Wanzhi Qu and Xiaohong Fei, father and mother of Ming Qu, and Xiyong Wu and Meinan Yin, parents of Ying Wu, filed the suit Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. They are seeking unspecified damages.

Wu and Qu, both 23-year-old electrical engineering students from China, were fatally shot during a downpour about 1 a.m. while sitting in Qu’s recently purchased 2003 BMW, which was double-parked in the 2700 block of Raymond Avenue.

Wu was found in the passenger seat and Qu on the steps of a nearby house where he collapsed while trying to summon help, Los Angeles police said.

USC attorney Debra Wong Yang today issued a statement in response to the suit.

“USC is deeply saddened by this tragic event, which was a random violent act not representative of the safety of USC or the neighborhoods around campus,” she said. “While we have deep sympathy for the victims’ families, this lawsuit is baseless and we will move to have it dismissed.

“As part of our support for the families we met with them and offered financial assistance as a gesture of kindness and sympathy. The attorney for the families subsequently instructed them to decline USC’s gesture and filed suit.”

According to the suit, USC “actively solicits international students particularly from China for its graduate studies program for which it receives a substantial sum of money from tuition to help fund the university.”

The USC website “extols the virtues of USC” and states the university “is ranked among the safest of U.S. universities and colleges, with one of the most comprehensive, proactive campus and community safety programs in the nation,” according to the suit.

However, USC does not provide patrols in the area where the students were killed and the campus is in a high-crime area, the suit states.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

KNX 1070′s Ed Mertz reports the gang enforcement team known as the “Jump Out Boys” has been under investigation ever since a pamphlet was found that described the group’s preference for aggressive policing.

A report in The Los Angeles Times said the clique admired and honored deputies who shot suspects and members reportedly had their own tattoos and symbols.

Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore was asked what should the public think about deputies reportedly celebrating shootings.

“The public can be rest assured that the sheriff’s department believes that certain behaviors will be just unacceptable, and so nobody is immune from that, and we will do what is necessary to ensure that all our deputy sheriff’s are behaving in an appropriate manner,” said Whitmore.

A lawsuit filed by deputies Chris Vasquez and Elizario Perez last May alleged excessive force had been used by an aggressive group of third-floor deputies at the Men’s Central Jail downtown.

The unidentified deputies are on paid leave.

Advance passes will be on sale at 10 a.m. through May 24 for the festival, which is scheduled for April 12-14 and April 19-21, 2013, according to Goldenvoice. It will be held over two consecutive weekends for the second year.

The sale will be the only time the new Coachella Purchase Plan will be offered, organizers said. The rest of the passes will go on sale early next year.

“The price you see is what you pay — prices reflect all fees included,” according to a statement on Coachella’s Facebook page.

General admission passes are $349 and VIP passes are $799. Passes cover either weekend. Camping, parking and shuttle passes will also be available.

The festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio was held over two weekends for the first time this year and sold out quickly.

To purchase tickets, click here.

The five-time Grammy Award winner was propelled to fame in the 1970s with hits such as “Hot Stuff”, “Bad Girls” and “Last Dance”.

Her other hits include: “She Works Hard for the Money”, “This Time I Know It’s For Real”, “On The Radio” and “I Feel Love”.

In 1980, she married Brooklyn Dreams singer Bruce Sudano. The couple had two daughters together.

Summer was 63 years old.

Dorothee Burkhart, 53, is fighting extradition to her native Germany, where she is wanted on a host of fraud charges.

Attorneys for both sides are expected to argue before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles F. Eick, who rejected a request to free Burkhart on bail pending Thursday morning’s proceedings.

The woman has described herself as the sole link between her “mentally ill” son, Harry, and “the outside world.” Her 24-year-old son faces trial on dozens of arson-related charges stemming from the series of fires that terrorized Los Angeles over four nights at the start of the year.

Her arrest pending extradition is thought to have sparked the arson rampage allegedly committed by her distraught son, her only child.

An attorney for Harry Burkhart asked Eick in court papers last week to temporarily suspend the extradition proceedings on the grounds that the mother is a key witness in her son’s case.

Dorothee Burkhart is accused in Frankfurt of subletting apartments that she did not own, failing to pay rent and security deposits on other locations, and defrauding a cosmetic surgeon out of about $10,000 for breast augmentation surgery for which she never paid, according to court papers.

The extradition process can take upward of a year, federal prosecutors said.
Harry Burkhart faces 100 felony charges related to 49 blazes set between Dec. 30 and Jan. 2. Most of the fires began in automobiles but usually spread to homes in Hollywood, West Hollywood, Sherman Oaks and surrounding areas.

His bail has been set at $7.5 million. A trial date has not been set.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

Last month, the board approved a roughly 3.9-mile extension of the so-called “Subway to the Sea,” from Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue to La Cienega Boulevard and Wilshire. Officials delayed action on the next two segments of the $5.6 billion extension so it can consider Beverly Hills’ objections.

Beverly Hills Mayor William W. Brien said that while residents of the city are “enthusiastic supporters” of the subway extension, they object to tunneling beneath “the historic core of Beverly Hills High School,” which may “preclude future construction” at the campus.

Councilwoman Lili Bosse said she also supports the Westside extension but wants Metro to closely study the proposed tunnel below BHHS.

“It’s been a very emotional issue, and I do believe we all want the same result,” she said. “We all want better public transportation.”

Citing earthquake risks and ridership data, Metro recommended a Century City station at Constellation Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars over an alternative stop at Santa Monica Boulevard and Century Park East. The selection means the subway would have to travel under a portion of BHHS.

Beverly Hills city and school district officials have disputed Metro’s seismic studies and said building the station at Constellation Boulevard would be more expensive.

“We only ask all of the science available be reviewed,” Beverly Hills Councilman Barry Brucker said.

But County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, a member of the Metro board, insisted there are subway tunnels built under courthouses, homes, schools and businesses elsewhere that have caused no problems.

In any case, he said, the start of construction near the Beverly Hills campus is “a long way off.”

“There is room to talk and room to make this work for everyone concerned,” Yaroslavsky told the crowded meeting hall.

He added that the Westside is a major destination point for people from throughout the Southland.

“People will be coming from all over the region because the Westside — for better or for worse — has become a major employment center,” the supervisor said.

Yaroslavsky warned that if the subway extension did not feature a Century City stop, it would be a mistake of historic proportions. Such an error, he said, would be “added to the list of mistakes” such as not linking a rail line to Los Angeles International Airport and failing to build a Red Line stop at the Hollywood Bowl.

He also said that if the issue was going to lead to a court battle with Beverly Hills, “let’s get that started now …. because the sooner we can begin construction, the sooner we can bring traffic relief to this region.”

In the first phase of the extension, the train will stop at La Brea and Fairfax avenues and La Cienega Boulevard. Future segments would take the train south toward Century City, then west, with stops on Wilshire near UCLA and the Veterans Administration hospital just west of the San Diego (405) Freeway.

When complete, riders would be able to travel from downtown to Westwood in 25 minutes, according to Metro officials, who predict an average 49,300 weekday boardings.

Draft environmental documents put the cost at $4.36 billion in 2009 dollars. The final documents calculate the projected cost using the estimated value of the dollar in 2022, when the first phase is scheduled to open.

