United Airlines flight loses wheel after takeoff from Los Angeles and lands safely in Denver

• July 9, 2024

LOS ANGELES — A United Airlines Boeing jet lost a main landing gear wheel Monday while taking off from Los Angeles and later landed safely in Denver, the airline said.

There were no reported injuries on the ground or on board Flight 1001, United said in a statement.

“The wheel has been recovered in Los Angeles, and we are investigating what caused this event,” the statement said.

The Boeing 757-200 was carrying 174 passengers and 7 crewmembers.

On March 7, a United Boeing B777-200 jet lost a tire mid-air after takeoff from San Francisco. It landed on a car in an airport employee parking lot. Nobody was hurt and the plane landed safely in Los Angeles.

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​ Orange County Register 

Lionel Messi will start for Argentina in Copa America semifinal against Canada

• July 9, 2024

By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK — Lionel Messi won’t be stopped by a leg injury and will play in Argentina’s Copa America semifinal against Canada on Tuesday night.

Messi has been dealing with a right leg problem since a group stage victory over Chile on June 25. He missed the first-round finale four days later but played the entire match in the quarterfinal victory over Ecuador last Thursday.

“Leo is good. He will be playing tomorrow,” Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni said Monday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

At 37, Messi has 13 Copa America goals and is four behind the record shared by Argentina’s Norberto Méndez and Brazil’s Zizinho, but he hasn’t scored in this year’s tournament.

“It’s an easy decision for me,” Scaloni said. “It’s a fairly honest decision: I ask him how he feels. If he says ‘I’m not good,’ then he will play the last 30 minutes. When he’s available, he will play.”

Seeking a record 16th Copa America title, Argentina beat Canada, 2-0, in the June 20 tournament opener when Messi set up second-half goals by Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez.

“We didn’t do well enough with Messi last match. He was able to run free at our goalkeeper too much,” said Jesse Marsch, the American hired as Canada’s coach in May. “We all know he’s the greatest player to ever play the game.”

Argentina outshot Canada 19-10, including 9-2 on target, and had 64% possession.

“It’s more of (an) advantage that we were able to play against them than it was for them to play against us,” Marsch said.

Both teams are coming off quarterfinal wins on penalty kicks. Canada, an invited guest from North America, defeated Venezuela.

In the other semifinal, Uruguay plays Colombia on Wednesday night in Charlotte, North Carolina. The championship is Sunday in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Argentina will have four days of rest, one more than Canada, but both teams are coming off 90-minute matches. Tournament regulations call for extra time to be used only if needed in the final.

Argentina is seeking to win its third major title after the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup and to equal the feat of Spain, which won the European Championship in 2008 and ’12 along with the 2010 World Cup. The Albiceleste are tied with Uruguay for most Copa America titles with 15.

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Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has won four straight shootouts, against Colombia in the 2021 Copa semifinals, vs. the Netherlands in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals and against France in the final, then vs. Ecuador last week.

The 6-foot-5 Martinez, constantly shuffling his feet and a chatterbox trying to distract opponents, saved eight of 18 shots, stopping Colombia’s Davinson Sánchez, Yerry Mina and Edwin Cardona; the Netherlands’ Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis; France’s Kingsley Coman; and Ecuador’s Ángel Mena and Alan Minda.

Canada was eliminated in the group stage of its only World Cup appearances in 1986 and 2022. It won the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup after gaining the title of a predecessor tournament, the 1985 CONCACAF Championship.

“We’re playing against the best team in the world,” said Cyle Larin, Canada’s career leader with 29 goals. “We have a lot of speed and power, but I think over those days we’ve been together we’ve been growing.”

AP Sports Writer Eric Núñez in East Rutherford, New Jersey, contributed to this report.

​ Orange County Register 

Swanson: Ending 213 Era was the only way forward for Paul George, Clippers

• July 9, 2024

Peace out, P.

It’s officially, officially official now – now that Paul George’s tell-all Podcast P episode dropped with all the juicy details Monday about the demise of the Clippers’ 213 Era, the unfulfilling and unlucky pairing of Southern California stars Kawhi Leonard (No. 2) and George (No. 13).

To hear the new Philadelphia 76ers wing tell it, the sides started far enough apart last October that by the time they got within shouting distance this offseason, he didn’t feel like yelling across the remaining divide.

Neither did the Clippers, judging from the offers he said they made, starting with two years for $60 million. “That’s crazy,” George recalled thinking from his perch in the rich and rarefied air occupied by the NBA’s stars.

