Review & Preview.

MAY 3-9

Smoking Gun?: Federal regulators released documents suggesting that during the heat of last years energy crisis, traders at Enron Corp. drove up prices through questionable means and may have triggered the state's severe power shortages. Regulators and politicians expressed outrage at the documents, and California Sen. Dianne Fein-stein asked Attorney General John Ashcroft to pursue a criminal investigation into the matter.

Mac Attack: A worker advocacy group concluded in a report that four McDonald's outlets at Los Angeles International Airport violated health and safety codes and employees face dangerous working conditions. The findings by the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy also indicate that McDonald's failed to pay concession fees to the city agency that operates LAX. The company disputed the report's findings.

Interim Chief: Former LAPD Deputy Chief Martin Pomeroy has been named interim chief, while the Police Commission conducts a nationwide search for a successor to Bernard Parks, who left the department earlier this month. Pomeroy was selected from six finalists.

Firm Grip: Mike Ovitz struck a deal to hand over control of the bulk of his Artist's Management Group to talent group, The Firm. The deal vaults the four-year-old business, which had primarily represented musical talent, into the upper echelon of talent management firms. Ovitz may continue to handle select clients, but will have no operational or equity interest in The Firm.

Earnings News: Guess Inc. reported a first quarter net loss of $3.6 million compared with net income of $2.1 mil lion for the like period a year ago. The Los Angeles-based clothing retailer and designer said sales to department stores and other retailers will be lower this year than expected.

Fed Rate: As expected, the Federal Reserve left unchanged rates on its benchmark Fed funds rate. In a statement, the Fed said that the strength of the economic recovery remains uncertain. The Fed funds rate is at a 40 year low of 1.75 percent.

New View: Walt Disney Co. has cut a deal with news personality Meredith Vieira to host a syndicated version of the game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and to remain on ABC's "The View" for another five years. Vieira had been mentioned prominently as a potential candidate to replace Bryant Gumbel on CBS' "The Early Show."

Global Losses: Global Crossing Ltd., now in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, said its loss in March widened to $171 million from $152 million the previous month. Global sought protection from its creditors, listing debt of $12.4 billion. The company has cut about 2,000 jobs and shut 181 offices to reduce costs.

Enron Leftovers: Occidental Petroleum Corp. said it outbid four rivals for the right to acquire Enron Corp.'s 24.5 percent stake in a $3.5 billion gas project controlled by the United Arab Emirates. The project would add 30,000 barrels of oil to Los Angeles-based Occidental's daily production.

What a Relief: Mariah Carey signed a three-album deal with Universal Group worth an estimated $20-million, just four months after being dropped by EMI Group. EMI paid the pop diva $30 million to buy out her contract.

MAY 13 - 19

Tax lime: April's monthly payroll taxes are due Wednesday (15th) to both the state and federal government. State levies to be filed include disability, unemployment insurance and employment training taxes.

Earnings Due: First quarter reports are due from Macerich Co., the Santa Monica Real Estate Investment Trust. Estimates are for earnings of 70 cents per share, compared to 65 cents for the year-earlier period. Computer Sciences Corp. is set to report fourth quarter numbers. Analysts project earnings of 77 cents per share, compared to 36 cents the year earlier.

Prairie Talk: Garrison Keillor, host of public radio's "A Prairie Home Companion," speaks as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series of Pasadena on Wednesday (15th) at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium at 8 p.m. For more information: 310-546-6222.

Dodger Lineup: It's been a struggle at home for the boys in blue, and this week they'll face two formidable Eastern teams: the New York Mets (13th, 14th, 15th) and the surprisingly competitive Montreal Expos (16th, 17th, 18th, 19th).

Washington Talk: William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard and one of the most prominent conservative pundits out of Washington, speaks at a luncheon session of the Wednesday Morning Club on Monday (13th) at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Evening With Rudy: Folks just can't seem to get enough of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. He speaks at the Kodak Theatre on Monday (13th).

Latino Equity: California State Treasurer Philip Angelides delivers the luncheon keynote address for a financial symposium designed to address the capital needs of Latino businesses with revenues exceeding $1 million. Sponsored by the New America Alliance, a Latino business initiative, the symposium will be held at the Wilshire Grand Hotel on Friday (17th).

Budget Blues: Gov. Gray Davis releases the "May revise" to his proposed 2002-03 budget Tuesday (14th). The new budget is expected to show a deficit of between $20 billion and $22 billion, necessitating deep cuts and an array of new fees and/or taxes. Local governments fear some of the cuts will come out of their programs.