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Improving fire conditions and a familiar name appointed to the Board of Public Works lead this morning's news and notes. Also see Mark Lacter's morning headlines at LA Biz Observed, and follow Mark and Kevin on Twitter.
- The Station Fire reached 140,000 acres overnight, but Mt. Wilson was saved and conditions are improving. Many evacuation orders were dropped, but Altadena remains threatened. LAT, KPCC
- Hidden Springs Cafe, a favorite destination in Angeles National Forest, was burned to the ground. LAT, Los Angeles Magazine
- Caltrans workers are angry about the loss of their homes at Chilao on Angeles Crest. LAT
- Mayor Villaraigosa appointed Andrea Alarcon, daughter of City Council member Richard Alarcon, to the Board of Public Works, the commission that pays a full-time salary.
- Gardena City Councilman Steven Bradford won Tuesday's 51st Assembly District special election, receiving the majority needed to avoid a runoff. Breeze wires
- LAPD officers are holding a fundraiser tonight at the Conga Room for officer Scott Taylor's family, which is in health care debt due to severe illnesses. ABC 7
- Chief Bratton and his wife were captured attending an event at Boa by video paparazzi. YouTube
- Councilmember Greig Smith proposed the installation of a PIN "duress code" system at ATMs in response to the Lily Burke murder. LAT
- The agent for new KNBC weekend anchor Alycia Lane responds to the allegation that she's "homophobic" for calling an NYPD cop "a fucking dyke." Frontiers
- Working toward a walkable Crenshaw Boulevard. LAT
- Grossman Burn Center announced it's moving from its longtime Sherman Oaks location to West Hills Hospital & Medical Center.
- Southwest Airlines will now let you pay $10 for early boarding. AP
- The Wrap.com unveiled a new design and has a story about L.A.'s surviving record and bookstores. The Wrap
Also:Times veteran Steve Pond joins The Wrap to cover the Oscar season. Column - Chris Morris, the former Hollywood Reporter music editor and senior writer at Billboard, will be contributing music news to Variety but under a slightly modified byline: Christopher Morris. There is already a Chris.
- City Attorney Carmen Trutanich guests on "Airtalk with Larry Mantle" on KPCC at 10:40 a.m.