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Readers, so much news today:

Residents of the bezene- and methane-contaminated Carousel housing tract in Carson are grappling with what to do now that many neighbors have brought a suit against Shell Oil, which once operated a tank farm on the site.

A pedestrian died Sunday morning in Rancho Palos Verdes when an 18-year-old motorist lost control of his car and jumped the curb, striking and killing the 49-year-old man.

Gardena-based Serra High School's football team took it all in the state bowl game Saturday at Home Depot Center. Whooo hooo! Watch the team prepare for the big game.

Officials at Los Angeles International Airport are stepping up efforts to crack down on aggressive solicitors who pursue donations from jet-lagged and confused passengers as they exit the airport.This year, authorities have arrested more than 130, and plan on getting tougher during the holiday travel rush.

Meanwhile, more than 2 million passengers are set to pass through the hub this season.

South Bay charities make their final pitches for holiday-time donations during a very rough economy. But here's some good news: One cash-strapped South Bay charity once on the verge of closing has earned a reprieve, thanks to our lovely and generous Daily Breeze readers.

Local kitty lovers are infuriated over a recent court ruling ordering Los Angeles to stop paying and supporting programs that spay or neuter stray feral cats.

Readers, so much news:

Seniors and preschoolers gathered together Wednesday for a multi-generational Hanukkah celebration at Temple Menorah in Redondo Beach.

County supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas is taking heat for his $700,000 office remodel plans.

The Toberman Neighborhood Center in San Pedro put on an early Christmas feast Wednesday.

Los Angeles city leaders have agreed to reimburse Los Angeles World Airports, the agency that operates LAX, $21.2 million for two payments deemed improper.

Redondo city leaders have delayed approval of a new commercial complex on Catalina Avenue, an area they've long sought to revitalize.

A Manhattan Beach woman is leading the charge for IndyMac depositors to recover their lost money.

Bring on prep soccer: Today we preview teams from Torrance's North and West high schools. Check out some pictures.

Santa Claus is still making his rounds throughout the South Bay.

Readers, let's hit it:

A Rolling Hills Estates attorney was shot in his driveway Monday night. The man is in critical condition died at Torrance Memorial Medical Center this morning.

Monday's rain went away but will come again another day -- like Thursday. Check out pictures of yesterday's storm.

Los Angeles Unified School District leaders are set to vote today on a three-year budget plan today that includes massive lay-offs of teachers, administrators and school workers to close a $495 million deficit.

Two Torrance High alumni and one of their mothers have been arrested in a shooting death last week of a Harbor Gateway man.

Hey, times are tough: Why not rob a Christmas tree lot for $70 and apologize in the process like this guy allegedly did?

Kaiser Permanente hosted a free surgery day Monday, providing gratis procedures for about a dozen uninsured patients on waiting lists for months.

El Segundo-based Boeing said Monday it had acquired the first on-orbit signals from an Air Force satellite launched over the weekend.

Leuzinger High's boys basketball team thinks it has the skills and roster to get to another shot at CIF. And Serra High's team isn't too shabby either.

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, we're so thankful for all this news!

What's a South Bay native, Oscar-winning screenwriter to do while in prison for a year? Tweet, of course.

More than 200 active military service men and women got their Thanksgiving eat on Tuesday at the Bob Hope USO at Los Angeles International Airport. See pictures of the festivities.

Meantime, volunteers Tuesday in San Pedro assembled baskets for the needy in anticipation of what will likely be the biggest giveaways ever for First Presbyterian Church's 14th annual tradition.

The former head of the Transportation Security Administration and LAX's first security director has died.

Toyota Motor Corp. is working to mute speculation that the car giant, whose sales and marketing and finance arms are in the South Bay, would move workers out of California.

Defensive back Sean Parker will help his Narbonne High team mates take on Venice in the CIF quarterfinals tonight. Be sure to check out pictures of the player.

Your turkey probably isn't even defrosted yet, but here are some ideas about what to do with all those tasty leftovers.

Readers, let's roll:

A teenage boy was killed in San Pedro after a fight this weekend. Check out pictures of the scene afterward.

Nearly 30 years after buying some coastal land from its school district, Rancho Palos Verdes is finally getting ready to build a park that isn't sitting so well with neighbors.