PG details how contract negotiations with the Clippers affected his decision to leave LA. pic.twitter.com/PU3Z5gZ94z

— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) July 8, 2024

He went on to ask for three years for $150 million – similar to the contract Leonard signed in January – but also he wanted a no-trade clause. Those are rare in the transaction-happy NBA, but it’s an understandable request when you look at it from a player’s perspective: “They’re like we want you here long term … we want you to be a Clipper your whole career. So I’m like, ‘Cool, cool.’ Give me three years, $150 (million), no-trade then … then I’m taking less, but at least I know I’m here.”

The Clippers didn’t bite, so George said he threw out four years and $220 million as a counter: “If y’all gonna trade me, then y’all gonna trade me. But at least now I’m not in a situation where I could have got more had I just gone to free agency.”

And so they let him go.

After they brought him aboard to play with Leonard in a trade that sent out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a boatload of first-round draft picks and picks swaps, they let him go for nothing but the optionality, flexibility, possibility.

Because they realized, correctly, that option was better than running it back.

The window on a George-Leonard championship was shutting fast. It might have shut already, save for a miracle.

The Clippers knew that. Their fans knew that. Leonard, 33, and George, 34, had to know it too; PG – the guy negotiating for max-level money – even talked enough about it on his podcast: “I mean, we are old.” And Kawhi didn’t balk when PG called him to tell him he was leaving, just told his pal to go get his payday.

And so the Palmdale native will earn a total of $211 million across the next four years in Philly – a lot of cheesesteak for a player who played in more than 56 games in a regular season just once as a Clipper and who will be 38 before the contract expires.

The Sixers talked themselves into believing George can be the missing piece to help the also-oft-injured Joel Embiid and young star guard Tyrese Maxey compete for a ring, the Moses Malone to Julius Irving on the 76ers’ 1983 championship squad, or so Dr. J told PG: “He was like, ‘P, you’re the missing piece.’”

Maybe.

More likely, George will enjoy a hot stretch during the regular season and we’ll hear pundits and fans deriding the Clippers’ decision. But then there will come a lull, and it will likely be when the pressure is on and expectations are highest, probably during the playoffs.

Imagine Philadelphia fanatics’ reaction to a seven-point playoff game like the one George turned in during a first-round loss to the Dallas Mavericks last season. Or another string of games when he’s limited by unfocused foul trouble – followed, of course, by Princess and the P analysis on the podcast about how uncomfortable and hard the job can be when a two-way star is asked to do so much dirty work (ie. rebounding and defending).

“Yeah, they can be rowdy,” George said of the Sixers’ fans he’s about to meet. “I’ve heard the stories of them getting on their players … but that’s good pressure. That’s pressure you want.”

We’ll see.

Just like we’ll see what the Clippers do next. How can they do right by their loyal, less-demanding but long-suffering fan base? How will they, under the new CBA’s constrictive apron rules, fill the 22.6-points-per-game void left by George?

So far, they’ve added Derrick Jones Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr. and are reportedly working to add Kris Dunn, young, athletic supporting characters who would make for a robust roster around a pair of future Hall of Famers – if Leonard and Harden were entering their prime and not exiting it.

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As it is, it’s hard to picture this unit, as currently constructed, hosting many playoff games at the new Intuit Dome.

Maybe they add some offensive firepower yet? Maybe those trade rumors involving them and New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram and Chicago’s Zach LaVine transpire?

Will they maneuver – as they worked to do several seasons before they called 213 to order – to make another substantial, starry splash by inviting aboard players like Anthony Edwards or inviting Gilgeous-Alexander back when those guys hit free agency – if they do?

We don’t know, and that’s OK.

Because when it’s broke, you fix it – and you can’t do it when you’re handcuffed to a fading star.

​ Orange County Register 

Authorities search for man suspected of robbing a bank in Mission Viejo

• July 9, 2024

Authorities were searching for a man suspected of robbing a Mission Viejo bank and attempting to rob a bank in Ladera Ranch on Monday, July 8, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said.

Deputies responded to the first bank around 12:41 p.m. after the suspect presented a note to a teller at a bank in Ladera Ranch, located in the 27000 block of Crown Valley Parkway. The man left the bank without getting any money, Sgt. Matthew Parrish said.

Around 1 p.m., the suspect, whose description was not released, targeted a second bank in the 26000 block of Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo. After presenting the teller with a note, the suspect left with an undisclosed amount of money.

The robbery and attempted robbery are believed to be related, Parrish said.

No injuries were reported.

