Sovereignty’s Preakness status uncertain as Journalism, Baeza regroup

• May 5, 2025

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Sovereignty’s Kentucky Derby victory in the muck at Churchill Downs sparked curiosity over whether the colt can build on his signature win over a possibly drier, faster surface on the Triple Crown trail.

The question now is whether that test will come sooner or later.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott didn’t sound like someone preparing Sovereignty for a trip to Baltimore to run in the 150th Preakness Stakes on May 17 at Pimlico Race course, offering a cautious approach Sunday. He mentioned a small scrape on the horse’s right front pastern, likely resulting from clipping heels with another horse coming out of the gate, but said it wasn’t serious.

“The great thing about the Triple Crown is that not many horses are able to do it,” Mott said, referring to American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018. “I believe that he’s a big, strong horse and if you’re ever going to look at one and say, OK, if that’s your goal and the goal of the owner, it’s still in the best interest of the horse. But we’re going to look long term.”

The immediate futures for horses who finished just behind Sovereignty or skipped the Derby altogether remained muddy, as well.

Two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert returned to Churchill Downs after a four-year suspension with two entries but scratched Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez, pointing him toward the Preakness rather than Citizen Bull, who finished 15th. Fellow Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher scratched his lone Derby entrant, Grande, on Friday. There’s also a large group of hopefuls who earned Derby points during qualifying and could try other Triple Crown stops.

The Preakness is the shortest race at 1 3/16 mile, but its quick two-week turnaround from the 1 1/4-mile Derby often gives pause for trainers and ownership groups. With the Belmont Stakes set for June 7, five weeks after the Derby and separated three weeks from the Preakness, that race is viewed by many as a preferred option.

That final jewel of the Triple Crown, taking place at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York for a second consecutive year, features the same distance as the Derby because of the shape of the track instead of its traditional 1 1/2-miles.

Redemption might be in order for Derby runner-up Journalism, who fell short as the 3-1 favorite. Trainer Michael McCarthy said in a news release that “We’ve got no complaints” and praised his colt’s effort to rally into the lead briefly before Sovereignty, the 7-1 third choice, overtook him in the stretch and won by 1 1/2 lengths.

“With a field this size in a race like this, it’s all about the trip,” McCarthy said. “It didn’t quite work out the way we hoped, but he ran a good race against a good horse.”

Baeza finished third but trainer John Shirreffs pointed to the Belmont for his California-based horse. Final Gambit charged from last to finish fourth among 19 horses, and trainer Brad Cox said, “This gives us confidence to try a fast dirt surface in the future.”

Mott and Godolphin LLC ownership group representative Michael Banahan expressed the same faith in Sovereignty for his next step.

The newest Derby champion emerged briefly on the shed row for media and onlookers, and his handlers felt good about the horse’s initial condition. They plan to watch him the next few days before making a decision about the immediate part of his bright future.

“We’re just doing the right thing for the horse, what he needs to do,” Banahan said. “He has a big year, hopefully to continue down the road here. There’s an awful lot of nice races that you’d like to put on his resume, as well. So, we’re just doing the right thing for him.”

​ Orange County Register 

Tigers blow out Angels in series finale

• May 5, 2025

ANAHEIM — In hopes of being in a golden state after a long stay in California, the promising stretch has opened more bust than boom for the Angels.

If a sunny disposition was what the Angels were looking for while on familiar turf, the just-completed weekend was instead dreary with clouds, light rain and soggy developments on the field.

With the relaxed travel situation, manager Ron Washington hoped his club would start “grinding.” He was looking forward to “playing the game we know we can play.” The wait continues.

A run of 26 consecutive games in California opened Thursday and following Sunday’s 13-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers, the Angels have won just once in four tries. Overall, they have dropped eight of their last nine and 10 of 12.

Traction will have to come in upcoming matchups against the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles to complete a 10-game homestand.

