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    Coalition comes together to help as ‘Dena Heals’ in aftermath of Eaton fire
    • February 8, 2025

    To get to Tepito Coffee in Pasadena, you take the Lake Avenue exit to Colorado Boulevard. Mike de la Rocha can tell you a short drive north up Lake will reveal the still-uncleared rubble and ash of the Eaton Fire.

    “This fire cut real close to home, so when the fires erupted, we had to close down and we just went into action,” said De la Rocha, co-owner of Tepito Coffee.

    Action meant rounding up volunteers from the coffee shop and Homeboy Industries, a partner at Tepito that also trains baristas from Homeboy’s rehabilitation program for former gang members and the incarcerated. They delivered 300 coffee cakes and served coffee to wildfire victims and first responders, spending two weeks at the command center at the Rose Bowl doing the same for more than 2,000 firefighters and first responders.

    A week after the fire erupted, a crew from Homeboy Industries spent a day at First United Methodist Church in Pasadena, unloading a water delivery and cleaning the ash and dust from the sanctuary, chapel and hallways.

    “It was really beautiful to give a sense of love in that moment,” De la Rocha said.

    “Dena Heals,” is the result of that impulse and desire to help. The collaboration among Revolve Impact, Fabletics, Homeboy Industries, Botanica Melo, Savage Fenty, The Paseo and others provides a free shop and wellness center for individuals and families directly impacted by the Eaton Fire.

    A Mutual Aid Marketplace opened on Jan. 30, and more than 600 people came through to pick up free clothing, including jackets and athletic wear. Healthcare workers got to pick from new scrubs. More than 300 pairs of shoes, Hydroflasks and glasses were also distributed.

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    Dena Heals, the free marketplace and wellness center at The Paseo, gathers different brands that donate products in collaboration with Tepito Coffee and Homeboy Industries. One of its first donors was Fabletics activewear. Photo: Courtesy Mike de la Rocha

    An adjoining wellness center offered a sound bath, offering deep relaxation through healing sound vibrations. Children get their own space. De la Rosa also led a men’s healing circle, a space for men to get out of their comfort zones.

    “We’re conditioned to hold everything and that leads to us getting sick or acting out in unhealthy ways, and this is a space to heal together and release,” he said.

    The next men’s healing circle is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at the wellness center. Organizers plan to hold one every other Thursday.

    Healing circles are discussed De la Rosa’s book, “Sacred Lessons: Teaching My Father How to Love,” which he wrote to normalize men asking for help and raising awareness about modes of healing.

    Both the marketplace and wellness center will stay open until the end of April, recognizing the need for Pasadenans, especially members from Black, Brown and Indigenous communities, to gain a semblance of normalcy and dignity after trauma and loss.

    Elena Esparza, alternative medicine practitioner, will lead a two-day community Karma Clinic Feb. 8 and 9, also at the wellness center. It will feature chiropractic and acupuncture as well as traditional healings such as limpias and song cleansings.

    De la Rosa and Tepito co-owner Jose Arellano, who is also a vice president at Homeboy Industries, said they hope Dena Heals serves as a community hub that meets people’s material and emotional needs.

    “Tepito’s open again and we had regulars come in and just break down, and all we can do is walk beside them in their pain, hold space alongside them,” De la Rocha said. “We want Dena Heals to be a resource, a place where folks feel welcome, like Tepito was a refuge even before the fires.”

    Rev. Greg Boyle, S.J., founder and director of Homeboy Industries, in a video statement, said building a beloved community means doing many things with great love.

    “We commit ourselves to walk with everyone who suffers during this time of great displacement and loss of life, and loss of belongings, to remind ourselves that our greatest treasure is each other,” he said.

    Dena Heals is at 300 E Colorado Blvd, No. 150 and 151, in Pasadena. For more information, visit denaheals.com.

     Orange County Register 

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    Philadelphia churches deliver fire aid to local faithful
    • February 8, 2025

    One month ago, Jonathan A. Mason asked Terry Lynn O’Donnell one question: “What are we going to do about California?”

    Turns out, the answer is: plenty.

    Mason, pastor of Northeast Baptist Church and O’Donnell, his contemporary at The Church of Christian Compassion, mobilized their combined congregation of 1,200 in working-class neighborhoods in Philadelphia to gather $25,000 worth of emergency supplies. Then they hired two semi-trucks to deliver the goods to California.

