Morning Buzz: Wednesday 10.8.08

Motorcyclist shot and killed this morning on the Glendale-Foothill freeways connector. LAT, DN
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa warned San Fernando Valley business leaders that the city is in for continued hard times. DN
State lawmakers are being called back to deal with California's fiscal crisis. Bee, AP
Steve Lopez stays on the electronic billboards issue, talks to Villaraigosa. LAT
Retired U.S. District Judge Dickran M. Tevrizian was appointed the new federal court referee to vet sensitive personnel documents in the Los Angeles clergy settlement deal reached last year. Daily Journal
Controversial political consultant and former commissioner James Acevedo is behind a big proposed mall and condo project in Panorama City. DN
About 60 employees of the city's Department of Animal Services attended a City Council committee hearing at which GM Ed Boks came under fire and was urged to resign. LAT, DN
The New York Times is closing down the separate website for its International Herald Tribune. Forbes
Tina Brown launched The Daily Beast, her answer to the Huffington Post et al. NYT
Michael Lewis has told Vanity Fair that he'll sign on as a writer and drop his contracts with the New York Times Magazine and Portfolio. NY Observer
High-end restaurants in L.A. are starting to feel. and fear, the economic crunch. LAT
Wreckage of the boat that carried the brother of Reps. Linda and Loretta Sanchez was found off San Pedro, but he remains missing. Breeze
Actors Tim Reid and Tom Dreesen will be on Larry Mantle at 11:30 am to discuss their book, "Tim and Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White." KPCC
Jesse Katz�s May 2007 story on Jordan High�s Academic Decathlon team for Los Angeles magazine won PEN Center USA�s award for journalism.