Agustin Gurza has been focusing on Latino pop music for Calendar and now will write about the "entire Latino arts and entertainment scene." The memo follows. Also, sources around the paper think that Vernon Loeb, the Washington Post's CIA reporter, has accepted the job of LAT metro projects editor.

To: The Staff
From: John Montorio, Deputy Managing Editor/Features
         Rick Flaste, Features Editor
         Robert Hilburn, Pop Music Editor

We are pleased to announce that Agustin Gurza, who has been covering the Latin pop music world for Calendar, will now expand his duties to a newly created beat that stretches across the entire Latino arts and entertainment scene. Because of the Latino heritage and population of our region, we see this as an immensely important and challenging assignment -- another step in our commitment to cover the rich cultural diversity all around us.

While continuing to monitor the trends and personalities of the Latin pop scene as he's done so well for the past three years, Agustin will now also examine other art forms and forums -- especially the worlds of art and theater and museums. In addition, he will report on the influence of Latino culture on film, television and radio. He will continue to report to Robert Hilburn, who will help him develop stories and coordinate coverage with other editors in the department.

We all look forward to having Agustin's sensitive and insightful work appear on this broader, more ambitious canvas.