Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
Curated news, notes and observations most weekdays from LA Observed.
The Pacific coast of Chile was hit by massive 7.6 magnitude aftershock last night. Also: Faults explained.
Last week's quake cluster under La Habra appears to be from a fault separate from the Puente Hills thrust fault that threatens downtown Los Angeles. LAT
A judge late Wednesday cleared the way for the Westside subway extension, ruling that transit officials followed environmental laws when they chose a route that would require tunneling under Beverly Hills High School. LAT
City Hall's plan for another sales-tax hike, this one to fix streets and sidewalks. DN
Former Assembly speaker Robert Hertzberg endorsed Bobby Shriver in the race for county Board of Supervisors.
Three people have died and five others have fallen ill from meningitis in Los Angeles County since the beginning of 2014, and patterns in the cases have prompted public health officials to urge vaccinations for HIV positive men and others at higher risk. ZevWeb, Frontiers, AP
The only woman in the current LAFD recruit class resigned, citing personal reasons. LAT
Movie critic Owen Gleiberman, who had been Entertainment Weekly's movie critic since the magazine's launch in 1990, was among seven staff writers who lost their positions this wee. IndieWire
LA Times deputy business editor Joe Bel Bruno is moving to editor of Company Town, succeeding Charles Fleming, who will write about autos, motorcycles and green energy in the Business section. Brian Thevenot becomes deputy business editor. (item fixed.)
Community organizer Fred Ross Sr. "is one of the most influential Californians no one has ever heard of." OC Weekly
Christopher Lee Brown, the fugitive inmate who walked out of the Twin Towers jail three weeks ago, was captured Wednesday night in Santa Monica. LAT
Inside the casting call for "Straight Outta Compton," a film produced by Ice Cube and Dr. Dre about NWA and the band's influential record released 25 years ago. KCRW
Arianna Huffington's new book, "Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder" is the top nonfiction bestseller in Southern California independent bookstores this week. Bookweb
The book "101 Vagina in USA" and corresponding photo exhibition will open Saturday night at the Think Tank Gallery on Maple Avenue in downtown.
The Latino Economic Empowerment Round Table wants to designate new communities around the city with Latino nationality names, whether there is tradition there or not. LAT
