52+ min ago (285+ words) Lakers star LeBron James will miss Sunday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans as he manages a right foot injury, the team announced. The Lakers (14-4) are playing the first of two games in as many nights at home. They host the Phoenix Suns on Monday, which will be the team's third game in four days after a win over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. Playing in just his fourth game of the season, James played 34 minutes in the 129-119 win, scoring 13 points with seven assists. He missed the beginning of the season for the first time in his 23-year NBA career because of right sciatica that sidelined him for 14 games. Anthony Davis lost to the Lakers in Los Angeles for the first time since he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Despite James' limited time, the Lakers have still thrived behind…...

54+ min ago (920+ words) TEL AVIV'Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday asked the country's president to grant him a pardon from corruption charges, seeking to end his long-running trial that he says has unnecessarily divided the nation. Netanyahu, who has been at war against Israel's legal system over the charges, said the request would help unify the country at a time of momentous change in the Middle East. But it immediately triggered denunciations from opponents, who said a pardon would weaken democratic institutions and send a dangerous message that he's above the rule of law. Netanyahu had submitted a request for a pardon to the legal department of the Office of the President, the prime minister's office said in a statement. The president's office called it an "extraordinary request," carrying with it "significant implications." Netanyahu is the only sitting prime minister in Israeli…...

54+ min ago (915+ words) TEL AVIV'Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday asked the country's president to grant him a pardon from corruption charges, seeking to end his long-running trial that he says has unnecessarily divided the nation. Netanyahu, who has been at war against Israel's legal system over the charges, said the request would help unify the country at a time of momentous change in the Middle East. But it immediately triggered denunciations from opponents, who said a pardon would weaken democratic institutions and send a dangerous message that he's above the rule of law. Netanyahu had submitted a request for a pardon to the legal department of the Office of the President, the prime minister's office said in a statement. The president's office called it an "extraordinary request," carrying with it "significant implications." Netanyahu is the only sitting prime minister in Israeli…...

1+ hour, 13+ min ago (695+ words) AGBU 61, Hoover 59 Alemany 75, Firebaugh 26 Apple Valley 69, Patriot 66 Aquinas 66, Rancho Cucamonga 54 Artesia 72, Eisenhower 69 Barstow 68, Lawndale 50 Bishop Amat 65, North Torrance 56 Buckley 60, West Covina 54 Burbank 65, Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 59 Burbank Burroughs 70, De Sol 30 Calabasas 71, Simi Valley 62 California 82, Laguna Beach 52 Calvary Baptist 52, Paloma Valley 47 Chaminade 63, Windward 43 Chino Hills 71, Adelanto 57 Corona del Mar 98, Orange Lutheran 77 Corona Santiago 68, Santa Ana Foothill 61 Covina 48, Rosemead 47 Crean Lutheran 62, St. Bernard 50 Cypress 66, Aliso Niguel 54 Edison 81, Mission Viejo 66 El Dorado 75, Riverside King 64 El Rancho 58, Montebello 48 Elsinore 76, Alta Loma 44 El Toro 62, Segerstrom 47 Fairmont Prep 68, Los Alamitos 56 Flintridge Prep 52, Ramona 40 Gabrielino 47, Bosco Tech 39 Gardena Serra 75, HMSA 35 Godinez 67, El Modena 58 Highland 81, University Prep 36 JSerra 73, Oak Hills 64 La Canada 51, Glendale 46 Long Beach Cabrillo 68, Capistrano Valley 58 Long Beach Wilson 54, Dana Hills 45 Newbury Park 68, Buena 45 Oxnard 49, Agoura 46 Palmdale Aerospace Academy 55, Carpinteria 52 Pilibos 57, Milken 49 San Dimas 56, Royal 55 San Marcos 68, Oaks Christian 60 Santa Margarita 83, Rancho Verde 41 Santa Monica 72, Bellflower…...

1+ hour, 19+ min ago (178+ words) In a matter of weeks, Ventura High football coach Tim Garcia will help move his son, quarterback Derek Garcia, into the dorms at Nevada Las Vegas. They're having one last hurrah, and the memories are going to be priceless. On Saturday night, Ventura won the Southern Section Division 6 football championship with a 63-28 win over St. Pius X-St. Matthias. It means Ventura's season keeps going with next week's state regional playoffs to be announced on Sunday. Derek passed for 288 yards and one touchdown. Dad was also happy that running back James Watson had 247 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Earlier this week at the championship luncheon, the Garcias were smiling even though the coach/son role will soon be ending at Ventura. It's a rite of passage leaving the nest for the son to explore the world. Derek is thankful he's had…...