    “This is the epitome of ‘I am my brother’s keeper,’” said Anthony McFarland, pastor and founder of LIFT International in Altadena. “When one is hurting, we’re all hurting and it’s no good until we come together.”

    Rev. Jonathan Mason, of North East Baptist Church in Philadelphia, visits with pastors from Altadena and Pasadena churches in San Gabriel on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 as two truck loads of supplies for Eaton fire victims, collected from Philadelphia churches, arrive. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
    Rev. Jonathan Mason, of North East Baptist Church in Philadelphia, visits with pastors from Altadena and Pasadena churches in San Gabriel on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 as two truck loads of supplies for Eaton fire victims, collected from Philadelphia churches, arrive. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

    On Thursday, pastors from nine local churches and ministries, as well as the two pastors from Philadelphia, met the two trucks and unloaded supplies destined for fire victims. Darrin and Belen Doram, owners of the Grocery Outlet in San Gabriel, allowed the trucks to park in their lot and wait for church leaders to pick up the supplies.

    Before the trucks arrived, Mason toured neighborhoods laid waste by the wildfire.

    “This is what I saw: addresses with no more homes, columns with numbers and behind them, just shells and remains of houses. I saw cars parked in front of homes that were no more and families walking in the debris,” he said.

    Mason said television coverage of the California wildfires did not feature communities of color “so it was important we impact communities who needed this and the pastors who lost churches and homes and are still helping.”

    Aside from McFarland’s LIFT International, other churches and groups that received donations include Pasadena Church, Community Bible Church, Hillside Tabernacle City of Faith, Bethel Missionary Baptist Church and Pasadena Community Coalition.

    Their leaders unloaded everything from medical supplies, toiletries, water, baby formula, pet food, toys, cleaning supplies and non-perishable food for hours on Thursday, undeterred by rain.

    Pastors from Altadena and Pasadena churches receive in San Gabriel on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 two truck loads of supplies for Eaton fire victims which were collected from churches in Philadelphia. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
    Pastors from Altadena and Pasadena churches receive in San Gabriel on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 two truck loads of supplies for Eaton fire victims which were collected from churches in Philadelphia. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

    “We thank the people of Philadelphia for their generosity and this heartfelt mission,” McFarland said.

    For Mason, the campaign was personification of his mantra: “It’s a blessing to be a blessing.”

    “Philly was really engaged in this,” he said, adding that support came from 30 community partners, from Baptist and other Christian churches to Philadelphia city leaders, fraternities, and businesses. Pennsylvania Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams paid for the cost of one of the semi-trucks.

    The collection gathered such a surplus of supplies that after a medical jet crashed in a Philadelphia neighborhood on Jan. 31, the churches were able to donate to victims on the ground.

    The Philadelphia pastors’ connection to Altadena was Mason’s Phi Beta Sigma fraternity brother Ron Carter, a public relations consultant who lost three structures on his Altadena property. His main house was one of three homes on his block that survived the fire.

    “I’m struggling with survivor’s guilt and being able to give back helps,” Carter said. “This collaboration is a reminder that in the face of adversity, institutions can stand together as one to benefit the residents of different states.”

    McFarland’s church on Lake Avenue, which he co-founded with his wife Micheline, as well as their home of 32 years, burned down in the Eaton Fire. Their pets, a four-year-old poodle named Ziggy and a cat named Sophie, also died in the fire. Of the 200 households in his church, 17 lost their homes and 26 remain displaced.

    LIFT, which means Living In Faith Together, now uses a chapel at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Lake Avenue, meeting at 9:30 a.m. Sundays. Its daily 7 a.m. prayer line is going strong too, Micheline McFarland said.

    “It’s always been about unity, and I believe God orders our steps,” she said. The church is showing up, especially when things are tough. It’s not for nothing, McFarland said, that the church’s website is liftaltadena.org.

    She said while she’s still in shock, she is also trusting God and others to go the hard way together.

    That camaraderie is inspiring, agreed Amara Ononiwu, acting director of fire aid and relief for the Clergy Community Coalition. Ononiwu, who is part of the pastoral team at Cathedral Church in Los Angeles, said one of the top priorities is finding housing for all the displaced.

    “This is just one of many instances I’ve seen of people coming together,” Ononiwu said. “This is when you’ll see faith rise and do what we’re meant to do, which is love our neighbor.”