The subway route does not go all the way to the coast — although it is often dubbed the “Subway to the Sea.”

Metro hopes to break ground on the extension by the fall of 2013.

KNX 1070′s John Brooks reports city officials on Thursday encouraged Angelenos to leave their cars at home if they plan to visit the STAPLES Center.

Almost every major sporting event will be represented through Sunday, including six NHL and NBA playoff games, a Dodgers homestand and a cycling race — which means officials are also expecting some big-time traffic tie-ups.

The LAPD will deploy an increased number of motorcycle officers in the area as well to keep traffic moving as the Kings, Clippers and Lakers all host multiple home games at Staples and the Am Gen state-wide bicycle race crosses the finish line right across from L.A. Live.

But the warning for fans to ditch their cars may not hold much sway with commuters who will head to the games straight from work.

“I’m driving,” said one man. “It’s the only way I can get to the game.”

Officials are touting transportation alternatives such as the Red Line subway, the Blue Line train and the newly-opened Expo Line to take fans the arena on Figueroa in the heart of downtown.

Fans can also get to any of the Dodgers homestand games against the St. Louis Cardinals from Union Station on pre-shuttle buses to Dodger Stadium.

While the weekend may seem like a living dream for sports fans, Michael Roth, vice president of communications at AEG, said he hopes it will also showcase the myriad of transportation options available to the city.

“There’s no doubt in anybody’s mind that people have alternatives to come down, and there’s also no doubt that there’s more than 40,000 parking spaces within a 15-minute walk to STAPLES Center either,” said Roth.

Click here for a full schedule of events at the STAPLES Center this weekend.

Click here for a detailed parking map for events scheduled on May 20.

In particular, fans driving to STAPLES Center should be aware that street closures closest to STAPLES Center on Sunday will include:

• Figueroa Street from Pico Blvd. to Olympic Blvd
• Chick Hearn Court from Flower Street to Georgia Street
• Pico Blvd. from Flower Street to Figueroa Street
• Flower Street from Pico Blvd. to 11th Street
• Olympic Blvd. from Figueroa Street to Olive Street
• Olive Street, North of Olympic Blvd.
• 11th Street from Flower Street to Hill Street
• Hill Street, North of 11th Street

All of the above streets will be re-opened prior to the end of the Kings game.

Pedestrian bridges for fans wishing to cross Figueroa Street on foot have been erected at Figueroa Street just North of Chick Hearn Court/11th Street (same street) and Figueroa Street just North of Pico Blvd.

All eight NBA and NHL playoff games, including Saturday and Sunday STAPLES Center “doubleheaders” and the Amgen Tour of California will be broadcast live on U.S. network television and to millions more thru International networks of affiliates focusing worldwide attention yet again on Los Angeles and the best of professional sports.

FULL SCHEDULE AND QUICK FACTS

• Thursday, May 17th at 6:00 p.m. – Kings vs. Phoenix Coyotes (Game 3)

• Friday, May 18th at 7:30 p.m. – Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 3)

• Saturday, May 19th at 12:30 p.m. – Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs (Game 3)

May 20, 2012 at L.A. LIVE and STAPLES Center

• Saturday, May 19th at 7:30 p.m. – Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 4)

• Sunday, May 20th (from 10:10-11:45 AM – Amgen Tour of California (beginning on Rodeo Drive and entering downtown 5-mile circuit at approximately 10:35)

• Sunday, May 20th from 8:00 -9:30 a.m. – “Nissan Ride Before the Pros” (taking place on a closed 5-mile course from Temple & Spring Sts. to STAPLES Center)

• Sunday, May 20th at 12:00 p.m. – Kings vs Phoenix Coyotes (Game 4)

• Sunday, May 20th at 7:30 p.m. – Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs

• STAPLES Center has done 127 doubleheader conversions in 13 seasons. In the 2011-12 season the arena has hosted 19 doubleheaders so far (this weekend will make it 21).

• Converting from Hockey Ice to Basketball Court takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete.

• Converting from Basketball Court to Basketball Court takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete

• The double header conversion team consists of 35 workers on the event floor with an additional 125 members of a cleaning crew to clean the one million square foot arena. There are also workers in the catering, broadcast and event services departments participating in the conversion.

• STAPLES Center has 168 Suites and 53 Refreshment Stands

• On Sunday, May 20th the LA Kings will have 20,000 fans at STAPLES Center for 12:00 p.m. game; The Amgen Tour of California anticipates over 30,000 fans along the race route from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and the Los Angeles Convention Center will have two conferences that will host over 18,000 guests. Fans our encouraged to leave plenty of time when heading to STAPLES Center or L.A. LIVE and to use pubic transportation.

The Celtics captain put in 24 points in Boston’s 101-91 Game 3 victory over the 76ers in Philadelphia, putting his knee injury behind him and getting aggressive when it came to pretty much every aspect of the game.

“Whether I shot the ball well or not, everything I was going to do was being with aggression,” Pierce said.

Aggressive might be an understatement. Pierce was in attack mode early on, even if his shots weren’t falling. Early in the first quarter, he missed four shots from close range, but it was the fact he fought for the three put-backs in the paint that showed he was determined to make a difference after scoring just seven points in Boston’s Game 2 loss.

He continued to go strong to the basket, following up his early misses with two ferocious dunks. Pierce finishing with nine points in the first 12 minutes of the game. He ended up hitting six of his 17 attempts from the floor, but did most of his damage at — and getting to — the free throw line. After just two trips to the charity stripe on Monday, Pierce found his way to the line 14 times in Game 3, scoring 11 of his points at the line.

Special Coverage: NBA Playoffs

He made it known to all of Philly when he was making his way to the line, following each drive to the hoop with an aggressive scream that would make Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart” jealous.

“Everything I was going to do was going to be aggressive because they were really collapsing on me on the down-screens, on my jumpers,” said Pierce. “I just tried to get to the hole and I was able to get to the line; able to get to the rim a number of times. It’s something I have to continue to do.”

“Paul is just a grinder,” head coach Doc Rivers said following the win. “He really is. You look at him at times and you wonder, ‘How is this guy getting open?’ He just has great fundamentals. He never does it with speed. He just knows how to play basketball. He’s a throwback guy, that he knows how to play basketball. We jokingly call him our ‘professional scorer’ and that’s what he is in a lot of ways.”

“[Pierce] played great for us tonight,” said point guard Rajon Rondo, who scored 23 points of his own while dishing out 14 assists. “Paul has been struggling scoring, but he has been doing the intangibles. On those [first-quarter] drives, he didn’t get some calls early in the game and thought they were fouls, so he went out and was aggressive and finished strong.”

Recap: Thunder Go Up 2-0 On Lakers

Pierce had been just 5-for-20 in the series in the first two games, but helped the Celtics send a message as they took a 2-1 series lead. While he only added four assists, he credited the team’s ball movement for getting the offense going.

“Our offense finally came alive,” Pierce said. “We moved the ball. We knew that’s what we were going to have to do to score 100 points.”

“We just wanted to come out and establish who we are as a team,” Pierce said.

They certainly did that. Now they just need to keep it going on Friday night.

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The Los Angeles Police Department has issued a predator alert after a woman was sexually assaulted early Wednesday morning.

The victim was walking home from The Darkroom bar at Melrose Avenue and Poinsettia Place just after midnight when she was attacked and raped in an alley.

