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    Kings stumble against Rangers in game marred by spitting incident
    • February 27, 2023

    Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) reacts after New York Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck scored his second goal of an NHL hockey game, during the second period, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

    New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) stops a shot on goal by Los Angeles Kings’ Viktor Arvidsson (33) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

    New York Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere (13) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

    New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, right, stops a shot on goal by Los Angeles Kings’ Adrian Kempe (9) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

    Linesman Kilian McNamara (93) escorts New York Rangers’ K’Andre Miller (79) off the ice after Miller received a penalty during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

    New York Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere, left, celebrates with Vincent Trocheck after Trochek scored his second goal of an NHL hockey game, during the second period, against the Los Angeles Kings Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

    New York Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck shoots a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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    By SIMMI BUTTAR The Associated Press

    NEW YORK — The Kings fell to 1-2-1 so far on their five-game road trip with a 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Sunday that included Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller receiving a match penalty and being ejected for spitting on Kings defenseman Drew Doughty.

    The incident occurred late in the first period during a skirmish that broke out after a whistle behind the net. The spitting motion results in an automatic match penalty, and all match penalties are also automatically reviewed by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

    The Rangers, who led 1-0 at the end of the first period, killed off the five-minute short-handed situation and quickly scored twice after the Miller penalty ended to chase Kings starting goaltender Jonathan Quick.

    “I didn’t see nothing,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said after the win. “Obviously, it happened, I’m not saying it didn’t happen. The kid feels bad about it, said it was an accident.”

    Miller met with Doughty after the game to explain the incident and to elaborate on how his action wasn’t intentional. The defenseman said he felt badly about what happened and the two had a good conversation, according to reports.

    “I was just shocked, obviously,” Doughty said during his postgame media availability. “I don’t even know if I said anything to him after, but I just immediately went to the ref to try to get the penalty. But you don’t want to see things like that in this game, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that. I’m sure it has happened, but not that I’ve seen.

    “It’s unfortunate, and whether or not he meant to do it, I have no idea. … It’s a pretty big loogie on my face, so I was pretty (upset).”

    Viktor Arvidsson had a power-play goal late in the second period, Matt Roy scored early in the third and Phillip Danault had two assists for the Kings.

    Jonathan Quick stopped four of seven shots for the Kings before being pulled after Vincent Trocheck’s second goal late in the second period. He was replaced by Pheonix Copley, who had 12 saves.

    “When you play the cream of the crop in this league, you can’t have off nights,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said.

    Mika Zibanejad briefly left Sunday’s game with an injury and the Rangers’ roster issues became even more problematic. However, Zibanejad returned later and scored a goal to help the Rangers end their four-game skid

    The team’s No. 1 center left late in the second period after blocking Doughty’s shot on a power play. He returned for the start of the third period.

    Trocheck added an assist to his two-goal game, Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist, Alexis Lafreniere also scored and Adam Fox had two assists for New York. Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves.

    “Him coming back in the third was definitely a relief,” Trocheck said of Zibanejad.

    “It’s a big one for us, just the way we’ve been playing the last couple of games, going on a little slide there,” Trocheck said. “We made sure we were able to bring it back.”

    Also, Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren was not in the lineup a day after being injured on a hit by Capitals forward T.J. Oshie in the first period of Saturday’s loss. He is listed as day to day.

    Shesterkin had a bounce-back game a day after he was pulled after allowing five goals on 22 shots in a 6-3 loss at Washington.

    “The game they played yesterday set them up for the game they played tonight,” McLellan said.

    The Rangers made it 3-0 early in the second period on two goals by Trocheck just 1:35 apart. Trocheck’s shot deflected off Roy’s stick at 2:02 and his wrister at 3:37 beat Quick for his 19th goal of the season.

    The Kings made it 3-2 early in the third period on Roy’s ninth goal at 1:27. But Panarin answered for the Rangers just 44 seconds later for his 19th. Zibanejad added his 31st on the power play at 5:26 to put the Rangers in control.

