• Local media figures David Hume Kennerly and David Devoss (as well as Ted Koppel and others) show up in today's opener of a three-part series on Roxanna Brown, the art expert who died in custody after being arrested in connection with the smuggling probe that led to local museums being raided earlier this year. LAT
• Insurance commissioner Steve Poizner is "laying the groundwork – dollar by dollar, event by event – for a 2010 run for governor." Sacto Bee
• AEG gets its signs on the Convention Center but will pay at least $2 million a year. LAT, DN
• The City Council banned smoking at farmers markets in Los Angeles. DN
• UCLA is investigating reports that two female students were sexually assaulted by a male freshman in the Academic Advancement Program in separate incidents at a summer dorm. LAT
• The revamped Santa Monica Place will have an open plaza and ocean views. LAT
• Amy Alkon's syndicated Advice Goddess column begins running today in Los Angeles CityBeat. Also in the issue is a Third Degree with Echo Park activist Art Goldberg.
• Marc Cooper tells his community organizer daughter she should have competed to be Miss Woodland Hills if she ever wants to be vice president. LA Weekly
• Celeste Fremon rounds up some of the questions that should be asked of Sarah Palin tonight by ABC's Charles Gibson. Witness LA
• Pastor Rick Warren appears on KPCC's "Patt Morrison" with guests host David Lazarus at 2:30 pm.
• The Travel Channel's Samantha Brown features Los Angeles on her "Passport to Great Weekends" that begins running tonight at 7 pm. She hits Hollywood Forever, Venice Beach and the Magic Castle among her locations. Online guide

Plus Thursday morning headlines from Mark Lacter at LA Biz Observed.