Final blow for Mayor Villaraigosa's school plan

A few things on the Web this afternoon:

School takeover nixed. A state appeals court today soundly renounced a law designed to give Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa substantial authority over the Los Angeles Unified School District. The ruling is the second -- and perhaps final -- blow to what was once the centerpiece of Villaraigosa's education-reform plan. Today's unanimous decision, by a three-judge panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal, found the law, Assembly Bill 1381, unconstitutional -- and it was not a close call, in the view of the justices. The judges said the Legislature, which passed the Villaraigosa plan, cannot ignore the constitutional rights of citizens. LA Times.

Tribal compacts: Six new tribal gaming compacts are being fast-tracked in the state Senate with the help of Senate Leader Don Perata, a move that takes most of the drama out of Thursday's expected floor vote on the deals. Some of Perata's top lieutenants are carrying the compacts in the Senate, though Perata himself has backed away from earlier signs that he would author one of the compacts himself. Capitol Weekly.

Virginia massacre. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today ordered flags at all state buildings to be flown at half-staff in memory of the students killed in the Virginia Tech University massacre. The flags will remain at half-staff until Sunday, according to the governor's office. KGO.

Rural money. Emergency short-term loan funding for rural school districts in California is one step closer to approval after receiving unanimous support in the Senate Appropriations Committee. SB 133 provides rural schools and rural school districts with up to $69 million in short-term loan funding. Red Bluff Daily. And Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has recommended that funds for a new San Andreas court facility be included in the 2007-08 state budget. The news has excited Calaveras County officials who have been trying for more than two years to get state funding and move out of the 40-year-old facility. Calaveras Enterprise.

Kennedy clan cookbook. Kennedy family chef Neil Connolly has a new book, Kennedy Kitchen, which includes a "lovely look at the wedding week of Maria (Shriver) and Arnold (Schwarzenegger) back in 1986. Her maid of honor, Caroline Kennedy, with her mother Jackie, hosted a buffet lunch the day before the nuptials in the president’s house on the compound. While Connolly made his corn chowder, Caroline, with a sense of humor, made Chowderhead mugs with the date and the couple’s name embossed on each. Each of the 80 guests, including Oprah Winfrey, got one for a souvenir." Providence Journal.

Schwarzenegger fan won't go away. California Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger caused plenty of rubber-necking during his visit to the city last week. But the funniest incident occurred at Frederick's on Madison Ave., where the governor and his aides lunched on Friday. "An overzealous fan who spotted him going into the restaurant walked in and attempted to chat him up," says a source. She was escorted outside by his bodyguards, but made a second attempt minutes later under the pretense of entering the restaurant to use the restroom. NY Daily News.

(Photo: Lauren Victoria Burke/AP)