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Readers, let's get this news party started:

The man arrested on suspicion of killing Cori Desmond told investigators that he didn't strangle the Torrance woman, just that he found her dead body on the street, scooped it up and then drove to San Bernadino to dump it in the mountains, documents show.

A controversial plan to close or restrict fishing in nearly 400 square miles of Southern California ocean, including waters near Palos Verdes, in hopes of protecting marine habitat has moved forward with the state Fish and Game Commission.

Investigators continue to probe the shooting death of a Rolling Hills Estates attorney, but few new details have emerged.

A former Redondo Beach police sergeant has been charged with embezzeling more than $75,000 from his police union.

These winter storms have brought some big waves to the South Bay, but it seems like local surfers aren't so impressed.

The state's foreclosure rate dropped 13 percent from October figure.

Two Narbonne High receivers will lead their football team Saturday at L.A. City Section Division I finals.

Readers, wake up from your turkey and retail coma to catch up on local news:

Plans for a high-density senior housing complex in the heart of Torrance have resurfaced.  Again.

How did you spend Thanksgiving? Volunteers at Torrance church offered food, comfort and friendship to South Bay folks.

Bravo shoppers for bucking a dismal economy and flooding stores this morning in search of bargains. Our own business columnist Muhammed El-Hasan shares his Black Friday experience from last year.

And while you're out shopping, why not pick up an athletic ball to bring to the Breeze's annual holiday ball drive, which supports local youth-focused nonprofits?

A jury has found that William Sadowski was legally sane when he killed a Los Angeles International Airport police officer in 2005. Now, he's headed for a lifetime in parole, rather than a mental institution.

One Palos Verdes Estates young lady has reached what could be the highest echelon of academic honor, earning a prestigious Rhodes scholarship.

After more than a year of fighting for a dog park on The Hill, it looks like a Palos Verdes Estates couple is finally starting to see some success.

Thanksgiving is sooo yesterday. Bring on Christmas, and visits from Santa Claus throughout the South Bay.

Readers, so much news today:

The owners of the South Bay Galleria want to revamp a 11-acre piece of property adjacent to the Redondo Beach mall with a $32 million retail complex. This development -- curiously titled SouthBay South -- would replace the old bowling alley site, as well as buildings that once housed CompUSA and Thrifty Drug.

Boxing champ Mike Tyson was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after a Wednesday night scuffle with the paparazzi.

Speaking of LAX, why don't you mosey over to our South Bay History blog to read up on the providence of the iconic Theme Building?

The heads of the west coast's six largest ports -- including Los Angeles -- are in China touting their facilities to Asian shippers in hopes of luring back business.

Two robbers who held up an Inglewood autoparts store who led Hawthorne police on a freeway chase in a high-jacked car are still at large after about nine hours of searching Wednesday.

Make sure you check out pictures of Hermosa Beach's candlelight Veteran's Day ceremony

Serra High's defensive end duo are best friends who place weekly wagers on who gets the most sacks.

A Manhattan Beach developer is responsible for the Santa Fe springs housing tract being touted as the largest solar-powered residential community in the United States.

Readers, we are just brimming with local news today:

A woman drove her car into a Lomita house this morning.

Former HUD secretary Henry Cisneros stopped by Carson this week to close a development deal on a 198-unit town home development in town. This was one item in a marathon meeting full of squabbling and politicking that endured until 3 a.m.

Finally, some good news in the housing market: State home prices are expected to increase next year by 3.3 percent -- meager, yes, but a big improvement over double-digit drops experienced in the last two years.

Deputies have arrested four men suspected of committing $10,000 worth of graffiti damage in Carson. Detectives found practice drawings in one of their homes. I don't know about you, but I like a well-prepared tagger.

Looks like Redondo Beach voters might have a say on new elements of the city's King Harbor rezoning.

A former Jiffy Lube worker will stand trial for allegedly raping a customer in the Torrance station's office. Oh, and then she got herpes.

Readers, here's your morning scoop:

Los Angeles County is developing a grading grading for day care centers in hopes of giving parents guidance on where to send their children. A voluntary pilot program has started in San Pedro and Wilmington.

Local Beatles fans flocked Wednesday to electronic stores to buy the latest offering from the Fab Four.

On the first day of school for the Los Angeles Unified School District, we check in with San Pedro High's new principal, who apparently has her plate full at the troubled campus.

Two South Bay beach cities are a little bit closer to a consolidated fire department.

Gardena city leaders have approved a new condo complex, but nixed a commercial development because it included a nail salon and tobacco shop.

