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Squawking about TV's fire coverage leads the news and notes hidden after the jump. Also see today's Mark Lacter morning headlines at LA Biz Observed, and follow Mark and Kevin on Twitter during the day.
- Television stations defended their coverage of the fires, but Supervisor Mike Antonovich said "I'm upset. The media let people down during a horrendous fire, one of the worst in the county's history." LAT, LA Daily
Plus: TV critic Mary McNamara,.evacuated from La Crescenta, complains about the dearth of television coverage. LAT - Federal authorities have dropped their investigation of Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar and former school board member David Tokofsky over contracting pay the two officials received from a union-affiliated nonprofit. Daily Journal (no link)
- Mayor Villaraigosa unveiled a city program to offer discount prescription drugs to residents. LAT, DN
- As contract negotiations heat up, the drumbeat has begun to blame the drowning of a three-year-old in Bel Air on the cutback of one fire truck due to budget cuts. LAT, DN
- Jerry Brown plans to retreat to a monastery over the next few weeks to "consider my options and what it would mean for me, my family and the state of California" to run for governor again. Calbuzz
- Today is the special election in the 51st assembly district, centered on the Inglewood area. Daily Breeze
- State Sen. Bob Huff and his wife's ties to NFL stadium developer Majestic Realty. Whittier Daily News
- Designer Anand Jon Alexander was sentenced to 59 years to life for sexually assaulting seven young women he enticed with the promise of modeling jobs. LAT
- Popcornfiction.com, a site for TV and film writers to showcase their pulpy short fiction, made its first script sale. Hollywood Reporter