Rep. Michelle Steel gives farewell address from the House floor

• December 18, 2024

Speaking from the House floor Wednesday morning, Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Seal Beach, reflected on her past four years in Congress.

“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve Orange and Los Angeles counties in Congress,” Steel said.

Steel, who lost her re-election bid this year, gave her farewell speech Wednesday, Dec. 18. She thanked her constituents and colleagues and highlighted accomplishments during her tenure, from securing funding for sand replenishment projects in Orange County to championing a bill expanding access to telehealth services for non-English speakers.

“On behalf of my beautifully diverse district, my team and I have accomplished a great deal,” she said.

Derek Tran, an attorney from Orange, defeated Steel in the race for California’s 45th congressional race, one of the closest House races in the country this year. He’s set to be the first Vietnamese American to represent the district that is home to the country’s largest Vietnamese population and Orange County’s Little Saigon.

The 45th congressional district spans both Orange and Los Angeles counties, including Buena Park, Cerritos, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove and Westminster.

When Steel was elected in 2020, she became one of the first Korean American women sworn into Congress. Fellow Orange County Rep. Young Kim, R-Anaheim Hills, was also part of that inaugural group.

Steel, 69, served on a House committee created to focus on threats China could pose to the U.S. And in her farewell address, she encouraged her colleagues to continue to protect the country against influence from the Chinese Communist Party, calling it “truly America’s No. 1 adversary.” She highlighted efforts to remove CCP influence from education and her own bill banning the military from using seaports reliant on Chinese technology.

“Congress must keep their eye on the CCP and build on this progress,” she said.

During her speech, Steel thanked Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-California, as well as Reps. Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana; Tom Emmer, R- Minnesota; Elise Stefanik, R-New York; Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington; Jason Smith, R-Missouri; and Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina.

“For now, I’ll be heading back to my home in sunny Southern California,” Steel said. “But while my time in Congress is ending, I will always look for ways to serve the country that I love.”

“I will always treasure the friendships I’ve made, both in Washington and Southern California,” she continued. “Like all journeys, this one is ending for a new one to begin.”

Steel’s last day in office is Thursday, Jan. 2.

Staff writer Hanna Kang contributed to this report. 

​ Orange County Register 

Nuggets hand error-prone Clippers a 3rd straight loss

• December 14, 2024

By MICHAEL KELLY The Associated Press

DENVER — The Clippers’ bid for a third straight victory over the Denver Nuggets fizzled with a lopsided loss.

Jamal Murray scored a game-high 20 points in his return from a hamstring injury and the Nuggets beat the Clippers, 120-98, on Friday night despite a quiet game from Nikola Jokic.

Michael Porter Jr. added 17 points as the Nuggets (13-10) won consecutive games for the first time in a month and beat the Clippers for the first time in three tries this season.

It was the second of three games between the teams in Denver this season in a contest that was added to the schedule after NBA Cup group play was completed.

Jokic, who scored 56 and 48 points in the last two games, had a season-low two assists and tied season lows with 16 points and seven rebounds.

James Harden had 15 points and nine turnovers for the Clippers (14-12), who turned it over 19 times in their third consecutive loss. Norman Powell and Kevin Porter Jr. each scored 16 points, and Ivica Zubac added 13 points with 13 rebounds.

Powell had averaged 32.6 points and made 63.2% of his 3-point attempts in the first two games against Denver this season, but he shot 3 for 10 from behind the arc.

The Clippers scored 18 straight points in the second quarter to turn a 12-point deficit into a five-point lead. Denver missed eight shots and had 10 turnovers in nearly six minutes when the Clippers went on their run.

The Clippers held a 55-50 lead early in the second half before the Nuggets moved back in front 59-58 less than five minutes into the third quarter. Denver took charge from there while going on a 14-2 run to take a 73-60 lead.

Michael Porter Jr. scored 10 of his 17 points in the third quarter.

The Nuggets took their first 20-point lead at 98-78 with 7:44 remaining after two free throws from Peyton Watson and cruised to the victory from there.

Denver held an opponent below 100 points for the first time since April 9, as Nuggets coach Michael Malone was able to play Jokic less than 30 minutes and sit him out for the entire fourth quarter.

Russell Westbrook had five points and five assists in 24 minutes off the bench against his former team.

UP NEXT

The Clippers host the Utah Jazz on Monday at 7:30 p.m., before a three-game road trip to Dallas (two games) and Memphis.

​ Orange County Register 

Analysis: Only LeBron James knows what’s happening, and what’s in his future

• December 14, 2024

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

LAS VEGAS — LeBron James was starring in Las Vegas at this time last year, the headline attraction while he and the Lakers were about to win the inaugural version of the event now known as the NBA Cup.