     Orange County Register 

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    Long Beach State men’s volleyball beats UCLA in rematch of NCAA final
    • February 8, 2025

    LONG BEACH — The top-ranked Long Beach State men’s volleyball team remained unbeaten and earned a sliver of revenge on Friday night, defeating third-ranked UCLA, 3-1, at the Walter Pyramid in a rematch of their NCAA title match last spring.

    Skyler Varga had 12 kills and Daniil Hershtynovich had 10 for Long Beach, which won, 25-21, 20-25, 25-16, 25-22. Moni Nikolov had seven aces, five kills and 35 assists, and Lazar Bouchkov led the team in blocks as LBSU (9-0) held the Bruins (6-2) to a .304 hitting percentage.

    Zach Rama led UCLA with 15 kills and Cooper Robinson added 10 blocks and six digs for the Bruins, who defeated LBSU in four sets for their second straight national title last May at the Pyramid.

    Long Beach stayed ahead of the Bruins (6-2) throughout the first set. LBSU held a 10-8 lead then extended the margin to 23-16, but the Bruins took five of the next six points to get within 24-21 before a UCLA service error ended the set.

    UCLA found its rhythm in the second frame, but neither team built more than a two-point lead early. UCLA took a 9-7 lead on a Cameron Thorne kill and a David Decker ace, then went ahead 12-9 when Matthew Edwards hit one off the Long Beach block for a point. The Bruins went ahead by three again at 21-18 and rode that momentum to a set point at 24-19. Bouchkov kept Long Beach alive with a kill, but UCLA answered with a Rama kill to take the set and knot the match.

    The third set stayed competitive with runs of momentum for both sides. A huge block from Nikolov and DiAeris McRaven gave Long Beach State its first lead of the set at 6-5, and another Nikolov ace pushed the lead to 11-7. McRaven continued to be a force at the net as he and Nikolov helped fuel a three-point run for a 17-11 lead. The pace of the match picked up as Long Beach opened a 22-15 lead. Nikolov’s fourth ace produced a set point and Long Beach took control of the match.

    Nikolov added three aces to begin the fourth set and Long Beach opened a 12-8 lead before the Bruins ran off three points in a row. Long Beach surged ahead 23-18 before the Bruins closed to within 24-21 with Andrew Rowan serving. A Siapanis hit off the block created match point for Long Beach, and a UCLA service error ended it.

    The teams will square off again on Wednesday night, this time at Pauley Pavilion.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Kevin Fiala extends hot streak as Kings beat Stars in shootout
    • February 8, 2025

    LOS ANGELES — A seesaw affair that saw a winning goal nullified with 36 seconds remaining in overtime still left the Kings elated by a 5-4 victory in a shootout with the Dallas Stars on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.

    Warren Foegele, Kevin Fiala, Alex Laferriere and Anže Kopitar each scored a goal for the Kings. Fiala added an assist, as well as a shootout goal, and Phillip Danault had two assists. David Rittich had 26 saves.

    Matt Duchene scored two goals for the Stars and set up Thomas Harley’s tally to earn his 500th career assist, with Mavrik Bourque adding a goal. Jake Oettinger made 33 saves.

    Adrian Kempe scored to open the shootout and Fiala followed by converting to put Dallas down 2-0 with the only two goals in the shootout. It was apropos that Fiala finished the job, given that he had come an eyelash from deciding the result in overtime.

    Overtime provided a fitting bonus session for the most sinewy, least predictable game of the Kings’ season so far, with both teams generating opportunities. Fiala appeared to win the game with 36.4 seconds left, but his searing one-timer was taken off the board due to what was deemed goaltender interference by Drew Doughty.

    Fiala has five goals and an assist in the past three games, taking his run in the last 11 outings to 13 points with five multi-point showings.

    Kopitar had not scored since his two-goal performance against Philadelphia on Dec. 29, but he picked a perfect moment to break out of his funk by redirecting Kempe’s pass into the net with his right skate for his 13th goal of 2024-25 with 8:20 left in regulation. The fortunate break was Kopitar’s 432nd career goal, breaking a tie with Dave Taylor for the third-most in franchise history.

    The Stars had taken their first lead of the night on consecutive goals by Bourque (6:53) and Duchene (9:51).

    Duchene scored his second goal of the game when he skated directly at Doughty and roofed a wrist shot far side without breaking stride.

    Bourque scored the Stars’ second rebound goal of the night when he drove the net to find a Jamie Benn shot that clanked calamitously off Rittich’s left leg.