South Bay unemployment rates stayed mostly stable in October, bucking a downward trend across the county and state. Poor Torrance was the only city in the area to see an increase in the statistics released last week.

Local nonprofits are gearing up for record holiday needs, beginning with a massive food drive that starts Tuesday. Meantime, one San Pedro-based group is working on its first effort to give Thanksgiving baskets to families who have lost children to violent crimes.

What's that stench coming from the Walteria Sump in Torrance?

Rancho Palos Verdes city officials ponder why its hotel tax increase failed at the polls earlier this month, and what the possible ramifications could be.

Three former Hermosa Beach surf buddies are busy brewing beer.

Readers, let's hop to it:

Torrance will hold a swine flu vaccination clinic, but the city won't take any chances of a repeat of last month's high-traffic clinic in Redondo Beach.

The Los Angeles Conservancy hopes to raise awareness of local landmarks nearing their 50th birthday with "It's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod City" tour of the area's 1960s era architecture.

A Redondo Beach man has built in his garage an exact replica of a Pan Am 747 first-class cabin. The aviation enthusiast has spent 20 years collecting materials from 1960s and 1970s versions of the aircraft. Check out pictures of the set-up.

Get your skate on starting Tuesday at Redondo Beach's seaside ice skating rink. In its second year, the temporary facility will include more dine-and-skate nights, 80s night and a swimsuit weekend. Only in L.A., right?

A South Bay surf legend celebrates 50 years of board shaping with a special tribute. Check out pictures of Dewey Weber's son, Shea.

Three jurors who recently convicted a Lomita great-grandfather of molesting two neighborhood girls say they made a mistake and want to help the man get a new trial.

Carson city leaders have really muffled gadflies of late: Mayor Jim Dear has reinstated use of the mute button at City Council meetings, and the body voted to only allow government content on the city's public access channel, which used to feature activist programming that was often critical of the city.

A Rancho Palos Verdes man is working to compile a list of local charity, in hopes of increasing holiday giving and preventing scams.

Readers, heads up:

After hoards of cars clogged South Bay streets waiting for swine flu vaccinations Saturday, the Beach Cities Health District has canceled another clinic planned for next month in Redondo Beach.

Also, Los Angeles County has now established limits on who can get shots.

A pair of jetliners came within 100 feet of each other Sunday on Los Angeles International Airport's south airfield.

The Beacon House's 25-year Halloween tradition of building an elaborate haunted house in San Pedro has been canceled thanks to new city building regulations.

The District Attorney's Office has served search warrants at the home and business of Wilma Wilson, the owner of the Carson-based Peace and Joy battered women's shelter who is currently under investigation for allegations of misuse of public funds.

South Bay median home prices rose unexpectedly in September. Whoo hoo!

Sports just run in the family for Peninsula High volleyball player Nina Bjekovic, sister of Lakers player Sasha Vujacic, who starts his season tonight. See pictures of the brother-sister team.

Readers, let's get to it:

The family of a 13-year-old autistic boy Tasered by Hawthorne Police officer last year has filed a federal lawsuit seeking class-action status.

Tony Lopez Perez, the Redondo Beach man accused of killing Cori Daye Desmond, pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder Tuesday.

Just weeks after Gardena High School was placed on a list of a dozen underperforming schools that could be taken over by outside operators, its principal has quit.

What are you doing tomorrow as part of the Great California ShakeOut, a massive statewide earthquake drill?

Rep. Jane Harman talked to South Bay business leaders Tuesday in her annual State of the Region address.

UCLA basketball coach legend John Wooden turns 99 today. Why don't you congratulate him?

Folks broke ground Tuesday for a new senior housing development in Carson.

Readers, let's hit it:

The non-profit South Bay Literacy Council, which has taught people to read for 28 years in the area and operates on $40,000 a year, could fold. Office rent has doubled for the agency and its 85-year-old fundraiser is retiring.

Centinela Valley Union High School District is facing a civil rights complaint alleging the agency unlawfully eliminated an English language learners program from Hawthorne High school.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has filed complaints against four companies operating at the Port of Los Angeles for alleged pollution.

Budget cuts have forced the Harbor-area animal shelter to pick up three more zip codes of coverage, further straining the San Pedro facility.

Between a massive expected recall and accusations of a patent violation, it's been a rocky year for former automobile golden child Toyota, whose U.S. marketing and sales arm is based in Torrance.