Red ink on display at museum

The Children's Museum of Los Angeles has been bogged down by poor planning, little oversight and lack of donations, raising concern that local taxpayers might get stuck with the bill, according to an audit released Wednesday. Kerry Cavanaugh in the Daily News.

The cost has ballooned to $53 million for construction and exhibits for the San Fernando Valley's first major museum, pitched to city leaders seven years ago as a $10 million public-private partnership.

Public dollars have covered nearly 70 percent of the cost so far, and the building is expected to be completed within a few weeks.

Now, the museum's board needs to drum up $22 million in less than two years to install the exhibits for an opening by March 2009.