Times' Retail Reporter Michael Barbaro Headed to City Hall

Michael Barbaro, the budding star of the Times' business desk, is headed to City Hall. Mr. Barbaro, a transplant from The Washington Post, has been handling the paper's retail beat and its coverage of Wal-Mart (and, according several well-placed sources, was in conversations with the Wall Street Journal, but decided to stay at the Times). The opening in City Hall comes open after Diane Cardwell makes her move to Stanford to study for a year.

Thanks, Azi.