FOG VS. SUN: With the return of...

FOG VS. SUN: With the return of summer heat, the DWP urges Valley residents not to set air conditioners lower than 78 degrees for energy efficiency. But the utility adds that it wasn’t the strain of meeting air-conditioning needs that caused Sunday night’s power outage in Sherman Oaks (A3). . . . What’s next? Depends on how well the foggy marine layer does in its seesaw battle with the Valley’s inland heat.

WOMAN BURNED: The boyfriend of a Val Verde woman, angry at their breakup, poured gasoline on her and set her afire, sheriff’s deputies said. As she burst into flames, he tried to embrace her to die with her. She’s in a Sherman Oaks hospital, in critical condition (B1). . . . He’s in jail with minor burns.

CLOTHES CALL: Uniforms have long been a tradition in private schools . . . but they’re catching on in Valley public schools as well. Pushed by parents worried about costs and the dangerous gang messages some outfits send, San Fernando Elementary School became the third in the Valley to create a uniform option (B3). . . . At Vaughn Elementary in Pacoima, where students already wear uniforms, a counselor noted: “Self-esteem in the kids is very evident. They’re very proud of their uniforms.”

RIVER OF MONEY: Runaway rivers have much of Middle America under water. But 45 miles downstream from the flood zone, the riverboat casino that Players International opened on the Ohio River is flooded with gamblers. . . . That means a river of profits for the once-struggling Calabasas company. See Valley Business, Page 8.

BANKING WOES: Banks have a lot of money--but they are keeping a lot less for themselves. As the California-wide recession drags into its fourth year, Valley banks and savings and loans are feeling the squeeze. . . . Five of the eight largest have reported lower profits, or outright losses, in the latest quarter. See Valley Business, Page 3.

The Heat’s On

Valley temperatures are edging back up after a few weeks of lower than normal readings. Monday’s high was near normal. Highs for past 10 days in Van Nuys: Aug. 2: 90 Source: National Weather Service