It seems very different now.

“Personal reasons … he’s taking some time” is what first-year Lakers coach JJ Redick said this week when detailing why James was missing from practice. “Left foot soreness” is the reason why the Lakers ruled him out of Friday’s game in Minnesota. There’s been trade speculation in recent days, and it’s reasonable to think that a team like the Golden State Warriors would clamor for James if he was available. And he’s turning 40 in about two weeks.

Whenever James is out, it’s a story. Taking time off for personal reasons, it’s a story. It could mean he’s hurt. It could mean he’s fed up with how the Lakers have struggled in recent weeks. It could mean he just needs a break after a short summer spent winning another Olympic gold medal. It could mean anything. All that is certain is he’s has sat out two games in a row with no clear return yet.

“All of this is very fluid,” Redick said when asked about James’ absence. “All of it is. All of it is. That’s what’s crystallized.”

James’ no-trade clause is the ultimate card in the deck right now. If James wants to be traded, he’ll probably get traded. If he doesn’t, then he’ll remain a Laker and continue on a roster that also features his son Bronny. The Lakers play just one more game between now and next Thursday (at Sacramento). This has been a logical window for a break if his left foot is a problem and the wear-and-tear of 22 seasons is requiring him to take some time off.

In short, nobody knows anything. Except LeBron, of course.

He’s the oldest player in the league, has set just about every record that he’s going to set, has more money than he could ever spend. There isn’t anything left to prove. He is under contract for next season, but the finish line – whether it’s after this season or not – is fast approaching.

“I’m not going to play that much longer, to be completely honest. I don’t know how many years that is, if it’s one year, two years, whatever the case may be,” James said last month. “I’m not playing ’til the wheels fall off. I’m not going to be that guy. I’m not going to be the guy who’s disrespecting the game because I just want to be out on the floor. That won’t be me.”

The numbers show the wheels haven’t fallen off. His scoring is down (23 points per game, his lowest average since his rookie season) and he is turning it over too often, but his rebound and assist numbers are up from last season. The only other player this season averaging 23 points, eight rebounds and nine assists per game is Denver’s Nikola Jokic, who probably is the MVP frontrunner yet again. The wheels are fine.

It should be noted that this time of year is the start of the NBA’s silly season. There are 85 players eligible to be traded starting Sunday. Trades are the behind-the-curtain talk of the league right now with some big names out there, including tons of speculation about Jimmy Butler’s future in Miami.

“Narratives,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday. “That’s going to happen, you know, in every organization at some point during the season.”

This might be that point for the Lakers. After Friday’s 97-87 loss in Minnesota, they have dropped eight of their past 11 games, four of those defeats by at least 25 points. James has seemed frustrated, though after big losses it’s only natural that he would feel that way.

His presence is still felt in Las Vegas this week as the league convenes for the finish of the NBA Cup. There’s a giant advertisement featuring James near the baggage claim carousels at the airport, promoting his tie to a liquor company. On the court, though, he won’t be seen. And it’s not clear when he’ll be seen again.

​ Orange County Register 

Foothill Ranch bank robber arrested in Lake Forest

• December 14, 2024

A man who robbed a Chase Bank in Foothill Ranch in October was arrested Friday by Orange County sheriff’s investigators, according to a news release.

Edward Eugene Redd, 49, of Lake Forest was arrested on suspicion of robbing a Chase Bank and discharging a firearm during the incident. The robbery took place on Oct. 17 at the Chase Bank at 26791 Portola Parkway in Lake Forest where Redd made off with about $31,000, according to Sgt Matt Timmons. Redd shot near a bank teller’s feet but missed, no one was injured.

Redd left a number of unspecified items with his DNA at the scene. which investigators located and collected as evidence. DNA technology and other investigative means were then used to link the items to Redd.

On Friday, Dec. 13, at around 4 a.m., OC sheriff’s Southeast Investigations and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team members arrested Redd at his Lake Forest residence without incident. He was booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and robbery.

Redd has not been connected to any other bank robberies at this time, but the investigation remains ongoing.

​ Orange County Register 

LeBron-less Lakers done in by sloppy play in loss to Timberwolves

• December 14, 2024

MINNEAPOLIS — The Lakers entered Friday optimistic about the benefits of a rare four-day break from games ahead of their road matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

But the reality of their 97-87 loss to the Timberwolves also revealed one of the downsides of having a lengthier break: rust.

The Lakers’ effort, especially defensively, was evident for most of Friday night’s game at the Target Center. But when it came to their half-court offense, they struggled to get out of their own way, leading to their eighth loss in the past 11 games.

There were their 11 first-quarter turnovers that directly led to the Timberwolves scoring 16 points, helping Minnesota take a 32-23 lead going into the second.

