The vote Thursday gives Oregon some of the nation’s toughest restrictions on American Indian nicknames, mascots and logos.

Eight high schools will need to change their nickname and mascot by July 2017 or lose state money. Seven schools identified as the Warriors only have to alter their mascot.

Since the 1970s, more than 600 high school and college teams have dropped Native American nicknames, including 20 in Oregon. But some small communities have resisted the trend, saying their nickname is a source of pride and tradition.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Lawyer Anne Bremner represents the family of two teenage girls who were the target of Powell’s voyeurism. She said the lawsuit should be filed in the next few weeks and will accuse him of violating the girls’ right to privacy and causing emotional distress.

Bremner said the family does not expect to get any substantial damages from Powell but hopes the lawsuit continues to pressure him to discuss Susan Powell’s still-unsolved disappearance.

“You just don’t want this guy to be in a position where he can prosper,” said Bremner, who also represents Susan Powell’s family. “It’s yet another way to keep pressure on him.”

Susan Powell vanished at the end of 2009, and authorities who investigated found her blood in the family home and a handwritten note in which she expressed fear about her husband, Josh Powell, and her potential demise.

Josh Powell later moved to Washington state to live with Steve Powell. He killed himself and the couple’s two young children earlier this year.

On Wednesday, a jury convicted Steve Powell of 14 counts of voyeurism in a case that stemmed from the investigation into his daughter-in-law’s disappearance.

Authorities who searched his home as part of that probe say they found thousands of images of females being photographed and videotaped without their knowledge, including Susan Powell.

The pictures of Susan Powell were not part of the voyeurism case. Instead, prosecutors focused on images Steve Powell captured of two neighbor girls, who were about 8 and 10 years old at the time the photos were taken. Prosecutors said the files show the young girls in a bathroom as they bathed and used the toilet.

The girls, identified only by their initials in court documents, testified that they had no idea they were being photographed. Bremner said the girls are particularly scarred by the situation as they are now teenagers and grappling with what happened to them.

Prosecutors said they didn’t plan on filing more voyeurism charges related to the photos of Susan Powell because of concerns about the statute of limitations.

Bremner, however, said prosecutors were open to a pitch about further charges and she was examining the law to see whether that might be possible.

An attorney for Steve Powell did not return a call seeking comment.

Authorities have said they want to speak with Steve Powell about his daughter-in-law’s disappearance but contend he has been uncooperative.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Hour Two: Naked shorts exposed at Goldman – Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone Magazine / Plus,veteran’s issues – Beau Biden, Attorney General-Delaware / And, Geeky Science – can sugar make you dumb?

Hour Three: Will controversial NDAA be overturned?

University District Street Fair
Saturday and Sunday
May 19 and 20
University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
www.udistrictstreetfair.org

Celebrate the 43rd annual Fair. There will be three main stages featuring music, dance performance, comedy and more, a special children’s area with age appropriate events, a wonderful medley of street performers and much more. The unique local and regional arts and crafts and an array of international food will delight you. The StreetFair is a free event, located in the heart of the University District.

Seattle Cheese Festival
Saturday and Sunday
May 19 and 20
Pike Place Market
1531 Western Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
www.seattlecheesefestival.com

The Seattle Cheese Festival is an annual destination artisanal cheese festival for the general public and the foodservice industry to taste, celebrate and better understand artisanal cheese made locally and around the world. Two days of cheese sampling from local and international artisanal cheese producers, seminars and panel discussions, plus a Wine Garden is held from noon to 5:00pm both days.

Mamacon
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
May 18, 19 and 20
Hilton Bellevue
300 112th Ave SE
Bellevue, WA 98004
www.mamacon.net

MamaCon is the conference that moms have been asking for. Something fun, relaxing all while providing moms the REAL tools they need to support them in their parenting! Each MamaCon event will have power presentations by today’s top notch parenting experts as well as lifestyle specialists. Food, wine, entertainment and self-care make the MamaCon event the most talked about parenting conference for today’s modern Mama!

Plant Conservation Day
Saturday, May 19
Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
5400 N Pearl St
Tacoma, WA 98407
www.pdza.org

It’s a full day of green-thumb activities to enjoy, including landscaping activities, learning bamboo identification skills, walking tours with the zoo’s horticulturalist, and special plant enrichments for our animals! It’s all free with your zoo admission.

