There isn't much opportunity, in this world, to truck out the word "teeming," at least not in everyday conversation.

But if you were to say that the underwater parks near our coast are absolutely teeming with life, well, no one would raise a fin, we mean a fuss, rather.

For these lovely, lush, and gloriously gurgly wonderlands do teem with life, from kelp to crustaceans to our gill-rocking fish friends.

How, though, to learn more about the Marine Protected Areas around Southern California? And dive deeper into what "commercial and recreational activities (are) permitted"?

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach can help buffs of the Big Blue wade out into the many topics surrounding our life-filled, ecosystem-rich Marine Protected Areas, or MPAs, if you're in a rush or, yes, in the know. (And you so are, in the know we mean.)

If learning more about MPAs is a corner of ocean-based knowledge you'd like to grow for yourself, best paddle for the Long Beach-based aquarium on Saturday, Jan. 12.

That's Underwater Parks Day, and aquariums up and down the coast will observe the important occasion in a variety of ways. 

You can bet that education will be at the center of every planned happening, for connecting landlubbers like us with what is going one beneath the nearby waves is a centerpiece of the annual aquatic observance.

At the Aquarium of the Pacific?

Look for booths in the Great Hall, and be sure to visit them between 9 a.m. and noon, for all of the information you seek.

This is included in your admission to the aquarium.

And if you're at the Santa Monica Pier in the afternoon of the 12th? Be sure to stop by the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium for a "360-degree experience" of "underwater paradises" via the Underwater Treasure virtual experience.

Details on tickets and times? Swim in this direction now.

Residents were bracing Friday for a storm that could bring potential flooding and debris as crews cleared storm drains to make way for more mud as rainstorms were forecast this weekend on the vulnerable Woolsey burn zone.

Caltrans crews worked to clear debris from roads in Malibu closed for weeks after the Woosley Fire and reopened just this week.

Crews were still restoring utilities and the last sectons of guard rail missing since wooden supports had burned.

"Seeing how the rain has affected Malibu and the Woosley burn area, this is our primary area of concern," said Eric Menjivar, a Caltrans spokesman.

Mud movement has repeatedly closed Pacific Coast Highway during previous rains, most recently last Saturday at Malibu's west end, from Trancas Canyon to Las Posas Road in Ventura County. Crews are still readying that area for the next round.

Caltrans hopes to keep PCH open, but has already decided preemptively to re-close Decker Canyon to all but residents starting at 10 p.m. Kurt Lampson whose home was saved in the fire, are now focused on keeping out flooding and mud. He's been filling and placing more than 600 sandbags around exposures to hillside drainage. "You cant be overkill," he said. "You've got to plan on it being horrendous."

Residents of recent burn areas such as the Woolsey, Creek and La Tuna fires are encouraged to monitor local news outlets, avoid driving through moving or ponded water and report storm-related emergencies to (800) 675-HELP (4357).

To help you prepare, here's a list with a map of locations for sandbags and other storm prep information by county:

• Los Angeles 
• Orange 
• San Bernardino
• Santa Barbara
• Ventura

Do you have your monogrammed L stitched to your cardigan?

Is your Shotz Beer uniform washed and hanging in the closet?

And is the front door always unlocked, should Lenny and Squiggy think to swing by?

Then you, dear laugh-loving, friendship-championing chum, are a lifelong fan of "Laverne & Shirley," the ABC sitcom that skipped merrily along for eight charming seasons, starting in 1976.

To celebrate the sweetness at the heart of this galentine of a series, and to pay homage to the memory of Penny Marshall, who passed away in December 2018, the Garry Marshall Theatre will devote a half day to screening "Laverne & Shirley" episodes. 

And that charming, chortle-packed day? We'll be doin' it our way, um, on Sundayyy, Sunday the 27th of January.

That's right: We said "a half day" a few sentences back, not "a half hour," which means that if you arrive at 10 a.m., and stay through to the very final credit roll, you'll depart the Burbank venue at 10 in the evening.

A venue that was, of course, founded by Ms. Marshall's brother Garry in 1997.

