Thursday morning headlines

Stocks inching back up: Economic news is quite strong this morning. Dow is up a few points.

Good month for retailers: March sales were better than expected for many chains, from Target to Macy's. From AP:

Credit warm weather and high demand for spring fashions boosted revenue for the month, but analysts say there's much more than higher temperatures at play. Americans initially cut back on spending during the recession and have continued to hold back in the slow recovery, but in recent months they've been feeling better about the economy as the stock market rises and unemployment falls. "Retailers are benefiting from an improving employment and consumer confidence picture," said Ken Perkins, president of Retail Metrics, a research firm.

Jobless claims keep falling: Weekly applications dropped 6,000 to 357,000, a four-year low. That would suggest stronger job growth. (AP)

Gas update: Prices fell a penny from Wednesday, with an average gallon of regular in the L.A. area at $4.314, according to the Auto Club. They're down almost a nickel from a week ago.

Paper bag ban moves on: A City Council committee signed off on a measure that would study the phasing out of all single-use bags over an 18-month period. It would apply primarily to grocery stores, convenience stores, and drug stores. (Daily News)

Early word on stadium plan: In its environmental impact statement being announced today, developer AEG is proposing to widen freeway ramps, encourage the use of public transit, and possibly add a lane to the 101 from downtown to the Glendale Boulevard exit. (Daily News)

DirecTV, Tribune reach agreement: The owner of KTLA and other TV stations cut a five-year deal with the El Segundo-based satellite service. The Tribune stations have not been available on DirecTV since the weekend. From the LAT:

That the fight was resolved on the opening day of the baseball season is probably not a coincidence. Many of Tribune's stations, including WGN-TV Chicago and WPHL-TV Philadelphia, have rights to local teams, and sports fans can be very vocal when denied their home team's games.

Playa Vista gets its downtown: Developers released the design of a shopping and apartment complex that they will begin building in June. From the LAT:

Runway will be next to Jefferson Boulevard and house a premium grocery store, 10-screen movie theater, "chef-driven" restaurants and shops. Apartments and office spaces will rise above ground-floor retail shops and top out at four stories. The complex -- about the size of four city blocks -- will be mostly completed in about two years, but it is intended to look as if it evolved more slowly over time. Building materials similar to those used on well-known Los Angeles shopping streets such as Abbot Kinney Boulevard and Melrose Avenue will be incorporated, and full-grown native California trees will be brought in to add a sense of permanence.