THURSDAY HEADLINES.....

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.

TUESDAY HEADLINES.....

NEWS

* Two teen girls from Los Angeles were killed when a taxi cab crashed in City Terrace after one of the teens allegedly assaulted the driver of the cab. The reported assault led to the cab crashing into a concrete barrier. Two men in their early 20s were detained and are suspected of being involved with the girls in a reported plan to rob the driver, who survived the crash.

* The Olympic torch arrived in San Francisco in the early morning hours as more protests are feared over the next 24 hours. Making its only North American stop, the torch is to be carried through the city on Wednesday in a six-mile relay amid tight security. People are protesting this summer's 2008 games in China because of the country's human rights record.

* San Diego police will vote Wednesday on a new contract. While details of the proposed contract have not been released, it reportedly includes a pay raise. Most officers received a 9 percent pay raise a year ago.

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

SPORTS

* The dream of a national women's basketball title ended in the evening hours in Atlanta for the Stanford Lady Cardinal. Tennessee captured its eighth national crown with a convincing 64-48 victory over Stanford.

* The Oakland A's got one run in the ninth inning to post a 9-8 win at Toronto. Meantime, the Cleveland Indians got two runs in the ninth inning in a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels.