Mayor and gangs

Mayor Villaraigosa's focus on street gangs in the State of the City speech "points to both the promise and paradox of his mayoral administration and to the ambiguous record he'll carry into the next campaign." Tim Rutten/LAT Op-Ed

SWAT report proposes changes

Bratton's panel praises the elite LAPD unit but says it has a problem with insularity and needs to be opened up to more officers and made more accountable. Defenders of the old LAPD culture are upset. DN

Taco trucks have one hour before citation

Board of Supervisors extends the time trucks can park but toughens the penalties. Truck operators say they will stay put. LAT

818 may get a 747 overlay zone

The Valley's first overlay area code could be approved next week for implementation in 2009. DN

If California had left its primary alone...

If our presidential primary had not been moved to Feb. 5 in search of clout, the June 3 election would probably be pivotal to the Democrats and have a huge turnout. Now it will be one of the least important state elections in history, says Peter Schrag. Bee

Nuñez may try term limits again

Outgoing Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez says he's working with the Republican leader to craft a new ballot measure to ease term limits, and could include a ban on fundraising by lawmakers during budget talks and critical votes stripping from legislators the power to redraw districts. LAT

Pets may be banned from driver's seat

We've all seen those people who keep Fifi on their lap while driving, but there's a bill in the California legislature to outlaw the practice. Desert Sun

L.A. library fees

SaveLAPL.org, organized by Kim Cooper of the 1947 Project, is rallying opposition to a $1 fee for inter-branch loans and the discontinuation of new book and periodical purchases. I thought I also heard about an annual library card fee, which would affect many more people than the inter-branch fee.

Dan Schnur a NYT campaign contributor

The longtime Republican operative from California is listed as a guest contributor to the New York Times opinion page blog Campaign Stops and posted yesterday about the dust-up over Barack Obama's use of the term bitter at a fundraiser.

Woman charged in Harbor Freeway murder

Prosecutors allege Jessica Ortega, 30, is a member of the Playboys street gang and killed 19-year-old Samantha Padilla on the Slauson off-ramp to further her gang's activities. LAT

Chatsworth Park South remains closed by lead

80-acre city park has been closed since Valentine's Day due to remains of an old skeet range. DN

Reseda Theater may live again

Live entertainment is planned under redevelopment proposals for the old one-screen on Sherman Way. LAT

Richard Gere will play George Palmer Putnam in Earhart film

He will be the older husband to Hillary Swank's Amelia Earhart in forthcoming Mira Nair biopic. Variety

Oscars talk so soon?

Next year's Oscar nominations will be delayed two days, to Jan. 22, due to the presidential inauguration. If you need to get a find a dress, the Oscar telecast will be Feb. 22. NYT

Restaurants and the recession

LA Weekly food writer Jonathan Gold and Mozza co-owner Nancy Silverton guest on KPCC's "Patt Morrison" to discuss shrinking portion sizes and others way restaurants are coping with costs. (Though Mozza can't complain, right?),

ProPublica staffs up

The new non-profit investigative newsroom hired the editor with a key role in the San Diego Union-Tribune's award-winning takedown of Rep. Duke Cunningham, and Eric Umansky, formerly of Slate.com. The site says that "ProPublica, when fully staffed later this year, will have the largest news staff in American journalism devoted solely to investigative reporting, with roughly 25 fulltime reporters and editors." Release