    The Kings got on the board on Arvidsson’s 18th goal with 1:48 left in the second as he batted the puck out of the air and past Shesterkin.

    The Rangers opened the scoring in the first period as they took advantage of a turnover in the Kings’ zone. Filip Chytil got the loose puck to Lafreniere at the left side of the net. He sent a pass to Kaapo Kakko, who sent a pass back and Lafreniere’s shot deflected off Quick for his 11th of the season 14 minutes into the game.

    “We kept it simple. It was a good team effort from everyone,” Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba said.

    The Kings entered Sunday in a tight race for first place in the Pacific Division. They trail division-leading Vegas by two points and lead third-place Edmonton by two points.

    NOTES: Lafreniere has points in seven of his past 11 games (five goals, two assists) and 10 of his past 15 games (six goals, five assists). … The Rangers recalled center Ryan Carpenter from Hartford of the AHL and sent forward Jake Leschyshyn to the Wolf Pack.

    UP NEXT

    The Kings play at Winnipeg on Tuesday at 5 p.m. PT to finish a five-game road trip.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Eggy chilaquiles are good for breakfast time or anytime
    • February 27, 2023

    By Carla Vigos

    Laguna Woods Globe correspondent

    Many years ago, while vacationing in Cabo, I had my first taste of chilaquiles (pronounced chill-a-kee-lays), and it was a wow (pronounced wow!) for me.

    Carla Vigos, Laguna Woods Globe cooking columnist
    (Courtesy photo)

    Make chilaquiles with eggs the way you like them: sunny side, over easy or scrambled. Laguna Woods Globe cooking columnist Carla Vigos has the recipe.
    (Photo by Jeff Sinclair)

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    Chilaquiles are usually made for breakfast, but they can be an anytime meal.

    There are many versions. I have created my own using black beans. Optional add-ons include cilantro, jalapenos or radishes. You can make the dish all your own.

    My grandson, Dominic, has been begging his mom to make chilaquiles ever since I made it for the family last Christmas morning.

     

    CHILAQUILES

    INGREDIENTS

    1 medium onion, chopped small

    3 garlic cloves, minced

    1-2 teaspoons of canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce (this gives a smoky flavor). You may substitute 1/2 teaspoon cumin or chili powder

    2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed

    1 cup of low sodium chicken broth

    Oil

    LIME CREMA

    1/2 cup sour cream

    1 lime, zest and juice

    1 tablespoon or more of milk or half and half

    Tortilla chips, salsa, eggs, grated cojita cheese, cilantro.

    Optional jalapeños, radishes, lime wedges, hot sauce

    PROCEDURE

    In a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of oil and saute onions until soft over medium low heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, then add the canned chipotle pepper. Add the rinsed black beans and the chicken broth. Simmer for 20 minutes, then mash the beans somewhat but still leaving some whole beans. Set aside.

    Meanwhile, make the crema. In a bowl, add the sour cream, zest and juice of lime and milk and whisk together.  It has to be able to drizzle, so you may need to add more milk, depending on the thickness of your sour cream. Options then are to put it in a squeeze bottle or drizzle from a spoon.

    In a large skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon oil and cover bottom with tortilla chips. Saute and stir until chips are crisped. Add 4 tablespoons salsa over the chips.

    Cook eggs the way you like them. Sunny side, over easy, even scrambled will work.

    Assemble on a plate or in a bowl in this order: chips, black beans, eggs, cilantro, cojita cheese, drizzle of lime crema. Add the optional add-ons.

    This will serve four. For questions or comments, email [email protected].

