NEWS
* Authorities continue to investigate a month worth of freeway shootings that have killed three and wounded two. Police, however, say this past weekend's shooting on the 101 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley does not appear at this time to be connected to previous shootings. In Sunday's incident, a 20-year-old man was found with a fatal gunshot wound to his head in his crashed sedan. Less than 24 hours earlier, police were investigating a shooting in Long Beach where a man said a fellow motorist shot at him while driving on the 710 Freeway. That incident was characterized as a road-rage incident.*
Former President Bill Clinton spoke in San Jose on Sunday, telling those gathered that partisans need to "chill out" over fears that the Democratic Party is being torn apart in the current primary race between his wife, Hillary, and Sen. Barack Obama. Clinton spoke at the California Democratic Party state convention. The next big primary is slated for April 22 in Pennsylvania. Neither Obama or Hillary Clinton is expected to reach the necessary 2,024 delegates when all is said and done, which could lead to a bitter fight come convention time in Denver.
* State Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D) is backing legislation that would eliminate fees for having an unlisted phone number. If the bill is passed, it would prohibit phone providers from charging customers extra for having an unlisted number in phone books or being unlisted with directory assistance.
SPORTS
* The Los Angeles Lakers snapped a two-game skid Sunday night with a 126-120 overtime victory over the Washington Wizards.
EVENTS
* 1:10 p.m. (Dodger Stadium) S.F. Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers - Season Opener
* 7:10 p.m. (Petco Park) Houston Astros at San Diego Padres - Season Opener
* 7:30 p.m. (Staples Center) Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Clippers
NEWS*
A pair of brothers who were attacked by a tiger at the San Francisco Zoo have filed claims against the city. The two, Kulbir and Amritpal Dhaliwal, were injured and one other young male, Carlos Sousa, died in last December's attack. The claims against the city allege negligence and defamation. The tiger, Tatiana, was killed by police. Authorities had alleged that the three may have taunted the tiger prior to the attack.
* The great white hoax? Orange County lifeguards say they will not close the beach based on reports of a great white shark attack in the Huntington Beach area. A surfer reportedly said that a great white took a bite out of his surfboard while he was out in the water recently. Visit www.sharkresearchcommittee.com/index.html for reports of recent sightings in the area.
*
One fan at a baseball game definitely didn't make a hit with authorities. Roland Flores, 23, of La Puente, has been sentenced to one month in jail for hitting baseball player Mike Piazza in the head with a water bottle at a game last season at Angel Stadium. Piazza, who was playing with the Oakland A's at the time, was hit at the July 25 game. Flores, who was given three years' probation, barred from owning or possessing a firearm for a decade, was also ordered to stay away from Angel Stadium for three years.
SPORTS
* Kobe Bryant tallied 53 points, but it still did not keep the Los Angeles Lakers from losing to the lowly Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night, 114-111. Rudy Gay paced the Grizzlies, the NBA's worst road team, with 28 points.
EVENTS
* 1 p.m. (Staples Center) Dallas at L.A. Kings
* 7:30 p.m. (Staples Center) Memphis at L.A. Clippers
NEWS
* The selection of jurors began on Thursday in the trial of a Jehovah's Witness leader who is accused of molesting three girls in his congregation. Gilbert Simental (pictured) is alleged to have molested a 9-year-old and a pair of 10-year-old daughters of congregation members in his Murrieta home from 2005-06. The girls were reportedly at his home for visits and sleepovers.
* Two men are dead following a fatal shooting in the Exposition Park area of Los Angeles early Friday. The two, who were reportedly in their 20s, were gunned down in the early morning hours and police report no suspects at this time.
* A former San Diego councilman reportedly got caught with his pants down so to speak on Thursday. John Hartley, 65, was arrested Thursday afternoon in the Kensington area for allegedly masturbating and urinating in a cup. Hartley, who is running again for council in this June's election, was charged with indecent exposure and soliciting a lewd act. Hartley served on council in the early 1990s.SPORTS
* The San Jose Sharks went to overtime Thursday night to score a 3-2 win over Dallas. Meantime, Los Angeles skated to a 4-0 win over Phoenix at the Staples Center.
* Kevin Love poured in a career-high 29 points to lead UCLA to an 88-78 win over Western Kentucky in an NCAA West Regional. UCLA (34-3) meets third-seeded Xavier on Saturday.
EVENTS
* 7 p.m. (Honda Center) San Jose at Anaheim
* 7 p.m. (Arco Arena) Washington at Sacramento
* 7:30 p.m. (Staples Center) Memphis at L.A. Lakers
NEWS
* A new report from the Public Policy Institute of California (www.ppic.org) shows that residents are getting more nervous about the economy. Nearly three-fourths of adults believe the state is in a recession and just over three-fourths say the state and country for that matter will see tough times ahead in the coming year. Trust in government leaders also took a hit, with only 32 percent of residents saying the state government can be trusted when it comes to doing the proper thing the majority of the time. Nearly 60 percent believe legislators in Sacramento waste tax money. For more on the report, visit the PPIC.
* The Los Angeles Times has apologized for a story it ran about a 1994 attack on rapper Tupac Shakur, saying the story was partially relying on documents that were likely fabricated. The story looked at the reported rap war between West Coast and East Coast rappers. Shakur was killed in 1996.
* Former baseball manager Preston Gomez remained in critical condition after being hit by a pickup truck on Wednesday at a gas station in Blythe. Gomez reportedly suffered serious head injuries. The driver of the truck was not arrested. The 84-year-old, who played for the Washington Senators, managed the San Diego Padres, Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs.
SPORTS
* The University of California at Berkeley has fired men's head basketball coach Ben Braun. The Golden Bears missed out on the NCAA tourney for the fourth time in five years. Cal finished this season at 17-16 (6-12 PAC 10).
EVENTS
7 p.m. (HP Pavilion) - Dallas Stars at San Jose Sharks
7:30 p.m. (Staples Center) - Phoenix Coyotes at Los Angeles Kings - www.ticketmaster.com.
7:30 p.m. (Oracle Arena) - Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors
3/6:30 p.m. - (Arco Arena) - Pop Go The Wiggles Live
NEWS
* An afternoon pile-up that involved nine cars and a motorcycle left the always busy Golden Gate Bridge closed for more than an hour on Wednesday afternoon. Nine people were injured, including two critically, in the mid-afternoon accident. Commuters were forced to use a couple other alternatives to get around, including the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
* One firefighter was killed and another injured Wednesday in a blast at a building near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The injured firefighter was reported Wednesday evening in critical condition. Authorities reported the accident took place at 8800 Sepulveda Blvd.
* An earthquake shook the Newport Beach area on Wednesday. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake measured in at 3.1 and took place shortly before 8:30 p.m.
SPORTS
* Despite 27 points from Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers fell Wednesday evening to the lowly Charlotte Bobcats, 108-95.
* Mathieu Schneider and Teemu Selanne scored during the shootout for Anaheim as the Ducks posted a 2-1 OT win over the Los Angeles Kings Wednesday evening at the Honda Center.
gocalifornia is a blog dedicated to the Golden State. In here you will find news, features, sports, calendar of events and much more that is California. Whether living here, visiting here, or just wanting to know more about your native state or the place you've always wanted to visit, we'll do our best to keep you informed. Feel free to drop us an email and let us know what you want to see. We look forward to hearing from you!
NEWS
