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More politicians jump on Bell story, CNN's ratings, Mordigan Nurseries, Magnolia Bakery problems and more.
- Add DA Steve Cooley and state Controller John Chiang to Jerry Brown on the list of politicians on this year's ballot flocking to get a piece of the Bell story. LAT
- Loss of federal and state money could force the county health department to cut services deeply and layoff lots of employees. LAT, ZevWeb
- The Urban Institute in Washington has received $525,000 in city money to evaluate gang diversion programs under the mayor's office but has so far failed to deliver a report, says a Wendy Greuel audit. DN
- The City Council extended the city's contract with SuperShuttle even though the firm has an office in Arizona. DN
- Members of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce are being invited along on a trade mission to Korea by Gov. Schwarzenegger Sept. 12-16.
- CNN's ratings troubles are not just due to the Larry King and Campbell Brown shows. LAT
- The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles announced a new corporate structure and funding — it's now part of Tribe Media Corp. JJ
- Mordigan Nurseries moved 11 years ago to make way for The Grove and is now closing completely, after 73 years in business. LAT
- Media stunt of the day: Reps for Patina, Border Grill, La Serenata de Garibaldi and other restaurants that want concession contracts at LAX will stage an "Eat In" at Patina at 9:30 a.m.
- Let's see how many of the websites that gushed over the opening of Magnolia bakery on West 3rd Street note that it has closed temporarily due to building issues raised by the health department. Eater LA
- A Fresno wall painter says he found a stash of Ansel Adams glass-plate negatives at a garage sale ten years ago, and he might be right. LAT
- Another woman has gone to the DA saying she was raped and sodomized by Roman Polanski in 1974, when she was 21. RadarOnline
- Patt Morrison opines on last Sunday's Laughing Matters benefit at The Improv, and a party for Phyllis Diller attended by ex-mayor Richard Riordan, ex-DA Gil Garcetti and Councilman Tom LaBonge, among others. Opinion L.A. [Two separate events; I read it as one earlier.]
- Dave Weigel, who quit as a political blogger for the Washington Post after a controversy over his comments on the Journolist listserv, is joining Slate as political reporter. Yahoo News
- Margaret Russell, editor-in-chief of Elle Décor, is said to be the successor to Paige Rense as editor of Architectural Digest, according to Keith J. Kelly. NY Post
- Pasadena Now will launch an Internet video channel called Pasadena Now TV with original programming on August 20. Announcement
- Valerie Plame Wilson will be on "The Treatment" at 2:30 p.m. on KCRW to talk about the documentary "Countdown to Zero." KCRW is also giving away tickets to a July 31 screening.