LOS ANGELES, CA — Share-worthy stories from across the Southland Patch cities to talk about tonight.

© Nicole Charky/Patch
Lonely Planet Named two Southland beaches among the best.

Best California Beaches Include Newport Beach, Lonely Planet Says

Newport Beach is one of California’s top beaches for surf, sand and sun, the travel brand said.

Fires Increasing Near Venice Boardwalk, Rose Avenue

Several fires spreading from homeless encampments have hit the Venice boardwalk and Penmar Golf Course in the last week.

LA’s Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients Sicker And More Likely To Die

Coronavirus patients in Los Angeles are dying at twice the rate they were just a few months ago.

Santa Monica Family Bakery Closing In Pandemic, Plans To Relocate

Vienna Pastry, a bakery run by three sisters for more than 60 years in the Santa Monica community, will close and plans to relocate.

OC High Schooler Nominated As Presidential Scholar In The Arts

One Orange County High School Student joined several Los Angeles County area students as 2021 Presidential Scholars In The Arts.

BRR! Cold Winter Storm To Wash Over Los Angeles

The first of a series of storms headed to the Southland is expected to bring cool temperatures and light rain over the weekend.

Orange County Libraries Turn 100: Centennial Celebrations

In order to understand where you are, you need to know where you’ve been. One of OC’s first public libraries opened in 1921 in SJC.

Laguna Woods Resident Vaccination Appointments Open

The Village At Laguna Woods residents are now able to register to receive the coronavirus vaccine, administered by MemorialCare.

Coronavirus Vaccinations At Soka University: What To Know

Orange County Health Care will open a second vaccination distribution site at Soka University in Aliso Viejo Saturday.

RPV Mom Whose Daughter Died In Car Gets Nearly 15 Years In Prison

A Rancho Palos Verdes mom whose 2-year-old child died when she left her in a car with the heater on will receive nearly 15 years in prison.

Los Alamitos Race Course Faces Oversight, Maintains License

The Cypress-based horse racing facility will hold races at their track even after multiple racehorse deaths at the facility.

Lake Forest Man Sentenced To 24 Years Prison For Sex With Minors

The 29-year-old will spend 292 months in federal prison for traveling out of state to sexually abuse minors – including a 6-year-old girl.

Culver City Continues ‘Relaxed’ Parking Rules Amid Pandemic

“Relaxing parking enforcement” will continue through February in Culver City, officials said.

Glowing Sunset Over The Ocean: Photo Of The Day

A Patch reader captures a stunning sunset glowing over the ocean.

Knott’s Berry Farm Closure: Day-For-Day Passholder Extensions

Knott’s Berry Farm Annual Passholders can keep their tickets, the theme park says. Here’s how it will work.

Redondo Man Faces Charges In Bomb Scare That Shut Down Airport

A Redondo Beach man faces charges in connection with a hoax bomb scare that shut down part of Miami International Airport.

Santa Monica New Roads Graduate, Poet Lights Up Inauguration

Santa Monica New Roads School graduate Amanda Gorman delivered a powerful poem to help heal a divided nation. Read “The Hill We Climb.”

Santa Monica Extends Local Emergency, Eviction Protections

Santa Monica will extend its local emergency through March 31, city officials announced.

Looking Up For A New View: Photo Of The Day

Looking up is a good thing — and this photo proves it.

How Safe Is Rancho Palos Verdes? MoneyGeek Shares Findings

See where RPV lands on this list of 989 cities and towns nationwide ranked for safety as MoneyGeek ranks safest and most dangerous.

Trump Gets Unlikely Props For Freeing Death Row Records Cofounder

Long Beach rapper Snoop Dogg showered the former president with praise for commuting the sentence of Michael “Harry-O” Harris.

Best California Beaches Include Santa Monica, Lonely Planet Says

Santa Monica State Beach is one of California’s top beaches for surf, sand and sun, the travel brand said.

Culver City Councilman Named To League Of Cities Committee

Culver City Councilman Göran Eriksson will play a key role in setting transportation priorities with the National League of Cities.