Montebello moves to recover following rare tornado

• March 23, 2023

Following the wreckage left behind by a rare tornado, the city of Montebello rallied Thursday, March 23, to marshal resources to aid those effected by the weather.

The city is working to collaborate with L.A. County’s emergency medical services agency, and the city is working to find funding and resources to assist businesses in repairing the damage, Alex Gillman, Montebello’s public information officer, confirmed Thursday.

Montebello’s industrial district on Washington Boulevard and Vail Avenue was visited by a rare landspout tornado on Wednesday morning.

Damage to a building is seen on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 in Montebello, Calif., after a possible tornado. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

The unwelcome guest tore through the roofing of buildings, lifting debris high overhead. Onlookers reported that the loud gusts lifted gas station signs, trash and tree limbs toward the mountains.

One person at a private business suffered minor injuries.

The National Weather Service confirmed that the tornado hit around 11:20 a.m. and estimated the tornado’s peak wind speed was 110 mph.

A list of effected businesses is being compiled, but of the 17 effected properties, 11 were red tagged as of this morning.

According to Gillman, a task force has been created and met to expedite the permitting and construction activities that will take place on those damaged structures.

According to residents, the streets around the epicenter were closed for several hours, and nearby homes and businesses lost power from Washington Boulevard east to Whittier Boulevard, and from Vail Avenue south to Greenwood Avenue.

MONTEBELLO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 22: An aerial view shows roof damage after a possible rare tornado touched down in a Los Angeles suburb on March 22, 2023 in Montebello, California. Another Pacific storm has been pounding California with heavy rain, high winds, and snow. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

A gas line was severed, fire sprinklers broke, all the skylights shattered and a 5,000-square-foot (465-square-meter) section of roof was “just gone,” business owner, Michael Turner said. He added his polyester fiber business, Turner Fiberfill, could be closed for months.

With this possibility looming for other other business employees, Gillman added that the city is working with the State Employee Development Department to connect those who may experience unemployment following this incident.

Related links

Rare tornado with 110 mph-wind trashes roofs in Montebello, injures 1; 11 buildings are red-tagged
Bluebird skies in forecast (for now) after record-breaking deluge of rain
New storm to bring ‘unusually’ strong winds to Southern California

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

​ Orange County Register 

Abuses of CEQA continue to mount. The time for CEQA reform is now.

• March 23, 2023

It looks like reform finally might come for the California Environmental Quality Act. Along with many others, Gov. Gavin Newsom was outraged last month when Judge Gordon Burns of the First District Court of Appeal stalled new housing for UC Berkeley students and the homeless. “California cannot afford to be held hostage by NIMBYs who weaponize CEQA to block student and affordable housing,” he charged. “This law needs to change.”

Now the Little Hoover Commission, the state’s independent citizens oversight body, for the first time is putting a magnifying glass to CEQA. The commission said it “will survey the debate that surrounds CEQA, examine CEQA’s role in protecting the environment and providing public disclosure, and evaluate the nature and extent of CEQA’s impact on housing, land use, and other issues.” The first hearing was March 16, with two more set for April 13 and 27.

“CEQA is a litigation defense game, as it has evolved,” testified San Francisco attorney Jennifer Hernandez on March 16. “Many things need a little refreshing over time.” She cited data showing half of new housing projects in California face CEQA challenges.

It’s especially troubling how CEQA is used to block low-income housing during this time of a vast housing shortage. “During my eight years on the Newport Beach Planning Commission, I witnessed several ‘greenmailing’ attempts to block well-vetted projects for ‘environmental concerns,’ even though our local environmental groups were not opposing the project,” Newport Beach Councilman Erik Weigand told us. “In one particular instance, it was clearly obvious the carpenters union was shaking down the developer in order to secure work.”

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That project is Newport Crossings and its 350 apartments, 78 for low-income tenants. “It’s entitled,” Weigand said. “They are working on getting their permit issued.”

“We all know these tactics not only delay a good project from being built, but they drive up the costs of housing,” he added. “Another frustrating component Hernandez discussed is how CEQA is tossed overboard and bargained away by special interests when politicians feel something must be done in California. Take for instance the building of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood or the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.”

