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Selected items from the media, our in box and other LA Observed sources. Posted occasionally — often in the morning.
The National Weather Service officially decreed that an El Niño phenomenon is indeed in effect, but it's weak, weird and late in the season, so basically it doesn't matter. AP
Climate change is increasing the risk of severe drought in California by causing warm periods and dry periods to overlap more often, according to a new study from Stanford. AP
And the LA area is experiencing less fog due to the urban heat island effect, a study found. KPCC
Actor Harrison Ford survived the crash of his World War II-era airplane on Penmar golf course in Venice shortly after taking off from Santa Monica Airport and losing power. He spent the night at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center with moderate injuries.
Clocks switch to Daylight Saving Time on Sunday morning at 2 a.m. Or is that 3 a.m.?
A piece in the National Journal says that if Antonio Villaraiogsa does try to run for governor in 2018, his path may be blocked younger, rising Latino stars. NJ
As expected, Republican Assemblyman Rocky Chavez announced he is running for the open U.S. Senate seat in 2016. Bee, LA Weekly
Former lawmaker Warren Furutani says he'll run for the state Senate next year. LAT
President Obama will be in Los Angeles March 12 for a Democratic Party fundraiser at the home of ICM Partners founder Chris Silbermann.
The Cameroonian man shot and killed by police on Skid Row on Sunday was identified by the coroner as Charley Leundeu Keunang, 43. His former bank robbery accomplice talks about him. KPCC
The OC Register will experiment with a night version of its website: at 6 p.m. every day, the website will switch to "a lively 'evening edition' with news and advertising that reflects the habits and interests of nighttime web visitors. The revamped nighttime website features entertainment, food coverage, features, and multimedia content….The Night Site’s primary focus, however, will be on topics that match nighttime interests." The evening site will even have darker colors. OMG. Register
The New York Times named Bill Brink as media editor and moved John Koblin to the television beat. Capital NY
Jim Romenesko says the gossip at USC is that Les Moonves and Julie Chen donated $2 million to have the USC Annenberg media center named for them. Romenesko
Longtime “Daily Show” correspondent Samantha Bee will host and executive-produce a series for TBS. Variety
NBC 4 is looking to hire a freelance Dodgers blogger. Journalism Jobs
Adam Nagourney weighs in on an "uncomfortable debate [and] anguished discussion" of how Jews are treated at UCLA after inappropriate questioning by a student council of a student's suitability to be in student government. NYT
A forthcoming report by the pro-labor Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy says that Airbnb, the platform that allows folks to rent their residences to tourists, is making rents higher. LA Weekly
David Geffen's name will go on New York's Avery Fisher concert hall, and Mike Boehm surveys the naming landscape for Los Angeles arts venues. LAT
John Wayne Airport in Orange County has positioned itself to be one of the first large Southern California airports to permit Uber, Lyft and other smartphone app-based ride services to operate alongside the traditional fleets of taxi cabs, town cars and shuttle buses. LAT
Harrison Ford has checked yet ANOTHER item off the “I’m Awesome” life list: “Crash-landed my vintage airplane, in my 70s; walked away."
— Andy Ihnatko (@Ihnatko) March 6, 2015At the hospital. Dad is ok. Battered, but ok! He is every bit the man you would think he is. He is an incredibly strong man.
— Chef Ben Ford (@ChefBenFord) March 6, 2015