WATCH: Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano resumes on-and-off again eruption that has dazzled park visitors

• March 20, 2025

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s most active volcano resumed erupting Wednesday after a weeklong pause.

Kilauea began continuously releasing lava from its summit caldera inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at 9:26 a.m., the U.S. Geological Survey said. The molten rock was contained within the park and wasn’t threatening residential areas.

The volcano began its current eruption on Dec. 23. It has stopped and resumed more than a dozen times since. The shortest episode lasted 13 hours, while the longest lasted eight days.

Each time, the volcano has sent lava shooting high into the sky from caldera vents, creating a dramatic sight for park visitors.

The eruption is the sixth recorded at Kilauea’s summit since 2020.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park encompasses the summits of two of the world’s most active volcanoes: Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Kilauea also erupted in June and September 2024.

The park, on Hawaii’s Big Island, is about 200 miles south of Honolulu.

​ Orange County Register 

Santa Anita horse racing consensus picks for Friday, March 21, 2025

• March 20, 2025

The consensus box of Santa Anita horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Eddie Wilson, Kevin Modesti and Mark Ratzky. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Friday, March 21, 2025.

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​ Orange County Register 

Venus passes between the Earth and sun this weekend — but don’t count on seeing it

• March 20, 2025

By ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN

NEW YORK (AP) — Venus will pass between the Earth and sun on Saturday during what’s called an inferior conjunction.

But don’t plan on seeing the linkup. The sight is extremely difficult to spot without special equipment and a trained eye.

“The glare from the sun makes it really, really difficult to see,” said Michelle Nichols with Chicago’s Adler Planetarium.

A conjunction happens when two celestial bodies appear close together in the sky. It could be two planets, or a planet and the sun. An inferior conjunction of Venus happens when the planet swings between the sun and Earth.

Such an alignment happens about every 19 months because of how Venus and Earth orbit the sun. The moment of inferior conjunction happens around 9 p.m. EDT.

“Some people call that a Venus kiss because we’re extremely close together,” said astronomer Geary Albright with James Madison University.

Venus has phases just like the moon. Before and after the conjunction, Venus looks like a thin crescent — though only telescopes can see it. Those looking for signs of the transition can watch Venus move from the evening to morning sky Sunday.

In the nights leading up to the conjunction, find a flat area and look near the horizon just after sunset to glimpse Venus before it sets. It appears as one of the brightest objects in the sky.

After the conjunction, Venus will be visible in the morning sky just before sunrise. Take precaution to not stare directly at the sun.

While this weekend’s event isn’t much of a visual spectacle, scientists say it’s an opportunity to track how the planets shift in space.

“Get a chance to get to know Venus,” said Nichols.

Paul McCartney’s “The Kiss of Venus” was partly inspired by a book chapter describing the inferior conjunction. And two upcoming NASA missions will put a spotlight on Venus, investigating how it formed and why it turned out so different from Earth.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

​ Orange County Register 

The LA-area wildfires in their rearview, LA Marathon runners get a boost from a social media maven

• March 16, 2025

Nobody’s more powered up than Pamela Price on Marathon Day.

For four years, Price, 38, has taken over the Los Angeles Marathon’s social media as its rolling reporter, able to run 26.2 miles throughout the course, talk and coax stories from fellow runners and roadside cheerleaders alike, and still be Instagram-ready at the finish line.

Sunday was no different.

There she was, nearing Mile 11 in Hollywood, her trusty selfie camera in hand, the sounds of a Bee Gees tune in the background.

She catches up to a man running for his wife, a cancer survivor. As the run together, he shares his story, and how he hoped to finish in time to see her by 1 p.m.

Then, as the man moves on, she turns to gives props to the various running clubs running among the 25,000 participants. And she sends cheers to those who amid the loss of the wildfires, ran.

“We’re here!  “We’re so proud of … all the people that are running today in memory of someone and for someone,” she tells her audience, her enthusiasm still cutting through her heavier breathing as she herself ran. “Guys, I’m here to shout out to your mothers, and brothers, your husbands, your sisters, your wives, your cousins, and maybe you’ll see them here on the course. Let’s go! Let’s go!”

