One Way to Stop Overzealous Prosecutors: Defund State Prisons
When a local prosecutor sends a convicted felon to prison, the cost of keeping him locked up—an average of $ 31,286 per year—is paid for entirely by the state, not the county where the prosecutor holds office. The problem with this setup, some argue … Read more on Slate Magazine

Skid row patients die as clinic lacks OK to dispense methadone
In theory the forces of change are finally in sync: California has stopped putting drug addicts in prison, leaving them free to get help. And Obamacare has put help in reach by providing insurance that covers drug abuse treatment. But in real life … Read more on Los Angeles Times

Three infected with measles at Las Vegas seafood restaurant
All told, more than 150 people across the United Sates have recently been diagnosed with measles, 126 of them in California. Nevada public health officials believe the … Sizemore said none of the newly diagnosed patients was hospitalized, but one … Read more on Raw Story

Beverly Hills Tip Jar Bandit Sentenced to Year of Rehab
A woman charged last week with stealing money from tip jars at various businesses in Beverly Hills was sentenced today to a year in a live-in residential drug rehabilitation facility in connection with her no contest plea to stealing money from a cash … Read more on Patch.com