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Alexander: The end at Auto Club Speedway? It’s just a hiatus
    • February 27, 2023

    Kyle Busch leads the field down the back straightaway during the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Race cars line up 5-wide as a salute to race fans prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Kyle Busch does a burnout as celebrates winning the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Kyle Busch takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Kyle Busch celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Kyle Busch does a burnout as celebrates winning the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Kyle Busch celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    The crew of Kyle Busch come to celebrate with their driver after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Kyle Busch celebrates as he drives to victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Kyle Busch celebrates as he drives to victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Kyle Busch celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Kyle Busch races through turn 4 during the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Ross Chastain leads Kyle Busch through turn 4 during the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Kyle Busch celebrates with his crew after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Safety crews chase after Martin Truex Jr’s. loose tire during the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Alex Bowman races through turns 3 and 4 during the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Kyle Busch celebrates as he drives to victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Cars race through turns one and two during the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    A military jet flies does a flyover prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Kyle Busch races out of turn 2 during the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Kyle Busch does a burnout as celebrates winning the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Chase Elliott leads Kevin Harvick during the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Cars race down the front straightawy during the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Race fans try to stay warm during the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Pit boards light up as cars enter the pits during the closing laps of the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Chase Elliott races out of turn two as Chase Briscoe follows during the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Race fans watch from atop their recreational vehicles in the infield during the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Ricky Stenhouse Jr., front right, leads the field towards turn one after taking the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    A military jet flies does a flyover prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Race cars line up 5-wide as a salute to race fans prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Race fans cheer for their favorite driver during the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Ricky Stenhouse Jr., front right, takes the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Cars pull into the pits for the first round of pit stops during the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Cars exit the pits during the first round of pit stops during the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Cars race into turns one and two at the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Cars pull into the pits for the first round of pit stops during the NASCAR Cup Series Pala 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

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    FONTANA — The mood was melancholy here Sunday, largely because so much of Auto Club Speedway’s future was unknown and therefore uncertain.

    But by the end of the afternoon, after Kyle Busch won the final NASCAR Cup Series race on the two-mile oval that played host to its first race in 1997, track president Dave Allen had reassurance for those race fans worried that Southern California, and particularly the Inland Empire, might be about to totally lose another track. There will be an announcement in the coming months, and there will be a brand-new racing facility on this land in years to come.

    “I’m hopeful that we get to a point here in the near future, some time this year, (that) there’s going to be a few different bites at the apple as it relates to more information coming out and a timeline established,” Allen said.

    “And honestly, I can’t wait to share some of the things that we’ve been working on from a design perspective, because we’ve been working on it for quite a while.”

    It will be a short track, a half-mile oval, and the hints are that this will be what Allen called “the most state-of-the-art short track that’s ever been built,” a facility that not only will transform NASCAR racing in Southern California but could serve as a venue for regular local racing programs as well.

    The references to the last race, which will be followed by at least one year off the Cup series schedule and maybe two, may have thrown all of us off. The competitors and the broadcasters treated it as the end of an era, as they should have, but the general public seemed uncertain whether “last race” referred to the last on the two-mile oval or the last race ever.

    Those fears weren’t soothed by a Friday report by Sports Business Journal, citing sources and public documents, that NASCAR, which owns the speedway, has closed on a deal to sell 433 of the property’s 522 acres to an entity called Speedway SBC Development LLC, with the sale price estimated at $544 million.

    The publication further reported that the purchasing entity is tied to real estate developer Hillwood, a Dallas-based company that is working with NASCAR to, as SBJ put it, “sell off parts of its vast properties, as it sought to find new revenue streams and better utilize the huge amount of acreage it owns across the country.”

    True. Allen noted that Hillwood is “a partner of ours as a company that’s helping us reassess all of our land holdings across the country,” and it is but one of many moving parts that NASCAR and the track administration have been dealing with.

    But the report set off the conspiracy theorists on social media, who wondered if the 89 remaining acres would be enough to build a half-mile track plus parking and campgrounds, what the other land would be used for, and whether NASCAR might eventually throw in the towel, sell the rest of the land for development and close the track.

     

    IMO, 90 acres isn’t big enough, especially with homes and businesses surrounding it. I think the remaining acres are going to be sold as well, and NASCAR is finished in the Fontana market.