If reveling in twelve hours of snappy dialogue, smile-inducing plotlines, '50s-era style, and the precision comic timing of the show's talented leads weren't enough, there are more amazing elements to the day.

Like? Oh goodness, this is a thrill: Cindy Williams, who was Shirley Feeney to Penny Marshall's Laverne DeFazio, is slated to appear at some point during the marathon. Other "special guests" will also stop by the good-feeling'd L&S love fest, too.

Also? The "Laverne & Shirley" marathon is totally free. That's right, no admission is required.

And? The episode line-up is as fizzy as a foamy head on a stein of Milwaukee beer. "Bridal Shower," "Call Me a Taxi," and oodles of other favorites are on the ready-to-roll-out roster.

You don't need a twin set, a job at a brewery, a couple of nosy neighbors of the Lenny & Squiggy variety, a talented dancing boyfriend like Carmine, or even a loving landlady like Mrs. Babish to enjoy this light-of-heart, tribute-terrific event.

Just study the must-knows, then get to the Garry Marshall, in Burbank, on the last Sunday in January.

"We're gonna make our dreams come true!"

Law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles said Friday preparations had been made for campus safety should LAUSD teachers go on strike next week.

The Los Angeles School Police Department, which is responsible for school security and student safety, said it planned to have an officer stationed at each middle and high school campus.

"I'm very confident that come Monday, that the School Police Department will be able to rise to the challenge of ensuring student safety," School Police Chief Steven K. Zipperman told NBC4.

He said every available officer would be ready to work in the field, even those who work investigative or administrative assignments. LAPD and LA County Sheriffs units were expected to assist in patrolling the District's 450 elementary schools.

"They will be providing high visibility presence at elementary schools during student arrivals and dismissals," Zipperman said.

Hundreds of LAPD detectives and officers who typically work plainclothes assignments have been told to be ready to work in uniform in case they're needed for crowd control or strike-related duties, members of the Department's command staff told NBC4.

LAPD captains were told to prepare to work alternating shifts to provide maximum coverage at neighborhood police stations.

The LAPD did not respond to requests for information on strike plans on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.

The LA County Sheriff's Department said it would assist school police officers where needed, but said most campus issues would be managed by the School Police Department.

"We have asked the patrol chiefs to prepare to have deputies available to monitor the schools in our areas along with LASPD," the department said this week.

The National Football League playoffs continue on Saturday and Sunday. There is one possible scenario that would be quite problematic for the NFL.

And of course it involves the Chargers.

This is not likely but certainly not impossible. There's a chance the Chargers could host the AFC Championship game next week and according to published reports the NFL is looking into moving that game from the soccer stadium now known as Dignity Health Sports Park and into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Yes, the temporary and spacious home of the Los Angeles Rams.

For the Bolts to host the title game they'll have to go to New England and beat the Patriots … keep in mind Tom Brady is 19-3 at home in his playoffs career … then have the Colts beat the Chiefs in Kansas City.

The Colts are the 6th seed while the Chargers are the 5th seed and the highest remaining seed hosts the game. The league doesn't want to put a conference title game in a 25,000 seat soccer facility filled with fans of the visiting team, hence kicking the tires on the Coliseum.

But that wouldn't really look any better because that place holds 100,000 and would look completely barren with the typical L.A. Chargers crowd meandering in.

Also keep in mind the Rams have a chance to host the NFC Championship Game if they beat the Cowboys and the Eagles beat the Saints. It’s not a good idea to play two professional football games in one day so one of them would likely move to Monday night.

That’s a contingency the NFL has had in mind in case the Giants and Jets, who share a facility in MetLife Stadium, both hosted their conference title tilts.

A class-action lawsuit filed this week claims the city of San Diego and three companies have failed to keep city sidewalks clear from an "onslaught of unregulated dockless scooters."

Bird, Lime, Razor and the city of San Diego are named in the lawsuit as violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by neglecting to keep the city's sidewalks clear of dockless scooters for people who are visually impaired and who use wheelchairs and walkers.