“We don’t like where we’re at. I think that’s clear,” catcher Logan O’Hoppe said after going 0-for-2 with a walk to end a mini four-game hitting streak that included two home runs. “It’s a challenging time. We went through some stuff last year and we’re looking to change the approach from that so it doesn’t prolong this year.”

The Angels failed to build off a 5-2 victory Saturday when they trailed 5-0 after three innings and 8-0 through six of the series finale.

If an 11-0 deficit in the seventh inning wasn’t bad enough, the mood was further darkened three pitches after a Trey Sweeney home run when Detroit’s Tomas Nido bounced a chopper off the area in front of home plate. Angels pitcher Jose Fermin couldn’t reach the ball over his head, was late to cover the bag at first then failed to catch the toss from Nolan Schanuel near the bag. The play was ruled a single.

Angels pitchers gave up 16 hits and three home runs, while their own offense banged out just five hits in a continuation of an early-season theme.

Zach Neto did manage to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 10 games and brought home the Angels’ first run of the day in the seventh with a ground-rule double. Neto and Tim Anderson combined for four of the five hits. Otherwise, progress was hard to detect, unless Taylor Ward ending a 0-for-27 drought with a fourth-inning double counts.

“We don’t want to get caught up in the negativity and everything else that’s on the outside of this room,” O’Hoppe said. “We’re going to keep staying with it, keep putting our work in, but by no means are we OK with what’s going on.”

Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (1-5) managed to last five innings, which was a feat in itself after giving up five runs in the first three innings. He allowed seven hits with two walks to go along with his five runs and gave up a three-run home run in the third inning to Colt Keith.

“I definitely didn’t have my go-to pitch today,” Kochanowicz said about his sinker. “It’s a very good hitting team over there. Just got the bad luck of the draw and didn’t have my No. 1 option.”

In his first outing since he was recalled Saturday, right-hander Michael Darrell-Hicks gave up a three-run home run to Kerry Carpenter in the sixth. Fermin gave up the third three-run homer of the day when Sweeney took him deep.

Neto finally got the Angels on the scoreboard on a drive into the right-field corner that initially appeared as if it had a chance to clear the low wall near the foul pole. But like everything else on the day, the drive fell short and bounced into the stands instead.

“You gotta start winning some ballgames and that’s the only way you can take advantage of that,” Washington said of the continued California time ahead. “We’ve been getting good pitching, then we don’t have the offense we need. And then we blow games at the end so we just don’t have everything working.”

In his Angels debut, right-hander Touki Toussaint pitched a perfect eighth inning before giving up two runs in the ninth. It meant all four Angels pitchers gave up multiple runs.

After the homestand ends in a week, the Angels head out for road games against the Padres and Dodgers, while traveling by bus along the scenic coastline. Then they get on their only plane ride in nearly a month when they travel an hour north to face the Athletics in Sacramento.

A homestand on their return has the Miami Marlins and New York Yankees in town.

There remains time in the stretch for the Angels to find some “California Love.” As of now, it will remain “California Dreamin’.”

“Little wins man,’ O’Hoppe said. “This game is too damn hard and the season’s too damn long to at not least try to sit on little wins. That could be as small as a good take or a good pitch for a guy on the mound.

“… As a group try to maximize on the (little) wins and not talk about the problems too much because if we talk about the problems, it’s just going to be prolonged.”

​ Orange County Register 

Eric Monnin wins 60th Congressional Cup, defeats 2-time defending champ in final

• May 5, 2025

Switzerland’s Eric Monnin prevented New Yorker Chris Poole from three-peating at the Congressional Cup, winning a thrilling final on Sunday, May 4, to capture the crimson blazer.

Monnin, 49 — who has a doctorate in physics and has a full-time job in air flow technology — finished the double round-robin earlier in the week in second place out of 10 skippers, behind Poole. Monnin then beat American David Hood three flights to one, setting up the final on Sunday afternoon.

