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What would the Morning Buzz be without items on Villaraigosa and Pellicano—not together though...Also mentioned below are Lisa Bonder Kerkorian, Charles Champlin, Luc Robitaille, Barbara Demick, Michael Hiltzik, Evan Maxwell, Patterico and a little correction on ex-chief Ed Davis. Click on the Morning Buzz for those items and all the front pages that matter.
♦ If it works...: Mayor Villaraigosa's State of the City speech at 5:30 pm is scheduled to be be shown live on Channel 7 and Channel 35. It also will be webcast on the city website at this link.
♦ Yes, another Pellicano item: Lisa Bonder Kerkorian, ex-wife of billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian, sued private eye Anthony Pellicano and AT&T for invasion of privacy over her being wiretapped during her nasty child-support battle with Kerkorian, the Daily Journal reports. She was the wiretapping victim in the incident that led to the indictment of prominent entertainment attorney Terry N. Christensen.
♦ Dueling plans: Two Republican assemblymen and the L.A. teachers union disclosed details of their plans for fixing up the LAUSD.
♦ In review: Today's Calendar section reviews the new book by longtime Times columnist and film writer Charles Champlin, A Life in Writing: The Story of an American Journalist.
Together with writers Jack Smith, Jim Murray, Art Seidenbaum and cartoonist Paul Conrad, Champlin helped keep nervous readers loyal when the paper broke with its stuffy, provincial past and transformed itself into a major national daily. There was something solid and reassuring about Champlin's reporting, and especially his conversations with an eclectic mix of budding artists, including Barbra Streisand, John Frankenheimer and Mary Higgins Clark. His steady-at-the-helm prose and unceasing curiosity took readers into the uncharted cultural waters of the '60s and '70s.
♦ Class acts: After Luc Robitaille's final NHL game for the Kings, each member of the San Jose Sharks lined up on the ice to shake his hand.
♦ Prizeworthy: Barbara Demick of the Los Angeles Times won an Overseas Press Club award for international reporting dealing with human rights.
♦ Next year's Oscar calendar: The show moves to February 25, the nominations to Jan. 23.
♦ LAT watchers on the right: Blogger Independent Sources checks up on LAT blogger Mike Hiltzik math regarding Hugh Hewitt's web traffic. Also: do critical comments get past the filter at Hiltzik's Golden State blog?
♦ Evan Maxwell: Guest-blogging at Patterico, the former LAT reporter recounts a tale from covering illegal immigration in 1972.
♦ Journo mixer:"Latinos covering Latinos" is the topic of tonight's California Chicano News Media Association gathering at Guelaguetza in Koreatown. KTLA reporter Lynette Romero moderates a talk with Gustavo Arellano of the OC Weekly, Pilar Marrero of La Opinión and Agustin Gurza of the L.A. Times. 6:30 pm.
♦ For the record: Couple of readers have pointed out that the Daily News erred in saying former LAPD chief Ed Davis was hospitalized in Morro Bay—since there are no hospitals there. So let's just say he was near his Morro Bay home.