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Whitman's investment in Mike Murphy's movie career, Andrew Malcolm's flakkery again, LAT staffers warned about tweets, Polanski's victim still wants it to end, White House press secretaries in town, an arts blog dies and a books blog begins. Plus more politics and media, and Harvey Pekar appreciations, inside.
- Meg Whitman's $1 million investment in her political consultant Mike Murphy's movie production firm has raised eyebrows in Sacramento but experts said Monday that there appears to be nothing illegal about it. SF Chronicle/Carla Marinucci, Joel Fox
- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to abolish the office of superintendent of public instruction. California Watch
- A link by the L.A. Times' fulltime staff Republican blogger, Andrew Malcolm, to the Sarah Palin campaign donation page was removed by the paper. Fishbowl LA
Also: An LAT editor reminded staffers that their Twitter tweets are public and official: "We’ve had some complaints from readers about the nature of some Tweets, including language and commentary." FBLA - Roman Polanski's victim says, again, that she would like the case against him to be ended. LAT
- Ron Tutor has already changed his tune about the role of David Bergstein in Miramax Pictures, and Bergstein claims he will sue The Hollywood Reporter following an interview with Tutor there. The Wrap/Sharon Waxman
- Backers of Bundy Village in West L.A. have postponed a City Council vote on the project until fall at the earliest. LAT
- City Council President Eric Garcetti is scheduled to be on Patt Morrison's show on KPCC at 2:06 p.m. to talk about the DWP ratepayer advocate proposal.
- DWP and neighborhood council activist Jack Humphreville is considering a run against Tom LaBonge for the City Council. Plus: Animal activists are divided over the appointment of Brenda Barnette to run Animal Services. DN/Orlov
- Westfield has dramatically scaled back plans for a mall in Woodland Hills. DN
- eHarmony is leaving Pasadena and taking 380 jobs to Santa Monica. Star-News
- Why you can't fly direct from LAX to Reagan National Airport outside Washington, and how that anachronism might change. LAT Opinion
- A witness to the police shooting of an 18-year-old in Studio City disputes the official account that Zac Champommier was a threat to undercover sheriff's deputies. LAT, Witness LA
- Present and past White House press secretaries Camille Johnson (Michelle Obama), Noelia Rodriguez (Laura Bush), Sheila Tate (Nancy Reagan) and David Demarest (George H.W. Bush) speak tonight at the Biltmore for the Los Angeles chapter of Public Relations Society of America.
- The Register in OC terminated its arts blog. Farewell post from Tim Mangan here, followed by an addendum saying "Tim is too modest to mention that his contributions to The Arts Blog have made it one of the most widely read blogs about classical music in the world."
- Music Center parking is changing slightly for construction of the new Civic Center park across Grand Avenue. Culture Monster
- Ten writing tips from Janet Fitch "that can help almost anyone." Janet Fitch
- The new reduced public library hours in Los Angeles begin July 18.
- PWxyz is a new blog from Publishers Weekly that promises news, gossip and a lighter tone than its regular news coverage. Jacket Copy
- Dodger Manny Ramirez’s 1994 911 Porsche Turbo 3.6 was auctioned off for $50,100, for charity.
- Appreciations in the L.A. Times for Harvey Pekar from David Ulin and Victoria Looseleaf.
- New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner died at age 80. NYT