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​ Orange County Register 

Huntington Beach man faces murder charges for Fourth of July killings

• July 9, 2024

A Huntington Beach man was charged with special circumstances murder on Monday after prosecutors allege he killed two people and injured three others on the Fourth of July in a busy Huntington Beach neighborhood where people had gathered to watch fireworks.

Logan Christopher Kelley, 26, is facing two counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and a sentencing enhancement for the use of a deadly weapon, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday in Orange County Superior Court.

The special circumstances allegation — for allegedly committing multiple murders — means prosecutors could opt to pursue life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Kelley is also facing a misdemeanor count of battery of a police officer, court records show.

The men who died have been identified as William Thomas Collins, 47, and Eric Clayton Hodges, 42, both from Huntington Beach, according to the coroner’s office.

Authorities have released few details of what led to the fatal attack or how it was carried out. But, according to the complaint, at least one of the alleged attempted murder victims — a juvenile — was attacked with a knife.

The attack took place around 11:15 p.m. near 16th Street and Pecan Avenue, police previously said, in the midst of a neighborhood comprised of two-story apartment buildings or condominiums. Kelley was arrested a half hour later.

That intersection is about five blocks from the beach. On the Fourth of July, thousands of revelers flocked to the city to watch the annual Independence Day parade, as well as the city fireworks display that launched around 9 p.m. and lasted about 20 minutes.

Huntington Beach police previously acknowledged that the area where the attack took place is considered a “prime viewing location” for the city firework show. While there is a 10 p.m. curfew for shooting off fireworks in the neighborhoods, police acknowledged that many people ignore that deadline.

Kelley is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment on Tuesday, court records show.

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​ Orange County Register 

Lifeguards rescued more than 5,600 beachgoers over busy holiday weekend

• July 9, 2024

Lifeguards scrambled to save thousands of lives during the four-day holiday weekend when an inland heatwave drove crowds to the coast and big waves and strong rip currents threatened the beachgoers seeking relief.

About 5,620 rescues were logged at Orange County area beaches over the four days from July 4 through 7, marking the busiest Fourth of July weekend in the past decade.

Though each department’s stats are logged separately, a tally estimating rescues throughout the four days shows how hectic the holiday was.

“The combination of it being a holiday weekend, inland heat and dangerous aquatic activity, with strong surf and rip currents, was kind of a perfect storm and kept it extremely busy,” said Huntington City Beach Marine Safety Battalion Chief Trevor McDonald, with 554 rescues logged at that beach alone during the four-day period.

The agency with the most rescues over the four days was Laguna Beach’s 7.5 miles of coastline, larger than most other territories in the OC, where lifeguards made a total of 2,278 rescues – 1,206 of those to help people out of rip currents.  On the Fourth of July holiday alone, there were 828 rescues.

“It was all-hands-on-deck for those four days,” said Laguna Beach Marine Safety Captain Kai Bond. “A forecasted heat wave, large south swell, warm water and the holiday. It was a recipe for high lifeguard activity.”

Another agency recording a high number of rescues was Newport Beach, with Lifeguard Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda calling it an “extremely busy,” weekend.

There were 803 rescues over four days. To put that in perspective, Yacenda said a typical summer will have an estimated 1,500 rescues over three months.

The uptick in swell brought waves in the 4- to 7-foot range, a “sweet spot” dangerous for inexperienced swimmers, but not big enough that people are scared to stay out of the water, he said.

“We were at maximum capacity all four days of the weekend,” he said. “It was just a melting pot of conditions that created a very busy weekend for lifeguards.”

Saturday also marked the 10-year anniversary of when Newport Beach lifeguard Ben Carlson died during an ocean rescue during a Fourth of July holiday weekend, a four-day period when an even bigger swell brought dangerous conditions to the coast.

“This could have very well been the busiest since the weekend that Ben passed 10 years ago,” Yacenda said.

At Huntington and Bolsa Chica state beaches, there were an estimated 700 rescues.

“Every lifeguard we had was working the last four days,” State Parks Superintendent Kevin Pearsall said. “It was incredibly challenging, waterwise. As the stats indicate, they were incredibly busy. The lifeguards definitely got experience and earned their salary on those four days. It was a success, because we didn’t have any drownings. This four-day weekend was just jam packed.”

There were 14 missing people reported at those beaches, all eventually reunited with their parties. There were also six major medical aids, including one young child who needed treatment for second-degree burns after jumping into a fire ring on Friday morning, still hot from the prior evening’s bonfire.