It is indeed an outrage when billionaires’ sports projects take precedence over housing needs.

Everyone wants a clean environment, the original intent of the 1970 CEQA law signed by Gov. Ronald Reagan, a free-market advocate. We hope the Little Hoover Commission makes the most of its CEQA review and recommends effective reforms the Legislature can enact this year. We can’t wait any longer.

​ Orange County Register 

OC offering resources fair for those impacted by loss of pandemic-related assistance

• March 23, 2023

Orange County residents impacted by the loss of pandemic-related emergency CalFresh benefits can attend a resources fair this weekend where food, entertainment and help with other services will be on hand.

Federal funds added in response to the declared coronavirus emergency will end this month, reducing benefits provided through the state’s CalFresh food assistance program by at least $95. For many families, that loss is estimated to be about $170.

Related: Many OC families reaching ‘food cliff’ as pandemic assistance with buying food ends

“The end of the COVID-19 CalFresh emergency benefits and the return to the Medi-Cal renewal process will hit Central Orange County the hardest, especially cities within my district, including Santa Ana and Anaheim,” said Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, who is hosting the Community Resources and Health Fair along with the county’s Social Services Agency.

Tens of thousands of Southern Californians could also lose out on Medi-Cal benefits, California’s Medicaid program, in the near future as states start to resume the redetermination process. Before the pandemic, those on Medi-Cal had to re-enroll annually in the state insurance program, but during lockdown orders, that was halted, meaning members were able to keep coverage even if they were no longer eligible.

“Many of our residents will now struggle to find ways to make up for these losses,” Sarmiento said.

Food and free diapers will be available, while supplies last, as well as applications for public assistance benefits like CalFresh and Medi-Cal. CalOptima Health, Latino Health Access and United Across Borders Foundation, among other organizations, will be on hand to help with resources.

The Social Services Agency will bring in a team to assist those who wish to apply for public assistance benefits or answer questions about their current benefits.

“This event brings together the pieces — our partners — who can help solve the puzzle of how residents can manage increased costs, from food to rent to gas and utilities, in one of the highest cost of living areas in the nation,” An Tran, director of the Social Services Agency, said.

The fair will be this Saturday, March 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Santa Ana’s Centennial Park near the corner of Edinger Avenue and Fairview Street.

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​ Orange County Register 

Fryer: Newport Harbor vs. Huntington Beach might be a preview of CIF-SS boys volleyball final

• March 23, 2023

A preview of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 boys volleyball championship game might be taking place Friday night at Newport Harbor High School.

Huntington Beach will play Newport Harbor in a Surf League match at 5:45 p.m.

It’s not a stretch to say it’s a possible Division 1 final preview. Seven of the past nine Division 1 champions have been from the current four-team Surf League.

Newport Harbor won the Division 1 title last year and in 2019. Corona del Mar won it in 2017 and ‘18. Huntington Beach was the champion in 2013, ‘14 and ‘15.

And of the past nine years, the two years in which a current Surf League team did not win the Division 1 title, one of those teams lost in the final — Newport Harbor (to Mira Costa) in 2021 and Corona del Mar (to Loyola) in 2016.

Boys volleyball might be the sport in which Orange County shines best, and not just in CIF but nationally.

“This is a hot bed for boys volleyball,” said Huntington Beach coach Craig Pazanti. “Look at all of the Olympians in beach volleyball and indoor, all the gold medalists. Baseball obviously is a strong sport, too, but I would put our sport up against any other sport.”

Newport Harbor is 20-1 overall and 2-0 in the Surf League with league sweeps of Corona del Mar and Los Alamitos.

The Sailors are No. 1 in the CIF-SS Divisions 1 and 2 combined rankings. Their loss was to Beckman, the No. 3 team in the Divisions 1/2 poll that has Loyola at No. 2.

Their top players include senior outside hitters Luca Curci and Jake Read, who were All-CIF Division 1 selections last year. Read will play for Loyola of Chicago next year and Curci signed with UCLA. Junior opposite hitter Riggs Guy committed to UC Santa Barbara.

