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LegalZoom is still looking to leave L.A., seeking funds to cap the Hollywood Freeway for a park, assault charges against jail deputies, Hot Tub Political Machine and more politics and media notes.
- Mayor Villaraigosa, of all politicians, should have known the political risks inherent in playing with the Department of Water and Power, says Rick Orlov. DN
- The budget mess has "forced city officials to confront a problem they have long tried to ignore -- a steady growth of the city payroll for the last decade," says Phil Willon. LAT
- LegalZoom, which led the fight for reform of the city business taxes levied on Internet companies, didn't get all it wanted and may now leave town anyway. LABJ
- Rep. Xavier Becerra has agreed to seek $5.85 million to launch planning for the park that some want to build over the Hollywood Freeway. LABJ
- I guess this concept was sort of inevitable: Jon Regardie offers up the Hot Tub Political Machine. Downtown News
- The four men of Armenian heritage murdered in an apparent targeted hit at The Hot Spot on Riverside Drive in Valley Village had been at a funeral earlier in the day. LAT, DN
- The DA's office has "quietly filed assault charges against three sheriff's deputies accused of punching and kicking a jail inmate after he was disrespectful to a guard," the Times' Jack Leonard reports. LAT
- Transit executives from Los Angeles and Orange counties want the state high-speed rail project to share existing tracks between Anaheim and Union Station rather than spend $2 billion laying new track and condemning property along the route. LAT
- An additional 49 LAPD officers were redeployed to the Valley bureau partly in response to recent crime trends. DN
- UCLA police arrested a student suspect in last week's attempted early morning rape outside a residence hall. UCLA Newsroom
- Rich Levin, the former Herald Examiner sports writer, said he would retire after 25 years as the chief spokesman for Major League Baseball. NYT
- That piece on L.A. artist J. Michael Walker on CBS Sunday Morning was scrapped from the Easter broadcast at the last minute.
- Michelle Quinn signed off (without explanation) as Bay Area blogger for the New York Times.
- David Lazarus guest hosts for Larry Mantle on KPCC and will explore iPad hype in the 10 a.m. hour.