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New value-added data on teachers from LAT, judges like Bob Dylan, LAPD legal settlements, the Legislature dumbs down and a bow tie in honor of Kam Kuwata. Plus a lot more for a Monday.
The L.A. Times released a major update of its controversial "value-added" ratings of
11,500 elementary school teachers. LAT
No musician's lyrics are cited more often in court opinions and briefs than Bob Dylan's. LAT
From 2005 to 2010, LAPD officers have sued the department over workplace issues more than 250 times. The city has paid settlements or verdicts totaling more than $18 million in about 45 of those cases and has lost several other verdicts worth several million dollars more in cases it is appealing, a review of the records shows. LAT
Four candidates in the 36th congressional district will debate on the air on "Airtalk with Larry Mantle," 10:20 to 11 a.m. on KPCC.
So-called “independent” voters – those who identify themselves as neither Democrats nor Republicans – include a range of ideologically distinct individuals clustered into three groups that a Pew study calls “libertarians,” “disaffecteds” and “post-moderns.” Calbuzz
The California Legislature once attracted very smart people to poorly paid civic duty Not anymore, says Dan Walters. Sacto Bee
The latest conflict at the Board of Supervisors "revolves around the growing discontent among the supervisors for both the structure of the county government and the performance of its chief executive, William T Fujioka." Jim Newton/LAT
L.A.-based Republican strategist Mike Murphy wore a bow tie on Sunday's Meet the Press in honor of the late Democratic consultant Kam Kuwata, he says via tweet: "[Kam] loved MTP, the Dem party, and bow ties." Twitter
Former L.A. Kings player Sean Avery , now with the New York Rangers, released a video in support of gay marriage, the first athlete in a major sport to do so. NYT
Ex-councilman Rudy Svorinich, Assemblyman Warren Furutani and LAFD union chief Pat McOsker are among the potential candidates if Janice Hahn gets to Congress. Rick Orlov/DN
A deal with the City Attorney has allowed giant vertical ads to return to the south facade of the Figueroa Hotel in Downtown. DT News
Josif Kahraman, executive director of the 5,000-member Engineers and Architects Assn. at City Hall, and his wife were arrested on suspicion of felony grand theft over a missing union laptop. LAT
Google, Facebook and the Drudge Report are much bigger sources than Twitter of traffic to news websites. NYT, Poynter
Elliott Erwitt, the photographer, interviewed by his son L.A.-based Misha. NYT
Hilary Swank guests as a producer on "The Business" at 2:30 p.m. on KCRW. [Item fixed.]
Patt Morrison and Laurie Ochoa are listed among 15 power women "who launch, not lunch." Pasadena Magazine
Roger L. Simon, founder of Pajamas Media, promotes his memoir "Turning Right at Hollywood and Vine" as chronicling "my migration from financier of the Black Panther Breakfast Program to being grouped with that small minority known as Hollywood conservatives."
Lionel Rolfe is working on a feature documentary of Literary L.A., to reflect the city's "long, thriving, kaleidoscopic literary tradition, from both natives and emigres, whose panoply of voices reflects the city’s diversity and vibrancy."
Starting this fall, Pitzer College in Claremont will launch a department of secular studies. NYT
The remains of a humpback whale that may have been hit by a ship washed ashore in San Pedro. Breeze
Homeboy Industries is back on its feet after nearly going broke, but a study of its results so far is incomplete. ZevWeb
How a couple of gutsy South LA schools "have rejected Zero Tolerance in favor of a more innovative, kid-centered approach, and students are benefiting." Witness LA
Cyrus Sinai, the guy who tried to get federal judge Alex Kozinski in trouble by revealing sexually themed material on his computer hard drive, has been declared a "vexatious litigant" by the Los Angeles courts. Patterico
What is it about Downey that so many gifted singers, songwriters and musicians develop in this town? Story focuses on The Blasters. The Downey Patriot
New local book: "Los Angeles: Faces and Facades" by Andy Hurvitz. Blurb.com
Meet Mary Melton of Los Angeles Magazine at the Los Angeles Press Club on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.