Jill Stewart mailed out her own announcement today about shutting down her syndicated column to assume a key editing position at the LA Weekly. She emails:

Hi all,

Some news: The below column is my last for my client papers, as I am joining the LA Weekly as the deputy editor of news. I'll be in charge of a vibrant news department focused on LA and California news. I very much look forward to working with Weekly editor Laurie Ochoa and I'm thrilled to be joining the Village Voice Media chain under Mike Lacey.

In addition to my syndicated column, I've had a wonderful run as a regular op ed freelancer for the Wall Street Journal. Here's my recent WSJ take on California Attorney General candidate and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown. And here's my piece for WSJ on Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and his uncertain dream to reform the Los Angeles Unified School District.

My California column on the politics and policies of the legislature, governor, and other Sacramento power elite has appeared regularly for the last few years in dailies including the San Francisco Chronicle, Orange County Register, Long Beach Press-Telegram and Daily News of Los Angeles, as well as weeklies including the Ventura County Reporter. It's been a real pleasure on my part to work with so many terrific editors over the years.

Her final column is on this year's California elections. * Added: She responds to Fishbowl LA with some praise for herself and the Weekly: "The news staff at the Weekly is bursting with talent, and editor Laurie Ochoa has launched a lot of improvements in recent years."

We Get Email: The first reactions to Stewart's hiring at the LA Weekly aren't positive. Also in the email bag, one professor liked what Bruce Feirstein wrote about the Times, one didn't.

Yesterday:
Big turmoil at the Weekly
Scene at the Weekly