"I've been hit a couple times. People just run into the front of my chair," said Jean Rocque, a wheelchair user. "I've actually had to pick 'em up off the sidewalk and swing em around. I can't pick 'em up but I can maneuver them out of my way."

Rocque is not part of the suit but hopes it does something to make her life easier.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Southern Court of California by Disabilities Rights California (DCA), a national non-profit disabilities rights group, on behalf of Alex Montoya, Rex Shirley, Philip Pressel, Aaron Gresson and other people with disabilities.

The lawsuit describes times where Montoya, who was born without arms and one leg, and Gresson, who is blind, were almost struck by oncoming scooters that they could not prepare for because of their limited mobility. 

"The dockless scooter riders often ride the Scooters on the sidewalk, turning the sidewalk into a vehicle highway rather than a space for safe pedestrian access and use," the lawsuit said. 

Bob Frank, one of the attorneys who filed the suit, said the city is creating an environment where it is endangering disabled people.

"Some of them don't go out," he said. "They live in fear because of the presence of scooters and the hazards they present to them." 

People such as Shirley and Pressel, who use mobility scooters, are prevented from using the city's sidewalks, the lawsuit alleges.

"My life is totally changed," Pressel said. "They whiz by speeds, inches away from my scooter."

At times, both have run into the transportation devices as they lay on the sidewalk. 

"They should not be parked on the sidewalk," Pressel said. "If they're parked on the sidewalk people who don't know assume we're going to ride on the sidewalk and that's not right." 

In at least one instance, Shirley was unable to leave his home because of dockless scooters blocking the entrance, the lawsuit said. 

"People with disabilities who wish to travel in the City using the City’s walkways are being forced to either put their physical safety at risk or just stay home. This is not a choice that they should have to make," the lawsuit said. 

Frank said the goal of the lawsuit is not to take scooters away, but to make it safer for disabled people.

"We're hoping the court agrees and can help construct a solution to this that neither the city or the scooter companies have come up with yet," he said.

San Diego is a town known for craft beer, and now that marijuana is legal in California, it was only a matter of time before the two were merged. 

High Style Brewing Company created ‘Pale Haze,’ the first cannabis infused non-alcoholic craft beer bottled in California. 

Company founders thought of the idea because they loved the taste of craft beer but didn’t like the side effects.

“Alcohol gives you a hangover and will dehydrate you,” said Lyden Henderson, Chief Operating Officer of High Style Brewing Company. “It’s not necessarily something you can do throughout the day.”

To comply with state law, the craft beer is non-alcoholic. The company said they worked hard to make sure that fact did not impact the taste. 

The brew contains 10 mg of THC content per bottle and less than 0.5 percent alcohol by volume. 

“The THC molecules have to be activated first,” said Henderson. “We activate them as part of our chemistry and infusion process.”

Henderson said it should take about 20-30 minutes to feel the effects of the beer.

“That means by the time you finish your first beer you should know whether or not your tolerance will allow you to have a second beer,” said Henderson.  

Consumers can currently buy Pale Haze at Mankind Dispensary in Mira Mesa and March and Ash Dispensary in Mission Valley. 

Launched on December 31, the company said they have plans for a statewide rollout in the next few weeks.

As the government shutdown continues, thousands of government employees in the Bay Area are heading into the weekend without a pay check and communities are stepping in to help.

"“It’s a very uneasy feeling, not knowing 'are we going have food on the table?'" said Danielle Manor, member of the East Bay Coast Guard Spouses’ Club. "Are people going to understand why we can’t pay for things?"

Families are also getting help from the Sea West Credit Union offering Coast Guard members interest-free loans, and letting them delay payments on current loans.

"The Coast Guard is such a great organization, they’re out there every day helping to save lives," said Tom Doherty Sea West Credit Union CEO. “Doing whatever they can to make our country safer."

Donations are also being accepted by the Armed Services YMCA.

"Anything from paper products to diapers to canned food, cereal, just so our families can have food and resources available while the government shutdown continues," said Anja Cangemi member of the East Bay Coast Guard Spouses’ Club.