“We’re a very balanced team that can attack in a lot of ways,” said Newport Harbor coach Andrew Mabry.

Huntington Beach is 18-3 and has league wins over Los Alamitos and Corona del Mar. Huntington Beach is No. 6 in the Division 1/2 poll. Corona del Mar is No. 4.

Huntington Beach’s Liam Phinizy hits the ball during the CIF-SS quarterfinal match against Beckman on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Oilers senior outside hitter Liam Phinizy signed with Loyola of Chicago. Phinizy and teammate Jake Pazanti, son of the coach and a Long Beach State commit, were all-league first-team picks last season.

Newport Harbor and Huntington Beach play each other in a second league match April 19 at Huntington Beach, the final league match of the season.

They just might play each other again in one of the later rounds of the Division 1 playoffs.

NOTES

It’s girls beach volleyball season in the CIF Southern Section and of course Orange County has some good teams. Six O.C. teams are in the Divisions 1/2 top 10, including No. 3 Mater Dei, No. 4 JSerra, No. 5 Los Alamitos, No. 8 Aliso Niguel, No. 9 San Clemente and No. 10 Newport Harbor. Redondo is No. 1. …

El Dorado girls lacrosse sophomore Mikka Oda has scored 67 goals in 14 games. University senior Kelly Tou has scored 57 goals in nine games. …

It was unlikely that any baseball team would go undefeated in the ultra-competitive Trinity League. Mater Dei finally lost a league game Wednesday, 1-0 to Orange Lutheran. Orange Lutheran’s Casey Borba drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning and Lancers pitchers Jordan Cole and Nic Peterson combined on a four-hitter. …

Kyle Murphy took the Pacifica football coaching job because he felt it was the right time and right place for the longtime assistant to become a head coach, a job that long has seemed his destiny. He was a great lineman at Edison and coached there. His former Edison coach Dave White said, “I think Kyle’s really ready and excited and that’s how you want to go into it.” …

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Former Northwood coach Michael Nobles is the new football coach at Saddleback. He replaces Glenn Campbell who resigned. …

Santa Margarita’s nonleague football schedule includes a game against Centennial of Corona on Aug. 25 at Saddleback College. …

Former Mission Viejo boys basketball coach Troy Roelen said he probably won’t return to coaching the Diablos now that Moe Golshani no longer has the position. After many years as an athletic director at Mission Viejo, Roelen might be a good candidate for the CIF-SS assistant commissioner job that will be open as Rainer Wulf is retiring there. Among Wulf’s responsibilities is being in charge of the CIF-SS basketball playoffs.

​ Orange County Register 

John Mellencamp brings the heartland to Hollywood

• March 23, 2023

Singer-songwriter John Mellencamp got into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame years ago. He’s in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and there are Grammys, a pair of awards named after Woody Guthrie, and other honors, too.

But there was a time 30 years ago when his beloved grandma wasn’t sure about his prospects for the biggest award of all, Mellencamp told the audience in the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Wednesday, March 22.

“She said, ‘You know, Buddy, if you don’t stop that cussing and this wild way of life you’re living, you’re not going to get into heaven,’” he said using the nickname his grandmother always called him.

Grandma’s been gone for years now, though she made it to 100. But we’re here to tell her she shouldn’t worry too much up there in her celestial home. Sure, Mellencamp at 71 still swears like a proverbial sailor, but his beautiful music and big-hearted humanitarian spirit on stage and off should get him through the pearly gates.

“We’re gonna maybe make you think about some things,” Mellencamp said at the close of “Small Town,” one of his signature hits, and the first song of the night to get the crowd up on their feet to dance and sing. And that’s true, whether the thoughts dealt with the human heart or the world in which we all live – one big community, as Mellencamp urged the audience to become.

The curtain raised on a show that spread 20 songs over two hours with Mellencamp and his six-piece band kicking off the roots-rock tune “John Cockers” before sliding into “Paper In Fire” and “Minutes To Memories,” popular album tracks from “Lonesome Jubilee” and “Scarecrow” respectively.

