I’m taking six weeks off to spend time with my new baby daughter. Regular blog updates will resume the end of March

Thanks for looking

Jeff

Two cars were involved in a collision on Katella Ave in Los Alamitos, Calif. Friday, February 13, 2009. Two people were transported to the hospital in critical condition. A boy and woman also suffered moderate injuries in the three-car crash that toppled a tree and heavily damaged a Porsche and Honda CR-V. See more pictures>>

This was the second funeral I’ve covered in as many days, and while each one is sad, this was by far the most sad. In fact, today was one of the saddest moments I’ve ever photographed.

According to everyone Ezra Davis was a good kid, yet someone gunned him down in front of his Long Beach home. To top it off, his parents had to bury him on his 16th. birthday.

During the funeral the entire church, about 200 people, sang Happy Birthday to the boy’s casket.

See more pictures>>

Jonathan Bunma shaved his head for the traditional Buddhist ten-day mourning period in honor of his grandmother. During her funeral he matched the Buddhist monks with his orange robe and bald head. his grandmother, Leam Sovanasy, 76, was found stabbed to death in her home in the 1400 block of Peterson Avenue in January 31. See 22 pictures>>

George Atanaclo and Alejandra Martinez pack up Martinez’ belongings in the 2300 block of West Arlington Street in Long Beach, Calif. on February 7, 2009. About a dozen homes suffered flood damage Saturday morning during heavy rains when runoff from neighboring streets and a blocked drainpipe on Southern California Edison property, caused 2 to 3 feet of water to backup and flow through houses on the 2300 block of West Arlington Street and surrounding in low-lying areas. See 20 pictures>>

While roaming the beach looking for ‘rain art’ I stumbled on to this Christmas tree that apparently washed up on shore near Bluff Park

The Aptera 2e in Long Beach, Calif. on February 4, 2009. The Aptera 2 Series is a two-seat, three wheeled plug-in hybrid car. The prices range from $25,000 to $40,000 dollars and can go 100 miles on a charge. The car also has a roof-mounted solar panel that operates an always-on climate control system so the car stays cool all the time. The test drive was part of TED, (Technology, Entertainment, Design), TED is an annual conference that defines its mission as “ideas worth spreading”. The lectures, also called TED Talks, cover a broad set of topics including science, arts and design, politics, culture, business, global issues, technology and development, and entertainment. Speakers have included such people as former U.S. president Bill Clinton, Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page and Bono. See more pictures>>

Job seekers line-up for 22 positions at the new Society of St. Vincent de Paul thrift store on Pacific Coast Highway. Applications are also being excepted on Wednesday and Thursday. See more pictures>>