Price arrived at Dodgers Stadium in the predawn hours of Race Day ready to encourage runners, admire roadside cheerleaders, both human and canine, and give tips and point out landmarks. This year, Price was also determined to honor first responders and survivors of the Palisades and Eaton wildfires with one message: forward is the only way to go.

Yes, Price has the endurance and athleticism of a marathoner, but when on Jan. 7 both wildfires sparked 30 days of loss and destruction across the city, Price called on another superpower: compassion.

The athlete and formally-trained dancer called Michael Ramos, president of the Pasadena Pacers and told him, “We’re going to do this.” They scoured the 6,000-strong club’s database and confirmed which members lost their homes or were displaced. Price organized the needs of each member and their family, including the size of their shoes and clothes.

During three weekends in January and February, she turned her Highland Park home into a boutique, allowing 40 Altadena families to gather enough for brand new closets. Price’s network of running influencers got the word out to shoes and apparel companies such as Hoka, New Balance, and Dagner Dover suitcases. She even gathered sponsors to provide food for the wildfire victims as they shopped.

“It was three weekends of shopping, and the best part was neighbors were running into each other there and seeing each other for the first time since their homes burned out,” Price said. “They needed a light, there was so much mental stress on these families.”

The Eaton Fire Run Family Drive helped so many get back to running as soon as possible.

“I cannot say enough great things about Pamela. She is absolutely amazing,” Ramos said. The Pacers, more than 300 strong at this marathon, stood out among the crowd in their red shirts. They were running for themselves as well as the 27 in their number who lost their homes or remain displaced.

The Eaton Fire disrupted the months-long training Victoria Barrera, 38, of Altadena, had completed to prepare for the marathon. After she lost her home in the fire, and her 8-year-old daughter lost her Pasadena school, Barrera had to focus on starting from scratch. Price held her hand and made sure she could still compete, Barrera said.

Price knows something about adversity. Diagnosed with Behçet’s disease in 2013, Pamela is a dedicated activist for the rare disease community, founding We Care When, a care package and resource program supporting those living with chronic illness. Behçet’s disease is a rare, inflammatory disorder.

She competed in NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” show and later reached the finals in TBS’ “Wipeout.”

When she’s not running, Price serves as the senior executive producer of the Hollywood Beauty Awards and Daytime Beauty Awards.

Price, who is half-Filipino and part Polish American, is happy to run and talk the whole racecourse.

“The energy is indescribable,” she said of mingling with the elites, the para-athletes and then the rest of the 26,000 runners this year. “The LA Marathon is one big celebration and it’s a party for the city of Los Angeles. Most everybody is running or volunteering or on the sidelines, and everyone cheering for everyone.”

Her life philosophy is mind over matter, something she espoused to fellow marathoners on the course Sunday.

“All athletes, whether you’re a weekend warrior or not, you run because you love it and the feeling in the end is unlike any feeling you can ever have proving to yourself you can go the distance literally and figuratively,” she said. “When you cross that finish line, the energy and pride you fell is so well-deserved.”

After the fires, Price said she’s proud that Los Angeles-based award shows, races and other big events honor the first responders and victims of the disaster. The 40^th Los Angeles Marathon is no different: “It’s going to be an uplifting moment for the city.”

The scars from the two wildfires are still fresh in the Los Angeles landscape, and the trauma survivors feel are still deeply felt, Price said.

“We have to remember it just happened yesterday basically, and it’s still ongoing,” she added.“The processing has only just begun, and for some, the marathon is where they can process it.”

Price will finish her fourth LA marathon in a little over 5 hours. She will celebrate her city and her passion for running, which she said for so many people is the place they go when they feel stressed or worried.

“No one regrets going for that run,” she said, because you feel so much better after. Well, maybe not today. A lot of body parts hurt today, But also, everything feels pretty darn great.

​ Orange County Register 

Matthew Richtman wins the 2025 Los Angeles Marathon, first American since 1994

• March 16, 2025

LOS ANGELES — Matthew Richtman ran away from the competition and made history in his Los Angeles Marathon debut Sunday.

Richtman, a former All-American at Montana State, won the men’s race by nearly three minutes, in a personal best time of 2 hours, 7 minutes and 56 seconds (4:53 per mile) and the $10,000 Marathon Chase bonus.

