Feeling crowded? L.A. County population at 10 million

L.A. is the first county in the country with 10 million people. That’s according to the state Department of Finance, which just released its latest population numbers. L.A. County added about 56,000 residents during the year ending June 30th, pushing its population to an estimated 10,019,365 people. The state added 322,000 people and now has 38.2 million residents. More people had been leaving California than moving here in recent years. But in the latest period, net migration was plus 66.000 Most of the state’s growth was internal, though: meaning more babies…The defense has begun to make its case in the trial of two former Fullerton policemen accused of beating to death mentally ill homeless man Kelly Thomas. Among the first called to testify: Thomas’s mother and grandfather. The family members reluctantly took the stand to answer questions about violent encounters they had with Thomas. But out of court they insisted that those incidents don’t explain or excuse the officers’ actions. Defense attorneys say Thomas was a violence-prone troublemaker. Testimony in the case is expected to pick up on Monday…A federal grand jury continues to hear testimony about an investigation that has already led to the arrests of 18 former and current L.A. County Sheriff’s deputies for misconduct in the jails. The L.A. Times reports that federal authorities are trying to expand the probe by convincing deputies to provide evidence against colleagues and department brass. Many of those charged are facing lengthy prison terms if they are convicted of crimes that include beating inmates and lying to federal agents. Legal experts say the prospect of stiff punishment gives those deputies an incentive to cooperate with prosecutors…A 43-foot war memorial cross must be removed from the top of a San Diego mountain in 90 days because it violates the separation of church and state. But a federal judge says his order will be put on hold if there’s an appeal. The cross was built atop Mount Soledad in 1954 and the controversy over its placement has been raging nearly that long. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed ruled two years ago that the cross violated the Constitution. Backers say it’s a war memorial, not a religious symbol…And finally, It’s not exactly a golden age for newspapers, but that’s not stopping the owner of the Orange County Register from announcing that it will start up a new paper in L.A. Freedom Communications’ new daily will be called the Los Angeles Register. No timetable has been announced but Freedom CEO Aaron Kushner says the new paper will debut “quickly.” Freedom bought the Riverside Press Enterprise last month and has also launched a new newspaper in Long Beach.