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Schwarzenegger on pot, Villaraigosa at the Breeders' Cup race, a profile of mayoral chief of staff Jeff Carr, Mark Kriski's illness and more.
- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said on Jay Leno that Californians voted against legalizing recreational use of marijuana because the state has all but decriminalized smoking pot. LAT
Plus: Schwarzenegger still wouldn't reveal who he voted for in the governor's race: "it's between myself and the person Maria tells me to vote for." Capitol Alert - Meg Whitman consultant Mike Murphy, says Dan Walters, "much like President Barack Obama, as a matter of fact – takes nominal responsibility for losing the election but then offers up excuses implying that he shouldn't really be held accountable." Sacto Bee
- MSNBC’s suspension of Keith Olbermann for making a few political campaign contributions is absurd in so many ways that it’s hard to keep track, says Michael Kinsley. Politico
- Yes, that was Mayor Villaraigosa giving a trophy in the winner's circle at the Breeders' Cup. He used his own money to fly to Kentucky and had no staff with him, a spokesman said. "Mayor Villaraigosa was selected to present the award because he is a prominent horse-racing fan and the Los Angeles area has been a past and possible future Breeders' Cup host," said a spokesman for the race. DN
- City Hall reporter Patrick McDonnell says that, to admirers, Villaraigosa chief of staff Jeff Carr is "a savvy, energetic, even charismatic leader with a distinctive pedigree, the adopted son of a preacher who followed his father to the ministry and now toils in a decidedly secular setting....But others see Carr as a macho figure failing to impose direction on a deeply divided staff of 200 serving a mayor who is both demanding and easily distracted." LAT
- Two city council committees on Monday were given conflicting advice on how to move forward with reforms to the inner workings of the Department of Water and Power, with one group urging caution and another pushing for speedy change. DN
- Eleven major oil refineries and industrial plants in the Los Angeles area will be forced to slash sulfur pollution under sweeping new SCAQMD regulations, but the move may not be enough to meet federal health standards for the region. LAT
- KTLA morning weather guy Mark Kriski is off the air receiving treatment for "a severe bout of pneumonia," says reporter Eric Spillman: "He's getting the best possible medical care, but he will need some time to rest up and recover." The News Blog
- KNBC is expected to replace its "News Raw" feed with something called "California Nonstop." Franklin Avenue
- Nine things that Laurel Touby learned from starting Mediabistro. Culture Tripping
- L.A. County will investigate the handling of Mitrice Richardson's remains after they were found near Monte Nido. LAT
- The Carnival Splendor cruise ship out of Long Beach is disabled at sea with 3,299 passengers and 1,167 crew members on board after an engine fire on the first day of a seven-day cruise to Puerto Vallarta. The Navy is flying in food and other supplies. LAT
- Rave Motion Pictures will be the new operator of the shuttered Magic Johnson theaters at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza mall, with an opening in May. Leimert Park Beat
- Curating Los Angeles is a new blog "exploring the people, places and culture of one of the world's great cities." Curating L.A.
- Jon Miller and Joe Morgan were dropped as announcers on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. AP