Author testifies: Former Times reporter Miles Corwin took the stand in the Robert Blake murder trial to explain why he was with LAPD detectives as they searched Blake's home. He says the cops saw Blake as a likely suspect from the start. Court TV: "On the stand, Corwin appeared credible, yet very uncomfortable being on the other side of an interview. He shifted in his seat, blinked frequently, and stammered at times when asked about events that happened almost four years ago."

Muff Singer: An overflow crowd of Democrats gathered Wednesday at services for the children's books author and wife of former City Controller Rick Tuttle. Mayor Jim Hahn was among the speakers and Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky served as a pallbearer. Bob Hertzberg was the other mayoral hopeful in attendance.

Local writers: Bill Plaschke, Andy Meisler and Lynne Cox have pieces in "The Best American Sports Writing 2004," edited by Richard Ben Cramer. Cox's piece (on her swim to Antarctica) ran in the New Yorker, Meisler's in the L.A. Times Magazine and Plaschke's, of course, in the LAT.

Change of venue: Fleishman-Hillard won't have to face a trial in Los Angeles in the city attorney's civil suit to recover fees for allegedly non-existent PR services. The location has yet to be decided.