Tag: Southern California

Driver Found Shot Dead at End of High-Speed Chase in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES—Authorities are piecing together clues March 25 after a high-speed freeway chase ended with a crash on Melrose Avenue, where officers arrested a fleeing suspect and discovered the motorist shot dead and a handgun on his lap. Officers on a routine patrol driving northbound on the Hollywood (101) Freeway, just south of Cesar Chavez…


‘Tastes Like Chicken’ Wins Annual Frog Jumping Contest in San Juan Capistrano

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif.—The excitement of dozens of children and parents was audible at Los Rios Park as volunteers prepared three frogs for the city’s 7th annual Frog Jumping Contest. “Okay, you guys ready to race?” asked Jim Taylor, president of San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association—the hosting organization and the largest volunteer group in the…


Man Gets 55 Years in Prison for Fatal Shooting at La Mesa Motel

EL CAJON, Calif.—A man convicted of gunning another man down in the parking lot of a La Mesa motel was sentenced March 24 to 55 years to life in state prison. Lorenzo Bogus, 26, was convicted by an El Cajon jury of second-degree murder and a firearm-use allegation in the Sept. 10, 2021, shooting at…


Man Gets 7 Years to Life for Attack on Janitor in Irvine

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 25-year-old man was sentenced March 24 to seven years to life in prison for attempting to sexually assault a woman cleaning officers in Irvine after hours. Eduardo Godoy Gonzalez attacked the victim about 1:30 a.m. Feb. 6, 2019 in an office building at 17877 Von Karman. Orange County Superior Court Judge Terri…


Man Accused of Smashing and Killing Cat on Windshields in Huntington Beach

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 38-year-old man was behind bars March 24 on charges of slamming a cat against the windshields of cars in Huntington Beach, killing the animal. Beau Browning Watson pleaded not guilty Thursday to cruelty to animals and two counts of vandalism, all felonies, in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana. He was next…


Cal State System to Launch Dual Enrollment Program for Community College Students

The California State University (CSU) system is creating a program that allows community college students to enter a dual-admission agreement with one of CSU’s campuses—a program that the system is also hoping will boost its community college transfer enrollment numbers. The so-called Transfer Success Pathway program guarantees students’ admission to a CSU campus once they…


Rare Strain of Parasite That Killed California Sea Otters May Threaten Humans, Scientists Say

Scientists warned that a potent new strain of parasite that killed sea otters off the California coast could also threaten the health of other marine wildlife and humans. The parasite that causes toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii) is commonly found in sea otters, according to a joint study from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and…


Highway Patrol Seeks Help Catching Road Rage Shooter in Fountain Valley

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif.—California Highway Patrol investigators Thursday asked for the public’s help identifying a suspect in a road-rage shooting on the San Diego (405) Freeway in Fountain Valley this week. Police were called at 4:55 p.m. Tuesday about the shooting in the northbound lanes at the Euclid Street exit, according to CHP Officer Mitch Smith….


LAUSD, Union Reach Tentative Agreement After 3-Day Strike That Shut Schools Down

The union representing 30,000 Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) service workers who just concluded a three-day strike that shuttered the nation’s second-largest school system has reached a tentative labor contract with the district, officials announced March 24. The tentative pact still needs the approval of Service Employees International Union Local 99 members and the…


California Lawmaker Proposes ‘Ebony Alert’ Notification for Black Youth

California State Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) has introduced legislation to create an “Ebony Alert” notification system for police to notify the public when black youth between 12 and 25 years old go missing. Senate Bill 673 (SB 673), which is being discussed in the Senate Rules Committee this month, would bring more attention to black…