    — Family Man (@TeamKFBfan8) February 25, 2023

    That sucks!! Surely will miss @AutoClubSpdwy

    — TalksWithTreiPodcast (@That_Guy_Trei) February 24, 2023

    Riverside Redux

    — SuitcaseBlake (@suitcase_e) February 25, 2023

    Maybe it’s because we’ve been here before, with the closings of Riverside International Raceway in 1989 and Ontario Motor Speedway, modeled after Indianapolis and itself advertised as state-of-the-art, in 1980, not to mention the closing of Ascot and the frequent threats to Irwindale Speedway. It’s understandable that local NASCAR fans might fear the worst, isn’t it?

    “It just shows you how passionate the fan base is about what we have here in this two-mile track,” Allen said. “I’m one of them. I’ve been here 23 years. There’s a lot of emotion that’s boiling through me this weekend, and moments when you get sentimental about it. But at the same time, what we’re trying to do is solidify NASCAR, big-time NASCAR racing, here for a long time to come.

    “I think we’re headed in the right direction. It just needs a little bit more time, a little bit more patience, and we’ll get it out there.”

    The details will soothe a lot of nerves when they are unveiled. Allen equated it to building a home, and dealing with “so many different things that can go one way or another,” among them the land sale and dealing with local zoning issues and with San Bernardino County officials on what the new project will look like.

    Sunday, when a pretty good crowd braved temperatures in the high 40s to show up for the final race, was a reminder of what we’re losing, if temporarily, starting with a ceremonial five-wide parade in front of the grandstand.

    This was a track, particularly a track surface, that drivers hated early on but learned to love as it aged. This week, the competitors universally talked of how they’d miss it.

    It was fitting that Busch, who won five Cup races all told on this track, won the last one.

    “I mean, it’s a two-mile racetrack,” he said. “It’s big, it gets spread out. But man, you can move around and you can spread out and you can make your own destiny by trying to find something else that’ll help work for your race car. It’s a sad day for me to see this racetrack (having) its last race being a two-mile configuration.

    “…I hope the next track that we have puts on the show that we’ve been able to see here for the last 10-12 years. But repaves are always tough, man. It takes a good five years for a repave to turn into something that’s decent.”

    We’ve got time.

    [email protected]

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    NASCAR: Nemechek one-ups his dad in final Xfinity race at Auto Club Speedway
    • February 27, 2023

