OPINION
March 19, 2014 | By The Times editorial board
A month from now, if all goes according to plan in Oklahoma, two convicted murderers will be executed by lethal injection, and without knowing exactly how the killing cocktail was put together or by whom. Without that knowledge, they could well be denied their basic constitutional protection against cruel and unusual punishment. The death penalty, as we've written before, is an indefensible mess of immorality, gamed judicial processes, misapplication based on race and class, and public expense.
ENTERTAINMENT
February 7, 2014 | By Gary Goldstein
Livelier and more amusing than its studio's advance-screening ban suggested, "Vampire Academy," based on the bestselling tween book series by Richelle Mead, should largely satisfy fans of the seemingly unkillable parade of hot-young-vampire tales. That said, this likable comedic-thriller is something of a narrative mishmash as the script by Daniel Waters ("Heathers") continually strains to explain - and then make good on - the dense ins and outs of Mead's secret society of good and bad vampires.
NATIONAL
January 17, 2014 | By Molly Hennessy-Fiske
HOUSTON - An Ohio inmate's drawn-out execution this week led to an outcry about the increased use of new lethal injection drugs by the country's 32 death penalty states, a practice that experts predict will lead to more problems. Dennis McGuire took more than 15 minutes to die Thursday, appearing to gasp and snort, according to witnesses. His lethal injection was a combination of two drugs never tried before in a U.S. execution, according to experts at the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, D.C. McGuire, 53, was sentenced to death for the 1989 rape and stabbing death of Joy Stewart, 22, who was seven months pregnant.
BUSINESS
December 8, 2013 | By Ronald D. White
MannKind Corp. in Valencia is attempting to revolutionize the treatment of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes with its first product: an inhaled form of insulin powder called Afrezza that would eliminate the need for most injections. The company hopes to get federal approval for the Afrezza inhaler system by spring. The company's future and that of its 246 employees are riding on that goal. The dream of an inhaled form of insulin treatment dates from the 1920s, when doctors and researchers worried that diabetes patients wouldn't want to subject themselves to regular injections.
SPORTS
November 25, 2013 | By Broderick Turner
Clippers forward Jared Dudley said he got a platelet-rich plasma injection to help alleviate the painful tendinitis in his right knee. The procedure, known as PRP, takes a sample of the patient's blood and spins it in a centrifuge for 15 minutes. It is then injected to accelerate tissue repair. Though he's hurting, Dudley hasn't missed any of the Clippers' 15 games. He is averaging 8.4 points per game on 48% shooting, with 38.5% (20 for 52) on three-pointers. He's playing 27 minutes per game.
SPORTS
November 13, 2013 | By Gary Klein
USC defensive end Leonard Williams said Wednesday that he planned to play against fifth-ranked Stanford despite a right shoulder injury that could require postseason surgery. Williams did not play against California last weekend and has not practiced this week, but he said he felt stronger after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection Tuesday. "I'm just feeling like I'm getting a lot of my strength back so I should be able to go Saturday," he said. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Williams is the Trojans' second-leading tackler and he has a team-best 11 tackles for loss.