Chinese Culture and Arts Festival
Saturday, May 19
Seattle Center Main House
305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA 98109
www.seattlecenter.com

Explore the cultural roots and contemporary influences of China through live performances, visual arts, hands-on activities, foods, games, and a lively marketplace. Learn Chinese folk dances, how to create delicate artworks and share in cultural traditions that cover 5,000 years of Chinese history.

Seattle International Film Festival
Thursday, May 17 – Sunday, June 10
SIFF Film Center at Seattle Center
305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA 98109
www.siff.net

The Seattle International Film Festival SIFF has evolved into one of the leading independent and international film institutions in the United States and the world. With extensive local, national, and international media coverage, the Festival is one of Seattle’s most accessible and highly–publicized cultural events. Now celebrating it’s 38th year. Tickets and more information available online.

Bear Awareness Weekend
Saturday and Sunday
May 19 and 20
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
11610 Trek Drive East
Eatonville, WA 98328
www.nwtrek.org

Living with bears is part of the Great Outdoors experience in the Pacific Northwest. Learn the proper way to camp in bear country at Northwest Trek. Watch Northwest Trek’s bears tear into a demonstration of an “unsafe” campsite and learn how proper food storage and camping etiquette can discourage bears from targeting your campsite. Talk to the keeper who cares for the grizzly and black bears and learn what it’s like to work closely with some of the most powerful mammals in North America! Activities are FREE with admission!

Rubber Stamp and Paper Arts Festival
Saturday and Sunday
May 19 and 20
Puyallup Fair and Events Center
110 9th Ave SW
Puyallup, WA 98371
www.heirloompro.com

A Retail Consumer Events featuring Art Stamps, Cardmaking, Scrapbooking and Paper Arts. You will find art stamps, paper, cardstock and envelopes, inks and pads, die-cuts, brass stencils, glitter, embossing powder, tools, pencils, pens and markers, embellishments, and more. Classes, workshops, Design & Treasure, make ‘n takes, demonstrrations. Learn, become inspired, and shop.

Queen Victoria’s Birthday
Saturday, May 19
11:00am – 5:00pm
Fort Nisqually Living History Museum
5400 N. Pearl
Tacoma, WA 98407
www.fortnisqually.org

Musket volleys, bagpipes and cannons abounded when Hudson’s Bay Company forts across North American celebrated Queen Victoria’s birthday in the mid-1800s. Join fort re-enactors as they celebrate this workers’ holiday with the playing of bagpipes, sipping of birthday toasts and other gaiety. “Meet” Jane Tolmie (wife of the fort’s manager in the 1840s & 50s) during a special performance at 3:00pm! Find out about her early life within the social structure of the Hudson’s Bay Company in the 1800s. All the buildings will be open and re-enactors in period clothes will be on hand to answer questions, and maybe even teach the British rules for croquet!

Armed Forces Day
Saturday, May 19

For ARMED FORCES DAY events, click HERE.

While all those descriptions are meaningful, the one that most defines Bird is the one she’s probably the most reluctant to accept: the player all other American point guards will be compared to in the future.

“I think most point guards will always be compared to Sue because of the success she’s had at the collegiate level and the WNBA and with the Olympics,” Seattle coach Brian Agler said. ” … She has tremendous instincts and great feel for making her teammates better. She’s probably as good at that as I’ve seen. And I’ve never seen anybody who can just come down and hit clutch shots. She just has a knack of finding ways to do those things.”

Even after a decade running the show in Seattle, playing for the U.S. national team or playing professionally overseas, Bird has yet to show any signs of decline. Although her assist numbers dipped in 2011, Bird averaged a career-best 14.7 points, while shooting nearly 43 percent on 3-point attempts. Seattle made the playoffs for the eighth straight year, but was dispatched in the first round for the sixth time in those eight seasons.