Neighbors say they’re shocked and concerned.

“This happened just across from my house. This is a friendly and decent neighborhood. Hard to believe it could happen here. I’m now concerned about walking after midnight,” Evie Lago said.

Officials are asking women to walk in lighted areas and stay away from alleys.

No other details were immediately released.

It worked twice, and the Eastern Conference finals are all even, as a result.

David Clarkson scored a tip-in goal off Adam Henrique’s shot 2:31 into the third period to break a tie and lift the Devils to a 3-2 victory over the Rangers that squared the series at one game apiece on Wednesday night.

“It’s a very hard building to play in, and 1-1 sounds much better than down 2-0,” Devils captain Zach Parise said. “We’re happy. We would have liked to have snuck out of here with two wins, but it didn’t happen.

“We’ll take 1-1.”

For the third straight series, the Rangers are wondering what went wrong in Game 2 after they took the opener. They stressed how important it would be to grab a 2-0 lead, which would have been their first two-game edge in this postseason, but didn’t provide the necessary effort to get it done.

New York was riding high after its 3-0 series-opening win on Monday night, but now has relinquished home-ice advantage again.

“You need to improve as a hockey team every game,” said succinct and disappointed coach John Tortorella, who declined to say what areas were deficient.

Game 3 will be Saturday in New Jersey.

Clarkson built off the momentum created by Ryan Carter’s deflected goal late in the second that tied the game, 2-2. Ilya Kovalchuk had given the Devils a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal in the first. Defenseman Bryce Salvador added two assists, and Martin Brodeur stopped 23 saves for his 108th playoff win.

Clarkson has three goals in this postseason, and every one has been a winner, including the clincher against Philadelphia in Game 5 of the second round.

“Mr. Clutch? I don’t know about that,” Clarkson said. “I’m going to skate up and down and finish the checks and just bounce off people. It’s just a great feeling to be able to contribute. To get a tip on that felt pretty good.”

New Jersey had 26 attempted shots blocked in Game 1, five more than they got through to goalie Henrik Lundqvist. The Devils cut the blocks to 16 on Wednesday and managed to get 27 on goal — two more than New York.

“That team blocks so many shots,” Clarkson said. “It’s unbelievable how many. I think we found a way to shoot it and get sticks on it, and definitely that was big for us.”

Marc Staal and Chris Kreider scored power-play goals in the second for the top-seeded Rangers, who received 24 saves by Lundqvist.

New Jersey got even at 2 when Salvador wound up for a shot at the blue line and fired a drive that Carter — with his back to the net — brilliantly deflected past Lundqvist with 1:51 left in the second. Marian Gaborik stood up straight in front of Salvador, but didn’t drop down as many of his teammates have to try to block the shot. For that, he was pinned to the bench by Tortorella, even through New York’s power play in the third.

Gaborik returned to the ice with 8:40 remaining as the Rangers pressed to tie.

The Devils kept the pressure on the Rangers at the start of the third and wiped out the good work the Rangers displayed in the second.

“It was a much different reaction when we went down by a goal than it was in the first game,” Parise said. “We didn’t change the way we played, and I think that was a big difference. We were comfortable with how we were playing.

“All I think they got was really on their power play.”

After spending much of the first trapped in their own end, the Rangers rebounded to erase their early deficit and briefly take the lead thanks to the previously inept power play.

With Alexei Ponikarovsky off for interference, Staal fired a shot that sailed wide of the net and struck the back boards before popping back in front and pinballing into the net off Salvador and Brodeur at 2:23. The goal was originally credited to Derek Stepan, who was in front, but the puck managed to miss him both on the way toward the net and on the bounce back.

“I saw most of the pucks, but the Rangers came out hard,” Brodeur said. “They were around me a lot, and there were some bad bounces. It’s such a tough place to play sometimes here. There are bad bounces, and the boards are terrible.”

Staal nearly netted another moments later when he ripped a drive that Brodeur had to lunge fully to his left to snare with his glove.

Kreider, the rookie from Boston College, scored for the second straight game to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead at 12:19. Anton Stralman let go a shot from above the right circle that ticked Kreider’s stick and fluttered past Brodeur for the rookie’s fourth goal. He had to wait to get it because it was first given to Stralman before being changed during a commercial break.

But that was hardly the longest delay of the night. Before Kreider’s power-play goal, the action was stopped for about eight minutes as arena workers struggled to get the door to the Devils’ penalty box opened. Travis Zajac stood patiently as he waited to have a seat in the box. He even managed to laugh as did New Jersey coach Peter DeBoer and the usually stoic and agitated Tortorella.

Zajac, who first was sent to the Rangers’ box, stayed in New Jersey’s sin bin for only 1:47 before Kreider scored the Rangers’ second power-play goal of the night.

New York registered the first six shots of the period before New Jersey had its first about eight minutes in, but the teams were even at 17 through 40 minutes.

Lundqvist had a bit of glove magic of his own midway through the second when a shot by Anton Volchenkov was deflected by Kovalchuk but tracked and grabbed by Lundqvist.

The Devils got their elusive first goal of the series, and the all-important lead in the game, when Kovalchuk connected on the power play late in the first period.

After Brian Boyle was sent off for slashing Parise, the Devils continued their puck-possession prowess in the Rangers’ end. New Jersey moved the puck all around the zone in search of a clean shot that could get past the diving New York defense and perhaps challenge Lundqvist, who made 21 saves in the series-opening win.

Marek Zidlicky curled with the puck to the center of the blue line and slid a pass down to the left circle to Kovalchuk, who calmly and patiently drifted in and snapped a shot up and under the crossbar in the upper corner of the net for his sixth goal of the playoffs and fourth on the power play.

“We had to keep going to the net, and I think we were doing some good things,” Clarkson said. “We’ve been playing some good hockey and we’ve got to continue to do it. That is a big win for us.”

The Devils didn’t record a shot on goal until 6:01 in when Patrik Elias put a wrist shot in on Lundqvist, but New Jersey finished the first period with an 8-5 edge in shots — despite having six more blocked by the Rangers.

Whether Brodeur was kidding or not about wanting Rangers to be injured by blocking shots, the home team wasn’t deterred from getting in front of drives. New York forward Brandon Prust was doing a bit of a dance in front of the dangerous Kovalchuk, trying to deny any potential drive, even though he was defending without a stick.

“We have to try to get in lanes,” Rangers captain Ryan Callahan said. “Try to limit their time with the puck. If we do that, they are not going to have time to shoot.”

When Kovalchuk finally scored later in the period, he let out a big yell — part celebration and an exclamation of relief — as he skated in front of the glass behind the net.

“We have built some momentum,” Brodeur said. “And now, we have to try to take that into our building, and make our building a tough place to play.”

NOTES: The Rangers were 10 for 61 (16.4 percent) on the power play in the postseason before Wednesday. This marked the second time they netted a man-advantage goal in consecutive games, but the fourth time they scored two in a game. … The Devils returned defenseman Peter Harrold to the lineup and sat rookie Adam Larsson. Harrold replaced Larsson in the lineup late in the season and started the first nine postseason games. Larsson played in the previous five games.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

This has helped the marine layer to develop, but more importantly, it’s kicking up some advisory level winds up in the high desert.