The backdrop on stage was a French Quarter street scene drawn from the movie “A Streetcar Named Desire,” one of the classic movies from which scenes screened with Mellencamp’s commentary mixed in before the show started. Four life-sized figures dressed as film stars such as Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe stood amid the musicians. (Turner Classic Movies is the sponsor of the Live and In Person Tour, the first time the cinema-loving Mellencamp has ever allowed corporate sponsorship.)

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After “Small Town,” the first half of the show focused mostly on deeper cuts and new songs. The unreleased “Hey God” rocked on a bluesy slide guitar and fiddle-fueled melody as Mellencamp pleaded with the Big Guy to lend a hand to a world in turmoil, its chorus seeing Mellencamp singing, “Hey God, if you’re still there, won’t you please come down?”

After a few more familiar tunes, including “Human Wheels” and another great feature of fiddler Lisa Germano on “Check It Out,” a short acoustic set delivered the other new tune. “The Eyes of Portland,” was inspired by an encounter Mellencamp had with a young homeless woman in Oregon several years ago. It, too, featured a simple, direct message in its chorus: “All of these homeless, where do they come from? In this land of plenty, where nothing gets done.”

“Longest Day,” inspired by more of grandma’s wisdom – “You’re gonna find out real soon that life is short even in it’s longest days,” she told him once – added accordion and a second acoustic guitar to Mellencamp’s acoustic.

“Jack & Diane,” another of Mellencamp’s signature odes to small town life, was also done solo acoustic – with backing vocals by several of his young grandchildren, and eventually the entire theater on the a cappella break: “Oh, let it rock, let it roll, let the bible belt come and save my soul.”

The band returned for “I Always Lie to Strangers,” one of two tracks from his 2022 album “Strictly a One-Eyed Jack,” the tune arranged as a kind of cabaret blues number that delivered the today rare sight of a singer on stage smoking an actual cigarette. (There’s probably a fine for that, right?)

“Rain On the Scarecrow,” a terrific heartland anthem, gave voice to the sentiments that led Mellencamp to co-found Farm Aid decades ago, and from there, the rest of the set rocked hard as more and more popular songs surfaced: “Lonely Ol’ Town,” “Crumblin’ Down” mixed with the Van Morrison-led Them’s “Gloria,” and “Pink Houses,” a big hit and a song that like many of his best examines the hard lives and struggling times of ordinary Americans.

After “Chasing Rainbows,” which included introductions for his terrific band, most of whom have played with Mellencamp for years, and one – guitarist Mike Wanchic – who’s been with him for more than 50 years – the night wrapped with a pair of sing-along classics, “Cherry Bomb” and “Hurts So Good.”

Before Mellencamp and the band arrived on the stage, the opening act, such as it was, arrived in the shape of 30 minutes of clips from classic films, chosen by Mellencamp who spoke about their importance to him over time. The movies included Marlon Brando in “On The Waterfront,” “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “The Fugitive Kind,” Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe in “The Misfits,” and Paul Newman in “Hud.”

Of the James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor film “Giant,” which premiered at the Chinese Theatre next door to the Dolby Theatre 67 years ago, Mellencamp said he’d taken inspiration for the kinds of people and lives led by folks in dusty, isolated places, towns like Seymour, Indiana, where he’d grown up watching these stories.

“Movies of the past just seemed to tell stories that need to be told,” he said in the voice over that accompanied a clip of “Giant” stars James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor. “And the characters seemed like people from the places I grew up.”

“Movies also taught me how to smoke,” he added, but, since that wasn’t on grandma’s list, that probably won’t keep him from heaven.

John Mellencamp

When: Wednesday, March 22

Where: Dolby Theatre, Hollywood

​ Orange County Register 

10 most expensive Disneyland items in auction of nearly 900 theme park collectibles

• March 23, 2023

An upcoming auction featuring hundreds of Disneyland items expected to fetch as much as $50,000 apiece will give Disneyana collectors a chance to add a bit of the Anaheim theme park’s history to their personal memorabilia collections.

Heritage Auctions will hold the Art of Disneyland Auction on Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26. Select auction items can be previewed at the Beverly Hills auction house daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, March 24.

