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I'm back in town and digging through email and phone calls and newspapers. Thanks to Mark Lacter for a great job keeping the front page going. There was a lot happening the past week. Keep following Mark at LA Biz Observed, of course. And on Twitter, every Tuesday morning on KPCC, and monthly in Los Angeles magazine.
- Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman was born and raised in Palo Alto and "of all the Republican candidates [for president], most closely resembles California Republicanism. He's conservative clearly, but upbeat, funny, and optimistic," says Joe Mathews. Prop Zero
- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will launch his newest term as MTA board chairman today with a plan to add at least five more bus-only lanes along major streets. LAT
- City Council president Eric Garcetti is in Washington tonight for President Obama's 50th birthday gathering. Garcetti's guest is the former council president, Alex Padilla.
- A group of Rodeo Drive retailers say they support a Wilshire subway stop in Beverly Hills. LAT
- Neighborhood groups in northeast Los Angeles have filed suit against the city and the Autry National Museum, challenging renovation plans at the Griffith Park landmark and the potential impact on the Southwest Museum. DN
- Ten LAPD motor officers have sued the city alleging that their supervisors retaliated against them for resisting traffic-ticket quotas. LAT
- Police Commission member Robert Saltzman was nominated by Obama to serve on the Commission on Presidential Scholars. City Maven