Watch for the worst of it this afternoon and evening. There will be partly cloudy skies as the trough passes and temperatures will drop down from the 80s we saw yesterday.

Later tonight into Friday morning, the marine layer could be strong enough to squeeze out some drizzle. A ridge nudges over for the weekend to warm us up a little bit, however, inland cities will notice the warm up more than basin and coastal cities. A warming trend will continue into next week.

Beaches – upper 60s
Basin – mid 70s
Valleys – mid 80s
Deserts – low 90s
Mountains – mid 70s

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — International boxing star Manny Pacquiao denied allegations on Monday that he said homosexuals should be “put to death” after an interview that got him banned from one of the city’s most popular destinations.

Pacquiao was scheduled for an interview on Wednesday afternoon with Mario Lopez of TV’s “Extra” at The Grove in Los Angeles, but that appearance may be in jeopardy after comments he made to in response to President Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage last week.

The Philippine lawmaker told the National Conservative Examiner that he believes the Bible is very clear on the issue of homosexuality and that the President’s comments are in direct contradiction to Scripture.

“God’s words first,” Pacquiao told the Examiner. “Obey God’s law first before considering the laws of man.”

Granville Ampong, the writer of the article — but not Pacquiao himself — went on to quote a passage from the Old Testament book of Leviticus, which states that “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

That interview prompted a statement from Grove VP of corporate affairs Bill Reich which read, “Based on news reports of statements made by Mr. Pacquiao we have made it be known that he is not welcome at The Grove and will not be interviewed here now or in the future.

“The Grove is a gathering place for all Angelenos and not a place for intolerance,” the statement concluded.

But now Pacquiao said his statements were taken out of context and that he never stated that anyone in the gay community “deserved death”.

“I didn’t say that, that’s a lie…I didn’t know that quote from Leviticus because I haven’t read the Book of Leviticus yet,” he said.

However, Pacquiao did affirm that he remains opposed to the “marriage of anyone that is not Man and Woman as he believes is stated in the Bible.”

As of late Wednesday morning, neither Pacquiao or Lopez had updated their Twitter accounts to reflect any cancellation.

Pacquiao appeared on Extra — but not filmed at The Grove — to apologize to the gay community.

“To the gay community I apologize if I did something, but all I said was I was against same-sex marriage. But I am not condemning you. My favorite expression is, ‘Love one another…as you love yourself, love thy neighbor,’” Pacquiao told Extra.

Carlos Parra, 20, of Santa Ana, was arrested Wednesday and booked on suspicion of felony hit and run. Rebecca Beltran, 24, also of Santa Ana, was arrested on suspicion of aiding in a felony, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Ray Payton.

Lady Audree Rebecca Hernandez, 26, and her 2-year-old daughter, Miranda Palacios, were struck as they crossed Gilbert Street on Feb. 6. Palacios, who was riding in a stroller, was killed.

Hernandez suffered multiple injuries, including a broken pelvis and back, as well as ankle and foot fractures.

The 1995 Nissan Maxima involved in the collision had been stolen and was later recovered near the crash.

Police planned to announce more details about the case during a news conference Thursday morning.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

LAKE ARROWHEAD (CBS) — In 1986, Thom Bierdz — the actor who plays Phillip Chancellor on “The Young and the Restless — was on top of the world.

He was on the cover of every soap magazine, incredibly popular, beloved by the fans.

Three years later, at the peak of his career, unspeakable real-life tragedy occurred. His brother, Troy, murdered their mother, Phyllis, in his hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Bierdz recently sat down with CBS2 anchor Pat Harvey — at his “tree house,” a very secluded mountain getaway in Lake Arrowhead, hours away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood. They talked for hours about his long journey — a journey that also includes forgiving his brother.

“I’ve dealt with some horrible stuff,” says Bierdz.

Younger brother Troy Bierdz murdered their mother in her kitchen, hitting her with a baseball bat. Thom’s brother was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. It’s all detailed in his harrowing book, “Forgiving Troy.”

His brother wasn’t properly diagnosed for years. He’s currently in prison for the murder. “I was shocked that it happened. I was shocked.” Thom and his siblings were caught off guard. They knew he had problems but nothing could have prepared them for the murder. “I learned later how much he had threatened her. And how much help she tried to get him.”

Getting to a point of forgiveness, obviously, wasn’t easy. “I was angry at my brother for killing. And I was mad at my mother for dying. I knew, there had to be a better picture.”

And that bigger picture, Harvey discovers is in his canvas. For eight years, Bierdz has become a successful artist. While he still acts (Phillip is currently in Australia tending to a busted knee), it’s painting that has become his main occupation and his saving grace. Nature, animals, portraits, straight males portrayed as fictionalized gay couples, his beloved dog — he captures them all in vivid, vibrant colors.

“Painting makes me feel good. I do project after project. It connects me to the now. Now, I’m not too horrified of the past or anxious about the future. That’s what puts me in a good place.”

It took more than 20 years to write “Forgiving Troy.” In the book, he shares feelings of guilt, shame, loneliness. The parts about learning to forgive are especially poignant and moving. “I wanted to show had bad things could go and how good things can go from that.”

For siblings fighting over petty slights, he’s hoping the book can teach people positive messages. And he thinks people can relate, even if they haven’t had unspeakable family tragedy like his. “They get what it’s like to be siblings at odds. They get how it’s like to get mental illness in the family, and how to deal with that. They get what’s it’s like to run away from something.”

Bottom line, he doesn’t want to see people in the kind of pain he’s had to overcome. “My intention is to help people. If I can do that, if I can help people … I love that.”

For more information about “Forgiving Troy,” Thom’s acting career and his art, go to his website, ThomBierdz.com. He is also president of the American Art Awards, an organization that helps get artists discovered and introduced to galleries. Click here for more info about AmericanArtAwards.com. You can also follow him on twitter @ThomBierdz or friend him on Facebook, Thom Bierdz and Thom Bierdz II.

NEWBURY PARK (CBS) — A woman is packing up her home after being served an eviction notice — a situation that drove her husband to commit suicide.

“I lost my husband and it hurts me like hell,” said Oriane Rousseau, whose husband, Norman, took his life Sunday after an eviction notice was placed on their front door.

Norman’s death has delayed the eviction but Oriane said it’s difficult for her to stay in the home where he died.

“I don’t want this to happen to anybody. This is horrible. I lost my husband. I lose my pets, I lose my house, I lose my furniture, everything…for nothing,” Rousseau said.

The family bought the home 13 years ago and used their life savings to put 30 percent down.

In 2006, their dream home became a nightmare. The family said they were talked into a new loan, an adjustable rate mortgage. Then, the couple was accused of not paying their mortgage. But Rousseau showed CBS2 News a cashed cashier’s check used to pay Wells Fargo Bank.

The family then applied for loan modification. Rousseau said they were told not to make payments because it would disqualify them.

(credit: CBS)

Then, a letter of default arrived. Rousseau said they were told to ignore the letter — it was part of the loan modification process.

In late 2010, the family found out their loan modification had been denied and that the bank was selling their home.

“I had the money…I had the money. I had everything to make that work,” Rousseau said.

They were given two days to reinstate their loan but the Rousseau family couldn’t come up with the cash in time.

“[Norman] was fighting tooth and nail, everything that he could do,” Rousseau said of her husband.

