AP California News

By COLLIN BINKLEY, ANNIE MA and NOREEN NASIR Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — When she started writing her college essay, Hillary Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. About being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana and growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. About hardship and struggle. Then she

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer MILWAUKEE (AP) — Staring at a double-digit deficit midway through the fourth quarter without LeBron James available, Austin Reaves and the Los Angeles Lakers faced a clear choice. “It was one of those moments that you could either flip the page to tomorrow, get ready for that game or

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer MIAMI (AP) — Jonathan Kuminga controlled an offensive rebound midway through the third quarter and slapped the ball out to Stephen Curry, who connected on a 3-pointer from the “C” in the Heat Culture logo painted across midcourt. The Golden State bench roared in approval. So did tons of

By SUSAN HAIGH and TRÂN NGUYỄN Associated Press Famed American artist and sculptor Richard Serra, known for turning curving walls of rusting steel and other malleable materials into large-scale pieces of outdoor artwork that are now dotted across the world, died Tuesday at his home in Long Island, New York. He was 85. Considered one

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s life will be fundamentally different in the coming weeks and months without Ippei Mizuhara, his interpreter and constant companion ever since he moved to the majors from Japan. Although the changes caused by Mizuhara’s firing amid allegations of gambling and theft could be

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The federal government is asking a court to halt California’s enforcement of a rule requiring prison guards to be clean-shaven, saying it amounts to religious discrimination for Sikhs, Muslims and others who wear beards as an expression of their faith. The civil rights complaint filed Monday by the U.S. Justice Department

By BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer SAN DIEGO (AP) — The UConn Huskies pretty much wrecked every team they faced in the NCAA Tournament on the way to last year’s championship and the first two games this March Madness look awfully familiar. Up next is a wrinkle: A rematch with a San Diego State team

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyer said Tuesday that the searches of the rapper’s Los Angeles and Miami properties by federal authorities in a sex trafficking investigation were “a gross use of military-level force” and that Combs is “innocent and will continue to fight” to clear

MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler was ruled out of Miami’s game against Golden State on Tuesday night, one that comes with the Heat trying to escape the play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference. It was the 22nd time in 72 games this season that Miami played without Butler, who missed the team’s morning shootaround with

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyer said Tuesday that the searches of the rapper’s Los Angeles and Miami properties by federal authorities in a sex trafficking investigation were ”a gross use of military-level force” and that Combs is “innocent and will continue to fight” to clear

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyer says the searches of his properties were ‘excessive’ and that the music mogul is innocent.

SPARKS, Nev. (AP) — The city of Sparks has agreed to a $525,000 settlement with a former police officer who filed a lawsuit in 2021 accusing the city of violating his free speech rights by suspending him for contentious comments he posted on his private social media account. George Forbush, a 20-year veteran of the

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Golden State Warriors hired Kimberly Veale on Tuesday to be senior vice president of marketing and communications for their new WNBA franchise that begins play in 2025. Veale spent seven years in the WNBA with the Seattle Storm and Chicago Sky. She has been with the Warriors for the last

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Left-hander T.J. McFarland was acquired by the Oakland Athletics from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday for cash and was added to the 40-man roster. The 34-year-old agreed to a minor league contract with the Dodgers on Jan. 26 and had a 1.35 ERA in seven spring training games. He made

By STEFANIE DAZIO Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California police department has been handcuffed by Lego after the toy company asked the agency to stop adding Lego heads to cover the faces of suspects in images it shares on social media. The Murrieta Police Department has been using Lego heads and emojis

NEW YORK (AP) — Right-hander Phil Bickford was released by the New York Mets on Tuesday after clearing waivers, the second major league player cut loose this month after winning in salary arbitration. The 28-year-old reliever will receive $217,742 in termination pay rather than the $900,000 salary chosen by a three-person panel over the Mets’

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — If hikers, bikers, campers, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts haven’t encountered a mountain lion while in the California wilderness, they might know somebody who has. The big cats that can weigh more than 150 pounds (68 kg) live in diverse habitats across the state, including inland

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — The city of Berkeley, California, has agreed to halt enforcement of a ban on natural gas piping in new homes and buildings that was successfully opposed in court by the California Restaurant Association, the organization said. The settlement follows the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ refusal to reconsider a 2023