Anyone living in the area where Reps. Howard Berman and Brad Sherman are campaigng instinctively knows a lot of money is being spent, based on the mails they are receiving.
Campaign reports released on Friday show that nearly $2.5 million has been spent in the last month alone by the two to get their message out to voters for the June 5 election.
And, this could be only the start if the two end up _ as most expect _ in a November runoff.
Sherman reported spending $1.1 million during the period of April 1 through May 16 and he still has more than $3 million in cash available.
Berman reported spending $1.7 million and has $821,000 in cash left. Also, the superpac that is backing Berman reported spending $403,663 on his behalf.

Ls Angeles Unified will pay $200,000 and give lifetime health benefits to settle a sexual-harassment allegation filed by a facilities executive against retired Superintendent Ramon Cortines, officials said Wednesday.Barbara Jones in the Daily News.

Scot Graham, who has worked in the Facilities Division for 12 years and is now director of leasing and asset management, claims that Cortines made unwanted sexual advances during a weekend spent at the superintendent's second home in Kern County in July 2010.

Graham's attorneys notified the district in March - nearly a year after Cortines retired - that he intended to file a sexual-harassment claim.

Most stores in Los Angeles will no longer be allowed to provide plastic bags to customers under a ban approved by the City Council on Wednesday. The measure also places a 10 cent fee on paper bags.Daily News,

The ban approved 13-1 by the council still has to undergo a four-month environmental study and then a final vote and signature from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

The plan gives large markets six months and smaller stores 12 months to phase out plastic bags. Shops would be required to charge 10 cents per paper bag one year after the ban is enacted. Plastic bags offered in the produce section would be exempted.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will talk national politics on Thursday when he appears on "The War Room" with former Michian Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
Villaraigosa, president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, is expected to discuss the significance of the Latino vote in this year's elections and its role in the federal elections.

Congressmen Howard Berman and Brad Sherman - locked in a heated congressional race - tussled Tuesday over which politician is responsible for the recent expansion of the 405 Freeway. Dakota Smith in the Daily News.

Both politicians helped secure funds for the 405 widening near the Ventura (101) Freeway, but it's unclear which did more of the heavy lifting to make the expansion a reality.

Berman appeared Tuesday at a press event overlooking the traffic-clogged 405 to argue he was responsible for securing $130 million in federal funds that kick-started the project.

With the arrest of a deputy assessor accused of lowering property values in exchange for campaign contributions to Assessor John Noguez, two city officials called Tuesday for an independent review of the property rolls. Daily News.

Also, Councilmen Dennis Zine and Paul Krekorian said Noguez, who was elected in 2010, should temporarily step aside as assessor until a District Attorney's investigation is completed.

The City Council approved a $7.2 billion budget Monday, backing a fiscal plan that delays layoffs, raises parking fines by $5 and increases library hours. Dakota Smith in the Daily News,

With little disagreement, the council backed Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's budget, which fills a $238 million deficit by trimming every city department, continuing furloughs for city attorneys and eliminating 460 vacant city positions.

But council members balked at Villaraigosa's proposal to lay off 209 employees, instead postponing the fate of those workers to Jan. 1, when the Council will reassess the city's financial state.

A federal judge refused Monday to take jurisdiction of a lawsuit filed by a parents advocacy group, which claims that Los Angeles Unified illegally suspended its operation and seized control of federal money set aside for its use. Barbara Jones in the Daily News.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Margaret Morrow involves a suit filed in December by the District Compensatory Education Advisory Committee. DAC is an elected group that represents the parents of tens of thousands of impoverished students for which Los Angeles Unified receives Title I federal funding.

The DAC lawsuit contends the district is legally bound to honor an April 2006 Parent Involvement Policy, which outlines the group's rights and responsibilities in advising on Title I programs. It also claims the policy is a condition for LAUSD to receive about $450 million annually in federal funds.

Paulette Breen sensed something was wrong when her home loan modification made her mortgage payments more expensive.Christina Villacorte in the Daily News,

Suspecting fraud, the Van Nuys resident hired a lawyer to sort things out.

That only made things worse.

The attorney told her there was indeed fraud, and promised to sue the bank and get her a new loan. She paid him $8,000 upfront and he advised her to stop making her mortgage payments while the matter was being pursued in court.

It is a classic David vs. Goliath political match -- and David's barely armed with even a slingshot. Daily News,
Palmdale businessman Raj Pal Kahlon is challenging Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich in the June 5 primary for the 5th District seat held by the incumbent for 32 years.

Antonovich, 72, is the only supervisor on the June 5 primary ballot to draw an opponent, with Mark Ridley-Thomas and Don Knabe running unopposed -- a reflection of the political truism that incumbent supervisors don't get unseated in Los Angeles County.

In fact, the last person to oust an incumbent: Mike Antonovich, who took down Supervisor Baxter Ward in 1980 S

Tipoff: B.H. Kim explores race for councl.

Stop by Valley Beth Shalom in Encino for services and you might spot Congressman Howard Berman sitting in one aisle and Congressman Brad Sherman a few seats away. Dakota Smith in the Daily News,

Both men attend the synagogue, one of a handful of things the veteran politicians have in common. They are also well-liked, Democrats - and fighting for the same seat in a highly competitive 30th Congressional District race.

But that's where the similarities end, say friends and colleagues.

More than one-fourth of Los Angeles Unified's continuation high schools may be shuttered next year as a cost-cutting move, shrinking a program seen as a last resort for students at risk of dropping out.Barbara Jones in the Daily News.

Continuation schools on the campuses of North Hollywood High and Taft High in Woodland Hills are among 13 that would be closed under a plan to save the district $6.5 million.

From her storefront on Tujunga Avenue in Studio City, shop owner Ann Booth frequently sees traffic officers nab parking scofflaws. Dakota Smith in the Daily News,

Shoppers and diners often neglect the one-hour meters on this quaint stretch, according to Booth, making it a popular spot for the city's ticket writers.

"They're always writing tickets," Booth said. "It seems like they come every two minutes."

The office of Attorney General Kamala Harris on Thursday rejected a request by City Attorney Carmen Trutanich to investigate his missing personnel files at the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office.
"Our office has reviewed this matter and determined that no further action is warranted at this time," Harris said in a statement.
Trutanich had requested the inquiry, saying he was concerned political games were being played with his files, which could have contained information about a shooting incident with gang members when he worked for the District Attorney's office.
There was no immediate reaction from Trutanich.

**
Trutanich campaign manager John Shallman said they understood why Harris would not get involved so close to an election.
"However, the substance of Mr. Trutanich's complaint stands," Shallman said. "All personnel file requests go through the Chief Deputy DA. The Chief Deputy DA, who has a history of playing politics inside the office, is running against Mr.
Trutanich. Mr. Trutanich's personnel file is missing. Those are the
facts."