The Coast Guard will be accepting donations on Saturday from 10 to 2 p.m. at the Armed Forces YMCA in Alameda. Coast Guard families will be able to collect items on Sunday from 11to 1 p.m. and families will be able to collect items they need from 11-1 on Sunday.

The Lakers fell into the Spida-verse.

Donovan Mitchell had 33 points and the Utah Jazz thrashed the Los Angeles Lakers, 113-95, on Friday night at Vivint Smart Home Arena.

Mitchell struggled early in his sophomore season, but when he's "on," few players in the NBA can dominate a game the way he can. Thankfully for the Jazz, Mitchell—known as "Spida" because of his superhuman spider senses on the basketball court—has turned it "on" during the month of January, and with great power comes great responsibility.

In the absence of not one, but two point guards, Mitchell continued his hot-shooting streak as the sophomore guard scored a game-high 33 points and dished out nine assists.

"My biggest thing is not to change the mindset, just because we're down two point guards," said Mitchell of the Jazz who were without Ricky Rubio and Dante Exum on Friday night. "Just being aggressive and making the right reads. That's what I've been doing and that's what I'm going to continue to do."

Rudy Gobert had 12 points and 18 rebounds. Joe Ingles had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Derrick Favors chipped in 15 points and 13 rebounds, as all three players had double-doubles.

Royce O'Neale, inserted into the starting lineup had 17 points as all five Utah starters scored in double figures for the Jazz.

Los Angeles trailed from wire-to-wire, and went down by double-digits early in the first quarter. After cutting the lead to six points in the second quarter, the Jazz pulled away, leading by 21 points at the half. 

The play of the game came midway through the second quarter when Mitchell posterized Lakers' center JaVale McGee with a rim-rattling dunk that electrified the crowd. 

Los Angeles cut the lead to 10 points late in the third quarter, but ran out of gas in the final frame as Utah led by as many as 25 points by the end of the game. 

Michael Beasley continued to spark the Lakers off the bench since returning to the team a week ago.

Beasley was away from the team for nearly a month as his mother battled cancer, but she unfortunately lost the fight just before Christmas.  Beasley returned to the team last Friday and despite the difficulty of dealing with insurmountable grief, has provided much-needed energy and scoring off the bench for Los Angeles.

After a season-high 19 points on Wednesday in a win over the Pistons, Beasley scored a team-high 17 points in the loss to Utah.

Brandon Ingram had 15 points and Kyle Kuzma scored just 11 points following his 41-point career high on Wednesday.

The Lakers were outrebounded, 65-to-55, and two days after dishing out 30 assists, they only had 14 in the loss on Friday.

The Lakers were playing in their ninth consecutive game without superstar LeBron James. The ninth game marked the longest absence of James' career, and the team has struggled to keep their head above water without him, falling to 3-6 since he strained his left groin on Christmas Day against the Golden State Warriors.

The Jazz tied the season series with the Lakers at one game apiece after Los Angeles defeated Utah 90-83 on November 23^rd. 

Notes and Next

The Lakers were without LeBron James (left groin) and Rajon Rondo (finger). James missed his ninth consecutive game, the longest absence of his career.  Ricky Rubio, Dante Exum, and Thabo Sefolosha did not play in the game for Utah.

The Lakers will host James former team the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday at 6:30PM PT.

Please refresh this page for more updates, stats, and player reactions…

Did you open your eyes and stretch and yawn on the second day of the year, snug in the knowledge that every event involving running into a chilly body of water had wrapped on New Year's Day?

Alas, your confidence may have been misplaced, for while various polar-themed splashes and dips and ocean fundraisers do have a way of cropping up around the end of December, and on New Year's Day, too, such brrr-ful events can and do continue to show up in January, February, and even March around California.

Which means this: You'll need to reach deep inside and find your bravery, your can-do, and your willingness to dash straight into the Pacific Ocean, if you want to join the give-back, light-of-heart Long Beach Polar Splash.

The "give-back" part of this annual splash-around?

The Community Action Team, helmed by local give-backer Justin Rudd, will donate $5 per participant, to "your charity/organization/school," though you'll want to get a group of 15 people or more together.

