Afternoon shorts

Planning commission president Jane Usher resigned, confirming gossip that swept offices this week, saying she needs a job and offering the mayor some advice in her exit letter. LAT, Curbed LA, Ron Kaye
John Hoeffel, who was an editor on the L.A. Times election desk, moves to State Editor. Also, Sacramento bureau reporter Dan Morain gets a new assignment on statewide stories. LAT memo
Chris Morris columnizes on the axing of his Indie 103.1 show "Watusi Rodeo." CityBeat
Speaking of CityBeat, parent Southland Publishing is trying to sell its historical landmark headquarters on Wilshire Boulevard and reportedly is cutting back New Angeles Monthly to quarterly.
Speaking of New Angeles Monthly, it has some new competition from Eastside Living L.A., which is having its launch party Friday at the Shortstop on Sunset.
"Day to Day" ran a segment on the show's own cancellation and the job prospects for laid-off staffers. NPR
"News & Notes" was more multi-culti than African American. LA Eastside
City News Service reporter Alice Walton was elected president of the Society of Professional Journalists Los Angeles chapter.
USC Annenberg has scheduled an open forum on the Tribune bankruptcy, NPR cutbacks and other media news next Thursday at noon.