The Lakers’ turnovers total after the first period was the same amount or more than they finished with in eight of 24 games entering Friday. They turned the ball over on their first possession of the second, giving them 12 giveaways in just over 12 minutes of game clock.

Even when they took better care of the ball, the timing of some of their giveaways slowed the momentum they started to build after getting defensive stops: Anthony Davis mishandled the ball after blocking a shot, directing leading to a Naz Reid 3-pointer that extended Minnesota’s lead to 74-61 after the Lakers (13-11) had scored seven unanswered points.

Austin Reaves sent a pass into the second row of the Timberwolves’ bench early in the fourth quarter, and Rob Dillingham knocked down a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to put Minnesota ahead 80-72.

Minnesota’s Mike Conley missed a 3-pointer and Rui Hachimura grabbed the rebound for the Lakers, but Julius Randle stole the ball and quickly fed Jaden McDaniels for a layup and an 89-82 lead with 2:03 left.

And the Lakers’ turnovers were exacerbated by their poor shot-making: they shot just 38.4% from the field (33 for 86) and 28.6% from behind the arc (10 for 35).

The Lakers didn’t score more than 25 points in any quarter on Friday, making it eight consecutive quarters when they didn’t reach the 25-point threshold in a quarter against the Timberwolves, who routed them on Dec. 2 in Minneapolis.

Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 23 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots, but he also had four turnovers.

Reaves, who returned to the lineup after missing the previous five games because of a bruised left pelvis, finished with 18 points, six rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes. Max Christie was the only other Laker to score in double figures, finishing with 15 points, but he also had four turnovers.

The Lakers finished with a season-high 22 giveaways for 27 Timberwolves’ points.

LeBron James missed his second consecutive game because of left foot soreness and remains away from the team with an excused absence after not being with the team earlier in the week because of personal reasons.

Anthony Edwards had 23 points and six rebounds to lead Minnesota. Randle (21 points, five rebounds), McDaniels (18 points, nine rebounds, five steals and two blocked shots) and Rudy Gobert (12 points, 13 rebounds) also made significant contributions for the Timberwolves (13-11), who won for the fifth time in six games.

More to come on this story.

​ Orange County Register 

UCLA has options to try and slow Arizona’s Caleb Love

• December 14, 2024

LOS ANGELES — Oftentimes, the starting guards for the UCLA men’s basketball team will find themselves in a healthy discourse. The defensive-minded trio debates which one gets to check the opponents’ best offensive option.

“It comes down to who we’re playing,” senior Kobe Johnson said on Wednesday. “Depends on the sizing, the matchup.”

The topic for discussion between Johnson and his stoic sidekicks, this week, was Caleb Love, the erratic fireball, who leads Arizona in scoring (14.1 points per game) and can torch any defense if he sees his first shot fall. Johnson and junior Dylan Andrews each have experience facing Love over the last few years in Pac-12 battles. But according to Johnson, Louisville transfer Skyy Clark might get the “Love matchup.”

It’s a good problem to have three starters all willing and capable of taking on a challenge such as guarding Love. In reality, when the 24th-ranked Bruins (8-1) take on the Wildcats (4-4) on Saturday afternoon in a neutral-site game at Phoenix’s Footprint Center, each will get the opportunity. And the two who aren’t on Love during a given possession need to stay wary as this Wildcats team is loaded with backcourt scorers.

Jaden Bradley and KJ Lewis, who each brought a spark off the bench last season, entered the starting lineup this season and have improved their production. Bradley is averaging 12 ppg, while Lewis is up to 10.3. Arizona also added Campbell transfer Anthony Dell’Orso, who is shooting 50% on 3.8 3-point shot attempts per game.

“They’ve had a changing of the guard,” UCLA head coach Mick Cronin said.

These aren’t the Oumar Ballo, Pelle Larson, grind-it-out Wildcats who traded regular-season Pac-12 titles with the Bruins and edged them for the 2023 Pac-12 Tournament championship. These Wildcats aren’t as dominant on the glass, or as imposing with their pace. That said, according to Cronin, they’re still trying to play with a familiar style. Similar sets, similar tendencies, just different personnel.

And those players are still trying to learn one another while navigating one of the nation’s toughest early-season schedules.

“They’re 4-4, but metrically, they’re in the Top 25,” Cronin said. “So it tells you they’re a Top 25 team.

Viewing them as such is important for the Bruins, who have had five days to come down from the high of celebrating Andrews’ game-winning, bank-shot 3-pointer against No. 12 Oregon on Sunday in Eugene.

