Marine mammal enthusiasts getting a show from blue whales

Unusually large numbers of the gigantic creatures off the Southern California coast are a boon for charter boat operators. A biologist believes the cetaceans are following vast clouds of krill.

Unusually large numbers of blue whales dining off the Southern California coast are providing marine mammal enthusiasts a rare opportunity to see Earth's largest creatures lolling in the waves and spouting misty plumes.

California to use new type of nationwide school tests

Through a federal grant, California will join 43 other states in replacing oft-maligned standardized exams.

With a federal award of $330 million, California and 43 other states joined Thursday to replace the much-maligned year-end English and math standardized tests with new nationwide tests that could better measure student learning and teacher performance.

Bell assessed illegal sewer fees

Property owners overpaid $621,737 in levies that were raised in 2007, California controller says. The finding comes several weeks after auditors found taxpayers were overcharged $2.9 million for a 'retirement tax.'

The city of Bell assessed property owners for sewer fees without getting required voter approval, according to the state controller's office, marking the second time auditors have found that taxpayers in the working-class city were overcharged.

Police identify woman in basement babies case

L.A. police say Janet Mann Barrie, a nurse, owned the trunk in which the remains of two babies were found in MacArthur Park. The next step, officials say, is determining to whom the children belonged.

She poses for the camera in front of a boxy Dodge roadster, wearing a flapper-style hat, a fur stole and an uneasy smile.

Gubernatorial candidate Brown says he can bring Californians together

At campaign stops in Oakland and City of Commerce, the Democrat says he wants to bridge Sacramento's partisan divide, deplores rival Whitman's 'negativity' and announces he will launch ads next week.

A fired-up Jerry Brown previewed his general election themes in two gubernatorial campaign stops Thursday, framing the state's present straits as a chance to bring Californians together for a common purpose.

Bell subpoenas Rizzo's personal e-mail account to see if he was using it to conduct city business

UC Irvine shortens but won't lift campus ban on Muslim group, students say

Son of Ventura couple stabbed to death tried to get intruder to leave

Brown's office reconsidering motion seeking to send Lisker back to prison

After serving 26 years for his mother's killing, Bruce Lisker was freed last year after his conviction was overturned. The state sought this week to have him returned to prison on procedural grounds.

A spokesman for California Atty. General Jerry Brown said Thursday that his office was reconsidering a move to have a man whose murder conviction was overturned last year sent back to prison on procedural grounds.

An image of border harmony

Old family photo memorializes a time of vibrant connection

Not long ago, my wife put up a black-and-white photograph in our living room. It shows her grandparents, very young— supposedly on a street in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

It's Westwood, not South Bend, for Anthony Barr, UCLA's new 'F-back'

Born into a family of Notre Dame players, the Loyola High standout chose to play in L.A. He'll debut in the opener at Kansas State in the Bruins' new 'pistol' offense as a hybrid back designed to create mismatches.

Born into a family of Notre Dame players, the Loyola High standout chose to play in L.A. He'll debut in the opener at Kansas State in the Bruins' new 'pistol' offense as a hybrid back designed to create mismatches.

For Lamar Odom, another championship has a nice ring to it

After winning another NBA title with the Lakers, Odom has his sights set on helping the United Stateswin the gold medal at the world championship in Turkey.

After winning another NBA title with the Lakers, Odom has his sights set on helping the United States win the gold medal at the world championship in Turkey.

Frank McCourt portrays wife as having an appetite for houses, financial security

Frank McCourt's testimony painted a picture of Jamie as a wife using the marital property agreement to aggressively grow her own separate nest egg that, like a mother bird, she fiercely protected from others, namely her husband.

Frank McCourt says that Jamie McCourt was wary of Dodgers purchase

Frank McCourt testifies that Jamie McCourt repeatedly told him she wanted financial security and was adamant that she have no financial exposure when he was considering buying the team.

Frank McCourt testifies that Jamie McCourt repeatedly told him she wanted financial security and was adamant that she have no financial exposure when he was considering buying the team.

USC wins shootout but defense is full of holes

Matt Barkley throws five TD passes and Marc Tyler looks good in Lane Kiffin's debut. But tackling is a problem as Hawaii outgains the Trojans.

Matt Barkley throws five TD passes and Marc Tyler looks good in Lane Kiffin's debut. But tackling is a problem as Hawaii outgains the Trojans.

NFL reduces Ben Roethlisberger's suspension to four games

Jerry Crowe: Dodgers fans, you are all witnesses

Text messages from press row…

Frank and Jamie McCourt finally landed in court this week, but this entire season has been a trial for Dodgers fans.…

Trojans look good and look awful in Lane Kiffin's USC debut

A strange ride begins for the Trojans, who move the ball on offense and struggle on defense.

"Where's Reggie Bush! Where's Reggie Bush!"

U.S. men still going strong at Open, even with Andy Roddick out

Mardy Fish and James Blake advance, and fellow Americans John Isner and Sam Querrey can join them in the third round with victories on Friday. On the women's side, Beatrice Capra emerges as a potential Cinderella.

Andy Roddick is out of the U.S. Open, and lately when Roddick is eliminated from major tournaments, it's the end of American men in the draw.

Bill Dwyre: Tennis royalty holds court in Central Park

Billie Jean King and Steffi Graf, a borough removed from one of their sport's crown-jewel events, are still spreading tennis gospel to the masses.

Thursday morning, well before summer in the city got dirty and gritty, dozens of girls gathered at the Central Park public tennis courts to await visiting royalty.