SAN DIEGO - A 40-year-old man from Lemon Grove who was shot Thursday in a confrontation with San Diego police died Saturday of his wounds, authorities said.

Jose Luis Navarro had pointed a gun at officers after an hour-long pursuit when he refused to stop his vehicle, authorities said.

Four officers "fearing for their safety" opened fire, Lt. Mike Hastings said.

The incident began when an officer sought to stop Navarro's car for a traffic violation. As the officer approached the car, it sped away.

Other officers joined the pursuit after being alerted that the car fit the description of one...

Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives are investigating the stabbing death of a man in Canyon Country as possibly gang related.

Deputies from the Santa Clarita sheriff's station responding to a call Friday at about 10:45 p.m. found an unconscious man on the ground with several stab wounds to his chest.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, on the 18100 block of Sundowner Way. His name has not been released.

Anyone with information about the stabbing can call the sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

Those wanting to remain anonymous may dial (800) 222-TIPS (8477); text the letters...

Santa Ana winds are expected to bring summer-like temperatures over the next few days, with the possibility of record-breaking highs on Wednesday.

But the weather that will elicit pangs of jealousy from those living in cold climates also will bring potential danger. The high winds, low humidity, built-up stores of dry fuel and lack of rain led the National Weather Service on Saturday to call a red-flag warning for portions of Southern California, meaning critical fire weather is expected.

The red-flag warning starts Monday at 3 a.m. and will run until 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Although normal seasonal...

Nine Los Angeles public libraries will once again open their doors on Sundays.

Following several years of budget-related closures, downtown's Central Library and all eight regional libraries will now be open from 1 to 5 p.m., beginning this Sunday.

Celebrations are scheduled at each of the libraries, with Mayor Eric Garcetti and other civic leaders attending a ribbon cutting and special activities starting at 12:30 p.m.

The reopenings are made possible because of Measure L, approved by voters in 2011, which gives libraries a larger percentage of property tax dollars, officials said. 

Services...

SAN DIEGO -- A motorist was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving Friday night after a multicar collision that left three people dead and five injured, authorities said.

The crash occurred on the interchange between Interstate 805 and Highway 52, the California Highway Patrol said.

The incident began shortly after 11 p.m. when a Cadillac Escalade traveling at a high rate of speed failed to negotiate the ramp from northbound 805 to westbound 52 and instead raced up an embankment, rolled over and slid backward, the CHP said.

Two men in the Escalade who were not wearing seat belts were ejected...

Mayoral candidates in Long Beach are headed into a crowded field for the April primary, with 10 officially declared candidates qualified for the ballot, according to the city clerk’s office.

The nominating period for citywide and council district races ended Friday night, with most candidates waiting until this week to complete their filings.

The list is heavy with city insiders and political heavyweights, including Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, Councilman Robert Garcia, and Long Beach City College Trustee Doug Otto.

Councilwoman Suja...

Former pop singing star David Cassidy was arrested near LAX on Friday night on suspicion of drunk driving, the California Highway Patrol said Saturday.

Cassidy, now 63 and a resident of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was driving a rental car shortly after 9 p.m.  when he left the southbound 405 Freeway at La Tijera Boulevard and made an illegal right turn against a red light, the CHP said.

A CHP patrol unit in the area followed the car and stopped it on Airport Boulevard near LAX.  The officer reported noticing the smell of alcohol in the car and Cassidy subsequently was arrested and spent the night...

A pedestrian was struck and killed by a car in Lancaster on Friday night, authorities said. 

According to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Paul Pfrehm, a woman was crossing a dimly lit section of Avenue J near Rodin Avenue at 10:30 p.m. when she was struck by a 1989 Toyota Camry.

The driver of the car, which had been traveling at about 40 miles per hour, stopped and called 911, Pfrehm said. The victim, a woman whose identity has not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Pfrehm said the driver of the Camry submitted to blood tests at a local hospital and that drugs...

A Marine staff sergeant at Camp Pendleton has received a Silver Star for bravery and leadership in Afghanistan during an ambush by Taliban fighters.

After his squad leader was downed by enemy fire, Timothy Williams took command, leading a counterattack, killing five Taliban and rescuing the wounded squad leader.

Williams dashed 60 meters to Jason Pennock and then "exposed himself to accurate enemy fire yet again when he carried the wounded Marine over 300 yards of uneven terrain to the medical evacuation platform."

Pennock, who suffered a shattered leg, survived his injury, which occured in...

My favorite album cover is the one for Miles Davis’ wonderful “Porgy and Bess.”  I love so many things about the photo on the cover: the man’s white shirt, the woman’s knee, how it’s cropped to show just their midsections, how Davis (and surely it is he) is slouching in his chair.

But what I love most is the woman’s hand touching the trumpet. Is she handing it to him, or trying to take it away? I tend to think she wants him to put it down and just talk to her, for once. You could write a short story based on that one image. It’s so suggestive (in...

Pomona was one of a few areas in Southern California to see a major spike in killings in 2013.

Homicides in the city jumped from 17 to 29, a 70% increase.

Communities patrolled by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department also recorded a homicide increase of more than 40%.

Pomona recorded only 11 homicides in 2011, and 17 in 2012. Officials say the 2013 total of 29 is the highest since the 1990s.

HOMICIDE REPORT: A chronicle of L.A. County homicide victims

"We cringe every time there is homicide," said Pomona Police Capt. Michael Olivieri, who joined the department a year after the city saw a...