Decline of the critics

Patrick Goldstein writes that "for a generation that lives on the Web, even the most eloquent critics are distant thunder, rarely promoted well on newspaper websites and often reluctant to use blogs as a platform to spread their gospel. Even among savvy journalism students, it's hard to find anyone who knows any critics by name." LAT

Jamiel Shaw Jr.'s devastated father

Weeks after his 17-year-old football star was gunned down on the streets of L.A., Sandy Banks visited and found "a weary, bewildered man, stunned by his loss." LAT

Fighting the billboards

The City Council will likely take a vote today on allowing big video boards next to the Santa Monica Freeway in exchange for some money for a South L.A. park. LAT

LAPD officers hurt in crash on 118 freeway

Officer Julio Lopez, 23, was driving back to the station early Monday morning when he lost control of the patrol car, which flipped over and was struck by another car. Lopez was thrtown from the car and is hospitalized in stable condition. Officer Sarah Slavid, 25, suffered minor injuries. It's one of those that raises questions. LAT, DN

Earl Ofari Hutchinson defends the murder moratorium

The activist and commentator writes, "Unfortunately, the moratorium did not attain one goal, namely, no homicides during the 40-hour period. There were several fatal shootings. But the moratorium did attain the larger goals of calling attention to King and his struggle for nonviolent solutions to conflicts, and in engaging the community to continue the search for proactive solutions to the murder plague in L.A." LAT Op-Ed

Blog interview with Carol Liu

The probable state senator from the San Gabriel Valley answers questions from the Foothill Cities Blog.

Councilman Alarcon hires planning deputy

It's Christine Mahfouz, who the release says worked previously in city planning as an associate planner, at the West Jefferson
Community Organization and for the City of Culver City.

Los Angeles magazine cuts down to 16 greatest things about L.A.

It has become a full-blown media event, with City Council members Eric Garcetti and Jan Perry helping the magazine announce its sweet 16 on the south lawn at City Hall at 9:30 am.

Woodruff to be honored

Bob Woodruff, the ABC correspondent and anchor who was seriously wounded in Iraq, will receive the Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism at the Los Angeles Press Club's June 21 banquet.