Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
Expo Line, Bell, Mitrice Richardson, LAX food fight, Eli Broad's museum and more.
- The PUC approved a controversial street-grade crossing for the Expo Line at Farmdale Avenue near Dorsey High school, removing a major obstacle to the project. LAT, Metro Headlines, Curbed LA
- Bell's city attorney also worked for Downey, but not any more: that city dropped him. LAT
- The LAUSD dropped a plan to charge parents $24 a year to pay for the buses that take student athletes to away games. DN
- The evidence that Mitrice Richardson is in Las Vegas comes from a former friend who reported seeing her at a hotel bar, followed by dozens of follow-up reports, and her father says he saw her there in January. LAT
- "Which Way, L.A.?" went deep last night on the LAX food concessions political fight, with guests from the competing bids. KCRW
- San Diego-based Flash News is closing down after neatly 30 years providing odd news to radio and TV personalities. AOL News
- The Shen Yun performing arts organization says that China is making local officials stonewall its request for the Bunker Hill land that the city wants to give Eli Broad for his art museum. LAT
Plus: Fine print in the Broad deal would return millions in public funds to the museum as the Grand Avenue project develops, says Mike Boehm. LAT - Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Museum of Tolerance, makes the case that Oliver Stone's and Mel Gibson's words about Jews are a big deal. LAT Op-Ed
- Demolition of the Sunset Blvd. bridge over the 405 freeway was extended an extra night, but it was good news: sign of unexpected progress that will mean fewer nights of shutdown later. ZevWeb
- The Cultural Heritage Commission rejected landmark status for a Spanish Colonial-style home from the 1920s in Brentwood Park. LAT
- Longtime L.A. radio voice Tony Cox is guest-hosting NPR's "Talk of the Nation."
- New weather babe in town: Evelyn Taft at KCAL 9. SoCal Media Scoop
- Political writer William Bradley has resumed his side analysis of all things "Mad Men." New West Notes
- Santa Monica Place reopens next Friday as an open-air upscale shopping mall with Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom and ocean views. LAT
- The Los Angeles Police Commission has set up a towing company complaint hotline: (323) 680-4-TOW (4869).