Morning Buzz

Morning Buzz: Monday 4.15.13

Today of course is the last day to file your tax return extension or, alternately, your actual income tax returns.

Politics and government

Donors of $4 million to the Coalition for School Reform in last month's school board elections include Republicans, liberals, Hollywood notables and international corporate executives. LAT

A new study by the National Taxpayer Advocate used confidential IRS data to show large clusters of potential tax cheats in Los Angeles, San Francisco and three other metropolitan areas. AP

Film permits requested by the porn industry have all but ceased in Los Angeles County as producers decide how to work around much opposed law that requires actors to wear condoms. DN

A fast-moving $20 million initiative would vastly remake Figueroa Street between Downtown and Exposition Park into a haven for cyclists and transit riders. Downtown News

Two Los Angeles County supervisors want to temporarily eliminate filming fees at downtown's newly opened Grand Park to drum up Hollywood interest in the site. LAT

The uncertainty about Antonio Villaraigosa's mayoral legacy, says Jim Newton, "comes from comparing what he's done to what he might have done." LAT op-ed

Rick Orlov's Monday Tipoff: Villaraigosa's State of the City set the agenda for the mayoral runoff race, plus Jeff Ebenstein, a field deputy to Councilman Paul Koretz, joined Paul Krekorian deputy Damian Carroll as a candidate for the Bob Blumenfield assembly seat in the Valley. DN

The Times opinion page asked a small selection of leaders and activists for their to-do lists for the next mayor. LAT op-ed

In the critical race for money for the May 21 runoff election, mayoral candidates Councilman Eric Garcetti and Controller Wendy Greuel continued to remain close in funding in race where they have spent more than $10 million. DN

Traffic experts crap all over Garcetti's million-dollar gridlock prize. LA Weekly

Wendy Greuel will meet at 10 a.m. with leaders from the Central Cities Association, the Valley Industry and Commerce Association and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce to talk about "specific ideas to get Los Angeles’ fiscal house in order."

Magic Johnson endorsed Curren Price in the runoff race for the 9th city council district.

The state of Nevada has dumped 240 patients from the Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital in Las Vegas into Los Angeles and OC since 2008. Sacramento Bee

Los Angeles voters will likely find three different measures on the May 21 ballot allowing for the sale of medical marijuana. DN


Media and books

Jenna Marbles, the Santa Monica web sensation with one billion clicks. NYT

How a New York Times story about Mexicans shows that the Orange County Register will always suck. OC Weekly

New beat assignments at the Los Angeles News Group: Karen Meeks will cover the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Brian Sumers will focus on airports and airlines, and Josh Dulaney will cover higher education. Via memo.

KCET says that due to "an unforeseen programming conflict," the station will not air the documentary "Korea - the Forgotten War in Colour" after all. Last week KCET announced it would air tonight.

There will be a meeting Wednesday at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences on the issue of animal welfare in the making of films. NYT

Contributors to the newly released "Literary Pasadena: the Fiction Edition" include Denise Hamilton and Michelle Huneven. Prospect Park Books

William Rempel, an author and former LA Times reporter, has issued an e-book version of "Delusions of a Dictator," his book about the Philippines leader Ferdinand Marcos, on the 20th anniversary of the book's publication by Little Brown. Rappler

bjorklund-lloyd.jpgFormer Channel 4 reporter Jennifer Bjorklund and Jonathan Lloyd, the managing editor of NBC 4's website, were married Saturday in Griffith Park by Councilman Tom LaBonge. NYT, Facebook

Blogger Jessica P. Ogilvie chronicled online her multi-day juice cleanse. "It’s all fun and games until someone doesn’t eat for three days." LAist

Mike Daniels, a former newswriter and producer at Channel 2 and adjunct broadcast journalism professor and writing coach at USC Annenberg, died Thursday after a long battle with cancer. He was 76. Daniels was said to be Neil Simon's inspiration for the Felix character in "The Odd Couple." USC

George McArthur, who covered the Vietnam War for the Los Angeles Times as Saigon bureau chief, died in Virginia at age 88. LAT

More news and observations

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation will start today to offer free meningitis vaccines at its AHF Pharmacy locations in West Hollywood and Hollywood and at the group's Hollywood Men’s Wellness Center. a demonstration of the vaccines is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the WeHo pharmacy. AHF, NYT

Brett Shaad, the West Hollywood lawyer and resident who had contracted bacterial meningitis, was taken off life support on Saturday evening and died at 6:42 p.m., according to a Shaad family statement. LA Weekly

The San Fernando Valley's equestrian heritage was celebrated in Chatsworth Sunday at the day of the horse event. DN

A giant chalkboard placed in the 8700 block of La Tijera Boulevard in Westchester invites residents to post their dreams. LAT

Charles Isherwood reviews "Motown: The Musical" on Broadway. NYT

A recent wildlife tour of the Sepulveda Basin. SoCal Wild

Eight years ago, Al Lucas of the Los Angeles Avengers was killed from an on-field hit during an arena football game at Staples Center. Grantland

Maria Tallchief, who became one of the first great stars of American ballet after training in Los Angeles, died at age 88. LAT


More by Kevin Roderick:
'In on merit' at USC
Read the memo: LA Times hires again
Read the memo: LA Times losing big on search traffic
Google taking over LA's deadest shopping mall
Gustavo Arellano, many others join LA Times staff
Recent Morning Buzz stories on LA Observed:
Thursday news and notes
A little bit of mid-week reading
A few links from a few different places
Let's talk about anything but the weather
A few links from here and there
A couple of links from a couple of places
A bit of news from a few places
Morning Buzz: Wednesday 4.16.14