Andre Torres, a transsexual currently living as a female, was sentenced today to 11 years to life in state prison for a knife attack against an attorney in 2010. Torres, who committed the crime while living as a man, was addressed as "Miss Torres" in court, notes City News Service. more ›

Mayor Villaraigosa was scheduled to speak at tonight's Human Rights Campaign Annual Gala in San Francisco, but canceled this morning after the group was accused of excluding the transgender community. HRC, which is a national gay rights group, is reportedly supporting a federal civil rights bill that protects gays, lesbians and bisexuals from workplace discrimination, but not transsexual and transgender people. more ›

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Veteran LA Times sports writer Mike Penner today explained why he will be away for the next couple of weeks. Here's how it starts:

During my 23 years with The Times' sports department, I have held a wide variety of roles and titles. Tennis writer. Angels beat reporter. Olympics writer. Essayist. Sports media critic. NFL columnist. Recent keeper of the Morning Briefing flame. more ›