Santa Clarita Valley's Castaic Lake shines on national stage

The USA Swimming Open Water National Championships concluded Sunday with the men's and women's 5K races at lower Castaic Lake.

College of the Canyons football adapting to slew of changes

COC Insider: Cougars close season with two state titles

Tornadoes hit Kansas and Oklahoma; no injuries reported

EDMOND, Okla. (AP) - A powerful storm system rumbled through the Plains and upper Midwest on Sunday, spawning tornadoes that damaged homes and buildings near Oklahoma City and put the Tulsa area on high-alert.

Tejay van Garderen wins Tour of California

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) - Always close to the front but never first at the end, Tejay van Garderen would often wear himself out wondering if he could swap the white jersey that goes to the best young rider for the yellow one that goes to the winner.

Four-car crash causes traffic delays in Newhall

A multi-vehicle crash in Newhall stalled southbound traffic on Railroad Avenue Sunday afternoon, officials said.

Officer shot in Marathon showdown wants to work

BOSTON (AP) - With a bullet still in his body, the police officer who survived a showdown with the Boston Marathon bombing suspects said Sunday he's determined to return to duty.

UPDATE: Shooting victim identified

Officials with the County Coroner's office have identified the Canyon Country man shot and killed Thursday as 53-year-old Juan Mejia.

OJ Simpson lawyers say he is closer to freedom

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The latest high-stakes court hearing for O.J. Simpson in the glitzy capital of big gambles has come to a close with the former football star's defense team feeling confident that their client is closer to getting out of prison.

Tip leads to the arrest of a Canyon County man sought in shooting

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station deputies arrested a man who allegedly shot his father in the head late Thursday night in Canyon Country thanks to a tip supplied by a citizen, a sheriff's spokesman said.

'Trek' does $70.6M but falls short of studio hopes

LOS ANGELES (AP) - "Star Trek: Into Darkness" has warped its way to a $70.6 million domestic launch from Friday to Sunday, though it's not setting any light-speed records with a debut that's lower than the studio's expectations.

Tea party looks to take advantage of moment

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Is the tea party getting its groove back? Shouts of vindication from around the country suggest the movement's leaders certainly think so.

2 Calif. Powerball tickets have five of six numbers

SAN JOSE (AP) - California Lottery officials say two Powerball tickets sold in California have five of the six winning numbers. Officials say those tickets win $1 million each.

Fate of LA pot shops left to voters

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Los Angeles politicians have struggled for more than five years to regulate medical marijuana, trying to balance the needs of the sick against neighborhood concerns that pot shops attract crime.

David Hegg: Of progress and purpose

There is no debate that time marches on. The sun rises, shines, and sets, and then does it all over again, day after day. And each day we encounter the unknown components of a whole new 24-hour set of life experience.

Ducks beat Blue Jackets 3-2 for 5th straight win

ANAHEIM (AP) - The Anaheim Ducks looked lethargic in the opening 10 minutes against the NHL's worst team, when they were outshot 10-2.

Storm expected; local snow level to be low

A very cold upper-level low pressure system originating from the Gulf of Alaska is predicted to bring thunderstorms, snow, hail and rain to Southern California on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Valencia woman unharmed after robbery attempt

A Valencia woman is safe and unharmed after she snubbed two would-be robbers who held her at gunpoint, a local sheriff's spokesman said.

Long-missing WWII medals awarded in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A Southern California woman who grew up knowing little of her father - a heroic casualty of World War II - is now the proud owner of his long-lost battle medals, including a Silver Star and Purple Heart.

Branstad tries to attract California businesses

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Gov. Terry Branstad said Monday that he's heading to California in an effort to get West Coast businesses to consider setting up shop in Iowa.

Letters from Lennon killer to NY cop on sale in LA

NEW YORK (AP) - Letters from John Lennon's killer detailing his obsession with the novel "The Catcher in the Rye" to the police officer who arrested him went on sale Monday through a Los Angeles auction house.

Miles from sea, baby seal stops traffic in Carson

CARSON, Calif. (AP) - Drivers near Southern California's notorious Interstate 405 had reason to tone down their road rage when it was revealed the thing stopping traffic was a baby seal on city streets several miles from the ocean.

Man dies of injuries from SF Bay ferry crash

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The U.S. Coast Guard says an Oregon man injured in a high-speed crash on the San Francisco Bay between a ferryboat and a motorboat has died.

Fishing's decline looms; will fish eaters notice?

GLOUCESTER, Mass. (AP) - His city's best fishing days are long past it, but lifelong Gloucester resident Ron Gilson still sees what once was when he drives past what remains.

Climate contradiction: Less snow, more blizzards

WASHINGTON (AP) - With scant snowfall and barren ski slopes in parts of the Midwest and Northeast the past couple of years, some scientists have pointed to global warming as the culprit.

McCready's death comes month after boyfriend's

HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) - Mindy McCready, who hit the top of the country charts before personal problems sidetracked her career, died Sunday in Arkansas in an apparent suicide. She was 37.

First lady: Mid-life crisis led to bangs

PALM CITY, Fla. (AP) - Michelle Obama jokingly says a mid-life crisis is what inspired her new haircut with bangs.

UPDATE: Officials probe incident where pedestrian was hit running across I-5

A man seriously hurt when he was hit by two cars Friday had been running across the freeway at the time of the collision, an investigator with the California Highway Patrol reported.

Submerged superstorm debris threatens tourism

MANTOLOKING, N.J. (AP) - On the surface, things look calm and placid. Just beneath the waterline, however, it's a different story.

'Argo,' 'Zero Dark Thirty' get Writers Guild wins

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The CIA thrillers "Argo" and "Zero Dark Thirty" have won top screenplay honors from the Writers Guild of America.