But, nope, you don't have to be in a group to join. Read everything you need to know before slipping into your swimsuit on Saturday, Jan. 19 and making for 1 Granada Avenue.

Well, your swimsuit and a funny hat, or a full-on wacky costume, or something else. There are details and suggestions about attire here.

How cold will the ocean be? How much do you want to round up a lot of people you know for this, and make it a photo opp to remember?

And can you join the weekly beach clean-up, at 10 a.m., before the Polar Splash begins at 10:40? Because that would be super-nice if you chose to do that.

Just maybe, all of your cleaning-up efforts will warm your bones a bit, making you really, really ready to dash into the foam on a probably not-especially-warm-ish January Saturday morning.

Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro announced his bid for president at hometown rally in San Antonio.

"I'm running for president because it's time for new leadership. It's time for new energy," Castro said. 

Castro served as mayor of San Antonio for five years. 

An Army veteran from Queens was able to thank doctors Friday for his second chance at life, months after he miraculously awoke from a monthlong coma while loved ones were planning his funeral. 

“They didn't give up on me. They absolutely didn't give up on me,” said Michael Mendez.

Mendez came to Northwell Health (formerly Long Island Jewish) Valley Stream hospital last summer with stomach pains — a case of pancreatitis. But within days the father of two was placed on life support as his vital organs started shutting down.

“I just remember feeling numb,” Mendez’s fiancée, Sarah Insolera, said.

According to Insolera, Mendez’s state was so bleak the family bought a funeral plot.

But a team of 36 doctors and nurses didn’t waver and stayed by Menendez’s side, hoping for a miracle.

“One day he opened his eyes,” Dr. Lisa Chen, Mendez’s doctor, remembered. “We said, ‘You know what? Maybe he is still in there.’”

Insolera remembers that day clearly. 

“I jumped up. I started screaming and ran to the nurses and said his eyes are open,” she said.

Three weeks later, the 46-year-old was out of bed walking on his own.

“I believe he was truly a fighter — he still is,” nurse Jackie Nicholls said.

Mendez’s nurses say his 15 years in the Army have made him a fighter. Mendez acknowledges his service also left him with the PTSD and alcohol addiction that nearly killed him.

“I was the last guy who thought I could come out of this and even stop drinking and I did it,” he said.

And if you've ever wondered if coma victims can actually hear what's going on around them, Mendez revealed he could hear the words of love and support from his fiancée who came here every day as well as his family and caregivers.

“I feel we've both been given a second chance,” Insolera said.

A preliminary magnitude-3.0 earthquake occurred near Northridge Saturday morning around 10:40 a.m.

The 101 Freeway was closed in both directions in Calabasas for more than an hour Saturday after a reportedly armed driver led officers on a car chase before crashing, which led to a standoff and shooting.

All southbound lanes remained closed as of 2:30 p.m. for an investigation after the driver was shot and killed, according to CalTrans.

The pursuit began in Ventura County, according to California Highway Patrol's Moorpark Division.

The driver eventually crashed the car near Las Virgenes Road, prompting a full closure of the freeway by 11:45 a.m. when he refused to surrender to officers.

The man was later shot and killed by officers.

It was not immediately clear why officers initially tried to stop the driver. 

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story said the freeway was reopened at 1:20 p.m. based on information from the City of Calabasas, but that information was incorrect.

The Rams took the ball and ran with it...literally.

Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson rushed for over 200 yards and the Los Angeles Rams advanced to the NFC Championship game by defeating the Dallas Cowboys, 30-22, on Saturday night at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.

Los Angeles rushed for a record-breaking 273 yards and three touchdowns, and their much-maligned rush defense held Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot to just 47 yards on the ground. 

"That's a big-time win for us, and the key was being able to hold them to 50 yards [rushing] and to rush for 273 ourselves," said Rams head coach Sean McVay, who became the youngest head coach in NFL history to win a playoff game at the age of 32.