    Justin Allgaier (7) and John Hunter Nemechek (20) battle for the lead during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    John Hunter Nemechek celebrates as steam pours out of the engine after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    John Hunter Nemechek takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    A pit crew member for Chandler Smith leaps over a tire during a pit stop during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Ryan Ellis (43) takes the white flag as he runs the last competitive lap on the the Auto Club Speedway 2-mile oval during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    A pit crew member for Chandler Smith leaps over a tire during a pit stop during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Josh Berry (8) and Sheldon Creed (2) battle for position during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    A pit crew member prepares for a pit stop during the during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Sheldon Creed (2) and Austin Dillon (10) battle for position during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Sammy Smith (18), Sheldon Creed (2) and Josh Berry (8) battle for position during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    A pair of cars race down the front straight during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    John Hunter Nemechek celebrates on top of his car as steam pours out of the engine after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The race was the last of any kind on the 2-mile oval, due to a planned reconfiguation of the track, which which opened in 1997. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    NASCAR Xfinity Series teams push their race cars back to the garage after persistant rain postponed the Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The race will resume following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    A NASCAR Xfinity Series crew member walks down the pit lane as race cars return to the pits due to persistent rain at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers drive across the front straightawy as a jet dryer attempts to dry the track at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The race was stopped after just two pace laps due to persistant rain. The race will be concluded Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Austin Hill stands for the national anthem prior to the Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    NASCAR Xfinity Series crew members Matt Schlytter and Matt Kempe use squeegees to remove water from the pit lane at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Ross Chastain, center left, stands under an umbrella after exiting his race car on the pit lane after rain stopped the Production Alliance Group 300 after only two pace laps at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Brennan Poole, right, walks away from his race after rain stopped the Production Alliance Group 300 after only two pace laps at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    NASCAR Xfinity Series teams push their race cars back to the garage after persistant rain postponed the Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The race will resume following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Jet dryers attempt to dry water off the track at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    NASCAR Xfinity Series crew member attempts to dry a pit stall prior to the Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    NASCAR Xfinity Series cars sit on the pit lane prior to the Production Alliance Group 300 as threatening weather moves win at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Cole Custer climbs into his race car for the Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    A NASCAR Xfinity Series crew member walks down the pit lane as race cars return to the pits following just two pace laps due to persistant rain at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The race will be concluded Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers drive across the front straightaway as a jet dryer attempts to dry the track at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The race was stopped after just two pace laps due to persistent rain. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    NASCAR Xfinity Series crew members Matt Schlytter and Matt Kempe use squeegees to remove water from the pit lane at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Ross Chastain, center, stands under an umbrella after exiting his race car on the pit lane after rain stopped the Production Alliance Group 300 after only two pace laps at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Austin Dillon climbs from his race car after returning to the pits after just two pace laps due to persistant rain at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The race will be concluded Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    The Xfinity Series team of Kaz Grala push his covered race towards his garage in the pouring rain as they unload equipment at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 for Saturday’s scheduled Production Alliance Group 300. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Jet dryers attempt to dry water in the pits at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Persistant rain caused the cancellation of all on track activities including the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 race till Sunday following the NASCAR Pala 400. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Matthew Darby, with Parker Retzlaff,s Xfinity Series team, pulls filled gasoline containers through the garage in the pouring rain at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 as they prepare for Saturday’s scheduled Production Alliance Group 300. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

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    FONTANA — The sun peeked out before John Hunter Nemechek picked up the last win under the lights at Auto Club Speedway.

    Nemechek, who finished second in the season opener last week at Daytona, pulled away late in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Supra to claim the checkered flag at the rain-delayed NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 on Sunday night.

    “It’s awesome that the race got pushed (to Sunday) and that I am the final winner,” Nemechek said. “It’s an amazing track. I hate to see it go.”

    Originally set for Saturday, the Xfinity Series race was rescheduled to immediately following the Cup Series Pala Casino 400, making it the final race on Fontana’s famous 2-mile track.

    “To be the final winner here means a lot,” Nemechek said. “Maybe when they tear this place up they’ll send me some asphalt as a momento.”

    It’s the third career win for Nemechek, the son of retired NASCAR veteran Joe Nemechek, who won the first ever pole at California Speedway in 1997. It’s also the 11th win for Joe Gibbs Racing at Fontana.

    “To be able to do some of the stuff my Dad did was special,” Nemechek said. “I’m proud to be a part of this organization and we’re starting the year off right. Now we have to keep it going.”

    Sam Mayer finished second, Justin Allgaier took third and Chandler Smith was fourth.

    “I was leading the race last week and I ended up on my roof, so I’m super happy to be top 3 this week,” said Mayer, who flipped on the Final Lap of the Xfinity Series race last week at Daytona.

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    In a race littered with 10 cautions, Mayer and Tyler Reddick made contact on Lap 1 to set an early tone.

    “We threw the kitchen sink at it and we ended up second. I’m proud of that,” Mayer said.

    Orange County native Cole Custer, winner of Xfinity Series races at Fontana in 2019 and 2022, took the lead on Lap 25 and held to win Stage 1.

    Sheldon Creed was spun and smoothly kissed the wall early in Stage 2, and Custer controlled lap after lap to win again and claim his 19th career Xfinity Series stage.

    Custer started sixth in the final stage but the right front tire on his No. 00 Ford Mustang went soft on the restart and he was pushed against the wall, finishing 27th.

    After the restart, Nemecheck battled with Creed and Sammy Smith for the lead before Reddick was smashed up against the wall with 50 laps remaining.

