PINNACLES NATIONAL PARK DESIGNATION PASSES SENATE: SOLEDAD (AP) — A bill designating central California's Pinnacles National Monument a national park is awaiting President Barack Obama's signature.
The Pinnacles National Park Act, designed to raise the profile of the sanctuary's towering rock formations and caves, was passed by the Senate during a rare Sunday session. The House approved it in July.
President Theodore Roosevelt designated the 26,000-acre Pinnacles site a national monument in 1908.
Sen. Barbara Boxer sponsored the bill with fellow California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Boxer said the national park designation will give the site near Soledad the recognition it deserves as well as boost tourism.
MAN HOSPITALIZED WITH BURNS IN BARBECUE EXPLOSION: LONG BEACH (AP) — A Southern California man has been hospitalized after a barbecue exploded and touched off a house fire.
City News Service says the Long Beach man was lighting a barbecue in the rear portion of his home when there was a flash explosion just before dawn on Monday.
The blast sparked a small fire that was quickly extinguished by firefighters
The man is in a hospital with second-degree burns on his face.
THIEVES BREAK INTO SCHOOLS, STEAL IPADS: ENCINITAS (AP) — Thieves have broken into two Southern California schools and escaped with $12,000 worth of iPads.
San Diego County sheriff's investigators say a burglar alarm sounded early Monday at Ada Harris Elementary School in Encinitas and deputies discovered the break-in. A dozen iPads were taken.
Early Sunday, there was a similar burglary at Cardiff Elementary School a few miles away in Cardiff by the Sea.
Investigators tell City News Service that the thieves broke classroom windows and broke off a lock on a cabinet to get to 12 iPads.
TEEN FINDS $800 IN STREET, GIVES CASH TO POLICE; LA HABRA (AP) — A teenager who found an envelope containing $800 in a Southern California street has turned over the cash to police.
The San Bernardino County Sun says 18-year-old Gerardo Marquez was walking with friends to a La Habra store when he saw the envelope.
Marquez told La Habra police he briefly considered keeping the money, but thought it might belong to a family in need.
He called police Friday night and handed over the cash to officers.
3 SLIGHTLY HURT WHEN WHEEL FALLS OFF STAGECOACH: BUENA PARK (AP) — Three people were hurt when a stagecoach carrying 14 visitors lost a wheel and flipped at Southern California's Knott's Berry Farm.
The Orange County Register says horse-drawn stagecoach tipped on its side when a rear wheel fell off on Sunday afternoon at the Buena Park theme park.
Three people were taken to the hospital for examination of what park officials described as minor injuries.
Knott's spokeswoman Jennifer Blazey says the stagecoach ride has been shut down pending an investigation.
POLICE FIND BODY ENCASED IN CONCRETE IN LA COUNTY: SANTA FE SPRINGS (AP) — Police have arrested a 35-year-old man in connection with a body that was discovered encased in a newly poured concrete floor inside a Southern California heating and air conditioning business.
Whittier police Officer Brad White says officers received information Sunday night that a homicide victim was located inside a business in Santa Fe Springs.
White says the investigation led to Juan Alberto Galviz, who gave them further information and was arrested.
After obtaining a search warrant, police discovered the body of an adult male Monday morning with the help of cadaver dogs and the coroner's excavation team.
Police are investigating the relationship between Galviz and the victim.