At the Doheny and San Clemente state beaches, there were 612 rescues, 559 of those due to rip currents. Crystal Cove State Beach had 165 rescues, according to authorities.

Seal Beach had 34 rescues, as well as 43 medical aids, six of which were considered major.

There was one mass rescue off of Surfside Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, July 6, where tower guards were all out responding to rip currents while another six people were pulled out into the ocean near Anderson Street in a large rip current, requiring assistance from neighboring agencies, said McDonald.

San Clemente lifeguards reported about 290 rescues during the four days, with 192 of those occurring on the Fourth of July, said Marine Safety Lt. Sean Staudenbaur.

OC Lifeguards Chief Jason Young called it an “incredibly crowded” weekend and a “perfect storm” of dense beach population, warm ocean temps and a number of swimmers and surfers in the water – but thankfully, no major incidents or drownings occurred, he said.

“I’m pretty proud of my lifeguards,” he said of the guards who watch over Salt Creek and Strands in Dana Point, Poche Beach in San Clemente, Emerald Bay in Laguna Beach and the Santa Ana River jetty area in Newport Beach.

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There were 184 rescues logged in their coverage area, as well as 110 medical aids.

Young said lifeguards have been encountering many people entering the ocean who don’t know how to swim, quickly turning into a medical aid as they take in water.

“We can’t stress that enough, if you don’t know how to swim, you shouldn’t be entering the ocean,” he said.

Another big swell is headed to the region around July 20, so lifeguards will continue to be on high alert, Young said.

“We don’t see any slow down in sight.”

​ Orange County Register 

Sparks coach Curt Miller seeks intensity against Lynx

• July 9, 2024

LOS ANGELES — The Sparks have never beaten the Minnesota Lynx during Curt Miller’s tenure as the team’s head coach.

The Sparks (5-16) are 0-2 against the Lynx this season, including an 86-62 blowout loss at home on June 5 and an 81-76 loss on the road on June 14. That road defeat was the second loss of the team’s recent eight-game losing streak. The Sparks lost all four games against the Lynx last season, leaving Miller 0-6 against them during his time in L.A.

Sparks All-Star forward Dearica Hamby had a team-high 25 points and nine rebounds in Sunday’s 84-78 loss to the Phoenix Mercury. Hamby believes the Sparks must play with more poise against the Lynx on Tuesday night to close out the team’s four-game homestand with a win.

“We talk about the composure at the end of the game or having slippage in one of the quarters to close out and it hurt us (Sunday night),” Hamby said.

The Lynx (15-6) are coming off a 74-67 victory over the Washington Mystics on Sunday despite being without All-Star forward Napheesa Collier, who is out indefinitely with a foot injury. Collier had 30 points in the last outing against the Sparks.

The Sparks have lost nine of their last 10 games, the only win being an overtime victory over the Las Vegas Aces last week.

“I’m frustrated, not necessarily with wins and losses. I’m frustrated that we didn’t play like we’re capable of playing,” Miller said after Sunday’s setback. “I don’t think we played with the same spirit. I didn’t think we played with the same intensity.

“I thought we were poor board to court (Sunday night). The focus. The number one thing that you realize as a coach when there’s a lack of focus is when you struggle coming out of a timeout. When you look them in the eye, you diagram something and they come out and they don’t know where they’re supposed to be or they don’t execute. That is a frustrating thing for a coach, you pride yourself on the ATO’s (after timeouts). If we don’t play better, if we play like we did (Sunday night), Minnesota will beat us by 20 plus easily. They are really really talented.”

“What I’m more worried about is us playing to our standards and what we want to look like, and if we don’t do that Tuesday against the Minnesota team it will be a long night.”

Sparks center Azurá Stevens made her season debut Sunday, after missing the team’s first 20 games while recovering from a left arm injury that required surgery.

“I felt good,” Stevens said. “I tried not to really think about it. I’ve been practicing a little bit. I just tried to get in there and help my teammates and not force anything and take it play by play.”

Stevens, a seven-year veteran, finished with 10 points, six rebounds, a career-high tying four assists, two steals and one blocked shot in Sunday’s six-point loss.

“I think we have to have more pride on defense,” Stevens continued. “I’ve been talking about it. It’s just something we really have to work on. We’re not going to beat a lot of teams if we don’t get stops. I think being more aggressive on defense and really buying into that is going to help us.”

Another impact player against the Mercury was second-year guard Zia Cooke, the team’s 2023 first-round pick. Cooke had five points and a team-high three steals in 14 minutes, including key playing time during a second-quarter run and down the stretch in the fourth.