Ironically, the Rams rushing attack was formed completely by chance and circumstance. After a victory over the Detroit Lions on Dec. 2, the Rams backup running back Malcolm Brown underwent season-ending surgery for a broken collarbone.

Two weeks later, Gurley left a home loss against the Philadelphia Eagles with a knee injury and did not play again during the regular season.

That left the door open for free agent running back C.J. Anderson, who the Rams were forced to sign in order to have enough ball carriers on the roster. The move turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as Anderson rushed for nearly 300 yards in the final two games of the regular season.

With Gurley healthy for the postseason, the Rams now have a two-headed monster in the backfield that was unleashed upon the Dallas defense on Saturday night.

Gurley returned from his knee injury and bolstered the Rams rushing attack with 115 yards and a touchdown, but it was his backup, Anderson, that stole the show in the NFC Divisional match with 123 yards and two touchdowns.

Gurley and Anderson became just the fourth duo in NFL playoff history to both rush for over 100 yards in the same game for the same team.

"It's scary," said Anderson of his two-headed attack with Gurley. "We've got two different styles, and we can keep teams off balance. ... Playing on the field with Todd Gurley and Ezekiel Elliott, I'm just trying to make my statement and make my stamp in this game, too."

Early on it felt like the Rams were leaving points on the field as they had to settle for field goals on their opening two possessions. After the Rams took an early 3-0 lead, the Cowboys answered right back with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott to Amari Cooper.

After the Rams defense got Prescott and the Dallas offense off the field on the following drive, Anderson capped off a nine-play, 76-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run up the gut to give Los Angeles a 13-7 lead.

One drive later, it was Gurley's turn, as the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, gashed the Cowboys defense and ran untouched for a 35-yard score to give Los Angeles a 20-7 lead entering halftime.

The Cowboys kicked off their comeback with a 44-yard pass from Prescott to Michael Gallup that placed the ball on the Rams two-yard line. Two plays later, Elliot rushed up the middle for the touchdown and after a two-point conversion, Dallas trailed by just eight points.

The Rams were forced to punt on their next possession, giving Dallas an opportuity to tie the game, but the defense stopped Elliot on fourth-and-one inside L.A. territory and the Rams took over on downs.

"They dominated us up front and we didn't get any movement," said Elliot of coming up short on fourth down. "They beat us up front and we didn't get any movement, that's it."

The Cowboys loss became the Rams gain, as Anderson finished off a 12-play, 65-yard touchdown drive, with a one-yard run up the middle on fourth and goal.

"We always talk about attacking success, never fearing failure," McVay said of his decision to go for the touchdown on 4th-and-goal, rather than kick an easy field goal to make it a two-score game. "We wanted to come out here and try to play fearless tonight."

Dallas went down the field and scored on a quarterback keeper from Prescott, but the Cowboys rally fell short in the house of the Rams.

Prescott finished with 266 yards with a touchdown and one rushing touchdown. 

Jared Goff had 186 yards and no touchdowns, but his seven-yard scamper with two minutes remaining on third down, helped seal the victory for the Rams.

"Feels great, just running the ball the way we did," said Goff after his first career playoff victory. "Two 100-yard rushers, that's rare, and it starts with those five guys up front."

Rams dominated the time of possession, holding on to the football for more than 36 minutes, compared to just 23 minutes for the Cowboys.

"They're a physical football team," said Cowboys head coach Jason of the Rams. "There is a little bit of a misperception of how the Rams play offensive football with the run. They do an outstanding job."

The Cowboys held the NFL's best rushing team in the Seattle Seahawks to just 73 yards rushing last week, but allowed over 200 yards rushing for the first time since former Ram, Eric Dickerson, rushed for over 200 yards against them in 1986.

The Cowboys postseason woes continue as they havent won a playoff game on the road in over 26 years. The last time Dallas played in the NFC Championship game was 1996.

The Rams 273 yards on the ground was a franchise record for a playoff game, and the victory was the team's first in 14 years, and next Sunday will be their first appearance in the NFC Championship Game since 2002.

Finally

The victory marked the first postseason win for veteran Rams' players Andrew Whitworth and Ndamukong Suh.