Monnin narrowly beat Poole in the best-of-five flight final to win the 60th running of the Congressional Cup, known as the “granddaddy” of match sailing, which took place at Long Beach’s Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier. Monnin’s family make the trek from Switzerland for the event, with his brother and wife part of the crew, and his mother-in-law and son cheering from Long Beach Yacht Club member Bob Blair’s boat.

This was Monnin’s first Congressional Cup win in 11 attempts.

“For the first time,” Monnin said about winning the crimson blazer and looking forward to the next, “we will not be the team that is chasing the past winner. They will be chasing us.”

Congressional Cup Chair Steve Meyer also lauded Monnin for his win.

“I am so excited that after 11 attempts that Eric Monnin won,” Meyer said dockside.

By donning the crimson blazer — which goes to the winner, much like the green jacket goes to the winner of golf’s Masters tournament — Monnin also denied Poole a spot in history. Poole, who swept his semifinal match against Australian Cole Tapper, was trying to become only the second skipper in history to win the Congressional Cup three times in a row. American Taylor Canfield achieved that feat from 2014 to 2016.

Sunday’s sailing started with strong winds and gray skies off the pier. But as the finals started, the clouds faded and the sun came out — and the wind made a rightward shift.

The offshore action brought a chill to the more than 200 bundled-up fans who watched the races from Congressional Cup Stadium, the waters in front of the pier.

Some spectators have nicknamed the venue “the pit row suites” of yacht racing, an allusion to the city’s other major sporting event, the Grand Prix of Long Beach.

“I think that the stadium experience at the Belmont Pier is terrific,” said GPLB founder and LBYC member Chris Pook, “and provides the spectators with a real close-up as the match race boats try to outwit each other in order to get the best starting position.

“One gets an excellent close-up view of the skills and speed of the skippers and crew members,” he added, “as they execute their respective starting strategies.”

Regatta organizers invited a field of 10 teams based on their world rankings, including berths to be filled by feeder regattas.

The final was a nail-bitter. Poole won the first flight before Monnin won the next two. Poole responded in the fourth flight to force a winner-take-all.

The final race ended within two boat lengths of one another — with spectator horns blasting and fans on the pier cheering.

The Congressional Cup, hosted by the Long Beach Yacht Club, is a high-intensity battle of sailing strategy, pitting the world’s top skippers against one another in Catalina 37 boats. This year, the event, which began on Wednesday, April 30, boasted a $75,000 purse. It’s also part of the World Match Racing Tour, which has doled out more than $24 million in prize money since its founding in 2000.

The Congressional Cup is the crown jewel of the WMRT.

“Anywhere the World Match (Racing) Tour hosts a regatta,” James Pleasance, CEO of the tour, said shortly before the trophy presentation, “fans know Long Beach and the Congressional Cup — it is the granddaddy of all match races.”

Tapper, meanwhile, claimed third place on Sunday. He beat Hood 2-1 in the third-place match, which is called the petit final.

As for Hood, despite the fourth-place finish, the competition was a poignant one. Hood — who first developed his sailing skills in beer-can races, a summer LBYC series — has become one of the world’s top match racers.

He has also served as both an LBYC commodore, chair of the Long Beach Sailing Foundation, which owns and maintains the Catalina 37s Congressional Cup crews compete in, and is an eight-time club sailing champion.

But during Tuesday night’s Meet the Skippers dinner, Hood announced he has been diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer. He expressed gratitude to his crew, fellow competitors and club members for their support.

“I feel really blessed to have the opportunity to have had a week like this, to share with all the people at the Long Beach Yacht Club,” Hood said on Sunday evening. “You know, hopefully there’s more I’m just going to try and stay healthy and keep trying to beat this disease down. And just do the best I can.”

Editor’s note: Jo Murray is LBYC’s club historian.