    Dallas threatened early in the final frame when Oscar Bäck dinged the inside of the left post before Mason Marchment had a menacing chance. The Kings then had their opportunities, but Kempe missed an open net from close range and Quinton Byfield couldn’t finish a two-on-one rush after being disrupted by Harley.

    After 40 minutes, the Kings led 3-2 thanks to a goal-of-the-year candidate and a gritty effort to regain the lead following an opportunistic score by Dallas.

    Byfield recovered the puck just after Dallas took full possession of it, keying a sequence that set him up with a one-timer trailing the play. Though his shot attempt thudded off the end boards, it hit Oettinger’s skate and came to Laferriere to the Kings’ second tap-in tally of the evening. Laferriere’s 14th goal broke a tie at 11:43 that resulted from the teams trading goals at the 9:29 and 8:16 marks.

    The Stars pulled even for the second time after they won a protracted board battle and made that possession count. Cody Ceci recorded his first point as a Star after his point blast produced a juicy rebound and Harley, who had smoked Trevor Moore for position, picked up the loose change.

    That avenged a stunning goal by Fiala.

    Dallas defenseman Liam Bichsel was smarting from a blocked shot and left without a stick while isolated with Fiala, who spun Bischel around completely with his stickhandling before launching a shot between Bischel’s legs and up over the shoulder of Oettinger. Fiala now has 21 goals for the season and five in his past three games as part of a stretch with 13 points in 11 games.

    Momentum shifted from the Kings to the Stars late in the first period, allowing the visitors to head to the dressing room with a stalemate.

    Dallas piled up the final six shots of the first period and forged together a sequence in which it had six shot attempts in nine seconds with Rittich under siege. Though the Kings survived that onslaught in the final minute, they allowed a buzzer-beater to knot the score.

    Duchene received the puck back from Brendan Smith, who fought the Kings’ Tanner Jeannot after the period concluded, and went to work. Duchene’s spin move combined with a slight bump from Mikael Granlund shook Joel Edmundson, while Vladislav Gavrikov hedged to take away inside ice, opening up a shooting angle for Duchene’s equalizer with two seconds showing on the clock.

    It took just 11 seconds for the Kings to score when Danault banked a shot off Oettinger’s pad that found Foegele for his 13th goal of the campaign.

    The Kings also registered nine of the game’s first 10 shots on goal but could only find the net once.

    More to come on this story.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    UCLA gymnastics posts season-best score to beat Washington
    • February 8, 2025

    SEATTLE — The sixth-ranked UCLA gymnastics team put together its best team score of the season for a 197.950-196.125 victory over Washington on Friday night. The Bruins (7-2 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) surpassed their previous best by four-tenths of a point and hit all 24 of their routines, including 14 scores of 9.9 or higher.

    UCLA swept the individual events, with Chae Campbell capturing the all-around title with a season-best 39.625 and winning the vault with a season-best 9.925. Frida Esparza tied her career best with a 9.950 to win the uneven bars for the third time this season. Ciena Alipio and Emma Malabuyo tied for first on the balance beam with scores of 9.950, a new career-best mark for Alipio. Jordan Chiles and Brooklyn Moors tied for first in the floor exercise with 9.950s.

    The Bruins began the meet with a season-high 49.450 on the uneven bars. All six UCLA competitors scored 9.850 or higher. Campbell led off with a strong 9.850 after hitting all of her handstands. Mika Webster-Longin followed with a career-high 9.925. Like Webster-Longin ahead of her, Malabuyo stuck her full-twisting double back dismount and scored a 9.850. Macy McGowan earned a 9.850, then Esparza turned in her meet-winning 9.950. Chiles closed the strong showing with a 9.875.

    UCLA maintained its nine-tenths of a point lead after scoring 49.325 on the vault in rotation two, the third consecutive meet the Bruins have scored 49.3 or better. Campbell led the team with a near-perfect 9.925 on a huge stuck Yurchenko full. Moors also hit a season-high with a stuck 9.900, and Chiles and McGowan each contributed 9.850s. Emily Lee scored 9.800, and Webster-Longin hit another career-high with a 9.775.

    The Bruins extended their lead to more than a point (148.325-147.150) after scoring a 49.575 on the floor. Each Bruin scored 9.850 or better, led by Moors and Chiles with their 9.950s. Campbell received a 9.925, Malabuyo earned a 9.900 and McGowan and Lee each scored 9.850.

