Morning Buzz: Wednesday 2.1.12

Who attended the First Lady's fundraiser last night, Steve Lopez on high speed rail, the Coliseum's bags of cash, opening juvenile court to the media and reopening the Pulitzers deadline. Plus Susan G. Komen drops Planned Parenthood.

Politics and politicos

Mitt Romney won the Florida Republican primary decisively and picked up 50 delegates. Five takeaways. Politico

Quincy Jones, Harvey Weinstein and Berry Gordy were among the guests at a Tuesday night fundraiser in Beverly Hills attended by First Lady Michelle Obama. Hollywood Reporter

Gov. Jerry Brown is scaling back the state's highly controversial bullet train project to keep it alive, says Dan Walters. Bee

Steve Lopez on high-speed rail: "I like the concept. I just don't know if it's a realistic or even sane idea at the moment, despite Gov. Jerry Brown's recent cheerleading efforts." LAT

For at least five years, Coliseum officials passed bundles of cash totaling more than $1 million to an IATSE union representative, sometimes in a suitcase packed with $100 bills. The money was supposed to go to workers, but what happened to it isn't certain. LAT

Overall contributions to candidates in the 2013 mayoral race already total more than $3.7 million. Austin Beutner has already spent more than $500,000, leaving him less cash left than others. LAT, City Maven, LA Observed

Industry consultant Frederick H. Pickel was approved as the DWP's ratepayer advocate by the Los Angeles City Council. City Maven

What was wrong with five CRA projects. Neon Tommy

Jeff McConnell, president of McConnell Government Relations and a former legislative deputy to then-councilman Nick Pacheco, has joined Englander Knabe & Allen as senior vice president. McConnell was formerly a VP at Arnie Berghoff & Associates.

Media and media people

Los Angeles County Juvenile Court will be open to media coverage, with certain exceptions intended to protect the interests of children, under an order issued Tuesday by presiding judge Michael Nash. LAT

The Wall Street Journal’s new YouTube channel "showcases a daily 'Off Duty' lifestyle show based on the WSJ Weekend section," with contributors that include film critic Joe Morgenstern and auto reviewer Dan Neil. Jim Romenesko

The Pulitzer Prizes reopened the entry deadline after some applicants missed a new earlier date. Poynter

More

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer charity is stopping its partnerships with Planned Parenthood, opening a huge rift among the group's supporters. AP

"The Artist" was feted on a soundstage at RED Studios in Hollywood as "the only Academy Award best picture nominee shot exclusively in Los Angeles." City News Service

Architect Frank Gehry is donating his time pro bono to the Jazz Bakery project in Culver City. LAT

Police checked out a report of a mountain lion on a roof in Chatsworth last night, didn't find anything. LAT

John D. Lowry, founder of Lowry Digital Images, the renowned movie restoration company in Burbank, died at age 79. LAT


More by Kevin Roderick:
Ralph Lawler of the Clippers and the age of Aquarius
Riding the Expo Line to USC 'just magical'
Last bastion of free parking? Loyola Marymount to charge students
Matt Kemp, Dodgers and Kings start big weekend the right way
LA Times writers revisit their '92 riots observations
Recent Morning Buzz stories on LA Observed:
Morning Buzz: Friday 4.27.12
Morning Buzz: Thursday 4.26.12
Morning Buzz: Wednesday 4.25.12
Morning Buzz: Tuesday 4.24.12
Morning Buzz: Monday 4.23.12

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