Monster Mash: L.A.’s planned Plaza de Cultura y Artes hits a snag; playwright Romulus Linney dies

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Complications: Officials have halted some excavation on the site of the planned La Plaza de Cultura y Artes in downtown L.A., following complaints about the removal of skeletal remains that have been unearthed there. (Los Angeles Times)

Veteran dramatist: Playwright Romulus Linney, whose work was produced mostly off-Broadway, has died at age 80. (Associated Press)

For sale: The Cleveland Museum of Art will offer more than two dozen European old master paintings in the largest sell-off from its collection in more than a half-century. (Cleveland Plain-Dealer)

Looking likely: The jukebox musical ‘Baby It’s You!’ -- which ran at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2009 -- is said to be aiming for a Broadway run this spring. (Playbill)

Negotiations: Detroit Symphony Orchestra management has submitted a new contract proposal to a federal mediator, setting the stage for the resumption of face-to-face talks with musicians who have been on strike for 15 weeks. (Detroit Free Press)

Labor laws: A proposed New York state regulation would slash the number of hours for child performers. (New York Daily News)

Comeback: A violinist whose hand was crushed during the 2010 earthquake in Haiti has returned to performing. (NPR)

Rumor has it: Brad Pitt is said to have dined with playwright David Mamet recently in Santa Monica to discuss a project in which Pitt would be behind the camera as director. (X17Online)

Immortalized: Hershey’s has created a sculpture of football star Emmitt Smith. (ESPN)

Passing: Stage and screen actress Susannah York has died at age 72. (Los Angeles Times)

Also in the L.A. Times: Music critic Mark Swed reviews opera star Rene Pape in his Los Angeles recital debut and Gustavo Dudamel conducting Mahler’s Ninth Symphony with the L.A. Philharmonic.

-- David Ng