California
US Olympian Richard Thornton dead at 65 after collapsing on beach in California
US Olympian and two-time All-American swimmer Richard Thornton collapsed and died on a California beach Thursday, according to his family.
He was 65.
The avid surfer was meeting with a friend at The Hook, a popular spot to catch waves in Santa Cruz, his brother, Marc Thornton, told ABC 7.
“He was following his buddy down the steps,” Marc Thornton added.
“His buddy jumped in the water, looked up for Richard, and Richard was just standing there at peace, not clutching his heart or anything, and he just kind of collapsed into the water.”
Thornton’s daughter, Kirra, blasted reports that the swimmer died in a surfing accident and said the cause of death was unknown.
Thornton had been battling Multiple Myeloma, his family told the outlet.
Marc Thornton shared that his brother died “doing what he loved” in a Facebook post.
“He could be in a hospital for six months with an oxygen tube, losing weight and all that,” Marc told the outlet. “What a way to go for someone who loved the beach and being in the water.”
Thornton, then 21, qualified and was selected as a member of the US men’s Olympic swimming team in 1980.
Thornton, however, opted not to participate and boycotted the Summer Olympic Games in Moscow in protest of the Soviet Union’s 1979 invasion of Afghanistan.
He later graduated with his bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Cal Berkeley in 1980.
Thornton specialized in the 100 and 200 butterfly and the 200 freestyle, according to his former alma mater.
“We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Cal Swimming great Richard Thornton,” UC Berkeley’s Athletics department posted on X. “Our thoughts are with Richard’s family, friends, and all of those he impacted in the Cal community.”
Thornton had been the head coach of San Ramon Valley Aquatics since 1984.
Thornton had also coached the US national and junior national teams in Paris, Japan, and Brazil.
He was named Pacific Swimming Coach of the Year once after being nominated for six consecutive years between 1994 and 2000.
During his coaching career, Thornton coached several future Olympians, including Matt Biondi, who won eight gold medals in the 1984, ’88, and ’92 Olympic Games, according to Cal.
Thornton’s childhood friend Rob Werner said he could always be found in the water when he wasn’t training.
“I remember him telling me, in between meets or after meets or after the season, we were like let’s go surfing,” Rob Werner told ABC 7.
“I yelled from the stands after he won, ‘Richard, what are you going to do now?’ And he kind of goes like this in a surfing stance. He wanted to go surfing. That was his thing, man.”
California
More SoCal rallies for and against military action in Iran expected on Sunday and Monday
LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Worshippers across Los Angeles were met with an increased law enforcement presence on Sunday as police and sheriff’s deputies stepped up patrols outside mosques, synagogues and cultural landmarks following the strikes on Iran.
Local officials said there are no credible threats to Southern California, but the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department heightened visibility as a precaution to ensure communities stay safe.
More demonstrations tied to the attack on Iran are expected Sunday and Monday. Several protests were held across Southern California on Saturday.
READ MORE | Rallies for and against military action in Iran draw demonstrators across Southern California
While Iranian-Americans celebrated in Westwood, protesters gathered in downtown Los Angeles to oppose the Trump administration’s attacks against Iran.
While some groups gathered in downtown Los Angeles to protest the strikes, others assembled in Westwood to celebrate “the fall of the Ayotollah,” according to organizers.
Authorities said they will continue monitoring events as the region prepares for additional gatherings in the days ahead.
This is a developing story. This article will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.
Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
California
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan officially announce run for California governor
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California
Six planets to align in “planetary parade” above California. Here’s how to see it.
A rare celestial event will be taking place in the sky above California on Saturday night, as six planets are expected to be visible in what is being called a “planetary parade.”
Look towards the western horizon 30-60 minutes after sunset. Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn will all be lined up along an arc, visible to the naked eye creating a literal parade of planets.
The alignment only occurs every few years, with the next one not until 2028.
Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are frequently seen in the night sky, but the addition of Venus and Mercury make this planet lineup particularly noteworthy.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, there will be some cloud coverage Saturday evening, but it should be in the high levels of the atmosphere so hopefully the horizon remains clear. In Los Angeles and San Diego, the forecast is expected to be clear.
Meanwhile, the planetary parade may not be visible in the northern part of the state, with cloudy conditions expected Saturday night in Sacramento, and possible showers and thunderstorms in Eureka and Redding.
People with telescopes and binoculars will also be able to see Uranus and Neptune as well.
For amateur astronomers, this also would be a fun time to test out your telescope skills by checking out Jupiter’s many moons or Saturn’s rings.
Please note that if your view is obscured by buildings, trees or hills, you won’t see the parade because it will appear very low on the horizon.
The nontechnical term is Parade of Planets, but the technical term is planetary alignment. Basically, it’s just the name for what happens when the planets and sun line up in the sky, these happen during events called oppositions and conjunctions.
Opposition is the term for when a planet is directly opposite the Earth from the Sun. Meanwhile, conjunction is when they are aligned with each other and is when we get the best views of the planets.
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