Three Southland students will be minding their p’s and q’s as they compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee which begins today in Maryland.

12-year-old Nickan Fayyazi from Portola Highly Gifted Magnet in Tarzana, 13-year-old old Justin Chuang from Chaparral Middle School in Diamond Bar, and 13-year-old Sam Nitz from The Pegasus School in Huntington Beach are among 278 competitors vying for the $30,000 prize from Scripps.

Southern California has produced only one champion of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which began in 1925 — a boy from Poway back in 2005.

The latest food trend that’s hitting Orange County comes just in time for summer barbeques. It’s hot dogs and exotic sausages, and they are overtaking burgers as the next big comfort food. Just how exotic are the sausages that are hitting the market?

Click the play button to listen to Orange County Register restaurant reporter and food blogger Nancy Luna as she talks with KFWB’s Penny Griego and Phil Hulett.

Less than a month after the opening of the Metro Expo Line, concerns are being raised about safety at a number of crossings due to lack of proper signage. KFWB’s Pete Demetriou spoke with Penny Griego and Phil Hulett from the intersection of Western and Exposition. He noted some of the specific intersections and explained the hazards.

A brown bear had the right idea for beating the Memorial Day heat in Monrovia by finding the nearest pool. Sisters Rachel and Valerie Gasparini were just about to leave home when they spotted the bear lounging in their pool. They tell Channel 2 that the bear made itself at home:

The sisters say the bear stayed in the water for about five minutes before returning to its forest home.

Paying Respects on Memorial Day

When I finished LA’s Morning News this morning, I got right in my car and took advantage of the “holiday light” traffic to get home in time to clean up and hurry over to the City of Cerritos Memorial Day Program at the Cerritos Veterans Memorial at the Civic Center.

I arrived in time to see the welcome remarks from Cerritos Mayor, and Vietnam Veteran, Jim Edwards. In attendance were veterans, active duty Marine Corps members from the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion/Camp Pendleton, Firefighters from Fire Stations #30 and #35, L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputies, Boy and Girl Scouts, friends, family and officials from local, state and federal  government.

Read more about the special recognition and honor given to local soldiers who sacrificed for our freedoms: (click here for complete story and photo slide show).

Two Los Angeles Police Department officers are hospitalized after an SUV turns right in front of them, in turn forcing them to crash into some bus benches.  KFWB’s Pete Demetriou was on the scene at Washington and Pacific in Venice with this report for Penny Griego and Phil Hulett. Click the play button to listen:

(AP Image)

Today we honor the men and women of our armed forces who have given their lives in the service of our country. There are a number of events you can attend today across the Southland to pay your respects.

Jeanie Bonfilio of the California Department of Veteran Affairs spoke with KFWB’s Penny Griego and Phil Hulett to discuss some of the biggest events taking place today and how returning veterans can make sure to get the benefits they’ve earned.

President Barack Obama is paying tribute to fallen warriors on Memorial Day, attending a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and honoring those who died in the Vietnam War.

The president will participate today in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, and then mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Obama has touted his record to veterans during his re-election campaign, vowing to ensure that veterans, including those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, have access to health care, educational opportunities and jobs.

The president and first lady Michelle Obama are starting the day with a breakfast at the White House for families who have lost loved ones in combat.

Paul Brandus, Managing Editor of The West Wing Report, joined KFWB’s Penny Griego and Phil Hulett for an advance report:

America loved the train wreck also known as the Facebook initial public offering — the hand-wringing, the squirming the whole public spectacle of embarrassment. Why? Because Main Street got it right and Wall Street got it wrong. Wall Street, Silicon Valley and the media all contributed to the hype.

Marketwatch Media columnist Jon Friedman joined KFWB’s Penny Griego and Phil Hulett to talk about it.

Fierce winds in Southern California are blowing down power poles and they could get even stronger over the next day or so. KFWB’s John Brooks called in from the San Fernando Valley this morning with this report.