the Top 50 of U.S. News and World Report’s list for 2012. The magazine took into account tuition, enrollment, acceptance rate, freshman retention rate, graduation rate, and classes with under 20 students, among other factors. Bike Nation Unveils New Bike Design for Long Beach & LA | LA Streetsblog Bike Nation, the bike share company that has struck deals to bring bike sharing to Anaheim, Long Beach and Los Angeles, unveiled a new bicycle design today at the Pro Walk Pro Bike conference in Long Beach.  Apples’ iPhone 5: Bigger, Faster and Slimmer | Washington Post The new phone will cost the same as the iPhone 4S: $199 for the 16 GB version, $299 for the 32 GB version and $399 for the 64GB version. As happened last year, the two previous version of the iPhone got a price cut. The iPhone 4 is now free, on contract, while the iPhone 4S is now $199.
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Gov. Brown Signs Bill to Trim Public Pension Costs | LA Times

The new law signed by California Gov. Jerry Brown increases the retirement age for new hires, caps benefits and requires employee contributions.

UC Regents Brainstorm Changes if Voters Reject Prop. 30 | LA Times

In what was described as a brainstorming session, UC regents on Wednesday raised the possibility of controversial policy changes — including varying tuition rates by campus and sharply hiking the number of out-of-state students — to cut costs and raise revenues.

Cal Tech Ranked #10 best college, UCLA and USC Tied for #24 | KPCC

Several California colleges made it onto the Top 50 of U.S. News and World Report’s list for 2012. The magazine took into account tuition, enrollment, acceptance rate, freshman retention rate, graduation rate, and classes with under 20 students, among other factors.

Bike Nation Unveils New Bike Design for Long Beach & LA | LA Streetsblog

Bike Nation, the bike share company that has struck deals to bring bike sharing to Anaheim, Long Beach and Los Angeles, unveiled a new bicycle design today at the Pro Walk Pro Bike conference in Long Beach. 

Apples’ iPhone 5: Bigger, Faster and Slimmer | Washington Post

The new phone will cost the same as the iPhone 4S: $199 for the 16 GB version, $299 for the 32 GB version and $399 for the 64GB version. As happened last year, the two previous version of the iPhone got a price cut. The iPhone 4 is now free, on contract, while the iPhone 4S is now $199.

Study Details Economic Impact of LAX in 2011 | Daily Breeze  Los Angeles International Airport generated $39.7 billion in economic output and created 294,400 jobs countywide last year, according to a study set for release Monday by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. That Outfit is So LA: City Launches Website to Help Woo Clothing Biz | LAist In an effort to bring more clothing companies to Los Angeles, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa revealed today that the city will launch a unique website that will serve as a resource for drawing apparel businesses to L.A. City Council Poised to Approve Four More Parklets | LA Streetsblog By Friday, the Los Angeles City Council could give the green light to four “pilot” parklets. Parklets are miniature open space projects where one or more parking spaces are converted into a small park right on the city streets. The four parks being considered include two parklets on Spring Street in Downtown Los Angeles, the York Boulevard Street Porch in Northeast L.A. and the El Sereno Street Plaza. Streetsblog has previously discussed the Street Porch and Street Plaza here. Apple Ends Trading Day as Most Valuable Company Ever | LA Times Add another item to Apple’s list of accomplishments: it’s got the record for being the most valuable company ever. As of the close of the stock market Monday, the Cupertino, Calif., tech giant’s market value has climbed to $622.92 billion, breaking the previous record of $618.9 billion set in 1999 by Microsoft. More Latinos in U.S. Colleges than Ever as Enrollment Keeps Rising | KPCC For the first time, Latino college students now make up the largest minority group in the nation’s four-year colleges and universities; last year, another Pew report showed Latino enrollment spiking. Also for the first time, Latinos make up one-quarter of students 18-24 enrolled in two-year colleges.
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Study Details Economic Impact of LAX in 2011 | Daily Breeze 

Los Angeles International Airport generated $39.7 billion in economic output and created 294,400 jobs countywide last year, according to a study set for release Monday by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.

That Outfit is So LA: City Launches Website to Help Woo Clothing Biz | LAist

In an effort to bring more clothing companies to Los Angeles, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa revealed today that the city will launch a unique website that will serve as a resource for drawing apparel businesses to L.A.

City Council Poised to Approve Four More Parklets | LA Streetsblog

By Friday, the Los Angeles City Council could give the green light to four “pilot” parklets. Parklets are miniature open space projects where one or more parking spaces are converted into a small park right on the city streets. The four parks being considered include two parklets on Spring Street in Downtown Los Angeles, the York Boulevard Street Porch in Northeast L.A. and the El Sereno Street Plaza. Streetsblog has previously discussed the Street Porch and Street Plaza here.

