Thursday morning headlines

New worries?: A shortage of air-traffic controllers at LAX helps explain the 55 runway incursions reported since October 2001, according to a report by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. But hold on – the FAA says that the runway incursions aren't related to staffing issues, but rather pilot error (expect the airline pilots group to say something about that). You want to know how screwy things are? The air-traffic controllers and the FAA can't even agree on how many employees are working in the LAX tower. (Daily Breeze)

'Kite Runner' is delayed: The three young children who appear in the adaptation of the best-selling novel could be in danger if they remain in Afghanistan. Paramount Vantage contends that Kabul has become more lawless in the year since the boys were cast, and the concern is that they’ll be attacked for their enactment of a rape scene. The boys and their relatives are now accusing the filmmakers of mistreatment. Studio bosses are trying to sort it all out (using a retired CIA agent, among others), but for now the film's release has been pushed back six weeks, to Dec. 14. From the NYT:

The Taliban destroyed nearly all movie theaters in Afghanistan, but pirated DVDs often arrive soon after a major film’s release in the West. In January in Afghanistan, DVDs of “Kabul Express” — an Indian film in which a character hurls insults at Hazara — led to protests, government denunciations and calls for the execution of the offending actor, who fled the country. Perhaps not coincidentally, the “Kite Runner” actor who plays Hassan, Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada, 12, told reporters at that time that he feared for his life because his fellow Hazara might feel humiliated by his rape scene. His father said he himself was misled by the film’s producers, insisting that they never told him of the scene until it was about to be shot and that they had promised to cut it.

Target suit a class action: Plaintiffs are accusing the retailer of not adopting technology used by other companies to make Web sites accessible to the blind. The technology allows reading software to vocalize invisible code embedded in computer graphics and describe content on a Web page. The suit, which was filed by the National Federation of the Blind, alleges violations of California law and the Americans With Disabilities Act. From AP:

The federation filed the suit — which originally was filed in California state court in February 2006 and moved at Target's request to San Francisco federal court the following month — on behalf of federation member and northern California resident Bruce Sexton. The suit alleged that "blind individuals have been and are being denied equal access to Target stores" and the "service and benefits offered to the public through Target.com."

Disney in Hawaii: Instead of a theme park, the Mouse House has bought 21 oceanfront acres on Oahu that will be the site of a resort hotel and time-share. The company has been dabbling in non-core investments, such as the cruise business and time shares (they're being called "blue-sky" concepts"). The 800-unit Ko Olina resort is scheduled to open in 2011 on the island's west coast. (LAT)

Countrywide loses round: A Delaware Chancery Court has ruled that the nation's largest mortgage lender must provide confidential information about its stock-granting practices to a police pension fund. The fund, which filed suit against Countrywide, hired an economist who concluded that some type of option manipulation may have occurred at the company. Countrywide said the pension fund suit "presented no credible evidence of wrongdoing relating to the purported manipulation of option grants." The court did not rule on whether the company's stock practices were improper. (LAT)

Bronfman settles: The former vice chairman of Vivendi claimed that he was shafted out of pension payments (not that he exactly needs them). Bronfman's lawyer told U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels that the parties had reached a settlement in the breach-of-contract case. No details. Bronfman was CEO of Seagram Co. when it merged with Vivendi in 2000. (AP)

Murdock Plaza sold: It's the 17-story red-brick office building at the corner of Wilshire and Westwood boulevards that has as its tenants Richard Riordan, Eli Broad and of course David Murdock. Real Estate Alert reports that real estate investor Kambiz Hekmat is buying the property from Sumitomo Life Realty (Hekmat also owns Center West across the street). Purchase price is $130 million. From the LAT:

When Murdock opened the $20-million building at 10900 Wilshire Blvd. as his headquarters, it was considered top drawer with its high ceilings, brick facade and bay windows. Local wags joked that a blocky building next door looked like "the box Murdock Plaza came in." Murdock later sold it to movie and music mogul Frederick "Ted" Field. Field gave up control of the property to his partner Sumitomo in 1991. Like previous owners, Hekmat technically has a leasehold interest in the property because the underlying land is owned by two local private trusts. Field, a Marshall Field department store heir and prolific Democratic Party fundraiser, still has offices in Murdock Plaza, as does actress Kathy Ireland and cable television giant Marc Nathanson...

New station head: Maelia Macin becomes general manager of KMEX-TV Channel 34, Univision's flagship station in L.A. She replaces Jorge Delgado, who was fired just months after Univision was taken private by a group of investors that include L.A. billionaire Haim Saban. KMEX frequently draws more viewers to its prime-time broadcasts than the English-language stations. (Media Week)

KMEX scandal?: Head scratching time: Why did the LAT use the pro-forma Maelia Macin announcement to report out what seems to be a much juicier story: the ouster of KMEX news director Jorge Mettey after an internal investigation found that Mettey breached ethics policies in directing news coverage? Does anyone know about this scandal? Check out the early grafs 4 of a story that's headlined "Univision names exec to L.A. post”:

Mettey, who for five years led one of the highest-rated TV news operations in Los Angeles, has hired a lawyer to explore a possible wrongful termination suit, according to people with knowledge of the matter who asked for anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. It is unclear why Delgado was fired, but his alleged lack of oversight of his former friend and subordinate, Mettey, was a contributing factor, said people close to KMEX.

[CUT]

The alleged improprieties investigated included whether Mettey had benefited financially from coverage of Puebla's governor at a time when he was being criticized for his association with an accused pedophile and of an African-themed zoo in Puebla in which Mettey's wife, Denise, has an ownership interest. In addition, the news division allegedly accepted free tickets on an Aeromexico flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Puebla. It is unclear what the investigation's findings were.

Imus nearing deal: As predicted, the shock jock is in negotiations with Citadel Broadcasting, owner of ABC Radio, which syndicates talk show hosts Sean Hannity and Tom Joyner. If a deal is finalized, he could be back on the air by early next year. Exactly which air he's on is still unclear; ABC stations typically make their own talent decisions (though the NY and L.A. markets would seem to be a lock). (Variety)