Morning Buzz: Thursday 9.21.06

Board meeting day at Tribune
creditLAT publisher Jeff Johnson returned from his scolding in Chicago to say he had reached "an understanding" with the bosses back at the Tribune company, and Tribune publishing head Scott Smith said the company has a commitment to strong journalism. No details of their talks anywhere that I can find. New York Times, L.A. Times, Chicago Tribune, MarketWatch, MSNBC. Yesterday's updated post.
Skid Row homeless deal collapses
The City Council rejected the settlement reached between the ACLU, LAPD and city negotiators over when tent encampments and sleeping on the streets would be winked at. The council also wants to appeal the court ruling won by the ACLU that banned some arrests. "I feel betrayed," said Ramona Ripston, ACLU executive director. "This was the greatest disappointment I have had in 30 years here." NYT, LAT, DN, CityWatch
Are the Dodgers a playoff team?
They lost again to the lowly Pirates — and for the 11th time in their 17 games — to fall into a tie with the Phillies for the wild-card spot in the post-season.
AFTER THE JUMP: Pols with kids in private school, Tony Valdez stays at Fox 11, the best L.A. TV reporter and more — after the jump.
Politics
Making L.A. pols squirm
David Zahniser in LA Weekly uses the AB 1381 bill signing to point out whose kids don't go to LAUSD schools, among them Mayor Villaraigosa's. In fact, he found darn little connection to the district in the crowd that gathered at the Central Library for the signing event.
He's a Jew now
Revelations that the mother of Republican U.S. Sen. George Allen was raised Jewish in North Africa are roiling the Senate race in Virginia, for reasons I'm not close enough to the situation to grasp — or care to spend the time parsing out. Anyway, it was news there that Henrietta "Etty" Allen, who lives here in Palos Verdes, told reporters yesterday that she disclosed her background to her son last month. His father was the late football coach George Allen.
Media
Tony Valdez renewed
Fox 11's senior Latino reporter is staying, station sources say. He had been targeted by KFI's "John and Ken" and last week was defended by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who used the occasion to blast the AM shouters as "divisive."
Best local TV field reporter
Readers of Ron Fineman's On the Record say it's Eric Spillman of KTLA.
Kudos for Daniel Hernandez
The LA Weekly writer, who describes the waning of the local immigrant right movement in today's issue, was given the Emerging Journalist Award from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. NPR's Mandalit del Barco was given an award for her reporting.
Media notes from Nikki Finke
She posts at Deadline Hollywood Daily that Sallie Hofmeister looks to be the Times' next Hollywood editor on the Business desk (replacing Amy Wallace) and that John Hanusz, who left the Los Angeles Daily Journal and the Pellicano beat, joined the Federal Public Defender in Los Angeles as an investigator.
Invading Orange County
KCET, the Los Angeles PBS station, plans to offer OC content on a digital channel.
Noted
House repeals Waxman ban on tunneling
It's no longer forbidden to route the Red Line subway past the La Brea Tar Pits, in case it ever comes up.
Around LA Observed
Earlier at News & Chatter
New on the blogs
LA Biz Observed: Bad of LAT to put an H&M story next to an ad for the new store.
SoCal Sports Observed: Dodgers made the right call letting fans back in.
Chicken Corner: Coffeehouse diary.
Here in Malibu: Gloves come off in fight versus the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.
We Get Email: Writer Clancy Sigal doesn't think highly of the Roy Brewer post.

More by Kevin Roderick:
Standing up to Harvey Weinstein
The Media
LA Times gets a top editor with nothing but questions
LA Observed Notes: Harvey Weinstein stripped bare
LA Observed Notes: Photos of the homeless, photos that found homes
Recent stories on LA Observed:
Standing up to Harvey Weinstein
The Media
LA Times gets a top editor with nothing but questions
LA Observed Notes: Harvey Weinstein stripped bare
David Ryu and candidate Mike Fong
LA Observed Notes: Photos of the homeless, photos that found homes
Volleying with Rosie Casals
Lloyd Hamrol


 

LA Observed on Twitter