Cooley's mixed record on corruption

District Attorney Steve Cooley took down corrupt officials in Compton, South Gate, and Vernon, but in Cudahy and Bell Gardens "the stench of political corruption lingers along with death threats, intimidation of elected officials and candidates, and allegations of election tampering," writes Jeffrey Anderson in CityBeat. In Bell Gardens, Cooley's former top investigator is now aligned with some of the suspected bad guys. CityBeat

Injured LAPD officer ID'd

Tony Salazar, 37, suffered two broken legs, facial injuries and head trauma when he was hit by a car driven by a suspected dealer during an undercover drug operation in Boyle Heights. LAT

Estimated strike impact

If the writers strike continues into next month, and if certain things occur, and if the underlying numbers are correct, the Los Angeles-area economy could start to lose $21 million a day, says Film L.A. Inc. LAT

Bukowski a Nazi?

Charge comes up in the debate over whether to landmark Charles Bukowski's former home at 5124 De Longpre Avenue in East Hollywood. LA Weekly

Trim trees in Glendale, pay big fine

A couple that says they were fined $347,000 for trimming oak and sycamore trees in a fire-prone section of Glendale has hit back with a website to focus light on the issue.

Starting a new frat at USC

How they did it at Sigma Alpha Mu. LAT

Gridskipper L.A. features

The urban travel site this week has offered up The Best Fries in LA, Thanksgiving in LA for the Domestically Impaired and 24 Hour Dining in Downtown LA.

News-Press suit against Santa Barbara Independent

Looks like there will be a trial over the weekly Independent printing a story that was quashed by Wendy McCaw's editors at the News-Press, but three other parts of the suit were tossed out by a judge. SBI

Book for Rickey Minor

Rickey Minor, music director for "American Idol" and the Grammys, Emmys, and Super Bowl, has sold There's No Traffic on the Extra Mile: Winning on 'American Idol' or in Life to Gotham. Publishers Lunch says it will "impart career and life lessons drawn from the author's rise from the streets of South Central Los Angeles to success as heir to Quincy Jones and being acknowledged as one of the leading architects of popular music."

Lacter on Black Friday

Mark Lacter will take a few minutes away from LA Biz Observed to guest on KPCC's Patt Morrison show today at 1 pm to analyze the holiday shopping season.