Apple Ends Trading Day as Most Valuable Company Ever | LA Times

Add another item to Apple’s list of accomplishments: it’s got the record for being the most valuable company ever. As of the close of the stock market Monday, the Cupertino, Calif., tech giant’s market value has climbed to $622.92 billion, breaking the previous record of $618.9 billion set in 1999 by Microsoft.

More Latinos in U.S. Colleges than Ever as Enrollment Keeps Rising | KPCC

For the first time, Latino college students now make up the largest minority group in the nation’s four-year colleges and universities; last year, another Pew report showed Latino enrollment spiking. Also for the first time, Latinos make up one-quarter of students 18-24 enrolled in two-year colleges.

INSIDE THE HALLS — BACK TO SCHOOL…AGAIN There’s nothing quite like the feeling of hoisting up your backpack, walking into your new classroom, and meeting your teacher on the first day of school. It’s a feeling of promise, a sense of excitement about what the year could hold. As we pulled up to Santee Education Complex on Tuesday to join the Mayor in welcoming students back to school, the current of first day sights and sounds rushed to greet us, and we couldn’t help but remember the electric anticipation that we felt when we were students so many years ago.During the first week of the new school year—the last one of Mayor Villlaraigosa’s tenure as mayor—we feel the same nervous excitement as the students. Mayor Villaraigosa is dedicated to working toward a Los Angeles where every child receives a world-class education regardless of income, zip code, or race. On day one of the final school year of his term as Mayor, standards are high and potential abounds.We saw one of the key components of Mayor Villaraigosa’s vision—strong school leadership—during our visit to Santee. The new principal and his administrative team greeted us, enrobed in caps and gowns to set the expectation that 100% of their students will attend and graduate from college. The principal embodies the type of leader that Mayor Villaraigosa believes schools need, bold leaders who unify teachers under an unremitting focus on accelerating student achievement.Later in the day, we visited Hilda Solis Learning Academy, a new school built using funds from the LAUSD School Construction Program, the largest public works project in the nation after the interstate highway system. This new school exemplifies a commitment to the future of this city, a commitment made by Mayor Villaraigosa, District leaders, community partners, and voters when they rallied around and passed $19.5 billion in school bond initiatives. The new schools that have been built—129 of them—have relieved rampant overcrowding, reduced bussing of students to faraway schools, and increased the number of school days for students in the 224 schools that have moved off of a multi-track calendar.Though we have seen inspiring investment in new school construction, state budget cuts have decimated funding for teachers, support staff, the arts, and afterschool and summer programs over the past 4 years. California is 47th in the country in terms of per pupil funding, and without we may sink even lower. As a community, we have the power to change course by re-investing in our schools, and the Mayor is working hard to get this message across loud and clear. In November 2012, Californians will vote on ballot measures that will prevent further reductions to education. Once we protect funding for this year, we will urge our leaders to fix our broken tax system and make a long-term investment in education, and the future success of the state.Given what’s at stake, there is great urgency this school year, and a full agenda on the chalkboard: secure the resources and leadership that our schools need, advocate for academic acceleration, and ensure that our students, teachers, principals and leaders are empowered in their roles and held to high standards. During this last year of Mayor Villaraigosa’s administration, we feel that anticipatory-first-day-of-school-electricity in the air. With Angelenos united to improve schools, anything is possible.By Ryan Cohen and Lauren Chianese Mayor’s Office of Education
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INSIDE THE HALLS — BACK TO SCHOOL…AGAIN

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of hoisting up your backpack, walking into your new classroom, and meeting your teacher on the first day of school. It’s a feeling of promise, a sense of excitement about what the year could hold. As we pulled up to Santee Education Complex on Tuesday to join the Mayor in welcoming students back to school, the current of first day sights and sounds rushed to greet us, and we couldn’t help but remember the electric anticipation that we felt when we were students so many years ago.

During the first week of the new school year—the last one of Mayor Villlaraigosa’s tenure as mayor—we feel the same nervous excitement as the students. Mayor Villaraigosa is dedicated to working toward a Los Angeles where every child receives a world-class education regardless of income, zip code, or race. On day one of the final school year of his term as Mayor, standards are high and potential abounds.

We saw one of the key components of Mayor Villaraigosa’s vision—strong school leadership—during our visit to Santee. The new principal and his administrative team greeted us, enrobed in caps and gowns to set the expectation that 100% of their students will attend and graduate from college. The principal embodies the type of leader that Mayor Villaraigosa believes schools need, bold leaders who unify teachers under an unremitting focus on accelerating student achievement.

