Extra, Extra

Photo by Alberto Cueto via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

• In the wake of surging incidents of animal cruelty, the LAPD and the district attorney have created a special task force. Let's hope they can help bring an end to this madness.

• Wet roads, too much speed and young, inexperienced driver. Its a bad combination that took the lives of two 19-year olds in Orange County.

• Hats off and a look to the sky for LA resident astronaut Joseph Acaba. He is set to blast off as soon as February 22nd and will be the first Puerto Rico native to go into space.

• California Attorney General Jerry Brown has a Facebook page? Yes he does... and he listed "25 Random Things About Me". One favorite... #13 - "I've been duck hunting with Chief Justice Warren, but not with Vice President Cheney."

• Curbed LA dove into a discussion about the "myth" of gang initiations. Some think that innocent civilians are targets. Others argue that there is a "code of conduct" among gangs that frown on civilians being targeted.

• With the sole winning SuperLOTTO ticket still unclaimed, someone out there is walking around with $76 million in their pocket!

• While there might have been a slight break in the weather today, a LBReport.com reader sent in pics of a waterspout in Long Beach. Yikes!

• Finally, let's hear it for the thousands of kids who went out and put their brains to the test in a series of academic contests across the state. Some local action at USC and UCLA included over 100 high schools. Congrats to all the competitors!