Stores

A San Clemente man who operated nine marijuana stores in Orange and L.A. counties pleaded guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking and tax charges in a scheme that netted him $25 million. John Melvin Walker, also known as “Pops,” 56, pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute well over a ton of marijuana and to maintain  drug-involved premises. He also pleaded guilty to a tax evasion count in a second case that was filed in February, said Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for U.S. Attorney's office.

The marijuana shops evoked health and homeopathic care, with names like Dana Point Safe Harbor Collective, Belmont Shore Natural Care, Alternative Herbal Care and Costa Mesa Patients Assn. Nine dispensaries in all, they appeared to be run by different owners around Orange and Los Angeles counties, little different than any of the hundreds of dispensaries that have popped up in the last five years. But they were secretly owned and operated by a 56-year-old convicted drug dealer from San Clemente, who used the stores to make millions.

MIAMI AT SAN ANTONIO: Sunday, 4 p.m. PDT. TV: None. Jerry West and Gail Goodrich may be resting easy, but LeBron James and Dwyane Wade certainly aren't. Now that the Miami Heat can no longer threaten the 1971-72 Lakers' NBA-record 33-game winning streak (at least until next season), it is left to terrify the rest of the league. San Antonio is among the few teams that can say "Boo!" back without eliciting laughter. The Spurs are on the verge of securing the top seeding in the Western Conference for a third consecutive season, making this a possible Finals preview.

The gift shop at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Ky., has voluntarily recalled five condiment sauces due to mislabeling and undeclared allergens, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat, soy, anchovy or milk risk serious or even life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. No adverse reactions or illnesses have been reported. The receall applies to the following products sold under the Buffalo Trace Distillery brand name: --Bourbon Flavored Caramel Sauce, 8-ounce jar, UPC 795436001058, best buy date 2/16/14.

Port Washington, N.Y., based market research firm NPD Group reports that sales of basketball footwear were up 14% dollar-wise in 2012 compared with the previous year, with January and February 2013 showing sales gains on the first two months of 2012, up 11% and 6%, respectively. According to the results of NPD's recent study, which tracked sales of performance, sports lifestyle and classic basketball shoes at athletic specialty/sporting goods stores, department stores, national chain and footwear chain stores, hoops-related kicks clock in as " one of the fastest growing athletic footwear categories.

Stocking up on eggs for Easter? Next time you run to the store for eggs, don't even think about storing them in the handy open plastic egg holder on the door of your refrigerator. Keep the eggs in their carton, on a shelf, toward the back of the fridge. RECIPES: Spring fresh Easter recipes from the L.A. Times Test Kitchen Eggshells are porous, and they absorb odors easily and can lose moisture. Keeping eggs in their closed carton helps to protect them from stray odors and gives them a little cushioning to protect them from cracking.

Maybe they slowly grew on me. Or maybe it was the sheer sugar rush -- from testing close to 75 dozen chicks -- but I'll admit it. I've grown fond of Peeps. For most of us, an Easter basket simply isn't complete without a box of Peeps. The colorful marshmallow candy brand is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, and the popular chicks are to Easter what candy corn is to Halloween and candy canes are to Christmas. Of course, Peeps are probably just as famous for what people do with them, and I'm not just talking about fluorescent-tinted s'mores or a post-apocalyptic trip in the microwave.

A ring of Southern California businesses has been illegally selling nitrous oxide for use as a recreational drug, federal and local law enforcement officials said Friday afternoon in announcing a regional crackdown. Three auto supply employees were arrested earlier in the day in a federal law enforcement sweep that included searches of 17 businesses and nine delivery vehicles linked to the ring, authorities said. A fourth suspect is still being sought. Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, can be used for welding, as a speed booster in cars or as an as anesthetic by dentists and doctors.

Starbucks Corp., already on a tear buying tea, juice and bakery companies, just snapped up its first coffee farm and is planning to double the number of people signed up for its loyalty programs. The company is expanding its roughly 3-year-old My Starbucks Rewards program, allowing customers who buy Starbucks' packaged coffee in grocery stores to earn points that can be redeemed for free treats in the chain's cafes. The Seattle giant, presenting at its annual investor meeting  Wednesday, is calling the offering the “first cross-channel, multi-brand loyalty program” ever.

Mood Designer Fabrics, best known as the shopping destination for “Project Runway” contestants in New York, is offering free sewing instruction in the company's bright new L.A. store on La Brea Avenue. The six-class series for beginners will be taught in a sewing studio called the Mood School and will cover basics such as using a machine, reading a pattern, marking and cutting fabric, and assembly. Current class projects include tote and messenger bags, but a spokeswoman said more home decor will be added.