Bird gets to take on a new role when the Storm tip-off their season on Friday night hosting the Los Angeles Sparks. Seattle still has one of the most talented rosters in the WNBA with Bird, Camille Little, Katie Smith, Tanisha Wright and the addition of Tina Thompson, not to mention No. 2 overall draft pick Shekinna Stricklen.
Seattle traded veteran Swin Cash to Chicago for the rights to the pick that the team used on the 6-foot-2 Stricklen, who averaged 15.4 points and 6.6 rebounds playing on the wing for Tennessee last season.

“Every day I know I have to come in and work hard,” Stricklen said. “These veterans, they know what they’re doing and they’re just going to tell you straight up if you’re not playing good or doing good. They’re straight up with you and that’s a good thing.”

Seattle plays an extremely heavy road schedule early in the season. Seattle plays 12 road games pre-Olympics, as opposed to just five following the Olympic break.

“We look at the first half of this season as probably the most important part of our season because we are going to not have our full roster and we play a lot of road games, and having success on the road is difficult in this league,” Agler said.

– Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. Follow Tim Booth on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ByTimBooth. Contributions by tamacbsseattle.

Attorney General Rob McKenna’s office says the shoe company will allocate $40 million for refunds and pay $5 million to the 44 states that sued the shoemaker for false advertising.

The attorneys general say the commercials for the Skechers line of Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups, or the Skechers Resistance Runner promised toned buttocks, weight loss and muscle strengthening just by walking around.

Instead of fighting the lawsuit, the shoe company chose to settle, which also means it will avoid admitting any wrongdoing.

More than $117,000 of the settlement will be paid to Washington state, with half covering legal fees and the other half going to community health programs.

– Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

Downhill Tube’n is a new and innovative way to experience snow tubing without having to drive to the mountains! This no water, no snow downhill tube system takes you on a thrilling downhill run! Guests can ride solo or in pairs on specially designed flat bottomed inner tubes. This is a family ride, so kids, bring your parents! The Downhill Tube’n experience is included with your admission ticket. Now you can tube all year round!

The Soaring Eagle Zip Line is a 700 foot two way thrill ride with a two-seated cart so you can ride solo or double. This ride is an extra fee of $10/person, but 2012 Season Pass holders receive a FREE ride coupon in their bonus coupon books! Just another reason to become a Wild Waves Season Pass holder!

Season Passes are available online HERE. When you purchase a Season Pass, not only do you get unlimited access to the Wild Waves theme park all summer long, but the water park, too! You’ll get free tickets for your family or friends to use on select days, plus a coupon book with over $300 in park savings! Plus, Season Pass holders get free admission to October’s Fright Fest and the Holiday With Lights in 2012. And through Sunday, June 3, you can purchase your Season Pass for only $84.99. But hurry, prices go up on June 4.

Added attractions this summer include the Sea Lion Show and High Dive Show. The Wild Waves Theme Park 2012 season is here, come out and enjoy the park with your friends and family! Open from 10:00am – 6:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays, rides only, until May 26. The Wild Waves Water Park opens Saturday, May 26. For a complete schedule, click HERE. Create goWILD moments that last a lifetime!

For Season Passes, directions and more information, go online to www.wildwaves.com.

Wild Waves Theme Park is located at:
36201 Enchanted Pkwy S
Federal Way, WA 98003
253.661.8000
www.WildWaves.com

Spokesman Mark Jamieson says fire department medics couldn’t reach the man for 5 to 7 minutes. He says 15 officers were called in to quell the crowd of 25 to 50 people.

Jamieson says people in the crowd were posturing, ripping off their shirts and challenging officers to fight. No one was helping the wounded man, who was eventually taken to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.

Jamieson says there’s no known motive or suspect in the shooting. Detectives were looking for people who fled the scene when the shots were fired.

– Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

A car prowler shattered a window of a parked Jeep, stole nothing and left behind a little something for the car’s owner — a dozen tortillas scattered across the floor. The crime happened last week near the University of Washington.

Bemused by the break-in, police were moved to pun, saying, “The Seattle Police Department would like to take this opportunity to remind car prowlers that you shouldn’t break in to something that’s nachos.”

– Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

Nordstrom follows a simple planet-friendly philosophy: leave it better than you found it. Whether it is reducing the total waste sent to landfills or selling sustainable brands like ECO SWIM BY AQUA GREEN, Nordstrom always put the planet first.

