Diocese closes purchase of Crystal Cathedral
ORANGE (AP) — The Diocese of Orange has closed on its purchase of the shimmering Crystal Cathedral and surrounding 31-acre grounds, putting the iconic building seen as a testament to televangelism in Catholic hands.
The diocese said Friday that escrow proceedings had closed on its $57.5 million purchase of the property, which will become the site of a long-sought cathedral for Orange County's nearly 1.3 million Catholics.
The sale of the sprawling property in Garden Grove was critical for the financially ailing Crystal Cathedral to help pay creditors and emerge from federal bankruptcy protection.
The building's glass-paned walls that let worshippers see the sky is the backdrop for the church's "Hour of Power" televangelist program, which is the source of 70 percent of the church's revenue.
Santa Monica's anti-nuke sculpture may be doomed
SANTA MONICA (AP) — The anti-nuclear war mushroom cloud sculpture in Santa Monica may be doomed.
The 5½-ton "Chain Reaction" artwork was created by late Pulitzer Prize-winning Los Angeles Times political cartoonist Paul Conrad.
It's fashioned out of chains and copper tubing and steel and has been on display outside Santa Monica Civic Auditorium for decades
But it needs $423,000 in repairs and city funds are scarce. The cost to remove it is $20,000.
The city's Arts Commission has recommended that the City Council vote to remove "Chain Reaction."
The panel has also suggests restoration proponents and Conrad's family be given six months to raise money to repair the art piece.
Conrad died in 2010.
Missing NorCaL man's boat found
HALF MOON BAY (AP) — Coast Guard crews have found the boat of a 64-year-old man who went missing after setting out on a fishing trip from a Half Moon Bay harbor.
The Coast Guard says the 18-foot recreational boat was spotted by a helicopter Friday morning off of Pillar Point Harbor, the same harbor Shau Tsu Wong set off from two days earlier.
The boat had capsized. Wong was not with it.
The Coast Guard had been searching for Wong since his son called Thursday night to report him missing.
Wong of San Ramon had apparently gone out crab fishing.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Pamela Boehland said his truck was found at the harbor.
30 floating marijuana bales found off Calif. beach
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Thirty bales of marijuana estimated to be worth $500,000 have been found floating off the Southern California coast.
Los Angeles County sheriff's investigators say a boater discovered the pot Wednesday more than six miles off Marina del Rey.
The bales were fished out of the sea with the help of lifeguards and was turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials.
Woman pleads not\ guilty in penis slicing
SANTA ANA (AP) — A Southern California woman has pleaded not guilty to torturing a man by cutting off his penis and putting it in a garbage disposal.
Online court records show Catherine Kieu pleaded not guilty to torture and aggravated mayhem on Friday.
She was indicted last month by a grand jury.
Authorities say Kieu got in an argument in July 2011 with her estranged husband, who had recently filed for divorce. After he went to sleep, authorities say, Kieu cut off his penis with a knife and threw it into a garbage disposal.
