Morning Buzz: Tuesday 3.10.09

Eli Broad told an audience in New York that "I would like to see our foundation and others join together to own the LA Times." Reuters/Romenesko
Recent staff departures at cost-cutting Los Angeles Magazine, per sources: senior editors RJ Smith and Margot Dougherty, art director Joe Kimberling, Guide editor Michael Mullen.
Some local cities are selling their pending stimulus package checks to other cities for cash. Pasadena Star News
Assessors in five Southern California counties are projecting declines in property taxes for the first time in a decade. The 1% drop estimated for L.A. County would shave $11 billion off the assessment rolls. LAT (with correction)
A new Field Poll shows Californians almost evenly divided on same-sex marriage. Bee, Union-Tribune
The L.A. school board is scheduled to vote today on whether to issue advance layoff notices to about 9,000 employees, including 5,500 teachers, because of an expected $700-million budget shortfall. LAT
The FBI said a joint terrorism task force would investigate the firebombing of a car belonging to a UCLA neuroscience researcher targeted by animal rights groups. LAT
About 3,000 mourners attended Monday's funeral services for LAPD deputy chief Kenneth Garner. LAT, DN
The Sacramento Bee eliminated 128 jobs yesterday, or 11% of its staff. Bee
USC Annenberg announced its Walter Cronkite Awards for Excellence in Television Political Journalism, including Katie Couric for "special achievement for national impact on the 2008 campaign." Winners
Gustavo Arellano will talk about "the importance" of John & Ken's tax revolt rally in OC over the weekend on his KPFK show at 4 p.m.
City Hall is soliciting vendors and other bidders "interested in developing, installing, operating, and maintaining a bicycle sharing program for the City of Los Angeles." EcoAngeleno
Women's toilets at the Boeing plant in El Segundo now offer the choice of a little flush or a big flush. LABJ
Mack Reed is accepting applications for a new publisher to take over his LAVoice.org creation.
Long-time LA Times reporter David Reyes reflects on his decades in print journalism with John Earl, editor and publisher of OC Voice, and Daniel C. Tsang, host of Subversity on KUCI-FM. Audio
After disappointing attendance, Gary Cypres has shut his Sports Museum of Los Angeles to the public but will still accept group tours and private events. Downtown News
The cast of "Ain�t Misbehavin�" opening April 24 at the Ahmanson Theatre has been set: Eugene Barry-Hill, Doug Eskew, Armelia McQueen, Roz Ryan and Debra Walton.
The historic Wilshire Theatre in Beverly Hills will be renamed the Saban after Haim and Cheryl finance its restoration. LAT

LA Biz Observed | Chicken Corner