"I came here for a reason," said Suh of his first taste of playoff triumph. "Now we just have to go out there and execute. We do that, and we'll be succesful."

Up Next: 

The Cowboys season comes to an end as the Los Angeles Rams will await the winner of the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints game on Sunday.

If the Eagles win, the Rams will host Philadelphia next Sunday in Los Angeles.

If the Saints win, the Rams will travel to New Orleans in a rematch from Week 9.

It was one of the questions that came up for Jenny Baum when time finally came to move her father into assisted living from the house that had been home for decades: What to do with dad's old shotgun and 9 mm handgun?

Her sister told her about a gun buyback event Saturday in Culver City, and when Baum drove up, police officers took the firearms from her trunk, as they had already done with dozens of others.

Then, there was something her sister had not mentioned.

"I laughed when I pulled up and they said, 'Go see the Girl Scouts at the end!'" Buam said.

Indeed, when Baum pulled forward, a local scout, Shelby Hanson, rewarded her with a $100 gift card for each gun.

Police credited Hanson, 17, with coming up with the idea of holding the west side's first ever gun buyback, seeking the necessary approvals from city hall and doing the fundraising to purchase the incentive gift cards.

Like so many of her generation, Hanson had been shaken into activism a year ago by the shooting rampage that claimed the lives of 17 students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

It came at a time in Hanson's life when she was searching for a culminating project of her final year as a Girl Scout. She wanted to somehow address the toll of gunfire deaths.

"I kept thinking, 'What can I do?'" Hanson recalled.

Then, she read an article about a Los Angeles Police gun buyback downtown, and began researching what it would take to do something similar on the western side of the metro area. She got Girl Scouts Los Angeles to green light her pursuing this as her Gold Award project, akin to Eagle Scout for boys.

The high school senior met with Culver City's outgoing and incoming mayors. She made a presentation to the city council. She was put in contact with Police Lt. William Browne, who conferred with other agencies in developing the plan for the Culver City Police Department to carry out the actual gun collection safely.

Lt. Browne made arrangement to use the parking lot outside the Wende Museum. Despite the Saturday morning rain, 10-15 cars lined up even before the event began at 10 a.m., and in the next four hours, police collected a total of 65 firearms.

"I think it was very much worthwhile," said Lt. Browne. "It's a great way to assist the Girl Scouts and to help take some guns off the streets, then it's good for us."

The collected firearms ran the gamut from a Browning skeet-shooting shotgun and expensive Glock handguns to cheap Saturday night specials and disassembled pieces of an Uzi knock-off. But most were older guns--like those of Baum's father--that may have been sitting years unused in drawers or attics.

That was fine with Hanson, who said her focus was the risk of kept guns that someday might be found by a child, or someone beset with suicidal thoughts, or a disturbed person contemplating violence.

"It's just important to know that while they may not be in use, there's still a risk to have them in your (home)," Hanson said.

Hanson was quick to thank her parents for their encouragement and support, despite concerns over both the complexity and potential danger of collecting guns.

Kari Hanson, who is also the co-leader of her daughter's  troop, remembers the discussions with police.

"They brought up a lot of issues we never thought about," Kari Hanson recalled. "With their support, we were less worried."

Her daughter did most of the fundraising through social media and elsewhere online. A boost came when west side grocer Albert Vera learned of the effort and offered to match the $2,000 Hanson had already raised, and convinced five fellow merchants to put up an additional $5,000. The gift cards were purchased from Target.

"I'm absolutely all for it," said Baum, who lives in Venice and hears gunfire more than she would like. "Less guns is always better."

During the coming days, police will run the serial numbers of the collected guns to determine if any had been reported stolen or involved in a crime. Those that were not will be destroyed at the Rancho Cucamonga facility which melts down firearms.

The buyback was anonymous. Police did not take names of donors, but many volunteered where they're from--mostly Culver City and the west side, but many from the San Fernando Valley, at least two from the Inland Empire, and one drove up from Orange County.

"Girl Scouts can do anything, and everything," said Kari Hanson proudly. "Even a gun buyback."