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers giving Michael Conforto time to work out of deep slump

• May 5, 2025

ATLANTA — A year ago, the Dodgers signed a veteran outfielder to a one-year contract and hit it big when Teoscar Hernandez had an All-Star season and won a Silver Slugger award as one of the National League’s most productive outfielders.

This one isn’t working out as well.

Michael Conforto signed a one-year, $17 million contract with the Dodgers last winter, stepping into Hernandez’s shoes (with Hernandez taking his new three-year, $66 million contract with him to right field).

He started well, going 7 for 19 with four doubles and a home run in his first six games. But Conforto’s average has been sinking like a stone ever since. He had just seven hits in 80 at-bats over his next 25 games. With strikeouts in both at-bats Sunday, Conforto is dragging an 0-for-29 streak (with 15 strikeouts) behind him.

“With Michael, he’s certainly trying hard, certainly working hard,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I like the aggressiveness that he’s having. Certainly, he’s putting a lot of balls softly on the ground to the right side of the infield. I just think if we can get him to the middle of the field, and still being aggressive in his hitting zone, hits are going to start to come. But yeah, he’s pressing right now. But he’s just too good of a talent to not kind of get this to turn.”

How much longer he should be given daily at-bats with the current results is “a fair question,” Roberts said. No one on the Dodgers’ bench (or at Triple-A), however, is making a compelling case for playing time in left field.

“I have thought about it,” Roberts said of benching Conforto at least temporarily. “I know he’s grinding right now. We’ll see. … If he doesn’t look more comfortable, to be able to give him a couple days off might make sense. But right now, I want to keep running him out there.”

Conforto’s eagerness to produce has been obvious, Roberts said, and can be counterproductive.

“I think, like a lot of times, it’s the mental trying too hard,” Roberts said. “Then it’s the pitch selection because of the anxiousness, and that causes some mechanical flaws. … The work is good. I trust him as a player. I do.”

KERSHAW COMING

After having his most recent rehab start postponed by bad weather, Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to pitch on Tuesday at the Dodgers’ complex in Glendale, Arizona. He is expected to make one more rehab start after that next Sunday or Monday.

That would line him up to join the Dodgers’ rotation when he is eligible to come off the injured list on May 18 (or shortly after),

In his first three rehab starts (two for Triple-A Oklahoma City, one for Double-A Tulsa), Kershaw had a 3.27 ERA with 10 hits, two walks and 10 strikeouts in 11 innings.

The 37-year-old future Hall of Famer is returning after left knee and foot surgeries last fall. His fastball velocity during the minor-league outings has been under 90 mph. In his seven starts last season after shoulder surgery the previous fall, it was 89.9 mph.

“I think that Clayton is always going to want more velocity,” Roberts said. “I think he is dialing it up because when he gets here, he wants to be ready. From what I hear, he’s throwing the baseball well. It’s certainly not major-league competition, but I know Clayton is doing everything he can to, once he gets here, be the best pitcher he can be to help us win baseball games. He’s not just checking boxes, going through the motions.

“Clayton, for me, he can pitch with whatever velocity. As long as he’s healthy, I’ll bet on him.”

MIAMI PLANS

The Dodgers have just one starting pitcher lined up for the three-game series in Miami starting Monday. Tony Gonsolin will pitch Tuesday.

On Monday, the Dodgers plan to use Ben Casparius in a “bulk” role, possibly after an opener. Casparius is 3-0 with a 2.91 ERA, largely as a long reliever. He pitched 3⅔ innings in his most recent appearance and has gone multiple innings in his past eight games.

The Wednesday game in Miami will be “likely a bullpen game,” Roberts said.

ALSO

Former Dodgers player and coach Manny Mota has recovered well enough from the stroke he suffered a little over two weeks ago to be released from the hospital. He is continuing his recovery at home.

UP NEXT

Dodgers (TBA) at Marlins (RHP Sandy Alcantara, 2-3, 8.31 ERA), Monday, 3:40 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA, 570 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Swanson: Clippers were good, but not good enough

• May 4, 2025

The Clippers’ conundrum: They’re good, but they’re not good enough.

