Afternoon shorts

Media and politics tidbits from around the greater Los Angeles universe.

• Controller Laura Chick is quoted on the CBS Evening News in a story about the impact of car dealers closing down. CBS
• Bill Bradley reports that Rep. Xavier Becerra will be named the Obama Administration's trade representaive. New West Notes
• Karen Maeshiro, the Daily News' last reporter in the Antelope Valley, decided to leave the paper rather than move to Woodland Hills. "We are stopping our daily coverage of the Antelope Valley," says the DN newsroom memo.
• Indie 103.1 has dropped Chris Morris' "Watusi Rodeo," the only roots/Americana show on L.A. commercial radio. Going for a more consistent sound, says the station, but Morris says the program director is "under extreme duress to improve Indie's numbers."
• Roman Polanski has filed a formal request that the child molestation charge from 30 years ago be dropped. LAT
• Former Chronicle editor Phil Bronstein says of the Gavin Newsom YouTube show: "Mr. Newsom has now sealed himself an a multi-hour air pocket, using technology to remove himself further from the actual public square of politics that allows residents to mix it up with their elected officials." HuffPost
• Donnie Osmond has an opinion on the Proposition 8 after-debate. Wilshire & Washington
• The Independent Spirit Awards nominations are out. List
• Meredith Artley calls the LAT's revamped website for "Mexico Under Siege" content a model for the way online projects will be done there in the future. Readers Rep
• HollywoodReporter.com is looking for a managing editor "to oversee the daily flow of news and information for the Web site." Craigslist
• Talking Points Memo, the politics website founded by Josh Marshall, hired an experienced D.C. reporter to cover Congress and will add a White House reporter. TPM
• Otto Spoerri, who controlled seating arrangements at the Oscars for more than two decades, died in Switzerland at age 75. Variety