Narbonne High School running back Melvin Davis starts his season Friday in memory of his friend, slain former player Dannie Farber. Check out pictures.

Readers, here's your morning news:

Darn kids -- oh, wait. Police believe a 44-year-old unemployed Torrance man is responsible for the recent rash of shootings of glass windows. Gary Finmark told his 78-year-old mom he drove around shooting out windows with an air rifle because he was bored.

Looks like Carson has a mall war on its hands: The new owners of the SouthBay Pavilion are thinking about adding a movie theater to the center, which would compete with the theater slated for Boulevards at South Bay, proposed to open in town in 2012.

Los Angeles County real estate values dropped for the first time in 13 years, but the South Bay saw mostly positive growth in assessments, according to an annual tax assessor's report released Thursday.

Some San Pedro residents are hoping to find a place in town to play horseshoes, a sport apparently undergoing a bit of a renaissance.

The raging obesity epidemic cost the county about $12 million in 2006 in health care costs and lost production, a report from the California Center for Public Health Advocacy reveals.

Check out pictures of Thursday's labor rally at the Toyota facility in Torrance.

Biz writer Muhammed El-Hasan paid $4.25 for a spot of tea at a new Wilmington brew house.

Readers, let's ease into the weekend with a little local news:

International airline traffic at Los Angeles International Airport dropped more than 20 percent in May from levels at the same time last year, new figures show. A continuing slide could present a devastating blow to the area's economy, experts say.

Rep. Jane Harman is not the target of a criminal investigation following the wiretap blow-up she was involved in a few months ago.

Remember that motorcycle club that caused a big ruckus in San Pedro last year? Well, Rare Breed is back this weekend for its 20th anniversary, but will skip the port town in favor of Gardena.

The bad news: South Bay home prices continued to dropped 12. 3 percent in May over prices last year. The good news: They increased from April 2009's prices.

Hermosa Beach celebrated 10 years of legal skateboarding Thursday.

Michael Jackson fans everywhere mourn the death of the King of Pop.

It's always interesting to see how the national media views the South Bay.

USA Today's Second Homes column this weekend turns its attention to the robust real estate offerings of the South Bay, focusing particularly on the possibilities for additional dwellings in the beach cities and Palos Verdes Peninsula:

Redondo is a regional destination for its seafood eateries, Hermosa is
known for its nightlife and bar scene, and posh Manhattan Beach skews
older. One development here, Manhattan Village, is a top choice for
second-home owners, including many professional athletes.

                                                    (snip)

On the southern coast, Palos Verdes is much more rural, with extensive
equestrian facilities and high-quality golf courses. The highest-profile
development in the entire region is the 102-acre Terranea in Rancho Palos
Verdes, a new luxury resort and spa offering villas and casitas from $2.25
million to more than $5 million.

Poor Torrance: The so-called balanced city, the article states, is the most affordable second-home option in the South Bay, but has the fewest owners because of its large "industrial base."

Hit it, readers!

South Bay schools, health workers and transportation officials are on alert for swine flu, though no local cases have arose.

More fear mongering: The first mosquito infected with West Nile virus in Los Angeles County this season was found in Carson during routine tests earlier this month, officials announced Monday.

Torrance Police have arrested Bill Stinson Bounsall, a prolific burglar once blamed for a South Bay crime increase in 2002. Looks like the San Pedro resident will go away for good now.

The Department of Transportation is worried about air traffic controller staffing levels at the Los Angeles International Airport Tower and Southern and Northern California radar facilities.

South Bay home prices in March dropped about 20 percent from the prices at the same time last year, according to new data.

Happy Friday, readers:

The crash that killed Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart also claimed the life of a Mira Costa High School graduate, and seriously injured another format student at the Manhattan Beach school.

The Los Angeles Planning Commission has rejected San Pedro's controversial Ponte Vista housing project until developers make some modifications.

South Bay educators aren't holding their breath for the $5 billion in federal stimulus money the Governor has promised local schools.

The California Coastal Commission has approved West Basin Municipal Water District's plans to build a water desalination plant in Redondo Beach.

A Hawthorne man will likely face attempted murder charges for stabbing a weight-lifting patron at a local gym. That'll get your blood pumping.

Large commercial drugstores left Annabell Kim cold, so she started her own small pharmacy in Hermosa Beach.

El Camino College's baseball team sure has had a rough week. See some pictures here.

The Aluminum Overcast B-17, a World War II-era bomber, will be on display this weekend at Torrance Airport. Columnist John Bogert got a ride this week.