Lindsey cleared of influencing LAX contract

Remember that ruckus a month ago over whether airports chief Gina Marie Lindsey intervened to steer a contract toward DMJM? Controller Laura Chick looked into it and says, "We didn't find scandal or fraud or impropriety with the awarding of these contracts, but the process was not impeccable." Breeze, LAT

Mayor's junket to Israel

Daily News editorial says "there are legitimate reasons for city officials to travel on the public's dime - but politics and R&R aren't among them." DN

Councilman Smith traveling too

Greig Smith and entourage will visit Canada, Japan, Israel, France, Germany and Spain to look into trash-to-energy technology (which the city has been looking into for decades.) The trip will cost $250,000. LAT

UCLA did liver transplants on Japanese gangsters

The four surgeries were done between 2000 and 2004 "at a time of pronounced organ scarcity. In each of those years, more than 100 patients died awaiting liver transplants in the Greater Los Angeles region." LAT

Laid off at OC Weekly

Two writers were let go yesterday. Luke Y. Thompson blogs that he was one of them.

Orange County teacher was framed

Police are investigating who put marijuana and a shotgun in his car then called the cops. LAT

Chris Page blog

A Bakersfield friend of the theater critic who committed suicide after being laid off in Arizona has started a blog.

Mark Lacter's business headlines

Also: My weekly LA Observed commentary airs on KCRW at 4:44 this afternoon and also can be heard online.