Morning Buzz: Tuesday 1.9.07

John Shallman argued that his client, Monica Rodriguez, should be able to call herself an educator on the March ballot in council district 7. She works for the California Association of Realtors, but Shallman says she educates people about housing. Uh, the judge didn't buy it. LAT

Those DOT employees charged with hacking the city's traffic computer didn't turn off the lights, but rather are accused of setting extra-long reds to disrupt flow — and block supervisors from fixing the problem. LAT

Federal judge Gary Feess said he's leaning toward about five years in prison for former Fleishman-Hillard #1 Doug Dowie and and about three years for subordinate John Stodder. But he's willing to listen to defense arguments that the city's losses were less than what came up during the trial. Courtroom was packed with family and former city and state officials, including ex-DWP chief David Wiggs, who was there in support of Dowie. Next sentencing date is Jan. 30. DN, LAT

She and morning co-anchor Dave Williams chatted a bit about her maternity leave on the air yesterday morning.

KPCC's Patt Morrison will do two hours of speech coverage with Sacramento Bee columnist-blogger Dan Weintraub on hand throughout.

KCET's nightly news show will look Wednesday at whether gossip blogger Perez Hilton infringes on copyright with his use of paparazzi photos. It airs a half hour later than usual that evening due to President Bush's speech.

BrooWaha carries a post on Perry, called "perhaps the most enduring and high-profile street performer in the world. On a pair of in-line skates (quads in his earlier days), Harry has worked the Venice Beach boardwalk since 1974. He has earned a cherished reputation among the good folk of Southern California, and cuts an unforgettable image in his trademark attire of a white robe, white turban and big smile, playing his red and white electric guitar. He has his own Wikipedia entry, there is a statue of his likeness installed at Disneyland in Anaheim and he appears in countless wall murals around the city."

A vice president of Warner Bros Animation, he designed the Scooby-Doo characters as well as for "The Flintstones'' and "The Jetsons." Takamoto was 81 when he died at Cedars-Sinai of a coronary.

Services will be held this weekend for the NBC News producer based in Burbank. Kaul produced hundreds of stories for the "NBC Nightly News," the "Today Show" and MSNBC in 33 years with the network. He died Dec. 22 at USC Norris Cancer Center.