NEWHALL >> When Morgan Craft began her competitive shotgun career, the 23-year-old had someone to take aim at, to look up to: Kim Rhode. When Rhode began her competitive career, the only person the 37-year-old could relate to? Maybe A ie Oakley? No American woman had ever won an Olympic shotgun meda...

RIO DE JANEIRO >> So I arrived Saturday, fully expecting to see this entire city swirling downward and not just toxic Guanabara Bay, a body of somewhat water The Washington Post has nicknamed “the toilet bowl of Rio.” Hey, at least Guanabara Bay is doing its job in terms to handling all the waste, u...

The temperatures are warming up in languid late summer. Waves lap at crowded local beaches, people are on holiday and the livin’ is easy. That is, unless you’re Chris Lowe, the Shark Guy. Southe Califo ia beaches crowded with humans and the oceans teeming with a resurgent shark population mean that ...

DEL MAR >> Say one thing about trainer John Sadler — he knows how to celebrate his birthday. Sadler tu ed 60 Saturday and watched as the filly he saddled, Stellar Wind, snapped Beholder’s eight-race wi ing streak with a half-length victory in the $300,000 Grade I Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar....

A few months ago, Sam Mikulak joined his USA Gymnastics teammates for a pre-Olympic training camp in Rio de Janeiro. At one point during their stay, Team USA members toured the Rio Olympic Arena in the main Olympic Park, a short walk from the Atlantic Ocean. “When we walked in there I definitely got...

NEWHALL >> When Morgan Craft began her competitive shotgun career, the 23-year-old had someone to take aim at, to look up to: Kim Rhode. When Rhode began her competitive career, the only person the 37-year-old could relate to? Maybe A ie Oakley? No American woman had ever won an Olympic shotgun meda...

Playing volleyball in the Olympics wasn’t a lifelong goal, Taylor Sander says now. Yet he anticipated that this weekend’s flight to Rio de Janeiro would be emotional, as will be everything that follows over the next three weeks of Olympic activity. After all, it’s a long way from Norco to Rio. “I’ve...

If NBC really wanted to be honest about its marketing of the upcoming 2016 Olympic Summer Games, and if it’s been paying attention to how ABC has been recently gathering viewers with its retro-game show revival, this 17-night miniseries coming up might be better packaged as “Fear Factor: The Rio Boo...

A growing number of Southe Califo ia law enforcement organizations and leaders are voicing objections to a state ballot measure that would legalize recreational marijuana, saying it would make the state less safe. “I’m vehemently opposed to it,” Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said. “I think t...

America is crippled by crime, terrorism and economic stagnation. Or: Strength through unity guides an already great nation through myriad challenges. After seemingly endless months of debates and primaries, allegations and celebrations, and, at last, this month’s Republican and Democratic convention...

Violence and substance abuse are down among Califo ia students, but more have experienced harassment and bullying, according to a new health survey. Compared with its 2011-13 report, the Califo ia Healthy Kids Survey found that among more than 36,000 students in middle and high school, the percentag...

Q: You’ve said that the increase in shark encounters are a good thing because that indicates that sharks are coming back. I’m sure you’re aware that moms dropping their kids at surf camp might not see it that way. A: This has been something we talk about a lot. We have predator-ignorant populations....

Marine biologist Chris Lowe started tracking sting rays at Seal Beach about 15 years ago when lifeguards reported scores of beachgoers getting stung. That’s still the case today and there’s a couple reasons for that: • The Rays: There are as many as 16,000 of them – so numerous in places that the cr...

Each year, Americans throw out 66 billion pounds of food — organic material wasting away at the bottom of a landfill. While successful programs recycle tons of aluminum cans, glass, plastic, cardboard, and newspaper and help account for 63 percent of waste diverted from landfills in Califo ia, you c...

Q: You’ve said that the increase in shark encounters are a good thing because that indicates that sharks are coming back. I’m sure you’re aware that moms dropping their kids at surf camp might not see it that way. A: This has been something we talk about a lot. We have predator-ignorant populations....

Marine biologist Chris Lowe started tracking sting rays at Seal Beach about 15 years ago when lifeguards reported scores of beachgoers getting stung. That’s still the case today and there’s a couple reasons for that: • The Rays: There are as many as 16,000 of them – so numerous in places that the cr...

The temperatures are warming up in languid late summer. Waves lap at crowded local beaches, people are on holiday and the livin’ is easy. That is, unless you’re Chris Lowe, the Shark Guy. Southe Califo ia beaches crowded with humans and the oceans teeming with a resurgent shark population mean that ...

COMPTON >> The coroner’s office Saturday identified a 27-year-old carjacking suspect who was killed in a deputy-involved shooting in Compton. The shooting victim was identified as Los Angeles resident Do ell Thompson, according to Lt. Dave Smith of the coroner’s office. Thompson’s alleged accomplice...

LOS ANGELES >> One of the biggest jackpots in U.S. lottery history is on the line tonight, with the pot standing at $478 million for tonight’s drawing of the multi-state Powerball game. No tickets were sold with all six wi ing numbers in Wednesday night’s drawing, the 23rd since the last time a tick...

LOCKHART, Texas >> A hot air balloon carrying at least 16 people caught on fire and crashed in Central Texas on Saturday, causing what authorities described as a “significant loss of life.” Erik Grosof with the National Transportation Safety Board would not provide an exact number of how many people...