The home sold on Nov. 22, 2010, but their attorney got them a stay, which was later dissolved.

Last week, the bank told the family they had five days to get out of their home.

Norman bought a motor home so his wife and his stepson wouldn’t get turned out onto the street.

“He was a family man. He cared for his family a lot. He was so worried where we were going to go,” Rousseau said.

The motor home stopped working as soon as Norman drove it to their house. The family had run out of options.

The next day was Mother’s Day and, that morning, Norman shot himself in the couple’s bedroom.

“He saw there was no more way out and there was no where to go and…he snapped,” Rousseau said.

At the attorney’s request the bank has granted the family extra time in the home but Oriane said she can’t bring herself to stay there.

“I cannot be here anymore with what has happened with that blood bath in there, I can’t,” Rousseau said.

Rousseau has spent all her money on legal bills. She and her son are staying in a donated hotel room.

Oriane said she wants changes to the home mortgage system so no other family has to endure what she’s been through.

SHERMAN OAKS (CBS) — Proud parents like nothing better than to show off their children, but in the age of social media, it is easy to go too far. It’s a practice that is being dubbed “oversharenting”.

Jill Cordes of Los Feliz is a proud mother of two and a blogger for Parents.com, where she shares insights and sometimes intimate details.

“First poop, first pee, diapers/not diapers, circumcised/not circumcised,” Cordes explained in a nutshell.

With all the social networking sites out there, the daily events and accomplishments of Fia and Emmett
are instantly available to the world.

“In this day and age, it’s really cool to be able to express all that in this online forum,” she said.

But who can blame her, right?

“Your kids are going to get older and they’re going to get on the Internet and Google all kinds of things,” said Carin Goldstein, a marriage and family therapist in Sherman Oaks.

“Is she going to be embarrassed when she is a teenager and has her first boyfriend and then her first boyfriend can Google when she had her first poop,” Cordes wondered?

It is a new term that fuses the words over-sharing with parenting — Oversharenting. You know, TMI via technology.

But when are you oversharenting?

Goldstein, who is also a parent blogger, believes that when you are over analyzing, you are probably over doing it.

“If you have to think, ‘Is this crossing the line?’ Don’t do it,” she said.

“Since everything is so instant, will we just instantly forget? Maybe so. Maybe my kids won’t hate me for that. I certainly hope they don’t,” Cordes said.

“We’re not perfect. Sometimes it is the only thing that is on your frontal lobe, but it’s important to stand back and just think about how much if this is too much,” Goldstein said.

Jim Eppard was with the Angels for the first time as hitting coach after replacing Mickey Hatcher, who was unceremoniously dumped Tuesday night by new general manager Jerry DiPoto 1 1/2 months into Hatcher’s 13th season on the job. The team’s offensive struggles led to the firing, including Pujols’ slow start after signing a 10-year, $240 million contract as a free agent.

It was an easy transition for Eppard, who is in his 10th season in the organization and nurtured current Angels players Howie Kendrick, Kendrys Morales, Mark Trumbo, Erick Aybar, Peter Bourjos and Bobby Wilson as the hitting coach at Triple-A Salt Lake.

Jerome Williams (4-1) won his fourth straight decision, allowing two runs and 10 hits over eight innings with five strikeouts and no walks. Last Friday at Texas, the right-hander relieved C.J. Wilson the night before his scheduled start because of a 56-minute rain delay – then gave up six runs and 11 hits in 6 2-3 innings without getting a decision because the Angels were already trailing in the first inning when he came in.

Gavin Floyd (3-4) surrendered seven runs and 10 hits in six innings, including both home runs. The right-hander had allowed just one homer in 40 2-3 innings over his previous six starts after giving up three in his season debut at Texas.

Trailing 2-1, the Angels grabbed a 4-2 lead with one swing by Pujols, who drove an 0-1 pitch over the center field fence after Mike Trout and Albert Callaspo opened the inning with singles.

It was the 447th career homer and second this season for Pujols, the three-time NL MVP who ended the longest regular-season drought of his career after 33 games and 139 at-bats in the finale of the Angels’ previous homestand. The Halos increased the margin to 7-2 in the sixth with Kendrick’s sacrifice fly and Wells’ sixth homer.

The No.8 hitters for the Angels and White Sox each drove in their team’s first run. Aybar opened the scoring in the second with an RBI double after a two-out walk to Wells, and Dayan Viciedo tied it in the third for the White Sox with a home run into the rock pile in left-center. Alejandro De Aza singled two batters after Viciedo’s fifth homer and scored on Gordon Beckham‘s double.

Notes: The White Sox were in mourning over the death of longtime pregame instructor Kevin Hickey, who died Wednesday at age 56 in Chicago after a lengthy illness. Hickey, who spent six seasons in the majors as a reliever for the Chisox and Baltimore Orioles, had been hospitalized since the day before the season opener in Arlington, Texas. “No one wanted to win more, no one was more optimistic, no one cared more and no one took more pride in his job,” 1B Paul Konerko said. “Ask anyone in our clubhouse, every person who appreciated what Kevin did to help the White Sox win baseball games.” … With Hatcher’s departure, the only coach left from manager Mike Scioscia’s original staff in 2000 is 1B coach Alfredo Griffin. Joe Maddon, Bud Black and Ron Roenicke all left to become managers. … During Hatcher’s watch, the Angels set franchise records in 2009 for average, hits, home runs, runs scored, RBIs and average with runners in scoring position – and won a World Series title in 2002. … All of Floyd’s last six starts against AL West teams have been on the road (1-5, 4.35 ERA). … One of the many Angels employees handing out Bourjos bobbleheads to the fans as they entered the ballpark was Bourjos himself – in full uniform. … It was a rough night on the basepaths for Trout, who was picked off first by RHP Jesse Crain in the seventh and was thrown out by LF Viciedo when he tried to stretch a single into a double in the fifth.

INGLEWOOD (CBS) — A high-speed chase in South L.A. Wednesday ended with one of the cars careening into a home and a driver being fatally stabbed by another.

Two cars were involved in a car chase when one of the drivers made too sharp of a turn onto the 900 block of East Fairview Boulevard and his red station wagon went airborne — jumping the sidewalk and plowing into the side of Russell Hyde’s home.

Hyde said he was working on the roof when the car slammed into his car.

“And I heard this big ‘bang’ — it was like an earthquake or something…it almost knocked me off the roof,” said Hyde, who went down to find the side of his house peeled off and the station wagon up on its side.

The station wagon was reportedly being chased by a white compact car, whose driver said he was chasing a thief, Hyde said.

“He said, ‘He just stole from me,’” Hyde said the driver told him.

The two drivers started fighting in the street and the driver of the red station wagon killed the man who was chasing him, with a knife to the throat.

The suspect fled the scene and police found him hiding behind a house a block away.

Police have not released the names of the drivers involved.

Hyde said he felt lucky that he and the other residents in the home were not injured after the car came barreling through.

“It felt like the end of the world or something,” Hyde said. “I feel blessed, man, I feel lucky I’m still alive.”

The family has relocated to a hotel room for the meantime since the damage has made their home uninhabitable.

Box Score | Playoffs Schedule

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Kevin Durant scored 22 points and rattled in the go-ahead basket on a baseline runner with 18 seconds left, and the Oklahoma City Thunder scored the final nine points to rally for a 77-75 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday night.

