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Airport Commission head resigns, Boxer outspent Fiorina, DA looking at Assemblyman Gatto's residency, Manson's cellphone, a new CicLAvia in April plus Mark Kriski tweets a health update. And more, inside.
- It sounds more and like the "Harold Smith" who killed himself as police approached to talk about the murder of publicist Ronni Chasen may have merely been bragging to people who tipped "America's Most Wanted." LAT
Plus: Conservative radio host and failed Alaska ‘06 gubernatorial candidate Eddie Burke and his son Eddie Jr. were staying at the Harvey Apartments and talking to the media swarm. Hollywood Interrupted - Alan Rothenberg resigned Thursday as president of the Los Angeles airport commission, saying his ownership stake in California Pizza Kitchen had complicated efforts to approve new concessions at LAX. LAT, Daily Breeze
- Gov.-elect Jerry Brown next week will launch an unusual, highly public campaign to tell Californians how dire the state budget crisis really is. Bee, Chronicle, DN
- San. Barbara Boxer outspent challenger Carly Fiorina in the recently concluded election campaign. LAT
- The first segment of the California high-speed rail line would be a "line to nowhere" between Borden and Corcoran in the San Joaquin Valley — "an area hit so hard by the recession and agriculture declines that it has been dubbed the New Appalachia." LAT, Fresno Bee, AP
- The DA's office is looking into whether freshman Assemblyman Mike Gatto lives as required in his Burbank to Northeast LA district. He's another of those officeholders who claims not to live in the house outside the district that he owns himself, but in the house his mother owns inside the district. LAT
- Charles Manson made several calls and sent texts from a cellphone found in his prison cell, authorities said. LAT
- A man falsely accused of killing his fiancee in 1997 confronted the Monterey Park City Council for not helping him back then. SGV Tribune
- Hollywood blogger Nikki Finke has filed a lawsuit against a knockoff website called Deadline Hollyweird. THR, Esq
- Once a largely working-class Latino neighborhood, Echo Park is now home to one of L.A.'s most densely packed night-life corridors. The story quotes Eastsider LA blogger Jesus Sanchez without mentioning that he's a laid-off former Times staff writer and blogger. LAT
- A second CicLAvia will be held April 10 following almost the same route as the first. Info
- KTLA weathercaster Mark Kriski tweeted that he has gotten out of the hospital after 3½ weeks of treatment for viral pneumonia and urged people to get flu shots. Twitter, KTLA
- The carcass of a 12-foot-long, deep-water tropical oarfish washed up mysteriously on the beach in Malibu and was taken to the Natural History Museum, which already has three. LAT
- Alison Mudditt has been named the new director of UC Press. Jacket Copy
- Sri Daya Mata, leader of the Los Angeles-based Self-Realization Fellowship for 55 years, died at age 96. LAT