Thomas Keller

Rafael Hernandez Navarro, the 22-year-old Mexican who shot and killed a Torrance policeman and then committed suicide, was not on drugs, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. Hernandez, whose behavior preceding the outburst of violence was called bizarre by his friends, had no drugs or alcohol in his blood at the time of his death April 17, a spokesman for the office said. Hernandez killed Torrance Police Officer Thomas Keller, 25, who had been on the force almost four years.

I was surprised and disappointed to read "A Big Sip of Vegas Reality" in The Times last Wednesday [Sept. 6]. In the article, my wine director is quoted as saying, "You can't get the wine you want in Vegas. A lot of what we have [at Bouchon] we bring in from California." That simply isn't true. In a business that is indeed built on relationships, I've been proud to do business with Southern Wine & Spirits since my early days in South Florida. Sixty percent of our wine is purchased through the company.

The beachfront San Diego County home of former NFL linebacker Junior Seau is on sale for nearly $2.3 million, nearly three months after the San Diego Chargers great committed suicide on the property. Seau bought the 2,238-square-foot home in 2005 for $3.2 million, according to U-T San Diego. In early May, the body of the 43-year-old was found in the home , the victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest. Now real estate agent John Beran has listed the three-bedroom, 2.5-bath property at 604 S. The Strand in Oceanside as a "wonderful seaside home" that "boasts amazing ocean views.

It takes a lot to get a recipe through our Test Kitchen. We make it again and again, getting it so that it doesn't just work but is the best that it can be. Like the children at Lake Wobegon, all of our recipes are above average. But still, of the more than 300 we published in 2011 — more than most cookbooks — there were some that stood out more than others. And so, as is our tradition, we're bringing back our 10 favorite recipes of 2011 for a curtain call. They're a varied bunch.

Torrance police have made one arrest in an investigation into alleged fraudulent solicitations on behalf of Torrance Police Officer Thomas Keller, who was killed during a confrontation with a gunman last week, a police spokesman said. The solicitations, which are not authorized by the Police Department or by Keller's family, have touched raw spots in the department, which is still in mourning for the first officer killed in the line of duty since 1968.

  NOTE: Master Class columns are intended for ambitious home cooks, and some of the recipes may call for special ingredients or equipment. When that is the case, we will provide an alternative method for the main element of the dish so it can be prepared even without this ingredient or equipment. Sous-vide white asparagus Total time: 1 hour Servings: 4 Note: This recipe calls for a vacuum-pack sealer. You can substitute a sealable plastic bag for this recipe, pressing out the air by hand.

The annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books has the sparkle of something new this time around — its venue. After 15 years at UCLA, the two-day festival has moved to USC. What remains constant are the oodles of authors, panels, readings, signings, cooking demos and plenty to interest young readers — not to mention dozens of exhibitor booths for publishers, bookstores, literary magazines and local organizations such as WriteGirl and 826LA....

A memorial for Torrance police officers killed in the line of duty will be built on a city-owned parcel in Old Downtown Torrance. It will be named Thomas Keller Memorial Park in honor of the most recently slain officer. The City Council this week unanimously approved the memorial, which has not been designed, but Police Sgt. Wally Murker said it is expected to be made of marble about 15 inches tall with the names of the city's four slain officers inscribed on a brass plate.

Times restaurant critic Jonathan Gold returns Wednesday for his weekly live chat, "Lunchtime With Mr. Gold. " Tune in at noon and bring your questions. He'll be here to answer as many of your dining queries as he can get to in half an hour. So get ready!  Maybe you want to know all the must-try sushi spots in L.A. Or need to know where to get your fill of huitlacoche quesadillas. Best Chinese banh mi on the Westside? Got more culinary questions? Gold's your man. Come back here Wednesday at noon.