    UCLA closed the meet with a dazzling effort on the balance beam. All six Bruins scored 9.900 or higher. Lee led off with a 9.900, and Chiles matched it for her season-best. Campbell matched her career high with a 9.925, and Moors and Alipio hit new career-best marks with a 9.900 and 9.950, respectively. Malabuyo ended the meet with another 9.950 to bump UCLA’s beam score to 49.625, the sixth-best beam total in program history.

    UP NEXT

    The Bruins play host to Penn State next Friday at 8 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Woodbridge girls water polo keeps cool to sink Buena Park in second round of Division 2 playoffs
    • February 8, 2025

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    Blood spilled but composure prevailed.

    That was the theme for Woodbridge’s girls water polo team Friday night as it reacted positively to adversity in a 9-6 triumph against visiting Buena Park in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs.

    With Woodbridge coach Alex Farraro encouraging her players to maintain their composure, the Warriors (20-10) scored three consecutive goals in the fourth period after the Coyotes (16-16) drew within one goal.

    Woodbridge sophomore Ellie Kruger sparked the surge by narrowly beating the shot clock with a perimeter strike for a 7-5 lead with 3:34 left in regulation.

    Lena DeLand and Mia Matulewicz — also both sophomores — added goals over the next two minutes as the Warriors advanced to Wednesday’s quarterfinals against visiting Downey.

    “We do good under pressure,” said Woodbridge’s Sareen Sardarian, who scored a match-high three goals. “We talk a lot (as a team). We keep it under control. We know how to keep our composure.”

    “We’ve been working hard for this,” the junior added. “We’ve learned to work together a lot more.”

    Sardarian, a center, showed her composure in the second period. She briefly left with a bloody nose but returned later in the quarter to score on a sweep shot from center to give Woodbridge a 4-2 lead at halftime.

    Sardarian then scored the first two goals of the second half — raising her season-total to 105 — as the Warriors took control.

    “I’m used to it, I guess,” she said of the physical play. “I take a lot of physical pressure as a center but it didn’t really affect me.”

    Junior Uma Mahajan drew the penalty and exclusion that led to Sardarian’s goals in the third.

    Woodbridge also received clutch play in the third period senior goalie Camryn Adams, who made four of her 12 saves.

    Adams made one save against the power play as the Warriors held Buena Park to 1 for 5 with the extra attacker in the frame. Buena Park finished 2 for 7 overall on the power play while Woodbridge went 1 for 4.

    “I knew it be a battle,” said Farraro, whose team beat the Coyotes 8-5 early in the season, “(Buena Park) has a great goalie (in Jayden-Starr Smith).”

    “It got quite exciting (with the third period exclusions),” the coach added. “We had to regain composure after that and just slow them down.”

    Smith finished 13 saves to help lead the senior-laden Coyotes.

    Brianna Mora tossed a lob shot to cut Woodbridge’s lead to 6-5 with about four minutes left in the fourth.

    Emma Chagollan netted two goals to finish the season with 105 goals.

    “It’s a whirlwind of emotions because I taught all those girls how to swim,” said Buena Park coach Shane LaFortune, whose squad won the first league title in school history. “A few years ago, we were Division 6. Now we’re Division 2 with no club kids.”

    Also in Division 2:

    El Toro 15, La Serna 9: Arizona State-bound Lulu Gaetano scored six goals, Mallory Taylor netted four and Cat Abdella added three goals and two assists as the top-seeded Chargers (21-8) won their first playoff game under first-year coach Russell Renteria. El Toro plays host to Buena in the quarterfinals.

    In Division 3:

    Portola 10, Santa Monica 8: Junior Alexis Minasyan had three goals and seven steals and junior goalie Giselle Lu made seven saves to lead the Bulldogs (14-9), who play at Flintridge Sacred Heart in the quarterfinals.

    In Division 4:

    Aliso Niguel 12, Crean Lutheran 7: Leyla Pfeiffer made 14 saves, Ellie Stagner scored three goals and Kate Burkitt added two goals and four steals as the Wolverines (17-9) reached the quarterfinals for the first time.

    Troy 10, Roosevelt 9: Blessing Cheng and Anisha Aluwihare helped lead the Warriors (14-12), who play host to Upland in the quarterfinals.

    In Division 6:

    Anaheim 13, Edgewood 8: Layla Gonzalez netted seven goals and Hannah Grubbs added three goals and three steals to pace the Colonists (9-10).

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Kris Jenner lists ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ mansion for $13.5 million
    • February 8, 2025

    Kris Jenner today listed her iconic Hidden Hills estate for $13.5 million.