Oklahoma City trailed by seven with 2 minutes left before surging back with a series of defensive stops by its stars to take a 2-0 lead.

Game 3 is Friday night in Los Angeles.

Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum scored 20 points apiece for the Lakers, who came up empty on their last six possessions after Bynum’s hook shot made it 75-68 with 2:09 remaining.

Game 2 Photo Gallery (Photo:Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

After struggling throughout the second half, the Thunder suddenly came alive after Scott Brooks called timeout following Bynum’s basket that gave Los Angeles its largest lead of the game.

James Harden drove for a layup before Durant used his height advantage to reach up and tip away a pass from Bryant, who he was guarding. Durant ran out for a right-handed dunk at the other end before Russell Westbrook forced another turnover by aggressively challenging an outlet pass to Bryant along the sideline.

Harden made the next stop, blocking Bryant’s jumper on the next Lakers possession and getting a layup in transition off it to cut the deficit to one in the final minute.

Bryant couldn’t connect again, this time on a 3-pointer, to give the Thunder the ball back with the chance to take the lead and Durant was able to make it happen.

Steve Blake missed a 3-pointer from the right side with about 5 seconds left after Metta World Peace couldn’t get the ball to Bryant on the inbounds play. Durant was then fouled with 0.3 seconds left and made his first try before missing the second on purpose – failing to hit the backboard or rim for a violation.

The Lakers got a desperation try but World Peace’s long pass for Bynum was intercepted by Harden.

Westbrook added 15 points for Oklahoma City, which matched its lowest scoring total of the season but still gutted out the win.

Historically, the loss makes a huge difference. Los Angeles is 29-12 when splitting the first two games of a seven-game series and has lost 17 of 19 when falling into a 2-0 hole. The Lakers’ last comeback was in the 2004 West semifinals against San Antonio.

The Thunder have won all nine of their series after leading 2-0, dating back to the franchise’s days in Seattle.

In a game that was nip-and-tuck throughout, the Lakers started inching away early in the fourth quarter while Westbrook was on the bench.

Bryant drilled a jumper from the left wing and Blake followed with a 3-pointer before World Peace hit one of two free throws for a 69-63 advantage with 7:27 remaining – the Lakers’ largest lead to that point.

Westbrook returned then but only provided the briefest of sparks for the struggling Oklahoma City offense, and Bynum’s second straight basket – on a left-handed hook shot at the left block – made it 75-68 with 2:09 to play.

Until that point, Oklahoma City had made only 7 of 27 shots in the second half while committing eight turnovers.

After getting ripped apart by the Thunder’s pick-and-roll attack and giving up 119 points in Game 1, the Lakers made it an emphasis to put up more resistance in the rematch and it showed. Matt Barnes shuffled back and forth around three Nick Collison screens to contest Harden’s jumper and preserve the Lakers’ 22-21 lead after one quarter.

The Lakers’ defense was at its best just after halftime as they got out of a 48-45 deficit by holding Oklahoma City scoreless for the first 4 minutes and allowing just two baskets in the first 8 minutes. But Los Angeles still couldn’t create any sort of a cushion and Westbrook’s wide-open 3-pointer from the left corner – after World Peace airballed a similar shot on the opposite end – had the Thunder back within 57-56 with 3:31 left in the third.

Notes: The NBA on Wednesday fined Devin Ebanks $25,000 for actions related to his Game 1 ejection and Bynum $15,000 for failing to speak to reporters Tuesday. Bynum, who has had recent disciplinary issues within the team, talked at the Lakers’ morning shootaround Wednesday and called it a make up for skipping the previous day. “I think he’s learning. Is he going to be a perfect citizen the rest of his career? I don’t know,” coach Mike Brown said. “He’s bound to make mistakes. I think everybody makes mistakes.” … World Peace has said he supported Scott Brooks to become Sacramento’s coach back in 2007, when Brooks had been an assistant under Eric Musselman. “Little does he know, if I would have got the job, I was going to ask for him to be traded,” Brooks joked. He then called World Peace, or Ron Artest at the time, the third-best two-way player at the time behind Bryant and Kevin Garnett. … Harden caught World Peace with an inadvertent elbow to the face in the first quarter.

SAN CLEMENTE (CBS) — The Orange County Health Care Agency Wednesday was investigating what appeared to be the spontaneous combustion of rocks that a woman put in her pockets, landing her in a hospital with third-degree burns.

The woman’s children picked up the rocks Saturday in the trestles area of San Onofre Beach, a popular destination for surfers, and later gave them to their mother to hold, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Marc Stone said. About 3:30 p.m., the seemingly ordinary rocks caught fire, he said.

The 43-year-old woman, whose name was not released, remains hospitalized at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana with third-degree burns to her right thigh and knee, Stone said.

He added that the victim “stopped, dropped and rolled” in an effort to douse the flames, and her husband suffered second-degree burns to his hand as he tried to help.

It could take about a week for the Health Care Agency to finish the investigation, Stone said.

Juan Fernandez, reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9, said the children picked up the colorful rocks — one was speckled green, another orange and black.

A HazMat crew picked up high levels of acid in the home and until the test results come in, the family is not allowed back home.

Fernandez talked to investigators who said, while the rocks might look normal, it is likely they were coated with white phosphorous, a highly-flammable material that forms naturally. Officials said a small spark or friction (like walking with them in a pocket) could cause the rocks to combust and burn like a road flare.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

The body was examined by Los Angeles police detectives and later turned over to the coroner’s office for further investigation.

Police received a report of a body on a hill on the side of the Hollywood (101) Freeway near the Mulholland Drive/Woodrow Wilson Drive bridge about 5 p.m., and someone led officers to the remains, Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Sal Ogaz of the Hollywood Station said.

Officer Cleon Joseph said coroner’s investigators would attempt to determine the cause of death and determine the person’s name.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A woman was sexually assaulted on Melrose Avenue just after midnight Tuesday, according to police.

Suraya Fadel, reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9, said the woman was attacked about a half block away from the Darkroom bar and restaurant.

The restaurant is located at a bustling Melrose Ave and Poinsettia Place.

The attack reportedly took place just after midnight as the woman was walking home.

The rapist told the woman he was armed.

Neighbors are shocked and concerned. Said Evie Lago, “This happened just across from y house. This is a friendly and decent neighborhood. Hard to believe it could happen here. I’m now concerned about walking after midnight.”

Lago said officers, choppers and bloodhounds surrounded a driveway with parked cars in the area. The attack occurred reportedly near an alley with several security cameras nearby.

Fadel reports an increased police presence surrounded the neighborhood Wednesday. She also said LAPD did not want to discuss details of the crime.

Richard and two relievers combined on a five-hitter as the Padres beat L.A. for only the second time in eight games this season. The Dodgers have lost two straight since Matt Kemp went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring.

Dodgers lefty Chris Capuano (5-1), who had won his previous four starts, took a two-hitter and a 2-1 lead into the sixth. Cameron Maybin and Chris Denorfia opened the inning with singles before the switch-hitting Headley doubled into the gap in left-center to bring them both in.

Capuano loaded the bases in in the seventh with a single, his throwing error and a walk. Javy Guerra came on and walked Maybin on four straight pitches to make it 4-2.

Headley homered to left with two outs in the first, his fifth of the season.