Start with James Harden. He carried them to the postseason – as the fifth seed in the hyper-competitive Western Conference, no less! He was the guy who shouldered the load for 79 games, leading the Clippers to a good season, a 50-win season, a better-than-expected season, a fun season! But he’s not that guy. He’s not someone who’s going to get them a championship, or even past the first round, as evidenced by his spotty performance in the first round against the Denver Nuggets.

The 35-year-old’s game just doesn’t translate to the postseason, when fewer fouls are called and mental fortitude is everything. Harden, once an Artesia High School star, was a no-show in three of the series’ seven games – figuratively on the court and literally afterward, ducking his postgame media responsibilities, including after he contributed just seven points in a Game 7 blowout loss Saturday.

And then there’s Kawhi Leonard. The two-time NBA champion from Moreno Valley showed us he’s still got some postseason juice. Thing is, the Clippers wouldn’t have made the playoffs at all if they’d had to be more reliant on the injury-plagued 33-year-old.

They kept Leonard in the bullpen until halfway through the season because they wanted him available later, when the games counted most – except that at that point, he was short of a co-star he could count on. A Jamal Murray to his Nikola Jokic, say.

So it was understandable that, after Saturday’s 120-101 loss in Denver, Leonard had trouble thinking of anything about his pairing with Harden that gave him confidence going forward: “I don’t know right now,” he told reporters in Denver. “I guess we’re still playing at a high level, in a sense. But that’s a hard question to answer right now.”

Because the answer is bleak.

The truth is that this combination isn’t unlocking a new level for a Clippers organization that is committed to winning its first championship, but that’s only gotten as far as the Western Conference finals once.

The truth is that the window has all but closed on teams that gravitate around stars from Leonard and Harden’s generation. In Phoenix, 36-year-old Kevin Durant was excused even before the play-in. And 40-year-old LeBron James found a first-round exit with the Lakers.

Meanwhile, that window has just opened for the next generation – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 26; Anthony Edwards, 23; Jayson Tatum, 27, etc.

Twilight and dawn.

So the real question now isn’t whether the Clippers will pull up the blinds and pivot, but how quickly.

They didn’t acquiesce to Paul George’s max extension demands before he eventually left for Philadelphia in free agency last offseason. So if and when Harden asks them for an extension for all his hard work in the regular season, I doubt they’ll grant him one or want to stick with him any longer than necessary, and definitely not past next season, should he opt in for the final year of his deal, worth $36 million.

And we know the Clippers haven’t hesitated to pull the trigger on trades that they thought would better set them up for the future, whether it was Blake Griffin or Gilgeous-Alexander. Could Leonard be next?

Especially in light of a postseason when he shot 53.7% from the field and 40.5% from 3-point range en route to 25 points per game, 7.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.1 steals – could they sell high on the fellow who, in sickness and health, has been the face of the franchise since they won the Kawhi Sweepstakes in 2018?

I expect the Clippers’ decision-makers will be on their toes, anyway, ready to field whatever offer might come their way from select suitors in the market for a part-time playoff killer with about $100,000 left on his contract through 2026-27. That the Clippers would be keen to consider how much draft capital would be enough draft capital to better position them to pursue younger stars – ideally with charm to go with their on-court chops – when they become available.

Because that’s rarely in free agency anymore, and more often via trade. And for now, the Clippers are short on future picks to offer up in exchange; they don’t control their own first-round pick until 2030. I’d bet they’d like to do something about that.

I know they’d like to get past the first round, which they haven’t since 2021. That Steve Ballmer didn’t build a $2 billion arena for it to continue to stand banner-less and not be crackling with electricity deep into the postseason.

