Tidbits and blurbs on politics, media and news of the Los Angeles universe.

• Eli Broad explains his offer to MOCA has no strings, adds a kind of slap at LAT: "The fear I have is a New York Times story that says, 'L.A. Museum Fails' or 'Closes.' " Culture Monster
• Ex-Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez released a statement calling his son's arrest for murder "a very difficult and painful experience for every family involved." Capitol Alert
• Santa Clarita assemblyman Cameron Smyth was named Republican Caucus Chair, the party's number two in the Assembly. Sausage Factory
• Showtime picked up a third season of "Californication." Variety
• Former New York governor Eliot Spitzer will write a semi-weekly column for Slate beginning tomorrow. Huff Post
• USC's law school dean has proposed reforming the school's grading curve. Legal Pad
• Barney the Dinosaur helps corral a woman armed with box cutters outside Hollywood & Highland. LAist
• Talking up L.A.'s new green business certification program. Liberty Hill
• Wendy McCaw shuts down her newspaper — not the News Mess, the Goleta Valley Voice. SB independent
• Laemmle Music Hall in Beverly Hills will screen Saturday's opening night production of La Scala's 2008-09 season live from Milan. Culture Monster
• San Francisco's new California Academy of Sciences is a must-see, but wait for the lines to die down. Mark Gold
• Stupid job interview questions. Hollywood Temp Diaries