Good morning -- here's what's happening 7.25.08

The mythic "subway to the sea" is on the wish list of transportation projects funded by a half-cent sales tax increase the MTA voted in favor of putting on the November ballot. Number crunchers say the increase could raise up to $40 billion.

Hate crimes in L.A. hit their highest level in five years, and attacks between Latinos and blacks are at the heart of it.

The toughest pollution rules in the world await ships coming withing 24 nautical miles of California after state regulators ruled that the ships must use low-sulfur diesel instead of "bunker fuel," a tar-like sludge. Get ready for a big fight by the international shipping industry.

Speaking of fights, you didn't think state workers would take kindly to Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to roll back salaries to the minimum wage, did you? Well, you were right.

The gay (same-sex) divorcee -- maybe not quite so gay (blithe and happy) after falling down the rabbit hole of conflicting rules and regulations in states that don't recognize same-sex marriage.

The little airline that could: Southwest will soon be No. 1 at four of our five area airports.

Former L.A. city commissioner Leland Wong found guilty on 14 counts of felony corruption.

An Oxnard teen charged with killing his gay friend will be tried as an adult.

Is this reality TV or the NFL? No need to choose, says Sam Farmer -- it's both.

John McCain and Barack Obama -- the latest news from Comic-Con.

Some enterprising protesters slipped into the parking garage next to The Times building this morning and hung this two-story banner with their sentiments about recent layoffs. Meanwhile, David Geffen, once publicly interested in purchasing the paper, reportedly told a friend he's "so over it."

A judge in Santa Ana ruled in favor of Washington Times reporter Bill Gertz and refused to force him to reveal his sources in a story about U.S. military technology finding its way to China.

--Veronique de Turenne

Photo of airplane: Los Angeles Times