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Before I head off to survey the far-flung reaches of the empire for the 4th, some notes from the week.
- Very nice kudos for Barbara Demick, Beijing bureau chief for the LAT: The $30,000 BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Nonfiction, Britain's leading nonfiction prize, for her book "Nothing to Envy: Real Lives in North Korea." Jacket Copy, PR
- CBS 2 anchor Pat Harvey tweeted last night: "It's a wrap for one of the last remaining foot soldiers of journalism...we wish Mark Coogan, one of LA's finest... good luck."
- Controller Wendy Greuel says the city collects only 53% of what it is owed in parking fines, with more than $200 million uncollected. LAT
- Tibby Rothman and Jill Stewart stay on theme with the LA Weekly cover story, Villaraigosa's Vanish Veracity.
- Ron Kaye has launched a new political action committee to raise money for his candidates for the City Council. Other backers of LA Clean Sweep include repeat candidates Walter Moore and David Hernandez.
- Gail Goldberg's exit as city planning director "signals the loss of a key cog in city government at a moment of significant upheaval...[and] is another shot across the bow (as if any more were needed) that real planning itself is on the chopping block." Tribuni Plebis
- Monica Garcia was elected to a fourth term as president of the L.A. Board of Education. It's a veritable dynasty. KPCC News
- The House ethics committee cleared Rep. Laura Richardson of wrongdoing in the foreclosure of her Sacramento property, saying she did not receive preferential treatment from a lender. LAT, AP
- Slake, the new quarterly journal of L.A. arts and literature, threw a launch party. Fishbowl LA
- Add Salon's Alex Pareene to the ranks of those who find the Republican flakkery of the LAT's national political blog rather curious, or as he puts it, "just stupid and insulting." Salon
- The LAX observation deck closed since 9-11 will reopen to the public but only on weekends.
- Sharrows are the latest visible sign of the bicyclization of Los Angeles, and to activists an important moment in L.A.’s transportation evolution. ZevWeb
- The Westwood Community Design Review Board will meet next week to consider plans for a Target store in the former Home Depot Expo space in Westwood Village.
- NPR's Lisa Napoli covered the mess in the city of Maywood for the national audience. NPR
- Manny Ramirez has donated a rare 1994 911 Porsche Turbo 3.6 to be auctioned off to benefit ThinkCure!, the Dodgers’ official charity, and Maryvale. ThinkCure!
- Pau Gasol tells the Times his favorite weekends in L.A. LAT