Later in the day, we visited Hilda Solis Learning Academy, a new school built using funds from the LAUSD School Construction Program, the largest public works project in the nation after the interstate highway system. This new school exemplifies a commitment to the future of this city, a commitment made by Mayor Villaraigosa, District leaders, community partners, and voters when they rallied around and passed $19.5 billion in school bond initiatives. The new schools that have been built—129 of them—have relieved rampant overcrowding, reduced bussing of students to faraway schools, and increased the number of school days for students in the 224 schools that have moved off of a multi-track calendar.

Though we have seen inspiring investment in new school construction, state budget cuts have decimated funding for teachers, support staff, the arts, and afterschool and summer programs over the past 4 years. California is 47th in the country in terms of per pupil funding, and without we may sink even lower.

As a community, we have the power to change course by re-investing in our schools, and the Mayor is working hard to get this message across loud and clear. In November 2012, Californians will vote on ballot measures that will prevent further reductions to education. Once we protect funding for this year, we will urge our leaders to fix our broken tax system and make a long-term investment in education, and the future success of the state.

Given what’s at stake, there is great urgency this school year, and a full agenda on the chalkboard: secure the resources and leadership that our schools need, advocate for academic acceleration, and ensure that our students, teachers, principals and leaders are empowered in their roles and held to high standards.

During this last year of Mayor Villaraigosa’s administration, we feel that anticipatory-first-day-of-school-electricity in the air. With Angelenos united to improve schools, anything is possible.

By Ryan Cohen and Lauren Chianese

Mayor’s Office of Education

July CA Jobs Report: Golden State Leads the Nation | KPCC The July regional and state jobs report is out from the Labor Department, and while California continues to be in the top three for unemployment rate and saw its unemployment rate unchanged from June at 10.7 percent, the Golden State added more jobs than anyone else in July: 25,200. Bill to Create Statewide Teacher Evaluation System Clears Key Hurdle | LA Times Measure would effectively eliminate state requirements to use student test scores in evaluating teachers. L.A. district says that would mean ‘less accountability.’ San Diego Padres Sale is Finalized at $800 Million | KPCC The Padres weren’t sold in time for the All-Star Game, but for previous owner John Moores, the wait was probably worth it. MLB said “Yea” to an $800 million deal. Only the Chicago Cubs and the Dodgers sold for more, at $845 million and — when the parking lot side deal was added in — $2.3 billion, respectively. Forget Electric Cars, This One Runs on Compressed Air | The Atlantic Cities India’s Tata Motors is pushing the technology forward, inch by inch, with its project to build “Airpods” – zero-pollution, cute-as-a-bug smartcars that zip along at 40 m.p.h. via the magic of squeezed air.
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July CA Jobs Report: Golden State Leads the Nation | KPCC

The July regional and state jobs report is out from the Labor Department, and while California continues to be in the top three for unemployment rate and saw its unemployment rate unchanged from June at 10.7 percent, the Golden State added more jobs than anyone else in July: 25,200.

Bill to Create Statewide Teacher Evaluation System Clears Key Hurdle | LA Times

Measure would effectively eliminate state requirements to use student test scores in evaluating teachers. L.A. district says that would mean ‘less accountability.’

San Diego Padres Sale is Finalized at $800 Million | KPCC

The Padres weren’t sold in time for the All-Star Game, but for previous owner John Moores, the wait was probably worth it. MLB said “Yea” to an $800 million deal. Only the Chicago Cubs and the Dodgers sold for more, at $845 million and — when the parking lot side deal was added in — $2.3 billion, respectively.

Forget Electric Cars, This One Runs on Compressed Air | The Atlantic Cities

India’s Tata Motors is pushing the technology forward, inch by inch, with its project to build “Airpods” – zero-pollution, cute-as-a-bug smartcars that zip along at 40 m.p.h. via the magic of squeezed air.

Where We’ve Been & Where We’re Going: Creating Jobs | Patch Op-Ed by Mayor Villaraigosa: “It was time to do everything we could – as quickly as we could – to put people back to work. That meant creating jobs by investing in our infrastructure and changing the way LA did business so it was easier to do business in LA. We put together an innovative package of reforms and new programs that told the world: LA is open for business.” New “Race to the Top” Details Officially Released; Money Will Go Directly to Schools | KPCC The U.S. Department of Education released details of the 2012 Race to the Top competition today for nearly $400 million in federal dollars that will, for the first time, go directly to school districts rather than their states. Kobe Bryant is Ready to Hand Lakers’ Reins Over to Dwight Howard | LA Times Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant is thrilled the team traded for Dwight Howard because he knows the center will one day take his place as the face of the franchise. Show Us Your #HeatWaveLA, Temps Will Cool by Tuesday | KPCC Temperatures are soaring into triple digits across the California, sending thousands to beaches, lakes and shopping malls in search of cooler climes. Sin City Express: Loan Might Make Dream of HSR to Las Vegas a Reality | Daily News A group of private investors is making a pitch for a $6.9 billion high-speed rail line called XpressWest from Victorville to Las Vegas, and hopes to get a massive federal loan before the end of this summer.
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Where We’ve Been & Where We’re Going: Creating Jobs | Patch

