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Curated news, notes and observations most weekdays from LA Observed.
The city of Los Angeles is anticipating a large budget deficit next summer — as much as $242 million — due in part to unexpected salary and health care costs for city workers, according to a financial report that will be presented to the City Council's Budget and Finance Committee Monday. KPCC
Mayor Eric Garcetti plans to fly to Australia this week for a 15-day vacation with his family. City Council President Herb Wesson will serve as acting mayor.
Rick Orlov Tipoff: City Council members and lawmakers take Jewish Federation trip to Israel, and Sheila Kuehl waits on Wendy Greuel. DN
A coalition of South LA groups and political leaders are pushing the Board of Education to appoint educator George McKenna III to the vacancy created by the death of Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte.
Politics of LA school board may shift. KPCC
Former City Council member Greig Smith is pushing the remaining copies of his 2010 Xlibris book of City Hall lore, "If City Hall's Walls Could Talk." Xlibris, LA Observed
Tim McOsker, former chief of staff to mayor James Hahn, has rejoined the law firm of Glaser Weil.
David Carr and AOL chief Tim Armstrong on the apparent end of Patch as we knew it. NYT
"Homeland" ended its third season with a major veer in direction for the Showtime series. It was also reported that Morena Baccarin and Morgan Saylor, who played the wife and daughter of CIA operative Nicholas Brody, will not return as cast regulars. Variety
NPR continued its move into a funding model in which foundations and other entities finance specific kinds of news coverage: in this case $17 million in grants for more education and health reporting and apps. NYT, LAT
Some media outlets, including The Wrap, incorrectly reported that country music star Ray Price had died based on an erroneous Facebook posting by his son. The Wrap, Rolling Stone
"George Hurrell's Hollywood: Glamour Portraits 1925-1992" by Mark A. Vieira shows the work and mercurial personality of the late groundbreaking photographer. LAT
The LA Times surveys the ongoing changes at (and upset about) the weekly Palisadian-Post in Pacific Palisades. LAT
An LAPD sergeant assisting a disabled motorist at a 110 Freeway off-ramp was seriously injured early Saturday when a speeding driver plowed into a concrete barrier and pinned him against his patrol car. LAT
Arrests challenge Los Angeles County Sheriff’s 4-term tenure. NYT
There has been a spike of ten suicides in LA County jails so far this year. Steve Lopez/LAT
American Airlines will start its new flight between Los Angeles and Sao Paulo, Brazil tonight. LA Airspace
Amtrak's Metropolitan Lounge for high-end travelers at Union Station has an official grand opening this week. Brigham Yen
USC president C. L. Max Nikias was the 13th-highest compensated private university president in 2011, making nearly $1.4 million in total pay, while former UC president Mark G. Yudof was the eighth-best paid public education executive, according to an annual survey released Sunday. LAT
A Last Hurrah for Hollywood Park. NYT
Locally angled listicle of the day: 12 Sayings Only People From California Will Understand. Business Insider
Ex-Dodger infielder Mark Ellis looks headed to the St. Louis Cardinals. ESPN