    For over a decade, this sprawling 8,860-square-foot Mediterranean-style mansion has been the backdrop for much of the drama showcased in “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” making it “a piece of television history.”

    At least, that’s what the listing calls it.

    The long-running reality series focused on the blended Kardashian and Jenner family, particularly spotlighting sisters Kim, Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian and their half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner. After 20 seasons spanning 14 years, the show concluded in 2021, but the allure of the house remains.

    “It’s a home where a family lived their lives, with good times, bad times, kids growing up, and all kinds of evolution,” Tomer Fridman of Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California, the listing agent, told the New York Times, which first reported the property for sale.

    The grand foyer sets a luxurious tone with a sweeping double staircase and oversized black and white-checkered flooring. This choice of flooring adorns the dining room and gourmet kitchen, while the family room boasts a wet bar.

    Abundant picture windows fill the interior with natural light and frame views of the lushly landscaped grounds, which include a pool, spa, firepit, cabana, outdoor kitchen and dining area.

    The primary suite opens to a walk-out balcony overlooking the 1.5-acre-plus estate. Inside this retreat, a fireplace warms the bedroom. A spa-like bathroom with a steam shower, a walk-in closet and a private gym add to the offerings.

    A dedicated office adds functionality, making the home “perfect for both lavish living and productivity,” the listing reads.

    Records viewed at PropertyShark.com reveal Kris Jenner and her ex, Caitlyn Jenner, bought the home for $4 million in March 2010. In 2014, during their separation, Caitlyn Jenner transferred ownership of the property to Kris Jenner.

    They finalized their divorce in 2015 after 24 years of marriage.

    Kris Jenner, 69, is now in a relationship with talent manager Corey Gamble, 44.

    In a statement to the New York Times, she said, “I’ve shared so many unforgettable memories in this incredible home with my family, and I’m excited to see it start a new chapter with its next owners.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     Orange County Register 

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    Wesley Yates’ big night not enough for USC in blowout loss to No. 7 Purdue
    • February 8, 2025

    WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A monster night from sophomore Wesley Yates III wasn’t nearly enough for the short-handed USC men’s basketball team on Friday night.

    Yates scored 22 of his career-high 30 points in the first half, but a Trojans squad playing without leading scorer Desmond Claude was no match for seventh-ranked Purdue in a 90-72 loss at Mackey Arena.

    Trey Kaufman-Renn had 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Boilermakers (19-5 overall, 11-2 Big Ten), who overwhelmed USC in the paint on the way to their fourth straight win and 11th in their past 12 games. Fletcher Loyer added 14 points for Purdue, which outrebounded the Trojans 48-31. Braden Smith and Caleb Furst each just missed joining Kaufman-Renn with double-doubles. Smith finished with nine points and a team-high 13 assists, and Furst added had nine points and 10 rebounds.

    Yates, whose previous high was 21 points, had to play much of the second half with four fouls after he picked up his fourth with 16:25 minutes left. Isaiah Elohim added 11 points and Jalen Shelley had 10 points and six rebounds for USC (13-10, 5-7), which trailed by as much as 26 and lost its second in a row since upsetting then-No. 7 Michigan State last weekend.

    Claude, a 6-foot-6 junior guard (16.2 ppg), has been battling a knee injury and also sat out Tuesday’s 77-75 loss at Northwestern.

    The conference-leading Boilermakers established dominance of the lane early to take a double-digit lead less than seven minutes into the game.

    Purdue pulled ahead 21-10 with 18 of its points coming from inside. The Boilermakers outscored USC in the paint 52-36 for the night and nearly had as many points in the key by halftime (32) as the Trojans had in total (36).

    Kaufman-Renn set the tone, shooting 7 for 9 from the floor in the first half for 14 points. The Boilermakers shot 67% in the first half to build a 48-36 lead by halftime.

    Both teams struggled from 3-point range: USC shot 4 for 26, while Purdue was 6 for 26, but USC also went just 16 for 29 from the free-throw line. Clark Slajchert, who scored a season-high 24 points on Tuesday, shot 0 for 6 from 3-point range and 2 for 10 from the floor on his way to seven points.

    Purdue, which has won 29 of its last 30 home games, moved two games up in the win column over Michigan State and Michigan in its quest for a third consecutive Big Ten regular-season title.

    UP NEXT

    USC plays host to Penn State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Galen Center.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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