    Scheduled pit stops from the leaders with 25 laps to go gave Austin Dillon, the 2016 Xfinity winner at Fontana, a brief lead but a ninth caution reset the field for a final run.

    Smith was pushed sideways by Austin Hill on the ensuing restart, and Dillon faded as Nemechek proved to be too much, leading the last 13 laps to the finish line.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Here’s how much rain and snow the storm dropped on Southern California cities
    • February 27, 2023

    Rain, snow, hail and wind: A historic,five-day storm brought powerful gusts and dumped a massive amount of precipitation on the greater Los Angeles area starting last Wednesday.

    This was the first blizzard warning for Southern California’s mountains in decades, and some mountain towns were buried in, quite literally, feet of snow. Locals used to sunny skies most of the year reveled in the snow drifts landing on their lawns in the foothills and in parts of the Inland Empire over the weekend.

    Others took stock of the damage so far: Trees and power lines toppled, cars and houses crushed under branches, and sporadic flooding on city streets.

    With more rain and snow on the way in a second set of storms, the National Weather Service added up the precipitation totals from Wednesday to Sunday morning.

    The numbers were a preliminary summary of what the region saw over that period; estimates of snow and rain from some areas still ranged widely as of Sunday. But these are the latest totals from local weather watchers. All figures are measured in inches and from locations where the NWS has recording stations.

    Top snow totals:

    Mountain High: 93
    Snow Valley: 78 to 90
    End of Mt. Baldy Road: 77
    Running Springs: 71
    Mount Pinos: 48 to 72
    Green Valley Lake: 70
    Lake Arrowhead: 68
    Arrowbear Lake: 65
    Bear Mountain Snow Summit: 63
    Crestline Yard: 63
    Pine Mountain Club: 36 to 60
    Cuddy Valley: 24 to 48
    Mount Wilson: 40
    Other areas with snow:
    Yucaipa: 4
    La Crescenta: 2
    Fontana: 1
    Rialto: 1
    Bloomington: 0.5
    Apple Valley: 0.5

    Rain

    NWS forecasters noted some areas saw rain mixed with snow — therefore, the totals represent a bit of both.

    The NWS also warned that for some stations located in areas with below-freezing temperatures, the totals may not be accurate. NWS was not immediately available to answer questions about the totals Sunday.

    These are the top rain totals for the region:

    Woodland Hills: 10.79
    Stunt Ranch: 10.15
    La Canada Flintridge: 9.29
    Newhall: 8.38
    Eagle Rock Reservoir: 8.14
    Pasadena: 8.11
    East Pasadena: 7.93
    West Fork Heliport (San Gabriel Mountains): 7.76
    Sepulveda Canyon at Mulholland Drive: 7.85
    San Gabriel Dam: 7.64
    Hansen Dam: 7.28
    Canoga Park: 7.25
    Topanga Canyon: 7.01
    Other areas with rain:
    Upper Silverado Canyon (Santa Ana Mountains): 5.55
    Cucamonga Canyon: 5.43
    Coldwater Canyon: 5.12
    Cal State San Bernardino: 4.53
    Cucamonga Basin: 4.45
    Santa Ana: 4.18
    Lower Silverado Canyon: 4.09
    Villa Park Dam: 3.94
    Coto De Caza: 3.90

    More rain and snow on the way to Southern California

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    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Mater Dei, Sage Hill to collide in CIF Southern California Regional girls basketball playoffs
    • February 27, 2023

    Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

    Get ready for Mater Dei-Sage Hill II.

    The top-two ranked girls basketball teams in Orange County will meet Wednesday at Mater Dei High in the first round of CIF Southern California Regional Open Division playoffs.

    The CIF State announced the pairing on Sunday as it released the brackets for the regionals, which begin Tuesday and conclude March 10-11 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

    No. 1 Mater Dei (28-3) and No. 2 Sage Hill (21-9) faced off at the Matt Denning Hoops Classic on Jan. 14 at Mater Dei High. The Monarchs defeated the Lightning 62-50, puling away in the final four minutes of the final quarter. Sage Hill, which won the CIF State Division II title last season, trailed 49-48 before Mater Dei’s strong finish.