“We appreciate ECO Swim’s commitment to reducing their carbon footprint and are excited to be partnering with them on the upcoming beach clean up,” said Megan Minarik, Nordstrom swimwear buyer. “Every aspect of the line including the tags, fabrics and packaging are created with sustainable materials ensuring an eco-friendly product while still staying fashionable and flattering on the body.”

ECO SWIM BY AQUA GREEN is on a mission to revolutionize the swimwear industry by providing fashionable, excellent quality, and planet-friendly swimwear. Their sustainable swimsuits made from recycled materials like nylon, polyester, and cotton are manufactured in the USA. Check out ECO SWIM’s summer wardrobe HERE.

“Sustainability runs deep for our fourth-generation family owned and operated company,” said Alex Waldman of ECO SWIM BY AQUA GREEN. “That’s why we are spending our first official summer as a sustainable swimwear company cleaning up beaches and dirty waterways around the country.”

Together, Nordstrom and ECO SWIM BY AQUA GREEN are working towards making the planet healthier, starting with a cleanup of the second largest lake in the state of Washington on May 19.

To register for the cleanup, please call 425.455.5800 x 1560

Colman Park is located at:
1800 Lake Washington Boulevard S.
Seattle, WA 98144

Auburn’s Dog Trot 3K or 5K Fun Run
Saturday, May 19
9:30am
Game Farm Park
3030 R St. SE
Auburn, WA 98002
www.auburnwa.gov/events

Dog Trot is a family-oriented, pet friendly fun run/walk event that takes place in conjunction with Petpalooza! Choose between the 3K or the 5K routes. The course is flat, easy and enjoyable for all ages and ability levels. Awards will be distributed to the top participant in six age groups. Child (8 and under); Tween (9-12 years); Teen (13-19); Adult I (20-35); Adult II (36-54) and Senior (55+). The registration form and complete event rules/information are listed on the city’s website, www.auburnwa.gov/events. Event day registration is $20 per entry.

Petpalooza!
Saturday, May 19
10:00am – 5:00pm
Game Farm Park
3030 R St. SE
Auburn, WA 98002
253.931.3043
www.auburnwa.gov/petpalooza

An internationally award-winning Petpalooza event for pet lovers and a special day for your four-legged family member or other furry friend. The FREE event will feature live entertainment that includes Roving Reptiles and Crème Tangerine and the K9 Kings High Flying Dog Show; a noon pet parade, pony rides, the Nutro Company’s ‘Unleashed’ Pet Contest, an agility area, demonstrations, over 150 vendors and much more. See the 2012 Hyperflite Skyhoundz Disc Dog Championships, the largest disc-dog series in the world. New to Petpalooza in 2012 is a petting zoo and lots of kids’ activities!

Homeward Pet Adoption Center 14th Annual Fur Ball Auction & Dinner
Saturday, May 19
5:30pm
The Westin Bellevue
600 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
www.homewardpet.org

Hosted by Seattle’s best auction team – Fred Northup, Jr. as auctioneer and Chris Cashman as emcee – the Fur Ball Auction & Dinner promises to be an evening of fun, food and inspiration. Guests will have the opportunity to bid on exceptional items like collectible wines, special experiences like sailing the America’s Cup yacht “Stars & Stripes” in the waters of San Diego Bay and an amazing trip to Ireland, complete with a 6 night stay at the Dublin Four Seasons. All of the generous bids by guests to purchase these items and all other proceeds from the evening support Homeward Pet in their mission to provide homeless dogs and cats with a second chance at life! Located in Woodinville, Homeward Pet Adoption Center (Homeward Pet) is one of the largest no-kill, non-profit animal shelters in Western Washington. Homeward Pet cares for homeless animals from all over Washington state and beyond, whether surrendered by owners or transferred from other rescue organizations or shelters that euthanize.

Kitten Adoption Event
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
May 25, 26 and 27
The Seattle Humane Society
13212 SE Eastgate Way
Bellevue, WA 98005
www.seattlehumane.org

The kittens are coming… to the Seattle Humane Society! For one weekend only you can welcome an adorable kitten into your heart and home for just $50 (normally $125 for kittens under six-months). Want to double your fun? Adopt two kittens for $90 (normally $200). Every kitten has been spayed/neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, feline leukemia tested AND will go home with a certificate for an examination by a King County veterinarian, a collar and an ID tag. More information at www.seattlehumane.org.

