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Traffic disruption in Century City, Metrolink offers to settle with Chatsworth victims, Steve Cooley's campaign contributors, plus Keith Brackpool, Robert Rizzo, Tim Mangan, Will Forte, pot shops and today's Bookworm guest.
- A "Janitors for Justice" protest planned for Thursday afternoon is expected to create major traffic problems in the Century City area, with street closures from 11:45 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. KTLA, DN
- Metrolink has offered $200 million to settle with victims of the 2008 Chatsworth rail disaster that killed 25 people. LAT
- DA Steve Cooley accepted laundered campaign money while prosecuting Democratic contributors for the same offense, says the LA Weekly.
- Keith Brackpool, now chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, is in the center of a controversy over a bill that would make huge changes in horse race betting in the state. Capitol Weekly
- Eighteen motorists were cited for fraudulently using handicapped parking placards during a sting Tuesday near the Van Nuys Civic Center. DN
- Responding to community outrage over the dumping of raw sewage onto the streets of Venice, Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich said Wednesday that he intended to file criminal charges against a motor home dweller who was arrested but released after serving two days in jail. LAT
- Only 41 of Los Angeles' marijuana dispensaries are eligible to stay open under the city pot-shop ordinance that went into effect in June, the City Clerk says. LAT, LA Weekly, DN
- Former Bell City Manager Robert Rizzo pleaded guilty Wednesday in Orange County to drunken driving. Wave wires
- Last month, KQED News in San Francisco dramatically expanded the scope of its news coverage with a new website, an increase from six to 16 local radio newscasts and the addition of eight news staffers, including six producers/reporters, a developer and a social media specialist. Its expansion will continue over the next several months (look for a new news blog in the next couple of months). PBS Mediashift
- Miranda Carroll is the new director of communications at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
- First the Register kills Tm Mangan's classical music blog, now he moves to the people gossip beat "covering the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Mel Gibson, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Dr. Laura...and all the other worthies whom readers can’t get enough of." Classical Life
- A little recognized aspect of the Islamic Community Center controversy in lower Manhattan is that before the World Trade Center towers were built, the area was the city's Arab District, says KPCC's Marc Haefele.
- Will Forte is leaving the cast of "Saturday Night Live," say sources. NYT
- Craig Nova, author of "The Informer," guests with Michael Silverblatt on "Bookworm" at 2:30 p.m. on KCRW.