“I put my foot on the gas and went with it,” Richtman said.

The 2028 L.A. Olympic hopeful is first American to win the race since 1994, when Paul Pilkington finished first in 2:12:13.

“That’s a huge reason to come here,” Richtman said. “We do have a lot of time but the course, I know they haven’t planned it out yet but you’re right, it’s probably something similar or at least on similar parts, so just to have that experience three years out, that’s really important to me and something to train for, for sure.”

Halfway into the race, the 25-year-old laid down a decisive surge and never looked back.

“That wasn’t super planned out,” said Richtman, who would like to defend his title in 2026. “It was more it kind of just happened. It was right after a (water) bottle or something like that where we did split up a little bit and I said I feel good and I can push the pace a little bit here. We were past the hour mark and I said we’ll make a move a little bit and see if people go with and really no one did quite at first.”

Kenya’s Athanas Kioko, 30, finished second in 2:10:55. Kenya’s Moses Kiptoo Kurgat, 33, finished third in 2:13:12.

“It is a big accomplishment,” said Kioko, a former All-American runner for Campbell University, who made his marathon debut in Los Angeles. “I have worked so much for it. It is not the end of it. I have to get back to work and focus on my next event. I’m excited for what comes next … stepping into the next marathon, I am expecting to do even better.”

Meanwhile, Ethopia’s Tejinesh Gebisa Tulu, 30, won the women’s race in 2 hours, 30 minutes and 16 seconds (5:44 per mile). Kenya’s Antonina Kwambai, 32, was second in 2:30:19. USA’s Savannah Berry, 29, led for the majority of her L.A. Marathon debut but finished third in 2:30:31.

“I just kept thinking in my head how much I wanted it,” Berry said. “Even if I didn’t come up with the win that’s what I wanted and that’s what I wanted to give in effort. The whole time I was just thinking, you can do it. You haven’t lost yet. You can win, type thing. Even when you fall short, it’s not a bad result. A third place finish is still an amazing result.”

The Bakersfield native said the L.A. Marathon has been instrumental in her desire to be a professional distance runner.

“It’s kind of a dream because it’s a race that I’ve watched since I was a kid on TV,” Berry continued. “It’s one of the things that’s inspired me to do marathons and things like that is seeing people finish on that big podium years ago. It’s fun. This is my first L.A. Marathon to be able to actually put it into practice and hopefully, I’m an inspiration for some of those other people watching on the TV at home.”

The 40th running of the Los Angeles Marathon began before sunrise at Dodger Stadium on Sunday. The 26.2-mile course traversed through Downtown, Echo Park, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and ended on Santa Monica Boulevard in Century City.

In the men’s race, Richtman was among the top eight runners through Mile 6, pacing around a 5 minutes per mile.

Richtman broke away from the pack at Mile 15 in Beverly Hills. Sammy Rotich, Boniface Kibiwott, and Kioko went with him, as they ramped up the pace to 4:46 per mile.

Richtman extended his lead to a few seconds at Mile 17 on Wilshire Boulevard and a few minutes before entering the homestretch near the Avenue of the Stars.

RELATED: 26,000 compete in 40th L.A. Marathon

It was a five-woman race at Mile 6 (10k) with American Savannah Berry leading Mamitu Balchu Hey, Rita Jelagat, Tejinesh Gebisa Tulu, and Antonina Kwambai. Hey dropped off the lead pack by Mile 12.

Berry, an Olympic hopeful heading into the L.A. 2028 Summer Games, said it was important to prove to herself that she could run the entire race with the lead pack.

“I’m hoping that they actually do hold it similarly on this course because then it’s like I’m practicing,” Berry said. “It’s just getting ready for when it happens in 2028.”

Meanwhile, the Marathon Chase challenge gave the elite women’s field at 16:05 head start over the men. A $10,000 bonus was on the line for the first runner to cross the finish line. However, Richtman tracked the women down by Mile 18 and secured the five figure sum.

“It was still something that was on my mind,” Richtman said. “It’s that competitive nature.”

Luis Francisco Sanclemente won the wheelchair marathon for the third consecutive year. He finished in 1:38:10.

