Morning Buzz

Morning Buzz: Thursday 11.7.13

Curated news, notes and observations most weekdays from LA Observed.

Politics and government

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg said Wednesday that embattled state Sen. Ron Calderon should be temporarily removed as chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee while he faces a federal bribery probe. Bee, LAT, CPR

Days after a Los Angeles County inspector identified possible forgery in the files of a small drug rehabilitation center, she received a hand-delivered letter expressing the clinic’s “profound gratitude.” Inside was $1,000. Center for Investigative Reporting

City officials began to make the case Wednesday in defense of the Joint Training and Joint Safety institutes operated by the Department of Water and Power and its unions as a way to develop specialized programs to make the utility safer and more efficient. DN

An alternative method of looking at poverty has found that California has the highest rate of impoverished people in the nation, according to figures released Wednesday by the U.S. government. DN

Drinks with Donna Bojarsky. Zocalo

The Expo Line Construction Authority is planning full weekend closures of Westwood Boulevard and Overland Avenue over the next few weeks:

· Westwood Boulevard between Ashby Avenue and Richland Avenue: 9:00 p.m. Friday, November 15 to 6:00 a.m. Monday, November 18
· Overland Avenue between Ashby Avenue and Coventry Place/Dunleer Place: 9:00 p.m. Friday, November 22 to 6:00 a.m. Monday, November 25

Southern California cities face challenges trying to fill empty retail space. SGV Tribune


Media and books

Register columnist T.J. Simers referred in a column to his former sports editor at the LA Times (presumably Mike James) as a "pathetic figure" who did not stand up to bullying by higher-up editors — without informing readers that Simers is suing those higher-ups at the Times. OC Weekly

hockney-interview.jpgDavid Hockney interviewed by LACMA director Michael Govan for the November issue of Interview magazine.

Q&A with Roy Choi: "L.A. Son," the book tour and why people call the chef a fake gangster. LA Weekly


Courts and cops

Police commission president Steven Soboroff's fundraising campaign to purchase small video cameras that officers would wear on their uniforms has exceeded its goal of collecting $1 million from private donors. LAT

Many experts have discredited Shaken Baby Syndrome. So why is Maria Mendez still in prison? LA Weekly


More news, notes and observations

Police and emergency vehicles made a slow two laps around Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday to honor slain TSA agent Gerardo Hernandez. LAT

The last 300 Blockbuster video stores are closing. KPCC, KCRW

Mall developer and political mover Rick Caruso pledged $5 million Wednesday to expand an "ecosystem" of social and educational programs in Watts, with the goal of helping 200 young people break out of poverty and violence in South Los Angeles. LAT

The Anthony Quinn library, on the site of the actor's East Los Angeles childhood home, houses a trove of film history. LAT

What does it take to map an earthquake fault? KPCC

"William Mulholland," a poem by Tony Peyser. PeyserPoem

Five suggestions for renaming streets in Los Angeles. Zocalo

Meteor shower over LA inspires fake tweets etc. LA Weekly, LAT, KCRW

A $90-million outlet shopping center with more than 70 stores is being built where Interstate 5 and California highway 99 meet in Kern County. LAT


Tweet of the day


More by Kevin Roderick:
'In on merit' at USC
Read the memo: LA Times hires again
Read the memo: LA Times losing big on search traffic
Google taking over LA's deadest shopping mall
Gustavo Arellano, many others join LA Times staff
Recent Morning Buzz stories on LA Observed:
Thursday news and notes
A little bit of mid-week reading
A few links from a few different places
Let's talk about anything but the weather
A few links from here and there
A couple of links from a couple of places
A bit of news from a few places
Morning Buzz: Wednesday 4.16.14