Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
Hijacked couple killed by pirates, 65 quake deaths at least in New Zealand, Philip Bruce leaves NPR West and more local media and politics notes.
At least 65 people were confirmed dead in a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck at lunch time Tuesday in Christchurch, New Zealand. NYT
Scott and Jean Adam, the SoCal couple whose boat was hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia, and their two passengers were killed by their captors. NBC, LAT
Former Bell city manager Robert Rizzo is due in court today for a preliminary hearing into the evidence against him. AP
Councilman Bernard Parks faces a tough reelection campaign because of labor money, says the LA Times.
Columnist Jim Newton spends a day in the 14th district with incumbent and candidate Jose Huizar. LAT op-ed
City Councilman Bill Rosendahl told his Facebook friends Saturday that his cardiologist has taken him off blood thinners. Brentwood Patch
Philip Bruce, Managing Director in charge of NPR West in Culver City, is moving to Houston to be Executive News Director of KHOU-TV.
A photographer who was at the scene of the Ruben Salazar killing in 1970 still has doubts about how the journalist died. LAT
Larry Mantle will talk about the Ruben Salazar report at 10:20 a.m. on KPCC's "Airtalk."
Anthea Raymond has been named editor of Echo Park Patch.
The Center for Investigative Reporting announced the launch of an in-house production unit for digital media and video, allowing CIR and California Watch to deliver stories in high-quality video formats. Sharon Tiller, former series executive director of PBS’s FRONTLINE/World, will CIR’s Director of Digital Media. Release
L.A. journalism organizations are holding a joint no-host mixer on Wednesday from 6-9 p.m. at the J Lounge, 1119 S. Olive St.
Lesley Stahl, the veteran "60 Minutes" correspondent, will be honored by the Los Angeles Press Club with its 2011 President's Award for Impact on the Media. The awards banquet is June 26.
The website Mr. Skin gives out its 12th Annual Anatomy Awards for nudity on screen on the Howard Stern Sirius radio program on Wednesday. Fox News
The venerable jewel hotels of San Francisco's Nob Hill are in trouble: the Stanford Court defaulted on an $89 million loan, the Mark Hopkins and Huntington Court are for sale, and the Fairmont "is sinking amid a protracted battle with the city over its plans to go part-condo." Chronicle
The only wolverine thought to be living in the Sierra Nevada really puts on the miles. Sacto Bee
A candlelight vigil in honor of firefighter Glenn Allen will be held Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Fire Station 78, located at: 4041 Whitsett Avenue in Studio City. On Friday, a walking procession will leave the south lawn of City Hall at 8:30 a.m. for the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, where a memorial service is scheduled for 9:30. LAFD News and Information
Vin Scully will announce the Dodgers' opening day game on March 31 on radio, with the game being televised by ESPN. Also, single-game Dodger tickets go on sale Saturday, February 26.