    The winner Wednesday advances to the regional semifinals Saturday at CIF-SS Open Division champion Sierra Canyon (30-0), ranked No. 1 in the nation.

    Mater Dei and Sage Hill are part of select group in the SoCal Open Division. The group only consists of five teams: No. 1 seed Sierra Canyon. No. 2 La Jolla Country Day, No. 3 Etiwanda along with No. 4 Mater Dei and No. 5 Sage Hill.

    In Division I, CIF-SS Division 1 champion Orange Lutheran (24-7) drew the ninth seed and a game Tuesday at No. 8 Westchester, the Open Division champion in the L.A. City Section.

    Rosary (23-7), a semifinalists in CIF-SS Division 1, received the 13th seed and a game at No. 4 Mission Hills on Tuesday.

    In Division II, San Juan Hills (25-6) earned the No. 6 seed and a first-round game Tuesday against visiting No. 11 Mater Dei Catholic, the Division 1 champion from San Diego.

    In Division III, El Dorado (21-9) claimed the No. 10 seed while Buena Park (24-7) took the No. 13 position. The Golden Hawks play Tuesday at L.A. City Open qualifier Palisades, the seventh seed. The Coyotes travel to No. 4 Torrey Pines, the Division 2 champion in San Diego.

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    CIF-SS Division 5AA champion St. Margaret’s (27-6) received the No. 10 seed in Division IV and a trip Tuesday to Poly of Sun Valley, the Division 1 champion in the L.A. City Section.

    Laguna Beach (22-10) and Marina (17-15), both from the Wave League, earned the seventh and eighth seeds, respectively, in Division V and home games Tuesday against Fremont and Lompoc, respectively.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    US Energy Department assesses COVID-19 likely resulted from lab leak, furthering US intel divide over virus origin
    • February 27, 2023

    The US Department of Energy has assessed that the Covid-19 pandemic most likely came from a laboratory leak in China, according to a newly updated classified intelligence report.

    Two sources said that the Department of Energy assessed in the intelligence report that it had “low confidence” the Covid-19 virus accidentally escaped from a lab in Wuhan.

    Intelligence agencies can make assessments with either low, medium or high confidence. A low confidence assessment generally means that the information obtained is not reliable enough or is too fragmented to make a more definitive analytic judgment or that there is not enough information available to draw a more robust conclusion.

    The latest assessment further adds to the divide in the US government over whether the Covid-19 pandemic began in China in 2019 as the result of a lab leak or whether it emerged naturally. The various intelligence agencies have been split on the matter for years. In 2021, the intelligence community declassified a report that showed four agencies in the intelligence community had assessed with low confidence that the virus likely jumped from animals to humans naturally in the wild, while one assessed with moderate confidence that the pandemic was the result of a laboratory accident.

    Three other intelligence community elements were unable to coalesce around either explanation without additional information, the report said.

    The Wall Street Journal first reported on the new assessment from the Department of Energy. A senior US intelligence official told the Journal that the update to the intelligence assessment was conducted in light of new intelligence, further study of academic literature and in consultation with experts outside government.

    A Department of Energy spokesperson told CNN in a statement: “The Department of Energy continues to support the thorough, careful, and objective work of our intelligence professionals in investigating the origins of COVID-19, as the President directed.”

    The Department of Energy’s Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence is one of 18 government agencies that make up the intelligence community, which are under the umbrella of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

    The Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment.

    Republicans react

    The latest intelligence assessment was provided to Congress as Republicans on Capitol Hill have been pushing for further investigation into the lab leak theory, while accusing the Biden administration of playing down its possibility.

    House Foreign Affairs Chairman Mike McCaul said Sunday he was “pleased” that the Department of Energy “has finally reached the same conclusion that I had already come to.”

