Women

The two women mistakenly shot at by Los Angeles police during a manhunt for fugitive ex-cop Christopher Dorner will receive $4.2-million settlement from the city, but their attorney said they are still recovering from the ordeal. Margie Carranza, 47, and her mother, Emma Hernandez, 71, were delivering newspapers in Torrance on Feb. 7 when LAPD officers shot repeatedly at their blue Toyota Tacoma. Hernandez was shot twice in the back, and Carranza's hands were injured by either broken glass or shrapnel, Jonas said.

Emily's List, the women's political action group intent on electing women to office, has begun to make its independent campaign for Wendy Greuel felt. The group's California Women Vote has pledged to spend $400,000 to help elect Greuel mayor of Los Angeles. One of its first contributions is arriving in the homes of Angelenos this week -- a mailer depicting Garcetti as an elitist who is “putting himself first.” The missive features a picture of a young blond, starlet-type stepping from a limousine with the headline “Most Los Angeles Families Don't Live Like This.” Subhead: “But Eric Garcetti does.” The mailer goes on to detail what it describes as a series of ethical and judgment lapses by Garcetti -- from cutting Fire Department staffing to accepting tickets to awards shows without paying proper reimbursement, to using public funds on seven cars for his city staff.

The mother and daughter newspaper carriers injured when police mistakenly fired on them during the manhunt for ex-cop Christopher Dorner would receive $4.2 million under a settlement announced by city officials. The settlement was remarkably speedy compared with other LAPD civil lawsuits, which can take years to be resolved. The $4.2-million dollar payout raised eyebrows, with some legal experts saying it seemed unusually high for a case involving a police shooting that didn't cause permanently debilitating injuries.

Danusia Francis, a charismatic freshman on the UCLA gymnastics team, had a little trick up her sleeve Sunday for the balance beam event final in the NCAA championships at Pauley Pavilion. Francis did something you probably shouldn't try at home — even on the ground and certainly not on a balance beam. It was a move she described as "a backward cartwheel with no hands. " And she landed it, the first collegiate gymnast to perform that difficult aerial trick on the balance beam.

Florida, led by 2008 Olympian Bridget Sloan, won its first NCAA women's gymnastics team title Saturday at Pauley Pavilion. The Gators overcame two falls on their opening apparatus, the balance beam, to score 197.575 points, edging runner-up Oklahoma. The Sooners finished second with 197.375 points. Two-time defending champion Alabama was third with 197.350 points. Ultimately UCLA couldn't overcome a series of injuries that sidelined 2008 Olympian Samantha Peszek, former national team member Mattie Larson and Canadian national team member Christine Peng-Peng Lee. The Bruins settled for fourth place.

When UCLA's Vanessa Zamarripa flew around the uneven bars at Pauley Pavilion, soared almost to the ceiling, it seemed, and landed with a bit of a wobble but without a fall, it became certain. The Bruins had qualified for Saturday's six-team women's gymnastics NCAA finals. UCLA tied with Oklahoma in second place in Friday's evening semifinals and joined session winner Alabama, along with Friday's afternoon best threesome of Florida, LSU and Georgia as earning spots in Saturday's team final.

A ruthlessly self-aware political wife reconsidering her choices. A sensual socialite facing down an oppressive age with informed good humor. A group of young women so busy defying social expectations they've forgotten to have any of their own. A working mother with a gift for passionate stillness. A recently recovered drama addict determined to save the world. A bipolar CIA operative, an optimistic bureaucrat, a frightened sex slave turned canny warrior. The female leads of "House of Cards," "Parade's End," "Girls," "The Good Wife," "Enlightened," "Homeland," "Parks and Recreation" and "Game of Thrones" are very different sorts of women who share one important trait: We have never seen their like before.