Photo by atomicshakespeares via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Suffering from an Oscar hangover? Then check out the next generation of hot filmmakers at The Beverly Hills Shorts Festival, which begins tonight and runs through the weekend. The studio that brought you such blockbusters as the "Lord of the Rings" franchise will soon become only the merest shadow of its former self: Warner Brothers will be absorbing New Line Cinema, which employs......

After declaring a fiscal emergency, Governor Schwarzenegger yesterday unveiled his budget plan which seeks to close the gap in California's budget. The governor proposed a 10 percent cut across the board for state programs, including education, health care and social services. Democratic state representatvies are stongly opposing the plan, including Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez of Los Angeles. The Daily News reports: "All of the cards ought to be on the table," said Assembly Speaker......

If you see a litter and pack of puppies and dogs walking around Pershing Square tonight, it's a Downtown Dog Walk. Maybe you're downtown right now with your dog... Go, go, go! Speaking of non-humans, the state is considering a special path for animals on the Skirball Center Drive bridge. Environmentalists cheer, residents complain it's a waste of transportation funds. On that note of big spending, California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez is still not......

Not letting the bedbugs bite is getting harder than ever these days. Deeming it "troubling" and "unacceptable," Mayor Tony is urging federal officials to take steps to prevent a repeat of this weekend's Customs and Border Protection computer glitch that stranded some 20,000 travelers. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag warning - signifying a higher risk of wildfires - for the L.A. County mountains that will remain in effect until Wednesday......

Feel like returning to the scene of the crime with the Mayor of LA and help him protest his own police force? This evening at 5:30pm at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church at Wilshire Boulevard and Berendo Street there will be a short town hall meeting followed by a 10-block march to MacArthur Park where there will be a rally to denounce the LAPD behavior during the infamous Mayday Melee. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Assembly Speaker......

LA Times Buyer Reveals Pre-Deal Negotiating Drama The Chicago billionaire about to take over the company that owns the Los Angeles Times said in remarks published Wednesday that L.A. billionaire Eli Broad sought him out as a partner last month, then tried "to stick a knife in my back." Trial of Suspected Los Angeles Serial Killer to Begin Tuesday A former pizza delivery man accused of being one of the city's most prolific serial killers......

Now that many of the Republicans in Congress are uniting with the Democrats to stop the war and bring the troops back, you'd certainly think that if any party was enjoying the sea change of power, it would be the Dems. Sadly there's trouble in paradise between several members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, particularly between two Democratic reps from Southern California. Rep. Loretta Sanchez of Anaheim / Santa Ana is stepping down from......

- "These days, consumers are like walking TiVos, filtering out so much of what they see and hear in advertising. To reach this media-savvy demographic, advertisers have to 'give to get.' In other words, they have to give viewers something special, something unique, in exchange for their attention," Mark Kingdon, chief executive, Organic Inc. said regarding the fact that YouTube is opening its floodgates to movie studios, record labels, and other companies who want......

As predicted in earlier columns, Mayor Jim Hahn and former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg are in a struggle to the death for 2nd place in the runoff, as the new Times Poll shows. Hertzberg has surged into a virtual tie with Hahn around 20%, and Villaraigosa holds a slim lead at 24%. Huggy Hertzberg has taken the first shot of the final week, calling for the resignation of several commissioners who also happen to......

And so it begins... Although the mayoral candidates have been jousting for position the last 6 months, the next five weeks that will determine who will become the next mayor. Brace yourselves for the onslaught of TV ads, mailers, and phone calls as the candidates will make a play for your support. As a public service, LAist offers a primer on the top three candidates (Hahn, Villaraigosa, and Hertzberg), their experience, positions, and possible......

LA Mayor James Hahn has apparently resolved a "scheduling conflict" that aides said would have prevented him from participating in a Mayoral debate next week, clearing the way for all 5 major candidates to square off in the first rhetoric rumble of the campaign season. Hahn had been taking a beating from his challengers over his initial refusal to debate, especially from Bob Hertzberg, the former Assembly Speaker who mounted a web-based petition drive......

Tired of politics? You'd better get your second wind because local politicos descended on City Hall Monday to file the paperwork for the city wide election on March 8th. Should be a noisy fight as 26 incumbents and challengers launch campaigns for Los Angeles mayor, eight City Council seats and a handful of other offices. The Los Angeles Daily Breeze reported "the crowd of [mayoral] hopefuls included Mayor James Hahn and one of his......

The papers today are carrying a story detailing the plan to reinvent the state government. Although Governor Schwarzenegger has yet to back the plan, he appointed the members of the panel and their report recommends adding unprecedented power to his office. Most of the cost-cutting - estimated at over $30 billion over five years - would come by consolidating redundant chunks of the bureaucracy. Arnold will have to overcome many obstacles to pass his plan.......

LAist is increasingly impressed with the early efforts of mayoral hopeful Bob Hertzberg. Bob is currently fielding a great TV spot that's designed to ferry civic-minded Angelenos over to his dynamic Change LA website. It offers a parade of attractive digital photographs and a Hertzberg voice-over that contains fair criticisms about the city's current leadership. The ad demonstrates that Bob, who cut his teeth as an advance man for Jimmy Carter's White House press office,......