Southern California May be Overdue for Big Quake

According to a new study to be published next week, Southern California may be overdue for a powerful earthquake along the infamous San Andreas fault line.

New research conducted by scientists at the University of California, Irvine, claims large quakes have rumbled along the fault roughly every 137 years over the last 700 years. Previously, scientists had figured major earthquakes occurred on the line every 200 years or so.

Scientists analyzed the Carrizo Plain section of the San Andreas fault, which has not been witness to a massive earthquake since 1857, when one hit at an estimated magnitude of 7.9.

Moderate Quake Hits Southern California

A moderate earthquake hit Thursday evening at 7:49 p.m. in San Bernardino, with shaking noted from Los Angeles 55 miles to the west and south to Orange County.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, with the quake initially being reported as a 4.5-magnitude quake. The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported it at 4.9, then 5.0.

According to the USGS, the quake struck near the San Jacinto fault, which is part of the San Andreas Fault system.

UPDATE: 5.4 Earthquake Hits E-SE of Los Angeles

An earthquake recorded at 5.4 magnitude shook Southern California this morning, startling residents from Los Angeles to San Diego.

There were no reports of injuries or immediate damages, although several buildings in Los Angeles reportedly swayed for a few seconds.

Preliminary reports from the U.S. Geological Survey said the quake, which hit at 11:42 a.m., was centered 29 miles east-southeast of downtown Los Angeles near Chino Hills in San Bernardino County.

FRIDAY HEADLINES.....

NEWS

* The San Francisco City Attorney's Office has turned down a claim for physical and emotional injuries from two brothers wounded last Christmas by a tiger at the San Francisco Zoo. The city responded to attorneys for Amritpal and Kulbir Dhaliwal, saying there is no liability on the city's part. A friend of the Dhaliwal brothers, Carlos Sousa Jr., was mauled by a tiger, Tatiana. Police later killed the tiger.

* A California driver, who authorities say repeatedly drove under the influence of alcohol, has been charged with killing a 71-year-old woman and seriously injuring her 76-year-old friend after running through a red light and crashing into their car. Miguel Angel Gallardo, 45, Anaheim, is charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter by unlawful act with gross negligence while intoxicated, one felony count of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury, one felony count of driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or more causing bodily injury, one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol, and one misdemeanor count of driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or more. For more information, visit dailyinsurer.blogspot.com .

* A 4.1 earthquake hit Southern California shortly after 3:30 p.m. Friday. For more information, visit dailyinsurer.blogspot.com.

SPORTS

* The Utah Jazz hung on for a 104-99 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, cutting their deficit to 2-1 in the Western Conference semifinal series.

MONDAY HEADLINES.....

NEWS

* When can the Golden State plan on its next big earthquake? According to a just released report, don't be surprised if a sizeable quake hits the state by 2037. A new report says there is a 99.7 percent chance that a magnitude 6.7 or larger quake will strike California in the next 30 years. Southern California is slightly more at risk than Northern California, according to the report, which is a combined effort by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Southern California Earthquake Center, (SCEC) and the California Geological Survey. The last major quake to hit California was the 1994 Northridge quake which resulted in some $25 billion in damage and 72 fatalities.

* A man will spend several decades behind bars after receiving a 58-year sentence for kidnapping and raping a 22-year-old San Diego woman. Larry Eugene Wilson got the sentence nearly a decade after the crime. Authorities say Wilson kidnapped, then raped the woman numerous times back in July of 1999. The rapes reportedly took place in Balboa Park and at a trolley station in La Mesa. Authorities did not arrest the man until last year after DNA evidence proved he was the attacker.

* A reporter from KTTV (www.kttv.com), who alleged that Los Angeles Police Department officers used excessive force on her during a May Day 2007 protest at MacArthur Park, has filed a civil suit against the LAPD. Christina Gonzalez is asking for unspecified damages, claiming she was injured by police who targeted her among others because she was with the press and because she is Hispanic.

Editor's note: For more world and national news and opinions, please visit newsblip.blogspot.com .

EVENTS

* 7:10 p.m. (Dodger Stadium) Pittsburgh Pirates at Los Angeles Dodgers
* 7:15 p.m. (AT&T Park) Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco Giants