SEE ALSO: I ate everything at Cafe Daisy in Disneyland’s Toontown — Here are my favorites from best to worst

The auction includes nearly 900 items designed to make Disneyland fans drool — with everything from ride vehicles to character costumes to attraction posters from Walt Disney’s original theme park.

We’ve collected the 10 most expensive Disneyland items in the auction to help you refine your shopping list before the bidding starts. The top 10 list is ranked by estimated auction house prices with online bidding already underway ahead of the weekend auction.

Skyway Attraction Vehicle (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

1) Skyway Attraction Vehicle (Circa 1965-1994)

Estimated value: $50,000+Current bid: $10,500

This exceptionally rare original Skyway bucket ferried visitors over Disneyland for nearly 30 years. The now-iconic rounded buckets with fiberglass bodies and metal frames were introduced in 1965, about a decade after the ride debuted. A small portion of the original cable remains above the canopy of vehicle number 38.

Autopia Mark VII Attraction Vehicle (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

2) Autopia Mark VII Attraction Vehicle (Circa 1967-1999)

Estimated value: $20,000+Current bid: $6,250

The Autopia car used at Disneyland for more than 30 years has been professionally restored to drivable condition with an 8-horsepower engine. The Mark VII model designed by Walt Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr has a front end inspired by a Corvette Stingray and a back-end inspired by an Opal GT.

Main Street USA Bench (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

3) Main Street USA Bench (Circa 1990s)

Current bid: $7,750

The Main Street USA bench has wrought iron side panels with floral patterns and accents painted in Disneyland’s familiar green. The 5-foot-long bench is in good condition with some distortion to the wooden slats and small dings and chips in the metal.

Disneyland Railroad Drumhead Sign (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

4) Disneyland Railroad Drumhead Sign (Circa 1970s to 1990s)

Current bid: $5,250

The back-lit sign features Disneyland’s classic Sleeping Beauty Castle logo screen printed on acrylic board. The 25-inch-wide drumhead was used on one of the Disneyland Railroad’s Holiday trains.

Matterhorn Bobsleds Park Attraction Poster (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

5) Matterhorn Bobsleds Park Attraction Poster (1959)

Estimated value: $5,000+Current bid: $2,800

The very hard-to-find Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction poster features images of the Alps with a caption that reads “Race thru Alpine Passes and Ice Caverns.” The 36- by 54-inch vintage 1959 silkscreened poster has edge wear, hairline cracks and a tiny tear.

Country Bear Jamboree Beehive Prop (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

6) Country Bear Jamboree Beehive Prop (Circa 1970s to 1980s)

Current bid: $4,100

The very rare hand-painted fiberglass prop beehive used in Disneyland’s Country Bear Jamboree attraction oozes with honey and once jiggled to the sound of bees buzzing. The beehive sat atop Country Bear Gomer’s piano with two straws so he could sip the fermented honey.

Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship “Jolly Roger” Flag (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

7) Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship “Jolly Roger” Flag (Circa 1960s to 1970s)

Current bid: $2,000

The exceptionally rare “Jolly Roger” pirate flag flew over the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship restaurant in Fantasyland at Disneyland. The vintage 8-foot-long skull and crossbones flag was hand-produced by Disney artists.

Jungle Cruise Amazon Belle Boat Sign (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

8) Jungle Cruise Amazon Belle Boat Sign (Circa 1955 to 1960s)

Current bid: $1,900

The rare park-used sign from the Jungle Cruise steamboat Amazon Belle still has mounting holes from its original installation. The 52-inch hand-cut wooden painted sign is in fair condition with some chipped paint around the lettering and surface wear from use.

Main Street USA Railroad Station Disneyland Flag (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

9) Main Street USA Railroad Station Disneyland Flag (Circa 1960s)

Current bid: $1,550

The original, double-sided Disneyland flag from the earliest years of the park has Sleeping Beauty Castle, fireworks and letters sewn into both sides. The 40 x 25-inch flag flown over the Disneyland Railroad’s Main Street USA Station is exceptionally hard to find.

