David Halberstam was to be in Los Angeles tomorrow night for a featured conversation with Times columnist Tim Rutten at the Jewish Federation's annual legal dinner. In his place, federation CEO John Fishel will address the banquet.

Halberstam, the Pulitzer-winning journalist and author, was killed Monday in a Bay Area traffic collision.

* On second thought: Jewish Federation VP of public relations Deborah Dragon emails that they changed their minds. "Just learned that there will actually not be a speaker at the Federation's Legal Dinner tomorrow in place of David Halberstam. Given the tragic circumstances, it was felt that a replacement was not appropriate."