Morning Buzz

Morning Buzz: Friday 12.17.10

Possible serial killer victims, Vernon's expensive attorney, Russell Martin speaks about leaving the Dodgers and more.

  • The LAPD and Mayor Villaraigosa released 180 photos of unnamed women taken from serial killer suspect Lonnie Franklin Jr., in hopes of identifying more possible victims and closing gaps in what investigators know of Franklin. The decision to release the pictures was not lightly taken. LAT, DN, LA Weekly, Daily Beast
  • Marin County lawyer Eric T. Fresch has taken in $7.5 million in salary and fees as a Vernon city official and consultant since 2005, making him "not only one of the nation's highest paid public officials ever, but one of the least known." LAT
  • The city's furlough program, designed to offset a $320 million shortfall this fiscal year, has saved $17.3 million so far and is on a pace to shave $69.2 million off the deficit by June 30, says Controller Wendy Greuel. DN
  • Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger set a Feb. 15 special election to replace the late state Sen. Jenny Oropeza, with a runoff if needed on April 19. LAT
  • The Planning Commission voted to approve the Wilshire Grand hotel/office project, as well as a new sign district. Curbed LA
  • Columnist Hector Tobar calls Pershing Square a place where the crosscurrents of many different L.A.s meet and mix — and also calls the Black Dahlia "L.A.'s most famous crime victim." LAT
  • San Francisco has to replace its mayor and district attorney, and so far can't do either. SF Chronicle
  • In recent days the New York Times has lost its op-ed editor, a war correspondent, a Sunday business editor, a big-time economics writer, the NYT Magazine food editor and two senior tech writers to less traditional competitors. WWD Memo Pad
  • Let's not hold Larry King up as a shining example of the good old days of television news simply because he didn't throw tantrums or yell at his guests," opines Meghan Daum: "As refreshing as it has been that King generally checked his politics at the door, it also happens that he sometimes left his brain there too." LAT op-ed
  • An anonymous poster criticizing MOCA director Jeffrey Deitch over the destruction of that mural by street artist Blu has gone up on a wall in the Arts District. LAT
  • KOCE will rebrand itself as PBS SoCal when it becomes the hub of public broadcasting for L.A., Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties, as well as the city of Santa Barbara. LA Biz Observed
  • Two comments by longtime White House correspondent Helen Thomas topped the list of the "Top 10 Anti-Semitic Slurs of 2010" released Thursday by the Simon Wiesenthal Center. DN wires
  • The L.A. Zoo's $42-million, 3.8-acre "Elephants of Asia" exhibit opened to the public on Thursday. LAT
  • Doug Kriegel witnessed Sen. Barbara Boxer's first kiss, in Brooklyn. Sherman Oaks Patch
  • Ex-Dodger Russell Martin talked about his departure: "If you want a chance to win, I don't think there's any better place to play than in New York with the Yankees." LAT
  • Writer-director Blake Edwards died at age 88. LAT
  • Ken Johnson, a former Daily Breeze city editor and news editor who later served as aide to a county Supervisor and deputy director of the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors, died at age 74. Breeze

More by Kevin Roderick:
Standing up to Harvey Weinstein
The Media
LA Times gets a top editor with nothing but questions
LA Observed Notes: Harvey Weinstein stripped bare
LA Observed Notes: Photos of the homeless, photos that found homes
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Thursday news and notes
A little bit of mid-week reading
A few links from a few different places
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A few links from here and there
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A bit of news from a few places
Morning Buzz: Wednesday 4.16.14


 

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