Miami International Airport's Concourse G will return to normal operations Monday morning.

The airport said that the decision to shut down the terminal was a "precautionary measure due to uncertainties created by the lapse in federal government funding."

Concourse G will close at 1 .pm on Sunday. However, the closure at the terminal will end sooner than expected.

"MIA’s Concourse G will return to normal operations on Monday morning, with the TSA fully staffing the Concourse G checkpoint. MIA and TSA will continue to monitor checkpoint staffing levels and make adjustments as necessary," the airport said in a statement.

MIA said it did not anticipate a significant impact to flight schedules or the overall passenger experience.

The Transportation Security Administration – tasked with guaranteeing U.S. airport security – last week acknowledged an increase in the number of its employees calling off work during the partial government shutdown.

MIA urges travelers to arrive at least two hours ahead of a domestic flight and three hours for an international flight.

TSA employees are expected to work without pay during the shutdown because their jobs are considered essential.

Friday marked the first missed paycheck for about 800,000 federal employees furloughed or working without pay – causing anxiety and frustration for many.

The union representing the United States’ air traffic controllers is suing the Trump administration over pay that has been frozen as part of the partial government shutdown.

Teachers at 1,000 schools across Los Angeles are potentially going on strike as early as Thursday amid a labor contract dispute between the school district and United Teachers Los Angeles, the union that represents the teachers.

The LAUSD has put together a Family Resource Guide on what to know to prepare and keep informed if the strike were to happen.

Below are key tips for parents:

• LAUSD schools will remain open;
• School hours will remain the same;
• Morning and after-school program hours will remain the same; 
• School meals will continue to be served;
• Students will be expected to attend school;
• Absences will not be excused and will be counted against the student;
• Parents will be notified of any schedule changes, if they occur;
• Instruction will be provided by limited staff and substitutes.

For those who want to volunteer, you can get more information here. For more information, visit www.LAUSD.net.

Parents with more specific questions are encouraged to contact their local school.

Cavaliers revenge game?

All five starters scored in double figures and the Cleveland Cavaliers held onto defeat the Los Angeles Lakers, 101-95, on Sunday night at Staples Center

The Lakers scored the first basket of the game, and took an early 2-0 lead, but that would be the only time Los Angeles was ahead in the contest. 

Cleveland jumped out to an early 28-13 lead, before the Lakers cut the lead to eight by the end of the quarter. 

Los Angeles would get within three points late in the fourth quarter, but the Alec Burks sank three free throws to seal the victory, only their ninth of the season, for the Cavaliers.

Both teams struggled from the field with the Lakers shooting 39 percent and the Cavaliers shooting 42 percent.

Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, and Josh Hart were a combined 5-for-23 from beyond-the-arc and the Lakers were an atrocious 7-for-34 from three in the game.

Brandon Ingram had 22 points and seven rebounds. Ball, Kuzma and Ingram combined for 64 points.

Cedi Osman led the Cavaliers with 20 points. Rodney Hood had 18 points, rookie Collin Sexton chipped in 17. 

In front of his girlfriend Khloe Kardashian, Tristan Thompson had 15 points and 14rebounds. Burks had 17 points and 13 rebounds. 

The loss was inexcusable for an incosistent Lakers team that is trying to compete for a playoff spot in the crowded and competitive western conference.

The Cavaliers own the NBA's worst record at 9-35, and are decimated by injuries this season. Meanwhile, the Lakers fall to 3-7 without LeBron James.

James was drafted by Cleveland first overall in the 2003 NBA Draft and played from 2003 to 2010 with the Cavaliers before joining the Miami Heat.

James rejoined his hometown team in 2014 and played with the Cavaliers until 2017. He won an NBA title with Cleveland in 2016.

The Lakers were 16-for-27 from the free throw line for a paltry 59 percent. 

Notes and Next

LeBron James (groin) missed his 10^th consecutive game, the longest absence of his career. Rajon Rondo (finger) also missed the game. 

The Lakers will host the Chicago Bulls who only have 10 wins on the season on Tuesday night at Staples Center. 

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