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News, notes and observations from LA Observed and selected media sources. Sometimes daily, often in the morning.
Casey Wasserman has quietly assumed leadership of the Los Angeles bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics. 3Wire Sports
Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday nominated a Mexico-born Stanford Law School professor, Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, to the California Supreme Court, moving to replace one of the high court’s most conservative members, retiring Justice Marvin Baxter. Bee, Egelko, Dolan
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday unanimously confirmed the nomination of Andre Birotte Jr., U.S. attorney here in Los Angeles, as a federal district judge here. LAT, KPCC
Mayor Eric Garcetti said Tuesday he plans to talk directly with LAPD cops about the proposed one-year contract that was rejected, despite threatened legal action by the union seeking to block him from doing do. DN
Federal prosecutors have agreed to a defense request to delay the corruption trial of state Sen. Ronald S. Calderon from September to May 19, 2015, long after the Democrat from Montebello will have left office. LAT
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor endorsed Sheila Kuehl in the race for Los Angeles County supervisor. "Sheila clearly brings the strongest level of experience and commitment to solving the most pressing issues facing L.A. County's working families," said Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer of the federation.LAT
The Times editorial board endorsed retired school administrator George McKenna for the open Board of Education seat in South LA. LAT editorial
Modernization of LAX took another step Monday with approval of a new $900-million midfield terminal that will add gates for wide-bodied aircraft and help eliminate a major inconvenience for travelers. LAT
Donald Sterling opened a new legal front in his battle with the world, suing his wife, the NBA and commissioner Adam Silver for fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and other violations for pushing a sale of the Clippers. LAT
Nice feature on AP Los Angeles photographer Nick Ut and the lasting impact of his 1972 photo of "napalm girl" Kim Phuc in South Vietnam. LA Weekly
He is 63 now, agile and white-haired, save for bushy black eyebrows that have a life of their own...
In the Los Angeles media community, only the paparazzi fail to treat him with reverence. They push. They shove. "They're animals!" Ut says. He's not angry, he decides. It's their job. "But my God! They don't care who you are. Bam! You're airborne. But I'm a lucky guy. Everyone else, they take care of me." In the photographers pit, the ones who don't know him push like crazy. The ones who do know him but push anyway, well, "I punch them right back," he says with a hearty laugh.
"The Book of Life" by Deborah Harkness is the hardcover fiction bestseller in Southern California independent bookstores right now. "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand is back as the bestseller in nonfiction, following the death of Louis Zamperini, and just ahead of "Hard Choices" by Hillary Rodham Clinton. Full lists
Clinton was interviewed about the book, and about Gaza and Israel, yesterday by Larry Mantle on "Airtalk." KPCC
Is LA finally about to get an NFL team? Airtalk
For an additional $1,500, USC season ticket holders can run onto the Coliseum field with their beloved Trojans. KPCC
Handsome Coffee Roasters in the Arts District now has officially rolled over into Blue Bottle Coffee. LA Weekly
