Vote for Newt? Two local Republican congressmen...

Vote for Newt? Two local Republican congressmen favor Newt Gingrich as he seeks reelection as House Speaker. . . . Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon of Santa Clarita and Rep.-elect James Rogan of Glendale say they’ll vote for the embattled Georgian on Tuesday--the day they will be sworn in as members of the 105th Congress. McKeon’s mail and calls are about 70 to 30 in favor of Gingrich. Rogan is “untroubled” by the Gingrich flap, an aide said.

Making a Mark: Among Sunday Calendar’s people to watch in 1997 is a man who will leave an indelible mark on the Valley: avant-garde architect Rem Koolhaas. He’s designing the master plan for MCA’s Universal City expansion (p9). . . . He says his Netherlands firm “produces architecture that embraces the maligned metropolitan condition with enthusiasm.”

G’Day Mate: Don Henry, a former receiver in the alleged land fraud involving Marshall Redman, missed a court date last week to explain his handling of buyers’ funds. . . . Henry, above, used to live in Calabasas but has gone to Australia. Superior Court Judge Robert H. O’Brien wants Henry in court Jan. 17 or “I’ll send [Sheriff] Sherman Block to Australia to get him.”

Helping a Brother: Southern California fire departments are raising money to pay medical expenses for a Mexican firefighter being treated at the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital. Mario Cota, 24, received second- and third-degree burns over nearly half his body and was in serious condition Saturday. Cota was injured battling a propane fire in Mexicali.