Morning Buzz: Tuesday 3.4.08

Details in the Times on Sunday night's murder of Jamiel Shaw, the MVP at Los Angeles High who was on the phone with his girlfriend when Latino gang members walked up and shot him. Shaw was black. His mother, in the Army in Iraq, has to make the long horrible flight home. Until it happened, Shaw's family felt he had survived L.A.'s youth gang epidemic: church-going kid, no trouble, feelers from Stanford and Rutgers. Celeste Fremon rants at WitnessLA.

Lopez chases Antonio to Texas

The columnist surprises Mayor Villaraigosa at a Clinton rally and asks, "What's a poor Angeleno have to do to get an interview with you?" LAT

The mayor was a little surprised, I'd say, but gracious enough. I told him I'd come a long way and wondered if we might get together later in the day.

He and press secretary Matt Szabo said they had a few more events, but they took my number, saying they might be able to meet Sunday night.

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A half-hour later I saw the mayor emerge from Scene and get into the SUV.

A Times editorial reminds readers this is exactly the kind of mayor voters asked for.

Geragos hits it big over secret taping

Remember when lawyer Mark Geragos was secretly recorded while talking to Michael Jackson on a chartered jet flying to Santa Barbara? Geragos and an associate were awarded $20 million from Santa Monica-based XtraJet and the company's owner. LAT

Cost of Tennie Pierce cases rises

Two white LAFD captains suspended after Pierce complained about dog food in his chow were awarded $1.6 million in damages for being scapegoated. LAT, DN

Torrance man's arsenal

A Torrance man arrested last week when officers found machine guns, rocket launchers and numerous high-powered weapons in his home had a police light bar, a public address system and Taser gun in his truck. Daily Breeze

Enviro groups sue county and Malibu over runoff

The Natural Resources Defense Council and Santa Monica Baykeeper filed suit alleging violations in Malibu Creek and other waterways. DN