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“It felt good,” Cooke said. “That’s the object for me is always to be able to come and make some noise, whether it’s defensively or offensively. I just want to be a spark coming off the bench and helping out as much as I can.”

Cooke said she knows what the Sparks’ coaching staff wants from her.

“That’s what they want my role to be is a defensive stopper,” Cooke continued. “I come in the game, that’s the first thing I look for and also just for my own good, being a defensive stopper helps me on my offensive end. It makes it flow for me a little more.”

Sparks starting forward Stephanie Talbot left Sunday’s game in the first half with a right foot injury and did not return. Stevens started the second half in Talbot’s place.

LYNX (15-6) AT SPARKS (5-16)

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Crypto.com Arena

TV: Spectrum SportsNet

​ Orange County Register 

Euro 2024: High-scoring Spain faces Mbappé’s dour France for a spot in final

• July 9, 2024

By DANIELLA MATAR AP Sports Writer

MUNICH — Spain and France meet in the semifinals of the European Championship on Tuesday. The match pits one of the highest-scoring teams against one of the lowest as France captain Kylian Mbappé has struggled to get to grips with his mask. Kickoff is at 9 a.m. PT. Here’s what to know about the match:

Match facts

• The winner will play England or the Netherlands in the final on Sunday in Berlin. Their semifinal is on Wednesday.

• Spain’s and France’s quarterfinals both went to extra time. Substitute Mikel Merino’s game-winning goal in the last minute of extra time handed Spain a 2-1 victory over host nation Germany, while France needed penalties to see off Portugal after the match ended goalless.

• No France player has scored from open play at Euro 2024. The French have scored only through two own goals and a penalty from Mbappé. Spain has netted 11 times.

• Mbappé, who will be facing several of his new Real Madrid teammates, will again be wearing a protective mask after sustaining a broken nose in France’s group opener against Austria.

• Spain, which is chasing a record fourth European Championship title, has been perfect in Germany. It was the only team to win all of its group matches, while France could muster only draws against Poland and the Netherlands after a narrow win over Austria.

Team news

• Spain paid the price for its dramatic win over Germany and a number of players will miss the semifinal – and in some cases the final should La Roja get there – because of suspension or injury.

• Midfielder Pedri was forced off in the eighth minute against Germany with a knee injury following a hefty challenge from Toni Kroos and has been ruled out of the rest of Euro 2024. He will again be replaced by Dani Olmo – who came on for the 21-year-old and went on to score the opener as well as set up Merino’s winner.

• Dani Carvajal was sent off late in extra time for a second yellow card and will be suspended against France, as will fellow defender Robin le Normand after picking up another booking. Veteran Jesús Navas is likely to be tasked with marking Mbappé.

• France coach Didier Deschamps has no injury problems as Marcus Thuram returned to training on Sunday, alleviating concerns he could miss the semifinal after taking a blow to his thigh at the end of the match against Portugal.

By the numbers

• Spain and France have conceded only three goals between them. The only time France goalkeeper Mike Maignan had to pick the ball out of his net was Poland’s retaken penalty in the group stage, while Spain conceded against Georgia and Germany.

• The teams have met 36 times, with Spain winning 16 to France’s 13, including five of the past eight.

• This is Spain’s sixth European Championship semifinal. It has only once failed to advance to the trophy match, losing on penalties to eventual champion Italy at the 2021 Euros.

• France has reached the semifinals on five previous occasions, winning three.

• France has reached the final in three of last four major tournaments, losing 1-0 after extra time to Portugal at Euro 2016 and to Argentina on penalties in the 2022 World Cup, but beating Croatia to claim its second world title in 2018.

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What they’re saying

“We’re in the semifinals and it’s something we shouldn’t take for granted, even if we may be used to it recently. Now we go to win it.” — France coach Didier Deschamps

“Very few people gave us a chance and staying under the radar helped us start the tournament with confidence. Spain is a team to respect. I knew we had a great team and that’s how it turned out.” — Spain defender Marc Cucurella

“It’s natural for him. He has this gift of carrying the team, the group. He gives ideas, advice to the players. He was born for that. He was born to pull the group up.” — France striker Randal Kolo Muani on Mbappé’s captaincy

“Footballers like him are unpredictable. Kylian Mbappé at 50% is like any other player at 100%. (Players like him) can decide a game at any moment. He’s a genius: A super world-class player.” — Spain coach Luis de la Fuente

​ Orange County Register