• 149 murders in New York City so far this year, versus 134 at the same point last year; 13 were kids
• 120 murders in Chicago
  (111 last year); a major leap in murder last month was a root cause
• 104 murders in Philadelphia (101 last year); crime is mostly down in Philly this year
• 103 murders in Los Angeles (100 last year); violent crime is otherwise down this year source

View Larger Map

• “Strong earthquake in the Los Angeles area”: Talk about a phrase we could go without hearing. While the quake was powerful, it definitely wasn’t an end-of-the-world situation by any stretch. Mediaite has the initial reports from CNN, which they totally got the jump on over MSNBC and Fox News, including the use of Twitter. source

• The subject of iconic ’80s flick “Stand and Deliver,” Escalante took his innovative teaching techniques to a rough-and-tumble East L.A. school, and got 14 students to pass a super-tough AP Calculus exam – a feat so incredible the students were accused of cheating. In reality, dude built a math program so amazing that, even though he didn’t get along with the administration, teachers across the country studied his techniques. The Edward James Olmos portrayal was just icing. He died of cancer today at 79. source

• For five hours last month, Cardinal Roger Mahony answered the questions. The L.A.-based leader of the largest Catholic archdiocese in the U.S. was interviewed as part of a civil trial regarding one of his former priests in a child molestation case. Michael Baker, the priest in question, has been defrocked and is serving ten years in prison. Despite the grilling, Mahony isn’t the target of the investigation, authorities say. source

• Democrat John Perez is in line to be the first gay assembly speaker, anywhere, ever. Perez won a show of support from the California state assembly today – a big deal, as that position holds a lot of power. Perez will be on the front lines of the state’s budget crisis, which is expected to last until at least – get this – 2015. He also has a pedigree, too: His cousin is Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who was also an assembly speaker back in the day. Good for you, bro. source

• If by chance people are going to withhold consents because of Mary’s sexuality, it would be a violation of the canons of this church.
• Los Angeles Bishop Diocesan J. Jon Bruno • Describing his reaction to news that he’d be working with the Rev. Mary Douglas Glasspool, who was voted bishop suffragan yesterday. Glasspool is one of two gay bishops the Episcopal church has – and the first new one since 2003. As you might guess, this is something of a flash point for controversy. source