Wednesday news and notes

The racketeering prosecution of supermarket magnate George Torres quietly ended with a guilty plea to a single tax count, after which Torres went free with credit for time served. Daily Journal (no link)
Bruce Lisker filed a federal lawsuit contending that LAPD detectives framed him for the 1983 murder of his mother.
The coroner's office claims it will investigate leaks to TMZ about prescription drugs found in Brittany Murphy's home. LAT
The great Ridley-Thomas renovation furor of '09 ends for now with a retreat and a move to look into the safety and green status of the supervisor's offices. LAT, DN
Rick Orlov's interview in which the mayor calls 2009 one of his best years continues to have legs, being featured by Conan Nolan on the KNBC news last night.
Opposition is gearing up for the EIR in the Expo LIne extension into the Westside. Streetsblog
County fire chief P. Michael Freeman says he called off his retirement and decided to stay because of an upcoming budget battle.
Dodgers president Dennis Mannion claims, in an interview with Bill Shaikin, that the team isn't paralyzed by the McCourts' divorce, but rather is just waiting for the right moment to add players.
The Wrap brought its film screening series to the Aero in Santa Monica for "Sherlock Holmes," with a post-movie discussion between composer Hans Zimmer and the site's Sharon Waxman.
Former Times staff writer Jocelyn Y. Stewart writes about her father's career as a newspaper deliveryman in South Los Angeles.
Elvis Mitchell talks with writer/director Jason Reitman on "The Treatment" on KCRW at 2:30 p.m.