NEWS*
The federal government has billed a Chino slaughterhouse more than $67 million related to the largest U.S. beef recall in the nation's history. It was back in February that the USDA recalled some 143 million pounds of beef after reports showed that a number of the cows who were too weak or sick had been abused.*
Two men in their early 20s have been charged with murder for their reported participation in a Los Angeles robbery gone bad that left two teenage girls, their reported co-conspirators, dead. The two men were charged with two counts of murder and the special allegation involving personal use of a firearm. The two reportedly tried to rob a taxi on Tuesday as the two teen women were riding in the cab. After unsuccessfully trying to hold up the cab driver, the two men followed the cab with the girls in it. The cab driver lost control of the vehicle when one of the girls reportedly pulled a box cutter on him. The driver survived, the two girls were killed.
* A former Miss California USA is suing the pageant for $500,000, claiming she lost her crown due to racism on management's part. Christine Silva, who won the title last November, was told three days after winning the crown that there had been a "mistake" and that she was not the winner. Raquel Beezley was then crowned Miss California USA.
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SPORTS
* The Golden State Warriors fell one game out of the last playoff spot in the Western Conference with three games to go in a 114-105 loss to Denver. The Nuggets lead the Warriors by one game and own the tiebreaker between the two teams.
* The Los Angeles Lakers completed a season-series sweep of the Los Angeles Clippers with a 106-78 victory at Staples Center.
NEWS*
A brawl early today left a dozen inmates injured at the California Institution for Men. The Chino facility is the second one to see fighting this week. On Thursday, a statewide prison lockdown went into effect after three guards were stabbed at the state prison in Tehachapi. All three were in stable condition. Authorities do not believe the Chino brawl was related to the incident at Tehachapi.
* Although she was murdered nearly seven years ago, justice is arriving for a 20-year-old Cal Poly Pomona student, kidnapped and killed back in August of 2001. Henry Arnold Singer was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison. He pleaded guilty late last year in the death of Christina Burmeister. Co-defendant James Winslow Dixon Jr. was convicted in March of first degree murder (including special circumstance allegations of murder during a roberry and kidnapping). He will be sentenced early next month. The third person, Markeisha Dixon, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Burmeister was kidnapped on her way to a frat party. Her body was discovered the day after in the mountains above Azusa.
* California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced the arrests of nearly one dozen alleged Bay Area fraud perpetrators. Eleven subjects were arrested over the last week on numerous felony counts including insurance fraud, identity theft, possession of stolen property, and filing a false tax return. Wireless phone dealers, employees and customers were arrested for their purported involvement in a $2 million insurance scam. To see more on this story, visit dailyinsurer.blogspot.com/2008/04/bay-area-fraud-sweep-nets-arrests.html
SPORTS
* The Milwaukee Brewers scored five runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to post a 13-4 win over the San Francisco Giants in afternoon baseball.
* The Los Angeles Lakers clinched a playoff spot with a 112-108 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
EVENTS
* 7 p.m. (Angel Stadium) Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels - Home Opener
* 7 p.m. (Petco Park) Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres
* 7:30 p.m. (Staples Center) Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers
NEWS
