Morning Buzz: Friday 8.8.08

Times national editor Scott Kraft addresses the paper's handling of the John Edwards-at-Beverly Hilton story. Blog
Supervisor Don Knabe changes his mind and says he will vote to place the sales tax measure on the November ballot. LAT, DN
Both the Times and Daily News get at the back story behind the smelly deal to bring controversial ex-DWP official Raman Raj back as Chief Operating Officer, spice up his pension and propose multi-million dollar contracts with firms that employed Raj as a consultant. Not a good week for David Nahai.
Sad press release of the day: Lt. Gov. John Garamendi Kicks Off the Olympics...in Sacramento.
DMV offices will not be open on Saturdays this month due to the state budget crunch. LAT
A bronze, life-size bust of surfing legend George Freeth was stolen from the Redondo Beach pier. Daily Breeze
Manny Ramirez hit his fourth home run as a Dodger. This time they won. LAT
Kitty Felde's play "A Patch of Earth" is not a morality tale, but it does deal with moral questions. Pasadena Weekly
Eugene Tong, content manager for the Daily News website, is leaving Aug. 13 after 5-plus years at the paper.