L.A. Times in Play

The city’s richest people are interested in buying the L.A. Times, the newspaper reported on Wednesday. Speculation over the future of the newspaper grew amid a battle between the Chandlers, the former owners of the Times, and other Tribune Co. board members over the company’s plans for a $2 billion stock buyback. Billionaire investor Ron Burkle, former Olympics organizer Peter Ueberroth and philanthropist Eli Board have said they would like to buy the paper or see it in local hands.

Boeing Wins C-17 Extension


A congressional panel has approved spending about $800 million to extend production of Boeing Co.’s C-17. plane. The action by the Appropriations Committee may save the company’s Long Beach factory. The defense spending bill that contains the funds is scheduled for a full house vote next week.

Corporations Eye Extra Money


Viewing extra funds in California’s coffers, Southwest Airlines, Intel, the Motion Picture Association of America and other companies and organizations have their lobbyists trolling Sacramento for tax breaks. Most tax break request plans failed in recent years, the L.A. Times reported, due to the state’s deficit problems. But now that receipts have surged, the game is on again. Businesses are asking legislators for breaks on jet fuel prices and other costs.