Morning Buzz: Monday 3.3.08

Mayor cuts short his latest trip for Clinton

It's been noticed that Villaraigosa has been out of the city 18 of the last 65 days campaigning for Hillary Clinton. He returns today after the Times' Duke Helfand asked questions. "He's not as visible in the community as he had been," says Jill Banks Barad, chair of the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils. LAT

Only 4% of crime rewards in LA get paid

Politics influence which cases have rewards offered, but the law enforcement payoff is poor: only 29 successes in 653 cases in ten years. DN

L.A. Marathon's Burke problem

After Tatiana Aryasova of Russia won Sunday's marathon, creator Bill Burke said, "You can't keep those women down. You can't get them back in the kitchen." Helene Elliott columnizes on it.

Daily News to move in September

Smaller paper will downscale from 117,000 square feet in a converted warehouse to 53,000-square feet of commercial office space on Burbank Boulevard in Woodland Hills. SFVBJ

Jan Perry to meet with LAPPL

The councilwoman will take her concerns about the 3-12 work schedule for cops directly to the union, but the PPL is upset right now about a proposal to take away the $800 annual uniform allowance in exchange for more flexibility on Code 7's, the radio code for lunch breaks. Orlov

Time already running out on Speaker Bass

Latest George Skelton column about "draconian term limits." LAT Also: Al Martinez adds his voice on the closing of Dutton's.

New spot for Howard Sunkin

The Dodgers' senior vice president for City Hall (my title) will now line up with the McCourt Group. Community Affairs for the Dodgers now reports to Charles Steinberg, the newly hired executive VP for marketing and public relations.

Editor change at New Angeles Monthly

As the newest issue arrives, Donnell Alexander checks out and original editor Nikki Bazar is back in. NAM

Waldie on L.A.'s landmarks

It's not just the Hollywood sign, writes D. J. Waldie: "They wrap up so much longing for a place in Los Angeles. All of them -- and the Hollywood sign too -- are real places of memory even if they fail to be real in any other sense." LAT

Million Dollar Theatre reopens as live venue

Pepe Aguilar christened the stage on Broadway at 3rd Street. Downtown News Also: DTN writer Kathryn Maese checks out on maternity leave.

Los Angeles Free Clinic will change name

Saban Free Clinic will denote $10 million donation from Haim and Cheryl Saban. LAT

Covering Islam

Philip Bennett, managing editor of the Washington Post, will talk about "Covering Islam: A Challenge for American Journalism" at 2 pm at UC Irvine. Sponsored by the Center for the Study of Democracy at UCI. Info