peHUB First Read

* Alaska Airlines is asking the government to investigate whether or not PE-backed airline Virgin America meets U.S. carrier standards, in terms of local vs. foreign ownership. In other words: "We can't compete with Virgin's prices or customer service, so maybe we can find an equity table item that kicks them out of key airports." Whiners. (disclaimer, I'm flying Virgin from BOS-SFO this weekend) * North Carolina-based VC shop The Aurora Funds has shed a number of staffers, as part of what it calls "maintenance mode." * Morning Call: U.S. futures points toward rebound, European shares open lower, London stays flat and Hong Kong shares snap rally. * Is the fat lady singing for PE-backed Muzak? * War of Words: McGraw Hill drops Barry Ritholtz's book, Bailout Nation, just weeks before release. Ritholtz says the publisher was uncomfortable with the book's criticism of McGraw Hill subsidiary Standard & Poor's. McGraw Hill says the book couldn't stand up to scrutiny.