Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
Big serving of politics, media and police beat items for a Friday — plus another reason to avoid 7-11 and more. All nicely hidden away below the jump. Click for your briefing on the morning's news.
Politics
Ludlow eludes jail, but not Humphries
Former SEIU local 99 chief Janett Humphries gets six months in jail for her part in ex-Councilman Martin Ludlow's misuse of union funds for his campaign. LAT
Buttering bread at City Hall
Today's usual Friday proclamations at the City Council will include 125th anniversary greetings for the Times. Mayor Villaraigosa plans to drop over for that.
Tokofsky argues against AB 1381
Departing school board member David Tokofsky says in an LAT op-ed that "the law removes the simple accountability of local schools and elected school boards. Instead, it puts in charge a convoluted hodgepodge of government officials who know little about education and have other municipal interests and responsibilities."
Hillary avoiding Hollywood
The Senator from New York has been noticeably absent from the party circuit. Playing to the center, says publicist and political activist Howard Bragman.
Media
PEN Lit Fest
FilmStew's Telly Davidson writes up Tuesday evening's festivities at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Staying on the nuke story
Michael Collins' EnviroReporter.com has new revelations about the Brentwood VA property's nuclear dump, including photos of burial mounds that he says test positive for radiation.
Bah humbug
A Mormon publisher called Cedar Fort published one of Rip Rense's Christmas stories, and not only didn't pay him but he had to learn of it via Google.
Prager and the Jews
Former New York mayor Ed Koch will seek radio provocateur Dennis Prager's resignation from the board of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council over his comments about the Bible and Congress.
Police beat
Hate crimes up in the county
Rise is 26% over last year says the county's Human Relations Commission. DN
Never good for the image
Orange County authorities arrested 57 white supremacists on various charges.
Noted
Angelenos in Darfur
Gabriel Stauring and Stacey Martino plan to spend Christmas at refugee camps along the Chad-Darfur border, showing refugees video "postcards" from concerned Americans. Their blog will be at http://www.stopgenocidenow.org/iact.
Tae Bo is so over
Franklin Avenue notes the closing of originator Billy Blanks' World Training Center in the Valley.
Pass the Tums
7-11 plans to add hot meals.
Off-Ramp cameo
I've got a little bit to say about the late Bullock's Wilshire department store during Saturday's Off-Ramp on KPCC. Charles Phoenix and Abel Salas also contribute to the Christmas theme show.
Follows from yesterday's news