Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
More on Polanski and a new water main break after the jump. Also see Mark Lacter's morning headlines at LA Biz Observed, and follow Mark and Kevin on Twitter.
- Roman Polanski's lawyer says he will fight extradition from Switzerland, among calls from France and Poland to drop the charges or release the director on bail. LAT
- Plus:A Washington Post columnist who has written in support of Polanski should have disclosed she is married to the Polish foreign minister, who also is working on Polanski's behalf, says Patterico.
- A 12-inch water main ruptured about 6 a.m. at San Vicente Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. DN wires
- Google and Microsoft are both lobbying hard to take over City Hall's email contract. LAT
- City Attorney Carmen Trutanich's tranisiton team produced a report that says the office he took over suffers from low morale and needs an investment in staff training. DN
- It may not matter legally whether Sen. Rod Wright lives outside his legislative district. LAT
- LAPD chief of detectives Charlie Beck talks about the next chief of police with StreetGangs.com.
- Ron Kaye talks more about his post-journalism plans for OurLA.org, funded by David Fleming and unnamed others.
- A union organizing campaign aimed at L.A. car washes is targeting most of all the two Iranian immigrant brothers who own Vermont Hand Wash and four other locations. LAT
- LA Weekly blogger and web assistant Alexia Tsotsis is moving to the SF Weekly as web editor.
- The New York Times covers Rich Hammond's hiring as beat reporter by the Los Angeles Kings. NYT
- New Yorker staff writer Tad Friend talks about his new memoir, “Cheerful Money: Me, My Family, and the Last Days of Wasp Splendor.” TNY
- Travel editor Gary Warner went out on a limb in his piece about Berkeley and paid the price, he admits. OC Register
- Here Media today relaunches Gay.com with video covering topics such as pop culture, politics, travel, finance, style, health, and activism. Via release
- Bruce Lisker, freed from jail after more than two decades, guests on KPCC's "Airtalk" with Larry Mantle at 10:30 along with LAT reporters Matt Lait and Scott Glover.
- Jim Long, longtime sports writer in the Mojave Desert and Inland Empire, died at age 46. Paul Oberjuerge