Curated news, notes and observations most weekdays from LA Observed.
The city of Santa Monica sued the Federal Aviation Administration in federal court to gain clear control of the city's airport. The suit challenges the constitutionality of a 1948 agreement with the federal government that requires the site remain an airport in perpetuity. LAT
The FAA announced Thursday that it will ease restrictions on the use of portable electronic devices during takeoffs and landings. Within a few weeks, travelers will be able to operate their iPads, Kindles and even smartphones throughout a commercial flight, though phone calls will still be banned. LAT, USA Today, WSJ, LANG, LA Airspace
Lawmakers in Sacramento scramble to distance themselves from Calderon. LAT
State Sen. Ron Calderon partied in Las Vegas on undercover agent's dime, affidavit says. LAT
Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the resignation of Department of Transportation general manager Jaime de la Vega as of Dec. 1. Jon Kirk Mukri, general manager of Recreation and Parks, will serve as interim general manager at DOT. DN, Opinion LA
Doane Liu, deputy mayor for city services in the Garcetti administration, has a sense of humor. His Halloween post on Facebook: "My hilarious staff thought it would be funny to dress like me."
Three-year delay on elephant bullhooks not necessary, says Daniel Guss. DN Op-ed
Hillary Clinton mingled with Hollywood heavyweights at Haim Saban's McAuliffe fundraiser. THR
Jeffrey Katzenberg made a secret call to Clinton to say that Hollywood's support is assured if she runs for president in 2016, says Tina Daunt. THR
Aja Brown, Compton's new mayor: 'I see it as a new Brooklyn.' The Guardian
A state regulatory agency on Thursday gave the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 60 days to submit a plan for restoring 49 acres of wildlife habitat that it plowed under in the Sepulveda Basin and the Verdugo Wash along the Los Angeles River. LAT, DN
Jeff Glasser joined Tribune Company as Senior Counsel, succeeding Karlene Goller as legal counsel for The Times editorial staff. Glasser has worked with Times reporters during the past six years while a senior associate at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. Via memo
The LA Times said it gained overall circulation in the latest Alliance for Audited Media Snapshot report, which calculates digital readership as well as print.
Robert Shogan, a former Los Angeles Times national political correspondent who covered Washington for more than 30 years and wrote more than a dozen books on topics as diverse as the New Deal, violence in West Virginia's coal fields and the nature of presidential leadership, died Wednesday at a hospital in Washington, D.C. He was 83. LAT
Dan Loeb, a principal in the Third Point hedge fund and a Variety co-owner, tried to have Deadline editor-in-chief Nikki Finke fired “at least three times,” according to a new Vanity Fair profile of the outspoken investor. The Wrap
The Los Angeles Review of Books launched a new section, Around the World, that will explore and profile thinkers, writers, artists and activists in other countries. LARB
Jon Wiener on "Public Enemy: Confessions of an American Dissident:" "I don’t like most of Bill Ayers’s new book, Public Enemy, but some people I really admire do." LARB
LA cab company sues ridesharing apps over dramatic drop in business. LA Weekly
It is time to seriously consider a civilian oversight board for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, says Laurie Levenson. LAT Op-Ed
Notorious jewel thief Doris Payne, 83, makes news in Palm Desert. LAT
The ACLU of Southern California and civilian watchdog Eric Preven filed a lawsuit demanding that Los Angeles County and the Office of the County Counsel release invoices detailing the exact dollar amount billed by private law firms in each of the lawsuits filed against the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and its personnel. Witness LA
A former Irwindale city councilman says he's surprised the city has gone after the maker of Sriracha hot sauce so aggressively over complaints that odors from the plant are irritating some residents. LAT, KPCC
The Puente Hills Landfill in Industry was slated to close for good on Thursday. CBS LA
Hispanic? Latino? The identity debate continues. KPCC
Out of foster care and into college. NYT
Never-before-seen photos of the Rolling Stones discovered at Saugus flea market. Cool Hunting
LACMA will close at 3 pm on Saturday, and offer free general admission from 1–3 pm.
Inside the backlash at UCLA to Steve Alford's hiring. OC Register
Former Los Angeles County Assessor John J. Lynch died of cancer at home in Northridge. LAT
Honestly, this entire night has been one big duck face.
— @LAScanner (@LAScanner) November 1, 2013