Fork whets Pasadena's artistic appetite

The 18-foot-tall utensil was stealthily erected as a birthday present. Now the city is considering keeping it as a piece of street art.

Finding a deeper lesson in high school gang rape

Adults see Richmond High attack as the product of long-simmering immorality, indulgence and insensitivity.

Judge reinstates attempt to protect flat-tailed horned lizard

The ruling follows the 9th Circuit's rejection of a Bush administration policy against listing the reptiles as threatened. The Department of Interior is expected to make a decision by next November.

Suave con man targets visiting sports teams, entertainers

Burglar posing as part of athletes' and artists' entourages has stolen money and jewelry from hotels and locker rooms.

Schwarzenegger signs part of water package

One of the bills establishes a statewide program to measure groundwater elevations. The other adds 25 state enforcement officers to track down illegal water diversions.

Work begins on easing traffic in Baldwin Park

Crews break ground on carpool lanes on the 10 Freeway. The estimated $175-million project creates lanes that stretch about two miles in each direction from the 605 Freeway to Puente Avenue.

Michael Jackson's father seeks allowance from singer's estate

Joe Jackson, 81, says he has living expenses exceeding $20,000 a month. His attorney says the family patriarch doesn't have a regular income and was dependent on his son's money.

Pasadena to add more solar-energy trash cans

The City Council has approved 40 BigBelly self-compacting bins, in addition to the 12 already on the streets. The move will save the city more than $61,000 a year, an official says.

California Legislature tries to block steep cut in pay and perks

The attorney general is asked to determine whether an 18% pay reduction and car allowance cuts are illegal. Capitol managers say a citizens panel that decided the reductions exceeded its authority.

Some in California's high-risk groups may not get swine flu vaccine until 2010

Furor continues to grow over distribution of the vaccine. State official defends a decision to give vaccine to some private providers such as Kaiser Permanente but not to others.

Iraq war veteran's wife spared deportation

Frances Barrios, who was brought to the U.S. illegally as a child, receives humanitarian parole and can stay in Los Angeles and apply for a green card. Her husband suffers from post-traumatic stress.

Kaiser to open medical facility in South Los Angeles

The $10-million, 15,000-square-foot building will provide primary care and some specialty care to 80,000 members of the healthcare organization who live in the area.

Jamie McCourt is denied bid for reinstatement as Dodgers' CEO

Divorce hearing chief says the court can't rule on employment. Dodgers' ownership is seen as 'substantial' trial issue.

Algae bloom is stinking up south Orange County

Since last week, residents near the Upper Oso Reservoir have been dealing with a rotten-egg smell seeping into their yards and homes. It could be another week before the air clears.

California falls short in examining deaths of children

A law designed to allow public scrutiny of fatal abuse and neglect is unevenly enforced and leaves many unaccounted for.

Convicted killer is suspect in '97 double slaying in North Hollywood

L.A. police say DNA evidence ties a man serving time in state prison to the fatal stabbing of Nancy Boehm and her son, Shawn. Detectives allege that Nancy Boehm was involved in the sale of drugs.

Shel Dorf dies at 76; architect behind San Diego's Comic-Con

As a child, Dorf was an avid comic reader and collector. The first convention drew 300 people in 1970. More than 125,000 attended this year's edition of the pop-culture showcase.

Four arrested in fatal shooting at Santa Monica park

The slaying occurred in Virginia Avenue Park, next to a police substation and recreation center. Investigators are trying to learn if the killing was related to an earlier slaying in Venice.