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Los Angeles, Ca

Built to win a championship, this year’s Lakers won’t even make playoffs

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Russell Westbrook couldn’t determine a technique to constantly mesh together with his new teammates, Anthony Davis couldn’t keep wholesome and a 37-year-old LeBron James couldn’t carry a staff all by himself.

The Los Angeles Lakers made no secret they have been a staff constructed to win a championship this season.

As an alternative, they gained’t even make the playoffs.

In a improvement that few would have seen coming six months in the past, the Lakers have been eradicated from the playoff race on Tuesday evening after a 121-110 loss to the Phoenix Suns. Westbrook scored 28 factors, Davis added 21 and James watched from the bench, nursing a sore ankle that saved him out for a second straight sport.

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The Lakers fell to 31-48, eleventh place within the Western Convention, and might now not crack the highest 10 to earn a spot within the play-in event.

“It’s nothing greater than we simply didn’t get it achieved,” Lakers ahead Carmelo Anthony mentioned. “We are able to’t make excuses; we simply didn’t get it achieved.”

Well being was a continuing problem this season for the Lakers, who hardly ever had Westbrook, Davis and James on the ground on the similar time. Davis has solely been obtainable for about half the season, lacking time with knee and foot illnesses.

“We had the items however accidents obtained into the way in which of that,” Davis mentioned. “That was the distinction in our season.”

The Lakers and the James-Davis-Westbrook trio might make one other run collectively subsequent season, although it’s unclear in the event that they’ll need to give it one other shot. Davis and James are below contract whereas Westbrook appears prone to train his $47 million participant possibility.

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“That’s the plan, however nothing is promised,” mentioned Westbrook, who took an enormous chunk of criticism aimed on the staff. “You’ve sort of obtained to take in the future at a time and also you’ve obtained to pay the playing cards you might be dealt.”

Even a month in the past, it appeared the Lakers had time to determine a technique to regroup, get wholesome and make a run on this yr’s playoffs. James regarded 10 years youthful at instances together with his scoring manufacturing, averaging 30.3 factors for his highest common since 2008.

“I believe the world would like to see, we’d like to see what this staff might might be if we have been wholesome for a full 82,” Davis mentioned.

Westbrook performed exhausting on Tuesday evening, plowing by means of the Suns’ protection time and again in a determined try to make one thing optimistic occur. There have been a couple of massive buckets but additionally a couple of massive turnovers. The inconsistency was all too acquainted.

Lakers coach Frank Vogel mentioned he was “extraordinarily upset” that the season will finish in need of the postseason. The Lakers have misplaced seven straight video games and now should play three extra with no playoffs on the horizon.

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Vogel led the Lakers to a championship in 2020 when the playoffs have been performed within the Florida bubble. Now his job safety seems tenuous at greatest.

“I can say it has not been attributable to lack of effort,” the coach mentioned. “We have now all put within the work. Our guys stayed preventing proper until the tip. We introduced integrity to the method. We simply fell quick although a disjointed season.”

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Los Angeles, Ca

Southern Califonia father shot and killed in front of family, gunman at large

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Southern Califonia father shot and killed in front of family, gunman at large

Police are searching for a suspect who gunned down a man as he was walking with his family in Covina. 

The incident happened on June 22 near the 1100 block of East Wanamaker Drive at around 9:35 p.m., according to the Covina Police Department.

The victim, identified only as a 28-year-old man, was walking with his wife and their three children — an 11-year-old girl and 9-year-old twin boys.

Suddenly, a male suspect approached them and began walking in between the victim and his wife, prompting a verbal altercation. 

That’s when the suspect pulled out a gun from his waistband and fired two shots at the victim, police said.

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The victim was struck in the chest and the gunman immediately fled the area.

Police sketch of the male suspect wanted for shooting and killing a father in front of his family in Covina on June 22, 2024. (Covina Police Department)

Officers responded to the scene and performed life-saving measures on the man before he was rushed to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. 

The circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting remain under investigation. A police sketch of the suspect was released in hopes someone may recognize him.

The gunman is described as a Hispanic male around 20-25 years old. He stands around 5 feet 5 inches tall and has a thin build.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Det. Preciado at 626-384-5622.