Pluto Walk-Around Character Costume Collar Prop (Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

10) Pluto Walk-Around Character Costume Collar Prop (Circa 1990s to 2000s)

Estimated value: $1,000+Current bid: $350

The Pluto collar worn by the Disneyland walk-around costumed character has a resin dog tag with the message, “If found, please return to Mickey Mouse.” The inside of the thick fabric collar with Velcro closure still retains its original Disneyland wardrobe label with “Pluto” handwritten in ink.

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​ Orange County Register 

Lakers’ LeBron James rips reports of target date for his return

• March 23, 2023

When will LeBron James be back in uniform for the Lakers? It depends on the source.

The Lakers offered a positive but vague update Thursday, saying the 38-year-old has been cleared for on-court activity and “gradual basketball movement progression.” Specifically, the update said there is no timeline for his return from a right foot tendon injury, which has kept him out of action since Feb. 26.

That was followed in short order with multiple media reports with a target date: ESPN, The Athletic and TNT all reported that James hoped to play in the last week of the season, possibly the last three or four games.

That apparently set off James, who sent out a tweet: “There wasn’t an evaluation today and there hasn’t been any target date for my return. I’m just working around the clock, every day(3X a day) to give myself to best chance of coming back full strength whenever that is. God bless y’all sources. I speak for myself!”

That might not settle things, but the key takeaway – aside from James arguing with reputable news outlets – is that he’s getting closer to a return.

Having James back would be a huge boost to the Lakers (36-37), who were in 10th place in the West as of midday Thursday. When healthy, James has been the team’s leading scorer (29.5 ppg) and leading playmaker (6.9 apg) and one of the leading rebounders (8.4 rpg). James’ return would bring additional scoring and playmaking punch to a group that has gone 11-6 since the trade deadline and already boasts the seventh-best net rating (plus-3.6) in that span.

James has done spot shooting, and teammate Dennis Schröder mentioned last week that he was working out three times a day. But the update also was an upbeat advancement after coach Darvin Ham said Wednesday that James had been “not physically able” to participate in team shootarounds.

That hasn’t stopped him, however, from offering insights to the coaching staff and teammates, Ham said.

“Just talking through different matchups, different guys, giving guys opportunities,” he said. “He’s thrown me a couple of nice ATOs we’ve drawn up in the huddle. It’s been great. He’s just being engaged and really talking through the mentality, that time is of the essence. Only (nine) games left, and we really gotta push through and make this thing happen.”

James’ refuting of reports aligns with his efforts in recent seasons to make a return as soon as possible from injury. Multiple times during his Lakers tenure, James has been upgraded from “out” a day prior to a game all the way to “available” at tip-off. But in his 20th season, his ability to gut out an early return from an injury has been compromised: In the 2020-21 season, James struggled to come back from a high ankle sprain, playing two games after missing 20 straight, then missing six more games after laboring in both losses.

Assuming the reports are credible, the Lakers could face a crunch at the end of the season to get James back in rhythm before a potential play-in game or first-round series. The team’s last five games feature three road games at the Rockets, Jazz and Clippers, followed by two home games against the Suns and Jazz. Given that all three of the final games will be played in Crypto.com Arena, it could represent James’ best chance to ramp back up all within Southern California confines.

Until then, the Lakers’ have had perhaps more success than expected with James out, going 7-5 in the interim. One of the players who stepped into a starting role, Austin Reaves, said the team has been able to thrive off the high stakes of games.

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“Since Bron’s been out, we’ve had to have multiple guys fill what he does because he does everything on the court,” Reaves said. “So I’ve tried to be more aggressive offensively both ways, getting teammates involved, and then also scoring and getting to the line. So it’s really just been going back and playing basketball the way that I love, the way that I’ve always played and having fun with it.”

It’s even more fun, of course, when the whole team is able to play.

Oklahoma City at Lakers

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Crypto.com Arena

TV/Radio: Spectrum SportsNet/ESPN LA 710

​ Orange County Register 

SZA’s SOS Tour takes fans on an emotional voyage in Inglewood

• March 23, 2023

Figuratively and quite literally, SZA was on cloud nine at the Kia Forum during her first of two headlining evenings in Inglewood on Wednesday, March 22.

