Afternoon snacks

Kevin Roderick • January 23 2007 4:43 PM

Sheriff's deputies are "relatively sure" they have the guy who spilled mercury in the Pershing Square Metro station last month. Armando Bustamante Miranda, 27, was being held on an unrelated parole violation. LAT, KFI
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. has joined the Tribune bidding on the side of the Chandler family, apparently in a move to get hold of Newsday on Long Island. FT.com, Crain's
Former Page Six writer Jared Paul Stern will not be charged with any crimes in connection with Ron Burkle's allegation that Stern tried to extort money from him in exchange for favorable coverage, the New York Observer reports.
The feds have arrested more than 750 illegal immigrants over the past week in the L.A. area in "one of the biggest such sweeps in U.S. history," aimed at illegals who defied deportation orders. AP
Joel Stein chatted live with Times readers today, and in response to the question "Why do you think so many people dislike you?," he answered: "I think it's my looks. I look like someone you should hate. Even though I'm so damn likeable." Early transcript
Amid speculation that big changes at LATimes.com are in the offing, Times editor Jim O'Shea has scheduled two sessions tomorrow with newsroom staffers "to discuss the future direction of latimes.com and the relationship between the print newsroom and the web."
The Politico, the new political journalism website led by ex-Washington Post veterans, debuted today.

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Go to LA Observed

Oprah's (sort of) big event

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Go to LA BIZ