Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain:

Suit Accuses Irvine Of Fraud In Roller Rink Deal (OCR)
Businessman claims that officials derailed his attempts to build ice hockey venue by buying lease at last minute.

County Takes First Step Toward Huge Parklland Acquisition (OCR)
Board of Supes approves letter of intent to begin acquisition process.

CSU Fullerton Nursing Program Gets $2 Million Boost (OCR)
UnitedHealth Group gift will help fund more students in the entry-level nursing classes.

Newport Beach Swimming In Additional $8 Million Of Red Ink (OCR)
Weak returns on sales taxes, hotel taxes account for deficit.

OC Legislators Tell VA To get GI Bill Benefits Sent (OCR)
All six sign letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Shinseki.

San Juan To Require Permits For Camino Capistrano Parking (OCR)
Council restricts overnight parking to vehicles with permits.

Initiative To Shrink California's Employee Pensions Gains From Public Outrage (OCR)
Would limit defined benefit plans and prohibit "double-dipping."

Neighbors Protest Cell Phone Tower Near Church Preschool (OCR)
Huntington Beach officials to hear plans today; Community United Methodist Church 'listening carefully' to opposition.

Dana Point Wants Pot Dispensaries' Members Names, Records (OCR)
The city says it's seeking documents from five operations in town to figure out if they are legal. The dispensaries refused, in part, on privacy and constitutional grounds.

County To Sue State To Reclaim Redevelopmment Cash (OCR)
Orange County plans to join a group of counties and cities in suing the state of California to block the state from raiding its redevelopment reserves.

CUSD Pays $653,350 To Settle 'Enemies List' Lawsuits (OCR)
Seven families who said they were harassed and intimidated after their names appeared on two Capistrano Unified "enemies lists" will be awarded the money.

Opposition leader Mir Hossien Mousavi has requested a permit to allow a commemoration ceromony for the people who have lost their lives in the aftermath of the June 12 election.
 
They would like to hold the ceremony on Thursday, which marks the 40th day following after protests began. The 40th day is significant for Iranians because, traditionally, the 40th day marks the last official day of mourning following a death.

The ceremony would not include any speeches and people attending would be asked to remain silent as they pay their respects.

Separately, it is being reported that President Ahmadinejad may face a no confidence vote in parliament. Whether he is able to withstand the mounting pressure remains to be seen. At the very least, Ahmadinejad has been significantly weakened and will likely face increased scrutiny from all sides. He has certainly earned the "illegitimate" tag.

I just cannot get enough of Shoreh Aghdashloo, lead actress in the brilliant new film, The Stoning of Soraya M. An excerpt from a great article about her in today's New York Post:

"Back there they are inhuman. My 16-year-old niece and a few friends were listening to a Michael Jackson record. She was found out and jailed. Given 60 lashes just for possessing the Michael Jackson record. When I heard, I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

"In 2003, my brother was jailed in Tehran for one and a half years just because I was in a demonstration much like the one tonight. He was a doctor who took care of war patients for three years. We thought they'd never touch him. Never do anything to him. Six a.m. the morning after the demonstration I participated in, they invaded his house. He is now out and lives in San Diego."

Is she not fearful there may again be reprisals against other family members?

"I have nobody else there except my mother who is 82 and won't leave because, she says, 'I need to visit your father's grave.' She is too old for them to bother with."

And Shohreh's hopes for someday?

Read the rest of the article here and fall in love yourself. What a stud...hope her amazing performance turns into an Oscar nod, as some are already speculating.

Iran's government showed more signs of inner turmoil on Sunday as President Ahmadinejad dumped his intelligence minister and his culture minister resigned.

Former Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad-Hossein Saffar-Harandi had this to say regarding his resignation:

"Unfortunately due to the recent events which shows the esteemed government's weakness, I will no longer consider myself the minister of culture and will not show up at the ministry as of tomorrow."

It is being reported that the Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie was dismissed after arguing with Ahmadinejad during Wednesday's cabinet meeting.

In another clear sign of a power struggle within Iran's ruling authority, first vice president Rahim Mashaie stepped down after being appointed by Ahmadinejad just last week. His appointment was not well received by hardliners and had created controversy.

The fact that the rats are turning on each other is sure to further galvanize resolve amongst members of the opposition movement.

U.S. policy regarding the Iranian regime, which is always fluid with the Obama administration, took a more hawkish tone over the weekend as Secretary of State Clinton back-peddled on the subject of Iran's nuclear program. She stated unequivocally that Iran would not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. This, after suggesting that the U.S. would provide a "defense umbrella" to protect allies against a nuclear armed Iran. The "umbrella" rhetoric, for obvious reasons, did not sit well with Israel.

Hillary is much more appealing when the talons are out. President Obama would be wise to encourage her to keep them sharp.

Hundreds of demonstrators marched in New York today demanding the release of political prisoners in Iran. The crowd chanted "Freedom Now" and carried banners that read "Stop arrest and torture of Iranians."

The demonstrators made their way to Iran's UN mission where a message from human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi was read:

"If one country wants to support democracy in another country that is under dictatorial rule, the only thing to do is to support the freedom fighters who stand for the democratic institutions of that country. Done this way, the sapling of democracy will bear the flower of freedom."

One of the protesters, Navid Hazeghi, a member of  the "United for Iran" movement described the demostrations as a "grassroot effort that developed on Facebook and brought together 1,000 people in four days."

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The following  video is from this week's hunger strike at the United Nations headquarters:

Iran's Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli is accusing the CIA of funding the opposition movement.

"Britain, America and the Zionist regime (Israel) were behind the recent unrest in Tehran."

"Many of the rioters were in contact with America, CIA and the MKO and are being fed by their financial resources."

The opposition movement is gaining support within Iran's security apparatus and amongst high-ranking clerics. If we are, in fact, providing resources that can help undermine this fraudulent government and play a role in the removal of "President" Ahmadinejad, it's money well spent.