Capuano allowed four runs, three earned, and six hits in 6 1-3 innings, struck out six and walked three. He was trying for the best start to a season in his career. He went 5-0 in 2007 with Milwaukee and then went 0-10 in his final 18 starts. He finished 5-12 after losing two games out of the bullpen.

Richard (2-5) had lost his previous five starts. It was his first win since beating the Dodgers 8-4 at home on April 8, helping the Padres avoid a season-opening, four-game sweep. He held the Dodgers to two runs and four hits in seven innings Wednesday, struck out six and walked none. Dale Thayer pitched the ninth for his fourth save in as many chances after Andrew Cashner struck out the side in the eighth.

Richard is 6-1 in 10 career starts against the Dodgers.

Elian Herrera had an RBI double for his first big league hit as the Dodgers took a 2-0 lead just four batters in. After Gwynn’s leadoff single, Herrera brought him in with a double that landed just inside third base and rolled all the way into the left-field corner. Herrera advanced on Bobby Abreu’s groundout and scored on Andre Ethier’s sacrifice fly.

Herrera was recalled Monday from Triple-A Albuquerque and made his big league debut as a pinch-hitter Tuesday night. He made his first start Wednesday, at second base.

It was Ethier’s 27th RBI in his last 24 games against San Diego.

NOTES: Padres manager Bud Black said LF Carlos Quentin had a cortisone shot in his right knee on Thursday. Quentin has been out since having arthroscopic surgery during spring training. …. Jimmy Jones, the pitching coach at Double-A San Antonio, is filling in as bullpen coach with the Padres while Darrel Ackerfelds undergoes treatment for pancreatic cancer. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation. … Richard committed his fourth error, one off the team lead, when he spiked a short throw to first on Gwynn’s grounder leading off the third. Gwynn was then caught stealing. … The two-game series concludes Thursday night when L.A.’s Aaron Harang (2-2, 4.46 ERA) is scheduled to face San Diego’s Edinson Volquez (2-2, 2.79). On April 13 at Dodger Stadium, Harang set a Dodgers record with nine consecutive strikeouts, one short of the major league mark, and tied his career high with 13 strikeouts. Harang was with the Padres last year, leading them with 14 victories.

The powerful righty was hitting .359, 12 HR’s and 28 RBI’s before injuring his hamstring Sunday

Mattingly said he wants to have Kemp play a minor-league game before his return to the Dodgers.

Kemp had the longest consecutive games streak end on Sunday at 399, which was the longest by any active player.

As for the Lakers, Mike Brown said Ramon Session will start the game by guarding OKC’s Russell Westbrook instead of Kobe Bryant. If the Thunder have a hot start expect Kobe to guard the All-Star guard.

Orange County sheriff’s authorities were notified that a man lay dead in the 2600 block of Riverside Drive, in an unincorporated area near Costa Mesa.

The body has reportedly been there for three days and the death appears to be health-related. Firefighters decided to not open the car until a hazardous materials team arrived.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

Ligia Baciu, 35, was arrested at her Fullerton home by Brea police on multiple charges stemming from the alleged embezzlement which, they say, adds up to $236,000.

Prosecutors allege she used the stolen money to buy an engagement ring, pay for fertility treatments, put a down payment on an Audi, as well as paying for car insurance, groceries and other goods at Costco, Deputy District Attorney Marc Labreche said.

Baciu worked in accounting at Sweet Life Enterprises from August 2005 to October 2009, Labreche said. In 2007, the company was acquired by Fresh Start Bakeries Inc., which got its start making hamburger buns for McDonald’s.

Baciu, who was responsible for the company’s credit card accounts, allegedly began stealing from the company in February 2008, Labreche said.

She managed to conceal the theft by ordering bills from the credit card companies that she could manipulate to make it look like the expenses were from various other employees, Labreche alleged.

Baciu was laid off from her job in October 2009, but allegedly kept using the credit cards. Her replacement in accounting uncovered the alleged theft in January 2010, Labreche said.

“We had to get search warrants at a lot of different businesses,” the prosecutor said in explaining the delay in the arrest.

Baciu, who was being held on $250,000 bail, was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on 21 counts of computer access and fraud; three counts of fraudulently using credit cards. with sentence-enhancing allegations for losses of more than $100,000, aggravated white-collar crime of more than $100,000, and property losses of more than $200,000.

Baciu could face up to 20 years and four months in prison if convicted.

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Actor Nick Stahl, who portrayed John Connor in “Terminator 3,” has been reported missing.

Stahl’s wife reported him missing on Monday, claiming that she had not seen the 32-year-old actor since last Wednesday, Richard French of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Media Relations office said.

KNX 1070′s John Brooks reports authorities said no foul play was suspected in the actor’s disappearance.

According to TMZ, Stahl’s wife filed court papers in February, expressing concerns that the actor may be using drugs. He was reportedly seen recently along the Skid Row section of downtown Los Angeles.

Stahl’s representative declined to comment on the situation.

KNX 1070′s Vytas Safronikas reports one official from the Department of Homeland Security had a stark warning for business owners.

“Take it seriously, make the investments,” said DHS cyber-security counselor Bruce McConnell. “I think the key thing is to look at cyber security and manage it just like you manage other risks, financial risks, reputation risks.”

McConnell was the featured speaker at the fourth annual Information Security Summit held at the Universal City Hilton, where the theme of “The Growing Cyber Threat: Protect Your Business” sought to instruct entrepreneurs and other information security professionals on the imporance of safeguarding sensitive content posted online.

In addition to financial fraud, McConnell also warned of the risks of copyright theft, especially for media firms.

“We’re losing a lot of intellectual property from cyber theft, and I think that’s very worrisome from the long-term competitiveness of the U.S.” he said. “It’s very serious.”

McConnell, who was joined by Alan Paller, director of research at the SANS Institute, at the conference held by the Los Angeles chapter of the Information Systems Security Association, also noted that the vast majority of companies are largely unwilling to admit when their systems have been compromised.

“We say there’s two kinds of companies: those that have been hacked, and those that don’t know they’ve been hacked,” said McConnell.

STUDIO CITY (CBS) — Award-winning bodybuilder and author Wendy Ida visited the KCAL9 studios Wednesday to talk about her upcoming charity gala!

This 60-year-old Fitness Warrior and National award-winning Bodybuilder and Figure Champion, Wendy Ida launched her new book, Take Back Your Life in November, 2011 which became an Amazon bestseller within the first week of its release. She is a sought after trainer, speaker and health and fitness expert who has earned her nick name as the “Ab Queen.” Nearly 17 years later, Wendy Ida shares her story how she went from a 180lb overweight fast food junkie to a rock-solid size 4!

In Wendy’s book, Take Back Your Life: My No Nonsense Approach to Health, Fitness and Looking Good Naked, she outlines her 90-day plan for women of any age to feel strong and sexy and guides them to getting the body they want with her program. She creates a “no excuse zone” that effectively neutralizes the most common reasons people avoid eating well and exercising, and shows them how to push through anything from divorce and career changes to overcoming peer pressure for burgers and fries. She speaks to the needs of women whose lives have spun out of control due to the physical changes that occur during midlife and the many major life transitions that hinder weight loss and can leave women feeling powerless and unattractive.