​ Orange County Register 

From Regional Mexican to hip-hop: Peso Pluma makes history at Rolling Loud California 2025

• March 16, 2025

Rolling Loud California 2025 wasted no time making history.

As the festival’s first night unfolded on March 15, Peso Pluma took center stage, shattering tradition as the first regional Mexican artist to ever headline the global hip-hop-centric festival. With the weight of an entire genre on his shoulders and thousands of fans in the crowd, his set marked a defining moment—not just for him, but for the festival’s evolution.

Traditionally a hip-hop-focused event, Rolling Loud had included a few Regional Mexican acts previously such as Fuerza Regida and Chino Pacas, but this year marked a historic first: a non-hip-hop artist headlined the festival. Peso Pluma’s captivating performance not only underscored the growing influence of regional Mexican music in mainstream culture but also cemented his position as a dynamic force bridging musical boundaries

From the moment Peso Pluma took the stage with his seven-piece band, featuring horns and violin—core elements of a traditional corridos ensemble—the atmosphere at Hollywood Park shifted. The crowd, tightly packed and even a few folks waving red, white, and green flags, chanted his name in unison. Peso performed a mix of his biggest hits, including “Rubicon,” “La Bebe,” and “Lady Gaga,” all while showcasing the same dramatic presence that had defined his Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival set in 2024. However, this performance was more than just a replay; it was a masterful refinement that elevated the energy to new heights

Halfway through, Peso surprised the crowd by bringing out Ty Dolla $ign and Rich The Kid to perform “Carnival,” the track from Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures 1. The audience erupted into a frenzy, with small moshes forming and fans jumping wildly. The energy was so high that the trio ran the track back for a second round, a testament to the crowd’s hunger for the moment. Peso also welcomed El Alfa for “PLEBADA” and Eladio Carrión for “77,” further bridging Latin music’s presence within the Rolling Loud ecosystem.

This moment felt particularly full circle considering that just last year, Kanye and Ty Dolla $ign had opened Rolling Loud when it expanded to a four-day festival, using the platform to debut Vultures 1. Peso’s inclusion as a headliner this year wasn’t just a major step for regional Mexican music—it was a direct reflection of the festival’s evolving identity.

Following Peso’s historic performance, A$AP Rocky closed out the night, albeit an hour late. The delay mirrored a trend on the main stage, as multiple artists ran behind schedule. However, Rocky made up for lost time with a dramatic entrance—descending from a black helicopter attached to a crane while performing an unreleased track, rumored to be called “All Black (Stole YA Flow).” He was eventually lowered onto the stage to continue a high-energy, fast-paced set featuring “A$AP Forever,” “RIOT (Rowdy Pipe’n),”and “Tailor Swif.”

Rocky also had a few surprises up his sleeve, bringing out Skepta for “Praise the Lord (Da Shine),” and “Your Honor,” a track recalling his recent trial for gun assault charges, which he was acquitted of. In a heartfelt moment, he paused the performance to address the crowd: “I’m so happy to see y’all right now, y’all don’t even understand. It was real hectic recently.”

The set was celebratory, marking his first major performance since his acquittal. He embraced the moment with his signature charisma, taking time to dedicate the show to immigrants and victims of the recent California wildfires.

“I would like to dedicate this show to anybody that was affected by those fires,” Rocky shared in a moment between songs. “To anybody that was affected by the immigration laws. My heart goes out to you.”

Beyond the headliners, the festival’s earlier sets packed a nice punch. Former basketball star-turned-rapper Gelo made his Rolling Loud debut on the GoPuff Stage, delivering an energetic set that solidified his transition into music. Ski Mask The Slump God followed, arriving late but making up for it with his usual high-intensity performance and hits like “Take A Step Back” and “Faucet Failure.”

Meanwhile, Sexyy Red returned to the main stage for her second consecutive year, playing fan favorites like “SkeeYee” and “Pound Town” while also debuting her new collaboration with Bruno Mars, “Fat, Juicy & Wet”—already being touted as this year’s “strip club anthem.”