What was ultimately a 73-71 victory was almost a disaster for the Bruins as Andrews forced an entry pass to Tyler Bilodeau that was deflected, intercepted and turned into a Jackson Shelstad 3-pointer that put the Ducks ahead by one with 10 seconds left. Then on the ensuing possession, Andrews stumbled and missed Bilodeau, who was sealing a shorter Shelstad, before recovering and saving the possession with the winning shot.

“We struggle throwing the ball to Tyler Bilodeau, right now,” Cronin said after the Oregon game.

On Saturday, the 6-foot-9 Bilodeau, who excels at shooting mid-range jumpers over smaller defenders, will have an advantage against a Wildcats team whose tallest starter is 6-8. It’s a team effort to put him in those positions, though, as the Bruins’ guards need to throw smoother entry passes.

Bilodeau averaged a team high 15.5 ppg over the first six games, but he has had down scoring nights in two of the last three. With the Bruins embarking on a stretch run that includes Arizona, North Carolina, and No. 8 Gonzaga, it’s vital they get Bilodeau going again as those three teams consist of talented guards who won’t turn the ball over as much as previous opponents and will force the Bruins to score in the half court, where Bilodeau flourishes.

No. 24 UCLA (8-1) AT ARIZONA (4-4)

When: Saturday, noon PT

Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix

TV/radio: ESPN2/570 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Austin Reaves rejoins Lakers’ lineup, but LeBron James’ return remains unclear

• December 14, 2024

MINNEAPOLIS — Austin Reaves was back in the Lakers’ lineup for Friday night’s road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after missing the previous five games because of a bruised left pelvis.

“Feel good,” Reaves said after the team’s Friday morning shootaround. “Been getting treatment about five hours a day for the last week and a half. Feeling really good.”

Reaves suffered the pelvis injury in the Lakers’ Nov. 29 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder after taking a hard fall during the second quarter.

He momentarily went back to the locker room during the final minutes of the second quarter, all of halftime and the start of the third quarter against the Thunder before rejoining the team midway through the third and finished that game before missing the Lakers’ next five.

“I was sore during the game, but I wanted to get out there and compete and try to win that game,” Reaves said. “And unfortunately, we didn’t do that. I felt like it wasn’t beneficial for me or the group to get out there and run around on one leg.”

Before the five-game absence, the fourth-year guard played in 129 consecutive regular-season games from Feb. 7, 2023-Nov. 29, including playing all 82 regular-season games last season.

He also played in 21 playoff games, two Play-In Tournament games and the 2023-24 NBA Cup title game during that stretch.

“I was pissed, to be honest,” Reaves said. “I kind of wanted to keep that streak going. Just want to be available to get on the court every single night with the guys and go and compete.

“But you find the positives in everything and and one of those was to take a week to not just recover the current injury, but just to feel better all in all. That’s what we did and I’m feeling good.”

The Lakers went 2-3 without Reaves, with their offense in particular struggling during his absence.

The team had an offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions) of 103.8 in the five games Reaves missed, the league’s third-worst mark during that stretch. They had an offensive rating of 115.5 in their first 19 games with Reaves.

“He’s one of our best players and he’s able to provide us with some thrust and some pace in the halfcourt,” first-year Lakers coach JJ Redick said of Reaves. “Another playmaker, another ball handler. You need multiple ball handlers on the floor anytime you play the Timberwolves because of their wing defenders and their pressure. And then, spiritually, he’s a competitor. I’m looking forward to having him back in the lineup.”

JAMES UPDATE

Star forward LeBron James missed his second consecutive game on Friday with the Lakers listing him out because of left foot soreness after sitting out of last Sunday’s home win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

James didn’t travel with the team to Minneapolis, with the team giving him an excused absence.

Redick said on Wednesday that James had been away from the team the previous few days because of personal reasons, adding that James was “taking some time.”

When asked ahead of Friday’s game whether he had a sense for when James would rejoin the team, Redick responded “no.”

James’ name has been mentioned in trade rumors this week, with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst saying on Wednesday that the Golden State Warriors could target he four-time league MVP in a potential acquisition. James has a no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he would need to approve any deal before it happens.

The Warriors looked into acquiring James prior to last season’s trade deadline.

James, who turns 40 in 2½ weeks, is averaging 23 points (49.5% shooting overall, 35.9% from 3-point range), 9.1 assists and 8 rebounds in 35 minutes per game (23 games).

If James returns to the court for Sunday’s home game against the Memphis Grizzlies, it will have been eight days between games for him after last playing in the Dec. 6 road loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

​ Orange County Register 

Los Alamitos horse racing consensus picks for Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024

• December 14, 2024

The consensus box of Los Alamitos horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Eddie Wilson, Mark Ratzky and Michael Superstein. (Kevin Modesti is on vacation). Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Saturday, December 14, 2024.

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​ Orange County Register