    “I have requested a full and thorough briefing from the administration on this report and the evidence behind it,” the Texas Republican said in a statement.

    McCaul in his statement referred to a 2021 report he had released as ranking member of the Foreign Affairs panel, which “found a preponderance of the evidence proved” that the pandemic originated with a leak from the Wuhan lab.

    The chairman called on the Biden administration to publicly concur with that conclusion.

    “It is critical the administration also begin to work immediately with our partners and allies around the world to both hold the (Chinese Communist Party) accountable and to put in place updated international regulations to ensure something like this cannot happen again,” McCaul said.

    Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska on Sunday called for public hearings following the disclosure of the Department of Energy assessment.

    “We need to do extensive hearings. I hope our Democratic colleagues in the Congress can support that. I know the Republicans in the House are certainly supportive of that,” the Senate Armed Services Committee member said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

    “Think about what just happened over the last three years, one of the biggest pandemics in a century. A lot of evidence that it’s coming from the Chinese,” Sullivan said.

    A spokesperson for House Oversight Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said in a statement that the committee was “reviewing the classified information provided” by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in response to a letter requesting information earlier this month.

    One of the sources said that the new assessment from the Department of Energy is similar to information from a House Republican Intelligence Committee report released last year on the origins of the virus.

    ‘Not a definitive answer’

    National security adviser Jake Sullivan said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that the intelligence community remains divided on the matter, while noting that President Joe Biden has put resources into getting to the bottom of the origin question.

    “Right now, there is not a definitive answer that has emerged from the intelligence community on this question,” Sullivan told CNN’s Dana Bash. “Some elements of the intelligence community have reached conclusions on one side, some on the other. A number of them have said they just don’t have enough information to be sure.”

    Sullivan said Biden had directed the national laboratories, which are part of the Department of Energy, to be brought into the assessment.

    In May 2020, researchers at the government-backed Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory issued a classified report that found it was possible that the coronavirus escaped from a lab in Wuhan, which came at a time when that line of inquiry was considered taboo.

    The US began exploring the possibility that Covid-19 spread in a laboratory as early as April 2020, though the intelligence community has noted repeatedly that a lack of cooperation from Beijing has made it difficult to get to the bottom of the question.

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    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Canyon top-seeded team in CIF SoCal Regional boys basketball
    • February 27, 2023

    It is not often that a high school basketball team that lost in the CIF Southern Section semifinals is seeded No. 1 in the ensuing CIF Southern California Regional tournament.

    That is what happened to Canyon’s boys team. Canyon is seeded No. in in SoCal Regional Division II.

    Canyon lost to Etiwanda in the CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals. CIF-SS semifinalists qualified so Canyon is in the tournament that begins Tuesday when Canyon is at home against No. 16-seeded King/Drew.

    Like Canyon, Pacifica Christian and Tarbut V’Torah lost in their CIF-SS division semifinals and are in the SoCal Regional.

    Regional play begins with Round 1 games in Divisions I-V on Tuesday. Round I games in the Open Division and in Division VI are Wednesday. The Regional tournament continues with Round II games Thursday, semifinals Saturday and finals on March 7. CIF Southern California Regional champions and CIF Northern California Regional champions meet in the CIF State Championships March 10 and 11 at Sacramento.

    All Regional games are played at host-school sites and begin at 7 p.m. Starting times can be changed if both participating teams agree to the change and the CIF State office approves the change.

    The schedule for Tuesday’s SoCal Regional Round I games that involve Orange County teams …

    Division I: La Costa Canyon (16-12) at Mater Dei (27-6).

    Division II: King/Drew (15-16) at Canyon (25-6); Pacifica Christian (23-9) at Birmingham (20-9); Stockdale (27-4) at Orange Lutheran (20-11); Centennial/Bakersfield (23-5) at Tesoro (29-4).

    Division IV: Sage Hill (15-12) at Grant (21-10).

    Division V: Tarbut V’Torah (14-8) at Ramona (21-10).

    ​ Orange County Register 

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