Rolling Loud wasn’t just about the music. This year’s festival featured an array of attractions, including immersive brand activations and the return of the festival’s iconic Ferris wheel, offering fans a panoramic view of the festival grounds. Food vendors lined the pathways, serving everything from street tacos and loaded fries to gourmet burgers, ensuring that attendees had the fuel to keep their energy up all night.

Day 1 of Rolling Loud California 2025 was a showcase of cultural shifts within music, where regional Mexican sounds stood shoulder to shoulder with hip-hop heavyweights.

Rolling Loud Festival 2025

When: March 15-16

Where: Hollywood Park, 1001 S. Stadium Drive, Inglewood

​ Orange County Register 

Rams re-sign RB Ronnie Rivers to one-year deal

• March 16, 2025

The Rams re-signed Ronnie Rivers, a part of their running back rotation and key member of their special teams, to a one-year contract, the team announced on Sunday.

Rivers, 26, has been a member of the Rams for the past three seasons after joining the team as an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State. He served as the team’s third running back in 2024, carrying the ball 22 times for 99 yards while making five catches for 34.

He served on the Rams’ kickoff return and coverage units, as well as punt and punt return units. And that’s where his primary value lies with the Rams with Kyren Williams and Blake Corum serving as the top-two running backs again in 2025.

Rivers served as a protection man on the punt team, and occasionally lined up deep to return kicks, though he only received one in 2025 which he fair caught.

​ Orange County Register 

Kings look to carry momentum from successful homestand on the road

• March 16, 2025

The Kings wrapped up their homestand with a fifth consecutive victory and set off on a two-game trip that’ll begin in St. Paul against the Minnesota Wild on Monday before concluding in Chicago on Thursday.

If they were to take both games, they’d have a season-long winning streak, not having lost since the March 7 trade deadline. They have reworked their defense corps and fourth line, and though he hasn’t recorded a point yet, Andrei Kuzmenko has helped create better balance up front.

“This is going to be a good test for us in Minnesota,” Coach Jim Hiller said after an ugly win over Nashville on Saturday. “They play a certain style of game, they’re strong. We’re going to have to take a deep breath and come with some more energy for that one, for sure.”

The Wild may be strong but they’ve also been wounded. Offensive spearhead Kirill Kaprizov, No. 1 center Joel Eriksson Ek, and stalwart Jonas Brodin have been missing in action, with Kaprizov not having played since late January.

Minnesota, which still comfortably occupies the top wild-card spot in the West, has nonetheless lost some ground of late. They have one win in their past five games, most recently losing 5-1 to the St. Louis Blues at home.

“There’s a hungry team coming in here Monday,” Minnesota forward Mats Zuccarello told The Athletic. “We gotta be ready to compete and win hockey games.”

For the Kings, Quinton Byfield has come to the fore, forging an active six-game goal streak that includes two overtime game-winners. Of the four OT victories that the Kings have this season, Byfield tallied the decisive goal in three of them, having also driven the dagger into the Edmonton Oilers back in December.

“I used to be scared of that [situation],” Byfield said. “Now, going 3-on-3 with all that ice, it’s so much fun out there. I try to enjoy being out there. You get a lot of time and space, you can make plays and have fun.”

Kempe, who scored the Kings’ fourth extra-session goal in Winnipeg on Jan. 10, assisted on all three of Byfield’s winners, with Brandt Clarke having set up two of Byfield’s tallies.

For years, Kempe, captain Anže Kopitar and alternate captain Drew Doughty coming over the boards to start overtime was an eventuality. But Hiller has been more flexible with his personnel and valued speed more in the bonus frame. Byfield said that confidence and opportunity were vital in shedding his trepidation and becoming the Kings’ best chance to win in OT.

“Just the trust, (Hiller) starting me [in overtime]. It’s also repetition as well, before I never really got that chance until this year really,” Byfield said.

The Kings haven’t seen Minnesota since December, but they won both early-season meetings decisively. Byfield was one of four Kings to record a multi-point effort in a 5-1 win on Nov. 5. Kempe and Trevor Moore combined for three goals and four points in a 4-1 victory on Dec. 7.

The Wild were getting bigger contributions from Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi this season, but they have goal droughts of 10 games and nine games, respectively, at the moment.

​ Orange County Register