Bratton wants to change LAPD use-of-force reviews

Proposal before the police commission would let the chief divert some incidents into less punitive reviews. LAT

Also: Homicide rate to date levels off below last year's. LAT

Tim McOsker switches law firms

The former chief of staff to Mayor Jim Hahn on Monday joined Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw in the firm's government and global trade practice group, says the Daily Journal (no link.) He's now a colleague of Bob Hertzberg, Dario Frommer and Mickey Kantor. McOsker cites the better commute for his move from Christensen, Glaser, Fink, Jacobs, Weil & Shapiro.

Mayor to unveil another education program

At 10 am Antonio Villaraigosa will be at Trade Tech to announce a $1.2 million grant from the James Irvine Foundation for a program that brings high school students from Santee Educational Complex for culinary arts, tourism and other classes.

Also: Villaraigosa and Sen. John Edwards unveiled a new $100 million affordable housing fund. DN

Two of Magic Johnson's Starbucks to close

Sandy Banks finds the shops at MLK and Vermont, and at Crenshaw and Vernon, symbolically important to their neighborhoods but not well patronized. LAT

Wayne Ratkovich profiled

The developer who restored the Oviatt Building downtown and saved the Wiltern and Chapman Market is interviewed in conection with his upgrading of the old People's Bank tower on Wilshire's Miracle Mile. Tallest in the area, that's the building where Los Angeles magazine is housed and Variety is moving. LAT

Newton farewell at Times

Tonight the Times is throwing a reception for exiting editor of the editorial pages Jim Newton. He has declared it will honor all the departing staffers. TellZell notes that a meeting of the Newspaper Guild follows immediately at the Redwood Bar & Grill on 2nd Street.

California's 2nd biggest reservoir running out

Lake Oroville is at 40% capacity and a state official predicts 20% by December. AP

Robert Berning, symbolic pioneer of Two Buck Chuck

Berning, who died at age 73, was the buyer who figured out how Trader Joe's could sell good wine at low prices. Nice obit by Dennis McLellan. LAT

Mark Lacter's Tuesday business headlines