Op-Ed by Mayor Villaraigosa: “It was time to do everything we could – as quickly as we could – to put people back to work. That meant creating jobs by investing in our infrastructure and changing the way LA did business so it was easier to do business in LA. We put together an innovative package of reforms and new programs that told the world: LA is open for business.”

New “Race to the Top” Details Officially Released; Money Will Go Directly to Schools | KPCC

The U.S. Department of Education released details of the 2012 Race to the Top competition today for nearly $400 million in federal dollars that will, for the first time, go directly to school districts rather than their states.

Kobe Bryant is Ready to Hand Lakers’ Reins Over to Dwight Howard | LA Times

Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant is thrilled the team traded for Dwight Howard because he knows the center will one day take his place as the face of the franchise.

Show Us Your #HeatWaveLA, Temps Will Cool by Tuesday | KPCC

Temperatures are soaring into triple digits across the California, sending thousands to beaches, lakes and shopping malls in search of cooler climes.

Sin City Express: Loan Might Make Dream of HSR to Las Vegas a Reality | Daily News

A group of private investors is making a pitch for a $6.9 billion high-speed rail line called XpressWest from Victorville to Las Vegas, and hopes to get a massive federal loan before the end of this summer.

Report: 80% of LA County’s Uninsured Could Get Affordable Coverage under Obamacare | LA Daily News The Affordable Care Act recently upheld by the Supreme Court would allow 80 percent of Los Angeles County’s 2.2 million uninsured residents access to affordable insurance coverage, according to a report released this week. No Homes, More Studio and Theme Park Space in Revised Universal Studios Plan | LA Daily News NBCUniversal has killed a controversial proposal to build 3,000 homes on its property, officials announced Monday. Instead, it wants to beef up its movie and TV studios and theme park as part of a $1.6 billion long-term makeover. Kayak, If you Dare, Along a Stretch of the LA River | KPCC The Los Angeles River opens this week to seasonal recreation. Paddlers will be able to kayak along a small stretch of the waterway. Tickets are $50 for two-hour tours and are available online. Tickets go on sale starting Tuesday at 7 a.m. Charter School Operator to Partner with LA Unified | LA Times Steve Barr, the founder of a well-known group of unionized charter schools, announced Tuesday a new project to develop innovative academies within the Los Angeles Unified School District. The schools would resemble independently managed charter schools but would remain under direct district supervision with substantial control entrusted to teachers and the school’s administration, he said. Democrats Say Convention will be Most Accessible Ever in U.S. | Fox News Latino At a press conference on Monday at the venue where thousands of Democratic delegates will gather on Sept. 4-6, the man who will chair the convention, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, said that they are “working hard” to transform the way in which the Democratic convention has been held in the past.
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Report: 80% of LA County’s Uninsured Could Get Affordable Coverage under Obamacare | LA Daily News

The Affordable Care Act recently upheld by the Supreme Court would allow 80 percent of Los Angeles County’s 2.2 million uninsured residents access to affordable insurance coverage, according to a report released this week.

No Homes, More Studio and Theme Park Space in Revised Universal Studios Plan | LA Daily News

NBCUniversal has killed a controversial proposal to build 3,000 homes on its property, officials announced Monday. Instead, it wants to beef up its movie and TV studios and theme park as part of a $1.6 billion long-term makeover.

Kayak, If you Dare, Along a Stretch of the LA River | KPCC

The Los Angeles River opens this week to seasonal recreation. Paddlers will be able to kayak along a small stretch of the waterway. Tickets are $50 for two-hour tours and are available online. Tickets go on sale starting Tuesday at 7 a.m.

Charter School Operator to Partner with LA Unified | LA Times

Steve Barr, the founder of a well-known group of unionized charter schools, announced Tuesday a new project to develop innovative academies within the Los Angeles Unified School District. The schools would resemble independently managed charter schools but would remain under direct district supervision with substantial control entrusted to teachers and the school’s administration, he said.

Democrats Say Convention will be Most Accessible Ever in U.S. | Fox News Latino

At a press conference on Monday at the venue where thousands of Democratic delegates will gather on Sept. 4-6, the man who will chair the convention, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, said that they are “working hard” to transform the way in which the Democratic convention has been held in the past.