Where's Jay Levin?

The founder of last year's one-off magazine RealTalkLA resurfaced this week as an editorial consultant at CityBeat, brought in by parent Southland Publishing. RealTalk's website, meanwhile, is still active with new postings.

Crime up in the county

Serious crime rose 4% in the areas of Los Angeles County patrolled by the sheriff's department. Sheriff Lee Baca said it could get worse if the economy goes further south. "Our economy is driving the property crimes -- burglary and larceny," the sheriff said. "In some communities, with high unemployment, some people resort to theft." LAT

Guild upset with Jay Leno

The WGA tries to chasten the "Tonight Show" host, but the show goes on. Variety

City opts to keep most industrial acreage downtown

A joint directive by the city planning department and the CRA preserve about 2,633 downtown acres zoned for industry while opening 261 acres to residential development. Boosters of the downtown boom wanted more areas opened to residential. LAT

Nahai profiled

Marc Haefele takes his turn figuring out why David Nahai is the new general manager of the Department of Water and Power and what it all means. Jewish Journal

More Britney Spears drama

Police were called to settle a child custody dispute with the ex-pop star's ex-husband, then Spears was wheeled out of her Studio City home on a gurney and taken to a hospital. LAT, DN

Sitrick lawyer can stay

High-profile litigator Patricia Glaser did not offer free legal services to producer Jon Peters in exchange for his favorable testimony in a case involving crisis PR mogul Michael Sitrick, a judge ruled. Today's Daily Journal reports (no link) that the charge was made by lawyers for producer Ryan Kavanaugh, who is suing Sitrick over a business deal. Glaser denied the allegation, and the judge said there was no evidence.

Sonar use limited off the coast

A federal judge in Los Angeles restricted the Navy's use of mid-frequency sonar off the Southern California coast, part of a court battle over protection of whales and other marine mammals. It's the first time a judge has spelled out specific rules the Navy must follow. LAT

Joel Stein's latest needs-a-column gimmick

He appeared at the City Council comment period and for 53 seconds argued that the council stop giving free air time to Zuma Dogg and the other gadflies. Enough for 500 words and this week's column. LAT Op-Ed

John Wayne statue may leave Wilshire

The city of Newport Beach might want to acquire and move the statue of Wayne on a horse that sits on Wilshire Boulevard and Hamilton Drive in Beverly Hills, outside the Larry Flynt headquarters building. The corner formerly housed a branch of Great Western Savings, whose ads employed Wayne as spokesman. LAT

Selling manga

Author Jim Pascoe, who founded the late indie press UglyTown Publishing, has had his English-language manga Undertown syndicated by TokyoPop in 50 newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times.

35-cent martinis at the Edison

Eastside Scene takes advantage of the January promotion.

Rimmon Fay, Santa Monica Bay activist was 78

Fay, a marine scientist and longtime Venice Beach lifeguard, helped sound the alarm about the wildlife impact of DDT dumping and devoted his life to saving Santa Monica Bay from pollution. He died at age 78 of a heart attack. LAT

Ed LaDou, former Spago pizza chef was 52

LaDou was the first pizza chef at Spago, developed the first menu at California Pizza Kitchen and opened Caioti. He died of cancer at age 52 on Dec. 27. LAT