While in L.A., NPR types do a few stories

I told you last week that the Culver City studios of NPR had been taken over by visitors from the East: staffers displaced by physical upgrades at the mother ship in Washington. Not so surprisingly, L.A. stories are getting a good ride on the network. "Weekend Edition" aired long John Ydstie stories on the new Dinosaur Hall at the Natural History Museum and the Urban Rangers' efforts to popularize the Los Angeles River. "All Things Considered" visited the Arclight in Hollywood and checked in with Betto Arcos, host of Global Village on KPFK. Plus more to come, no doubt.

Twitter chatter: After the credit downgrade on Friday, NPR host Michele Norris tweeted to her public radio colleague at "Marketplace," Kai Ryssdal: "Boy am I looking forward to your show on Monday." His reply: "You and me both. Crazy days...."

Wilshire Observed: Saturday's "Off-Ramp" on KPCC featured Annie Laskey's one-of-a-kind collection of 1,500 color photos shot from end to end on Wilshire Boulevard in 1978-79 — taken by her mother.