The Clippers have been consistently good for a good while now. But while they’ve overachieved when little is expected, they’ve underachieved when much has been. And about all there is to anticipate now is a pending shakeup, the next incarnation of a roster that will be asked to continue to win sufficiently in the regular season and deliver historically in the postseason.

That could finally be good enough.

​ Orange County Register 

Jansen rebounded from tough outing to earn save, Washington’s praise

• May 4, 2025

ANAHEIM – There is Ron Washington the optimist and Ron Washington the realist and on Sunday morning, the realist won the debate.

Asked about Kenley Jansen’s rebound save on Saturday that came after a disastrous outing Friday, Washington had nothing but praise for his veteran.

“We’re talking about Kenley Jansen. Kenley Jansen has blown saves before,” Washington said. “He just wanted the ball again, and he came in, he got the same guys that beat up on him the night before.”

The offshoot of the turnaround from Friday to Saturday is that it could be a lesson in perseverance for young pitchers on the Angels’ staff. Jansen himself addressed that part of it.

“I just hope they learn from it,” Jansen said late Saturday. “I don’t care how good you are or whatever, anybody is gonna suck. It’s a long season, and you can’t let that affect your mind. Go back out there and battle, trust your stuff, believe in yourself, and we’ll get it done.”

On Friday, Jansen gave up six runs on six hits, with three of those home runs, while recording just two outs.

His seventh save of the season on Saturday came while recording outs on the only two batters he faced. The Detroit Tigers’ Riley Greene grounded out and Colt Keith lined out. Both players hit home runs off him Friday.

“You just stick with the process and keep doing your routine. Not letting that affect your mindset, and you’re good,” Jansen said.

It’s an approach that Washington finds impressive.

“That’s a mindset that you gather through experience and trial and error,” Washington said. “I wish that was something we had in a needle that we could just shoot in people. It doesn’t work like that.”

If it was so simple, the Angels might not have been sitting on a 5.12 ERA from their pitching staff that was near the bottom of all MLB teams. The team was tied for second most in home runs allowed at 47 and fourth from the bottom in opponents’ batting average (.268) and walks/hits per nine innings (.1.47).

And until the staff makes improvements in those areas, Washington the realist will continue to speak his mind.

“(Jansen) has been through that before (and) that’s why he was able to go out there and do what he did (Saturday),” Washington said. “Now, to think that a kid can watch that and all of a sudden he can do it? No. No. You’ve got to experience that. That’s the game of baseball. You’ve got to experience that.”

OUT OF SYNC

Taylor Ward entered Sunday’s game on an 0-for-26 slide, with one single over his previous nine games, when he was moved to the cleanup spot on April 23 after batting leadoff.

“We know the track record of Taylor Ward. As long as he’s playing, he’s gonna figure it out, so we just gotta wait for him to figure it out,” Washington said, tapping into his optimistic nature. “There’s no quick fix. Gotta stay in the process and work it out. And right now, he’s being challenged, and I think he’s gonna rise to the challenge.”

Ward, who hit six home runs over his first 22 games, was batting .172 with a .567 OPS, in numbers well below his career marks of .247 and .747, respectively.

DECISION TIME

Third baseman Yoan Moncada was in the lineup Sunday at Single-A Inland Empire as the designated hitter in what could be the last stage before his return to the major league roster.

Moncada, who is on a one-year, $5 million contract, has been on the injured list since April 10 with a bruised right thumb.

Washington said Moncada will be reevaluated after Sunday’s game and could be back for the three-game home series against the Toronto Blue Jays that begins Tuesday.

In eight games to start the season, Moncada was 4-for-21 with four RBIs and eight strikeouts. The Angels have just one home run from the third base position so far this season and the combined .551 OPS at the spot is 23rd in baseball.

LONG TOSS

Shortstop Zach Neto continues to find his stride in his return from shoulder surgery with a .278 batting average, four home runs and eight total extra-base hits in 14 games before Sunday. He extended his hitting streak Sunday to a career-best 10 games with a first-inning single.

