Morning Buzz: Tuesday 3.13.07

Carbon Shift turns over prime space at LATimes.com to Seth Jacobson, co-founder and executive director of the Green Coast Foundation, to blog about "energy-related news: climate change, energy security, public health, and business -- how they impact our lives in the Southland -- and what steps we may be able to take both individually and regionally to adapt toward solutions on these critical, related issues."

Incumbent Jon Lauritzen is "dead" in the Valley school board race, veteran consultant Joe Cerrell tells the Daily News. Not so fast, says Lauritzen's campaign manager. DN

One giant seeks more than in $1 billion for copyright infringement by the other giant. NYT

An administrative law judge for the National Labor Relations Board upheld the union election at the Santa Barbara News-Press, rejecting a challenge by Wendy McCaw's management team. Santa Barbara Independent

In yesterday's Associated Press coverage of a new Project for Excellence in Journalism report on the state of the news business, project director Tom Rosenstiel cites LA Observed (and the website Global Voices) as prime examples of blogs maturing into respected alternative news sources. Thank you, Mr. Rosenstiel. The AP story and mention of LA Observed has already shown up on 60 media websites, according to Google News. By the way, Google News includes LA Observed posts in the lineup of official sources for Los Angeles news.

Candorville" cartoonist Darrin Bell talks to Franklin Avenue about his comic strip being axed by the L.A. Times.

Anthony Notarstefano is called a small-time crook who was well known to Los Angeles police. LAT

Developer Richard Meruelo, the largest land owner downtown, was charged with eight misdemeanors for the vermin infestations and other violations reported by NBC 4 at his 7th Street Market. The facility's manager was also charged. LAT

Shapell, a player in local politics, built much of Porter Ranch in the Valley and served for many years on the state's Little Hoover Commission. He died in his sleep on a cruise ship returning to San Pedro. LAT