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Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

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Los Angeles, Ca

McDonald’s plant-based burger wasn't popular among customers, company says

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McDonald’s plant-based burger wasn't popular among customers, company says

Consumers seemingly didn’t love McDonald’s McPlant, the company’s version of a plant-based burger.

During the Wall Street Journal’s Global Food Forum, Joe Erlinger, the president of McDonald’s USA, said that the meat-less burger “was not successful” in San Francisco and Dallas.

In 2021, the burger also appeared at other McDonald’s locations nationwide, including El Segundo and Manhattan Beach.

According to MarketWatch, restaurants in the Bay Area and Dallas-Fort Worth were selling 20 McPlants daily, fewer than the 40 to 60 they had expected.

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“I don’t think the U.S. consumer is coming to McDonald’s looking for the McPlant or other plant-based proteins,” Erlinger said. He also shared that salads won’t return to menus nationwide either.

McDonald’s plant-based burger featured a patty made from ingredients like peas, rice, and potatoes, served on a sesame seed bun with tomato, lettuce, pickles, onions, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and American cheese.

The patty was co-developed with Beyond Meat.

The company has since ended its limited test run of the McPlant without disclosing any plans for a potential nationwide debut.

According to the Good Food Institute, a nonprofit that promotes alternatives to animal proteins, meat alternatives grew in popularity in the U.S. in 2019 and 2021, but their popularity lessened in 2022 and declined in 2023.

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However, that’s not the case everywhere. McDonald’s international markets were apparently more welcoming of the plant-based option.

Though McPlant wasn’t a hit, Erlinger said that McDonald’s will continue investing heavily in its chicken products.

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Los Angeles, Ca

California Senate candidate Steve Garvey says he would vote for Trump 'right now'

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California Senate candidate Steve Garvey says he would vote for Trump 'right now'

Former Los Angeles Dodgers player Steve Garvey speaks to KTLA’s John Fenoglio about running for the California Senate as a Republican in a blue state.

Garvey, who is vying for the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat, acknowledges his journey is an uphill battle that won’t be easy.

“I want to be the next senator from California,“ Garvey said. “I think I can make a difference. I knew that the disparity between registered Democrats and Republicans was significant, but I did start to hear from Independents and people who were undecided about the next election.”

Garvey, 75, grew up outside California but moved to the Golden State when he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1968. 

In a career that spanned nearly two decades, Garvey played with the Dodgers until 1982 before moving south to play with the San Diego Padres.

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He does not have a career in elected office and his political involvement, until now, largely involved fundraising for other candidates, according to CalMatters.

  • Steve Garvey
  • Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Garvey, center right, hugs his wife Candace standing next to his sons Ryan, left, and Sean during his election night party, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Palm Desert, Calif.
  • From left: California Congressman Adam Schiff and former Los Angeles Dodgers player Steve Garvey.
  • FILE - Former baseball player Steve Garvey listens at a televised debate for candidates in the senate race to succeed the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Jan. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. Several prominent Democratic House members are jostling to fend off Republican former baseball great Steve Garvey in the fight for the U.S. Senate seat once held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
  • El Monte, CA - February 27:Steve Garvey, US Senate candidate speaks to the media at a press conference on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Garvey, a former Los Angeles Dodger, received the endorsement of the El Monte Police. Garvey and Democrat Adam Schiff are the current front-runners in the March 5th Primary Election for the US Senate Seat. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)

As a political outsider, Garvey has focused on addressing violent crime, homelessness and “failing schools” while citing his personal inspirations as the Pope and Ronald Regan.

Garvey formerly voted for and supported Donald Trump in 2016.

When asked whether he would still support Trump for the 2024 presidential election, he replied, “If it was right now, I would vote for him. I think that he’s the most capable of the two candidates at this time. I actually feel sorry for President Biden at this point and we need somebody that’s clear of mind. Somebody that’s able to make quick decisions.”

Garvey is running against Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff from Burbank, who is leading in the polls and in fundraising.

“I am a Conservative and I’m willing to work with everyone for the good of the people,” Garvey said. “I am running for all the people and politicians are running for half the people. My opponents voted 97-98 percent down party lines. I made the pledge I would never vote 97-98 percent party lines because there’s bound to be situations and instances where we come together.”

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The 2024 United States Senate elections in California will be held on Nov. 5.

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