In the field, Neto has shown the range that has made him an electric defender. But when it comes to arm strength and throwing across the diamond, that part of the recovery appears to be a work in progress.

“That’s apprehension,” Washington said. “And I keep telling him, if he throws the ball, his arm is not going to go with it. But that’s something he has to work out in his mind. I’m saying he’s healthy. He’s healthy.

“… Right now, nobody is beating Neto’s arm and he’ll figure it out. He’s just come off a surgery. (It will) probably take a year.”

UP NEXT

After an off day Monday, Angels (LPH Tyler Anderson, 2-0, 2.67 ERA) vs. Blue Jays (TBD), Tuesday, 6:38 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network, 830 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Prepare for strong thunderstorms in Yosemite Sunday afternoon – gusts could peak at 40 mph

• May 4, 2025

Yosemite, Yosemite Valley, Mariposa Madera Foothills and Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra are included in a report for strong thunderstorms by the National Weather Service on Sunday at 1:11 p.m. The alert is in effect until 1:45 p.m.

Residents can be ready for wind gusts of up to 40 mph.

“At 1:10 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm over Yosemite National, or 16 miles north of Yosemite South Entrance, moving southwest at 5 mph,” states the NWS Hanford CA. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.”

Locations impacted by the alert include Tamarack Flat Campground, Gin Flat, El Portal, Crane Flat Campground, Yosemite Valley Vistor Center, Camp 4 Campground, Yosemite National, Crane Flat and Yosemite Valley.

According to the NWS, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.”

Shielding yourself from approaching lightning: Expert safety guidelines

Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these electrifying events occurring during the summer months. Unfortunately, lightning is responsible for claiming the lives of approximately 20 people annually, as reported by the NWS. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.

To protect yourself during a thunderstorm, take these recommendations into consideration:

Lightning safety plan:

• When venturing outdoors, it’s vital to establish a clear plan for seeking shelter in case of lightning.
• Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s an indication that lightning is nearby.
• Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

• Once you’re indoors, avoid using corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing fixtures, and stay away from windows and doors.
• Lightning can follow conductive pathways, and these precautions reduce the risk of electrical surges.

Wait for the all-clear:

• After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
• Lightning can strike even when a storm has seemingly passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn’t available:

If you find yourself outdoors without access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

• Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, as they expose you to greater lightning risk.
• Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In forested areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
• If you’re in a group, ensure that individuals are spaced out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
• Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If no alternative exists, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. Remember that a tent offers no protection against lightning.
• Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, preparedness and vigilance are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning-related incidents and prioritize your safety.

Mastering wet roads: Safety tips for heavy rainfall

When heavy rain strikes, safety is paramount. Equip yourself with these guidelines from the NWS to navigate wet roads and avoid hazards:

Beware of swollen waterways:

During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.

Reduce speed and drive cautiously:

If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stick to the middle lanes on multi-lane roads to minimize the risk of hydroplaning, as water tends to accumulate in outer lanes.

Visibility matters:

Turn on your headlights and be careful of other vehicles to the rear and in blind spot areas as they are especially difficult to see through rain-spattered windows.

Watch out for slippery roads:

Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely limits your sight, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or protected spots.

If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.

By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed advice from local authorities to make your journey safe and sound.

​ Orange County Register 

3 people hospitalized after shooting at Yorba Linda park

• May 4, 2025

Three people were hospitalized after a shooting at a Yorba Linda park on Sunday, May 4.

Deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department responded to the shooting at Featherly Regional Park.

The investigation is ongoing and officials at 3:18 p.m. urged the public to avoid the area.

Officials couldn’t immediately confirm the victims’ conditions or what led up to the shooting.

The county-operated park is at 24001 Santa Ana Canyon Road, near the intersection of the 91 Freeway and the 241 Toll Road.

This is a breaking news story that will be updated as more information becomes available.

​ Orange County Register