Vernon

British actor Richard Griffiths, best known for playing muggle Uncle Vernon Dursley in the "Harry Potter" movies, has died. Griffiths died Thursday at University Hospital in Coventry, England, from complications following heart surgery, his agent, Simon Beresford, told the Associated Press. He was 65. Large in body and presence, Griffiths appeared in character roles in dozens of films and TV shows, but made his biggest mark as the boy wizard's grumpy uncle. PHOTOS: Richard Griffiths 1947-2013 "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe said Griffiths' true demeanor was far kinder.

— The Angels' trade of Vernon Wells to the New York Yankees, which is expected to be finalized Tuesday, will have financial implications beyond the $13 million or so the Angels will save over the next two years by shipping the veteran outfielder to the Bronx. A major incentive for dealing Wells, according to a person familiar with the team's thinking but not authorized to speak publicly, is to give the Angels enough financial relief to finish the season under the $178-million luxury tax threshold.

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Angels finalized their trade of Vernon Wells to the New York Yankees on Tuesday after the veteran outfielder passed a physical and the commissioner's office approved the cash being exchanged in the deal. The Angels will pay $28.1 million of the remaining $42 million on Wells' contract, which runs through 2014, meaning the Yankees will pick up $13.9 million of the deal. The Yankees sent a pair of Class-A prospects, pitcher Kramer Sneed and outfielder Exicardo Cayones, to the Angels.

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Angels finalized their trade of Vernon Wells to the New York Yankees on Tuesday after the veteran outfielder passed a physical and the commissioner's office approved the cash being exchanged in the deal. The Angels will pay $28.1 million of the remaining $42 million on Wells' contract, which runs through 2014, meaning the Yankees will pick up $13.9 million of the deal. The Yankees sent Class-A pitcher Kramer Sneed and Class-A outfielder Exicardo Cayones to the Angels.

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Angels' trade of Vernon Wells to the New York Yankees, which is expected to be finalized Tuesday, will have significant financial implications for the club, and not just because of the $13 million it will save over the next two years by shipping the veteran outfielder to the Bronx. A major incentive for dealing Wells, who is scheduled to undergo a physical in Tampa, Fla. on Tuesday, is to give the Angels enough financial relief to finish the season under the $178-million luxury tax threshold, according to a person familiar with the team's thinking but not authorized to discuss it. The Angels, according to numerous reports, have agreed to pay $29 million of the remaining $42 million of Wells' contract, which runs through 2014, meaning the Yankees will pay $13 million.

TEMPE, Ariz. - Angels outfielder Vernon Wells all but confirmed he was being traded to the New York Yankees on Sunday, acknowledging he was “excited” about going to the Bronx and that he had already said his goodbyes in the team's Tempe Diablo Stadium clubhouse. “We've had some talks, and some were very difficult,” Wells said. “I have some good friends on this team, some great teammates. Goodbyes are never easy.” Wells said he first learned of trade talks Sunday morning but that the deal wasn't 100% final as of early Sunday afternoon, when he packed his equipment bag and left the team's spring-training facility.

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Vernon Wells era - or error, as most Angels fans would call it - is coming to an end. Wells confirmed he is being traded to the New York Yankees, the Angels outfielder saying Sunday that he was "excited" about going to the Bronx and that he had already said his goodbyes in the Angels' clubhouse. Though the trade wasn't officially announced Sunday, Wells, several hours after leaving Tempe Diablo Stadium with two packed equipment bags, wrote on his Twitter account: "Thankful and Blessed.

A battery recycling plant in Vernon is being told to reduce its emissions after recent tests showed it is posing a danger to as many as 110,000 people living in an area that extends from Boyle Heights to Maywood and Huntington Park. The South Coast Air Quality Management District announced late Friday that Exide Technologies, one of the largest battery recyclers in the world, must also hold public meetings later this spring to inform residents that they face an increased cancer risk and outline steps being taken to reduce it. Air district officials said Exide's most recent assessment showed a higher cancer risk affecting a larger number of residents than any other of the more than 450 regulated facilities in Southern California over the 25-year history of a program to monitor toxic air contaminants.

Angels 7, San Diego 4 AT THE PLATE: Vernon Wells had a double and a home run, his team-leading fourth of the spring, raising his average to .423. Howie Kendrick, who has hit in all 13 of his spring games, had two more hits and is batting .513. Mike Trout (.406) had a triple and two runs batted in. ON THE MOUND: C.J. Wilson became the first Angels pitcher to work into the sixth inning, going 51/3 innings and holding the Padres to a run and five hits. EXTRA BASES: Veteran Mitch Stetter, who could give the Angels another left-handed option out of the bullpen, made his spring debut after rehabilitating a bulging disk in his back.