Wendy’s “Take Back Your Life Gala Celebration” will be held on July 15 and the SLS hotel in Beverly Hills. It will benefit A Window Between Worlds, a nonprofit organization dedicated to using art to help end domestic violence.

For more information on Wendy or the gala, visit her online.

Gregory Yusuke Shiga, 34, was arrested Monday by detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s arson/explosives detail. Shiga was arrested at his Los Angeles home and charged with arson in the April 16, 2011 fire that destroyed the sanctuary of St. John Vianney Church, causing $6.5 million in damage.

Firefighters battled the blaze at the church, 1345 Turnbull Canyon Road, for about two and a half hours. Investigators later determined that the fire had been intentionally set.

Shiga is on parole and is being held without bail. He is due to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors are asking that his bail be set at $1 million.

Charges against Shiga include arson, possession of flammable material and burglary. If convicted, Shiga faces up to 12 years to life in prison.

»RELATED STORY: Church Fire Was Act Of Arson

WHITTIER (CBS) — The family of a woman who was mistakenly buried in another woman’s cemetery plot has filed suit Wednesday against Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary.

The family of Mercedes Rodriguez says she left specific wishes: a closed casket funeral and internment above ground in her hometown in Nicaragua. Instead, Rodriguez was placed in an open casket, dressed in another woman’s clothing and buried in that woman’s cemetery plot, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The Rodriguez family’s lawsuit against Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary claims the funeral home confused her with another woman and is seeking pain and suffering and punitive damages.

Rodriguez, who was 87, had made her wishes known years before her death, even before her health declined, according to the Times.

The funeral home has refunded the family for the funeral insurance they purchased after the incident.

Rodriguez’s body has since been exhumed and interred in Nicaragua, the Times reported.

KCAL9 legal analyst Steve Meister doesn’t believe the lawsuit will get very far. He said Rose Hills made good on their mistake, corrected it and there was no malice involved.

HUNTINGTON PARK (CBS) — Police said a male kidnapping victim has been found safe after a sheriff’s SWAT team was deployed to a Huntington Park neighborhood on Wednesday.

The victim was transported to Saint Francis Hospital to be treated for minor injuries, authorities said.

Three suspects are also reportedly in custody, but none of them were arrested in Huntington Park. The location where they were taken into custody is still undisclosed.

The investigation was conducted in the 6100 block of Rugby Avenue after authorities got a search warrant for the apartment building after receiving information from the arrests.

SKY9′s Heather Lawrence reports Randolph Street was closed between Pacific Boulevard and Malabar Street during the investigation as authorities told residents to stay indoors until the area is clear.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A case of puppy love has turned into a contentious legal battle between a New York tattoo artist and his ex-girlfriend, who allegedly took the man’s dog to Los Angeles.

A judge ruled Wednesday that “Knuckles” the Puggle should stay in Los Angeles for now, but will revisit the case later next month.

“I’m not worried. I’m just here to protect my dog. I was never in New York when he made that order and they don’t have jurisdiction over me,” said owner Sarah Brega.

“Knuckles was kidnapped by my ex-girlfriend and the legal fees to retrieve him are going to bankrupt me,” says 34-year-old Craig Dershowitz.

In a New York Supreme Court filing, Dershowitz claims ex-girlfriend Sarah Brega wrongfully took Knuckles, after the couple ended their relationship — a claim Brega denies.

Dershowitz claims the bi-coastal custody battle has cost him as much as $60,000, and he’s asking the public to help fund his legal efforts.

“I had to hire two private investigators to find [his ex-girlfriend],” Dershowitz says in a video posted online.

Dershowitz is selling t-shirts, puppy kisses, and even a professional portrait inspired by Knuckles to reach his $20,000 fundraising goal.

As of Tuesday, donors had pledged nearly $3,704 with just a month left before Dershowitz’s self-imposed deadline.

According to Dershowitz, a New York judge has already ruled that Knuckles should be in his custody.

In court Wednesday, Judge Peter J. Mirich said that he wanted to wait and see how a June 6 jurisdiction hearing in New York plays out.

“She absolutely frustrated to have to go through this. This is a gentleman that she had a relationship with, broke up with over a year ago. He left the dog with her when he moved out and now all of the sudden when she decides she is going to move to California and he can’t get in contact with her, he decides he wants the dog,” said Brega’s attorney Robert Splinter.

Despite an uphill battle that has cost him his life savings, Dershowitz vows to see the campaign through to the end.

“All I want is to bring Knuckles back home to me,” he said. “He really is my son.”

Another hearing has been scheduled for June 19.

Suleman’s bankruptcy case was tossed out of court after she reportedly failed fill out all of the necessary paperwork. If completed, the proceedings would have halted the foreclosure and auction of her home.

Suleman and her 14 children could be forced to move from the home very soon.

Last month, authorities declined to take any action after her hair stylist complained about possible health violations at the home.

STUDIO CITY (CBS) — Having bad hair days? It may be due to over-styling!

Stylist Harry Josh, the John Frieda International Creative Consultant, stopped by the KCAL9 studios Wednesday to encourage women to put down the flatiron and hairdryer and stop over-styling.

Harry wants women to end the damage cycle but not compromise their styling—here are a few tips from the man who has touched the heads of celebrities like Gisele, Amanda Seyfried, and Rose Byrne:

• Pick a weapon: Protect your hair with a heat-activated styler. The best formulas protect your hair while you’re styling and reverse past damaged.
• Use the right tools: Toss brushes with wire bristles. They heat up under a blowdryer and snag and break hair. Try a natural bristle brush instead.
• Take a day off: Don’t wash your hair everyday if you don’t have to. Overwashing strips your hair of natural oils, contributing to broken strands. Try refreshing your hair with a dry shampoo (which will soak up oil AND help hold your blowout).

For more tips from Harry, visit him online.

The median price for new and existing homes and condominiums in the six-county region climbed to $290,000, up 3.6 percent from the same period last year, DataQuick said.

It was the first annual increase in 16 months and matched the highest price since December 2010.

There were 19,284 homes sold, up 5.1 percent from a year earlier.

DataQuick said there were fewer sales of foreclosed properties, which tend to go for lower prices. Higher-priced coastal markets also showed signs of improvement.

“The housing market continued its painfully slow crawl back toward normalcy last month,” DataQuick President John Walsh said.

Properties that were foreclosed upon in the previous year made up 28.6 percent of existing-home sales in April, down from 33.8 percent in the year-ago period and the lowest since January 2008. In February 2009, foreclosed properties accounted for 56.7 percent of existing-home sales.

Short sales — in which the price was less than the amount the seller owed on the mortgage — accounted for 18.4 percent of existing-home sales last month, up from 17.3 percent a year earlier.

Sales of homes between $300,000 and $800,000 rose 3.5 percent in April from the same period last year. while sales for less than $200,000 fell 4.7 percent last month.

The four coastal counties — Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Ventura — accounted for 71.5 percent of sales last month, up 68 percent from April 2011. The two inland counties — Riverside and San Bernardino — had been driving much of the gradual rebound.

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Ebanks has been fined $25,000 for actions prior to and following his ejection from the Lakers’ 119-90 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals on May 14.

Bynum has been fined $15,000 for failing to make himself available to the media following the Lakers’ practice on May 15.

The Lakers take on the Thunder Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Oklahoma City in game two of the second round of NBA playoffs.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)