Dangling from the edge of a diving board, mirroring the Princess Diana-inspired “SOS” album cover as the show commenced, she sat in isolation as the rich blue ocean waves and soft white sky beamed on a three-sided screen as she looked off into the crowd. The intricate, yet robust stage production reflected how, like the sea with all its ebbs and flows, can weave a greater sense of emotional turbulence in relationships that SZA has been known to put on full display throughout a pair of studio albums.

Then, after she splashed into the water, she rose to deliver “Seek & Destroy” with a gusto that comes after taking a quick dip to regain mental and emotional clarity. Metaphorically, it was evident that for the entire 90-minute set, just like a vigorous ship at sea, SZA too could weather any storm that may come her way.

This tour is in support of SZA’s 2022 record “SOS,” a 23-track R&B-pop and trap love synopsis reflecting on the vulnerability of desperation, revenge and the occasional longing for someone she periodically calls “utterly toxic.” Solána Imani Rowe, professionally known as SZA, amassed mainstream buzz around the record, staying on the Billboard charts at No. 1 for 10 consecutive weeks, being the first woman to do so in over seven years since Adele’s reign with “25.”

Fans packed the arena, carrying SZA tote bags and other merch; some even sporting show opener Omar Apollo gear. The Mexican-American, newly-nominated Grammy artist had fans ready to party before SZA took the stage as he sang songs off his debut album “Ivory,” including “Tamagotchi,” “Evergreen” and “Killing Me.” He was suave, dancing at each end of the stage as fans cheered him.

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“Los Angeles, this is my first arena tour, this is crazy,” he said. And it was, considering his rapid rise to fame.

But the fans were there for SZA, who weaved in and out of her 2017 breakout record “Ctrl” and “SOS.” From the moment she arrived on stage, it was all hands on deck with four backup dancers and a live band to accompany. She sang “Broken Clocks” and “Love Galore,” while walking along what looked like a seaside dock. The crowd belted out the lyrics as she gave the mic over for Travis Scotts’ verse “last time I checked you were the one that left me in a wreck,” on the latter track.

Though she didn’t bring out any surprise guests, SZA was more than enough. She held the audience in the palm of her hand and she never left their sight, even during quick costume changes. At one point, the screens switched to a black and white submarine-like camera, showing SZA changing into a flowy, beach-ready black dress as she perfectly rapped every line of “Smoking on my Ex Pack.” Then, as she was getting her makeup touched up and new mics ready to go, she ascended onto a large sailboat nestled on the stage. The rhythmic beat for “All The Stars,” the collaborative hit with Compton native Kendrick Lamar, began with SZA and backup dancers pacing the stage with some tight-knit choreography.

The best outfit change of the night was during the third act, where SZA, now hovering over the crowd in a lifeboat with a yellow tulle dress, sang “Supermodel” as she threw gold confetti to fans below. With ease, she glided to the opposite end of the arena to a flickering lighthouse, symbolizing the 33-year-old star’s getaway to emotional freedom.

“This song is about a guy who I was supposed to get engaged to but ended up blocking me on everything,” she said as she transitioned into “Nobody Gets Me.” Again, the crowd went crazy, with some tears and screams.

Near the end of the set, SZA made her graceful return to the stage, as the screens depicted the calming waves. Swapping out a dress for a black moto jacket and cargo pants, she exchanged the peaceful seaside moment for a ferocious one as she recreated “Kill Bill,” her standout track, and a shot-by-shot recreation of a scene from director Quentin Tarantino’s film. Coming out swinging with a spiked ball and chain, SZA was ready to take on any ex-boyfriend in sight. Fans also showed they were right there with her, by yelling out the chorus and showing off a middle finger, or two, during “I Hate You.”

Before the house lights came on, she returned to the dock and sat on the diving board as the light transitioned, turning the set into a cotton candy-like sky as she sang “Good Days,” wearing a pink, feathery dress. The encore was ethereal, allowing fans and, most importantly herself, the permission to recognize that after heartache, the sun will shine and tranquility will be found even amid painful turbulence.

SZA: SOS Tour

When: Wednesday, March 22

Where: Kia Forum, Inglewood

​ Orange County Register