Southern California news stories on Newser

Stranded Dolphin May Have Been 'Bullied'

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 01 May 2012 08:40:47 CDT

The dolphin stranded in a shallow wetlands channel in California is still there, and one specialist says he may have been "bullied" into staying put. Rescue crews attempted to help the dolphin back into the open ocean Saturday, but a group of dolphins attacked it and forced it back into...

Dolphin Stranded in Wetlands

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:56:37 CDT

Marine mammal experts in Southern California have decided to wait and see whether a dolphin that strayed into a shallow wetlands channel can find its way out. The 7-foot-long black-and-white common dolphin made its way into Orange County's Bolsa Chica wetlands and was spotted swimming in tight circles near a...

Loyal Lab Sticks With Dog Pal Hit by Car

Mary Papenfuss — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:01:00 CDT

Doggone it, that's loyalty. A faithful black Labrador braved whizzing traffic to stick with a pal fatally hit by a car on a busy boulevard in Los Angeles County. A good Samaritan placed traffic cones to protect the dogs and took a cell-phone video of the arresting sight, and animal...

Homeless Killer Suspect Accused of 2 More Murders

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:20:05 CST

Authorities believe Itzcoatl Ocampo, the 23-year-old Iraq veteran charged with stabbing four homeless men to death in California, also killed two other people—ones that he knew. Ocampo will be charged today with the murders of Raquel Estrada, 53, and her 34-year-old son, Juan Herrera, the mother and brother of...

Serial Killer Stalking California Homeless

Mary Papenfuss — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:14:00 CST

Homeless Californians were packing shelters last night after discovering they're being stalked by a serial killer. The stabbing deaths of three homeless men in 10 days have been linked to a single "serious, dangerous serial killer operating in Orange County," police warn. A man wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt was...

Boy Scouts Refused to Report Serial Rapist

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 16:29:00 CDT

Boy Scout officials in Southern California failed to report a child-molesting Scout leader who went on to rape children in Canada, the Los Angeles Times reports. Former Scout leader Rick Turley starting molesting Scouts in British Columbia in the 1970s. He even kidnapped one, served time, and re-enlisted as a...

Blackout Side Effect: Sewage Closes Beaches

John Johnson — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:10:51 CDT

A really unfortunate side effect of the massive power shortage that hit Southern California yesterday: Miles of shoreline fouled with sewage. Beaches in the San Diego area are expected to be closed for at least two days after the pumps failed at a wastewater plant, causing about 2 million gallons...

Politician: Make 'South California' 51st State

Mary Papenfuss — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 04:06:00 CDT

A Riverside County politician is so sick of the "left wing" state government "ripping off" his wealthy constituents that he wants "South California" to become the nation's 51st state. Local Republican Supervisor Jeff Stone envisions a new state of 13 counties to escape the "ungovernable" financial catastrophe threatening to destroy...

Two Students Accidentally Shot at LA High School

John Johnson — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:10:51 CST

Two Los Angeles high school students were wounded when a gun accidentally discharged in their classroom today, say police. A female student was shot in the head (she's in critical condition) and a male student was hit in the shoulder. Witnesses and authorities say a 15-year-old student had a gun...