3+ hour, 7+ min ago (626+ words) Dining at a gourmet restaurant is fun, but I've always preferred finding an unexpected jewel. One unassuming gem I really used to enjoy was the now-shuttered Krispy Krunchy Chicken located inside a liquor store in Alhambra. Patrons generally entered to buy a Coke or a Powerball ticket " the place wasn't even conducive to buying a meal " in a mini mall with a way-too-small parking lot. But they ended up walking away surprised by the crispy treats. Krispy Krunchy delivered fried, yet tender and juicy breasts and wings at a reasonable price. Krispy Krunchy is a chain, and I've visited other locations, also in gas stations and small retail spaces, but they're never as good. That's why I was so glad to see Food columnist Jenn Harris' recent list, ranking L.A.'s 10 best in grocery store fried chicken. Let's take a look…...

3+ hour, 7+ min ago (626+ words) Dining at a gourmet restaurant is fun, but I've always preferred finding an unexpected jewel. One unassuming gem I really used to enjoy was the now-shuttered Krispy Krunchy Chicken located inside a liquor store in Alhambra. Patrons generally entered to buy a Coke or a Powerball ticket " the place wasn't even conducive to buying a meal " in a mini mall with a way-too-small parking lot. But they ended up walking away surprised by the crispy treats. Krispy Krunchy delivered fried, yet tender and juicy breasts and wings at a reasonable price. Krispy Krunchy is a chain, and I've visited other locations, also in gas stations and small retail spaces, but they're never as good. That's why I was so glad to see Food columnist Jenn Harris' recent list, ranking L.A.'s 10 best in grocery store fried chicken. Let's take a look…...

4+ hour, 37+ min ago (1849+ words) In December 2020, a reader suggested I get in touch with a young Pasadena man named Edgar McGregor, who was approaching 500 straight days of picking up trash in local parks, including Eaton Canyon. I connected with McGregor by email but then got sidetracked by other things, as did he. Part of that risk, McGregor explained, is that when high-pressure air to the north and northeast is drawn toward low-pressure air along the coast, it gets compressed as it's funneled and slung through canyons, it accelerates as it descends Southern California mountain ranges, and it becomes dangerously dry, threatening everything in its path. "So, I credit my ability to forecast Jan. 7 " with my trash pickups," McGregor told me, explaining that he had taken full notice of the distressed ecosystem at Eaton Canyon after two straight years of drought, which produced a heavy…...

4+ hour, 37+ min ago (1849+ words) In December 2020, a reader suggested I get in touch with a young Pasadena man named Edgar McGregor, who was approaching 500 straight days of picking up trash in local parks, including Eaton Canyon. I connected with McGregor by email but then got sidetracked by other things, as did he. Part of that risk, McGregor explained, is that when high-pressure air to the north and northeast is drawn toward low-pressure air along the coast, it gets compressed as it's funneled and slung through canyons, it accelerates as it descends Southern California mountain ranges, and it becomes dangerously dry, threatening everything in its path. "So, I credit my ability to forecast Jan. 7 " with my trash pickups," McGregor told me, explaining that he had taken full notice of the distressed ecosystem at Eaton Canyon after two straight years of drought, which produced a heavy…...

5+ hour, 7+ min ago (829+ words) The most important college football story in these parts is about the downtrodden program from Westwood and whether it will leave its dump of a stadium in Pasadena. UCLA's incompetence has overshadowed every team in this market outside of the Dodgers and Lakers, and that includes USC. Which speaks to where USC stands right now. The Trojans have become afterthoughts in a market they once owned, and they only have themselves to blame. No. 17 USC used a dominant second half to earn a 29-10 win over crosstown rival UCLA at the Coliseum Saturday, retaining the Victory Bell. Their 29-10 victory over the Bad News Bruins at the Coliseum on Saturday didn't change that. The 17th-ranked team in the country, the Trojans are by no means a bad team. USC literally can't afford to buy out coach Lincoln Riley's contract, which means that…...