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Hotel taxes, Olvera Street, Geraldo Rivera, the Dalai Lama and 10 years after Bonny Lee Blakely's murder — plus more on the Dodgers' payroll woes.
The Legislature's own counsel said in a recent memo that part of Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to eliminate redevelopment agencies is unconstitutional because the state cannot reimburse itself with local property taxes. Bee
The city could end up losing $640 million in bed tax revenues over three decades on three Downtown hotels with sweet deals to encourage construction. LAT
With the state declaring the drought has ended, two City Council members on Tuesday called for the city to consider suspending lawn watering restrictions and water rate surcharges. DN
A feud between Los Angeles officials and business owners on downtown's historic Olvera Street appears headed for a resolution after the City Council moved unanimously Tuesday to approve a negotiated rent increase. LAT
The state's early release of non-violent prisoners has cost Los Angeles County about $10 million over the last 15 months, according to a new report. DN
District Attorney’s race kicks off with little style, no substance. City Maven
Rainey: Geraldo Rivera's late-night rah-rah session on Fox over the death of Osama bin Laden "couldn't have more clearly illustrated what we should already know: that television journalism loves the noisiest, most photogenic moments — those that often tell us the least about what we really need to know." LAT
NPR has grown into a worldwide news organization with 18 foreign bureaus with a weekly audience of 27.2 million, says Steve Oney, the author working on a book about the network. LAT op-ed
Why the New York Times doesn't take part in the White House Correspondents Dinner any more. NY Observer
Gawker posts another threatening email aimed at a Hollywood figure by blogger Nikki Finke and asks if she's losing it.. Gawker,
Adolfo Guzman Lopez checked out the LeaLA Spanish language book fair this past weekend. Movie Miento
A new literary journal The Rattling Wall is set to launch this month, with offerings from Albert Reyes, Tony Hoagland, James Frey, and Neal Pollack, among others. Blogging.la
Los Angeles Times staff writer Louis Sahagun won a Ruben Salazar Journalism Award for his story on birth defects in the farming town of Kettleman City. Other winners included Pilar Marrero of La Opinion and Laurie Ochoa of Slake. CCNMA
Former L.A. journalist Carlton Smith died in Reno at age 64. Willamette Week
The Dalai Lama, speaking at USC, suggested that the killing of Osama bin Laden was justified. LAT, KPCC, Daily Trojan
If the Dodgers fail to make the second May payroll, as expected, major league baseball would have an opening to seize the team. LAT
McNulty: Good luck Tony award voters. LAT
Ten years after Bonny Lee Blakely's murder outside, Vitello's restaurant rocks on. Studio City Patch