Thursday news and notes

Selected items from the media, our in box and other LA Observed sources. Posted occasionally — often in the morning.

The now-retired LAPD sergeant who last detained "Django Unchained" actress Daniele Watts over a report about sex in public has been accused of violating city ethics rules by leaking an audio recording of the encounter to the media. LAT

Mayor Eric Garcetti is in Washington pushing the 2024 Olympics bid. “I’m not interested in coming in here with some heavy sell. I’m interested in hearing from the people who have devoted lives to the Olympic movement, to hear where it goes next." WashPost

Garcetti will hire an artist to help reduce traffic deaths on city streets. LAT

For the second time in 11 months, outside trial lawyer W. Keith Wyatt has been dropped for a sex abuse case by Los Angeles Unified. KPCC

The most dangerous LA intersections for cyclists and pedestrians, per Waze. Quartz

The LAPD union has thrown its support behind the NYPD's call for a boycott of Quentin Tarantino's films after the "Pulp Fiction" director referred to some police officers as murderers during a rally in New York City over the weekend. LAT

Former State Senate pro tem Darrell Steinberg said Wednesday he will run for mayor of Sacramento. LAT

An intruder fell through the ceiling of the City Attorney's office in City Hall East. NBC 4

Vin Scully says in a SportsNet interview by Alanna Rizzo airing tonight at 7 p.m. that he's looking forward to next season "maybe because it's my last season." Twitter

Newsonomics: Here are 10 questions we’ll be talking about into 2016. Nieman Journalism Lab

LA radio’s fake scenarios don’t come with a warning label. DN

Tom Rosenstiel has signed a two-book deal with Ecco for political thrillers. The first, "Shining City," is written.

Jim Timmermann, formerly the city editor at the Pasadena Star-News, died at home in Michigan following complications from a bone marrow transplant for myelodysplastic syndrome. He was 56. Holland Sentinel

Water flowed toward Los Angeles in the Owens Valley aqueduct Wednesday for the first time in six months after workers removed an earthen and concrete dam that had diverted runoff. AP

Also: Comedy Central's "Drunk History" takes on the LA aqueduct story. Watch

Caltrans put up a shiny new green sign on I-5 announcing the Los Fezil exit. LAist

Ten semi-finalists have been named for the latest redesign of downtown's Pershing Square. KCRW

Downtown's Hotel Figueroa is closing for remodeling that will take until next summer. Downtown News

Robert Downey Jr., David Hockney and Lester Holt were among the inductees into the California Hall of Fame. Release, Bee

A company wants to make the Coliseum louder during football games. LAT

Don Mattingly has reportedly been hired as manager of the Miami Marlins, to be announced after the World Series. ESPN

So we live in a world where Congress is televised but the World Series goes dark. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.

— Matt Bai (@mattbai) October 28, 2015

"Journalist Bill," as Jim Healy called him, put together one of best sports sections ever in '80s and '90s. https://t.co/JqRdwW7JBv

— Andy Furillo (@andyfurillo) October 29, 2015