2012 Mutt March 5K Dog Walk
Saturday, June 2
9:30am
McCollum Pioneer Park
600 128th St SE
Everett, WA 98208
www.k9muttmarch.org

Join hundreds of dog lovers at Mutt March 2012 and help support two great organizations. When you register, you have the choice who benefits: Chase Away K9 Cancer
or Rotary First Harvest (supporting local food banks). Register for the walk online.

DockDogs Spring Training and Club Challenge
Saturday and Sunday
June 2 and 3
McCollum Pioneer Park
600 128th St SE
Everett, WA 98208
www.k9muttmarch.org

Does your dog like to run, jump, and swim for their favorite toy? Puget Sound DockDogs will be conducting a series of 1-hour training clinics for water loving dogs on Saturday, June 3 at the regulation dock and pool. Dogs must already love water play, should be a good swimmer, and love to chase their toy into the water. And on Sunday, June 4, dogs of all jumping and plopping skills will count toward winning the overall Northwest Club Challenge trophy and try to win bragging rights for another year. Find more information online at www.k9muttmarch.org.

Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden joins the 2nd hour of today’s show to discuss Veterans and Military Families for Obama.

John Lehman, Running for State Senate in the Wisconsin Recall election, joins the 2nd hour of today’s show to discuss the Wisconsin Recall election.

Con. Chris Van Hollen, D-MD, joins the 3rd hour of today’s show to discuss Speaker Beohner’s comments on raising the debt ceiling.

President Obama warned congressional leaders on Wednesday that he would not tolerate a replay of the bitter debt-ceiling fight of last summer that nearly put the United States in default and led to the nation’s first credit-rating downgrade. We’ll talk about it.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney raised almost as much money as President Barack Obama last month, taking in more than $40.1 million in fundraising efforts, the Romney campaign reported on Thursday. We’ll give you the details.

Europe’s debt crisis, higher oil prices and the year-end budget cuts and tax increases still remain risks to the U.S. economy, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Thursday. We’ll bring you the latest.

The Celtics captain put in 24 points in Boston’s 101-91 Game 3 victory over the 76ers in Philadelphia, putting his knee injury behind him and getting aggressive when it came to pretty much every aspect of the game.

“Whether I shot the ball well or not, everything I was going to do was being with aggression,” Pierce said.

Aggressive might be an understatement. Pierce was in attack mode early on, even if his shots weren’t falling. Early in the first quarter, he missed four shots from close range, but it was the fact he fought for the three put-backs in the paint that showed he was determined to make a difference after scoring just seven points in Boston’s Game 2 loss.

He continued to go strong to the basket, following up his early misses with two ferocious dunks. Pierce finishing with nine points in the first 12 minutes of the game. He ended up hitting six of his 17 attempts from the floor, but did most of his damage at — and getting to — the free throw line. After just two trips to the charity stripe on Monday, Pierce found his way to the line 14 times in Game 3, scoring 11 of his points at the line.

Special Coverage: NBA Playoffs

He made it known to all of Philly when he was making his way to the line, following each drive to the hoop with an aggressive scream that would make Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart” jealous.

“Everything I was going to do was going to be aggressive because they were really collapsing on me on the down-screens, on my jumpers,” said Pierce. “I just tried to get to the hole and I was able to get to the line; able to get to the rim a number of times. It’s something I have to continue to do.”

“Paul is just a grinder,” head coach Doc Rivers said following the win. “He really is. You look at him at times and you wonder, ‘How is this guy getting open?’ He just has great fundamentals. He never does it with speed. He just knows how to play basketball. He’s a throwback guy, that he knows how to play basketball. We jokingly call him our ‘professional scorer’ and that’s what he is in a lot of ways.”

“[Pierce] played great for us tonight,” said point guard Rajon Rondo, who scored 23 points of his own while dishing out 14 assists. “Paul has been struggling scoring, but he has been doing the intangibles. On those [first-quarter] drives, he didn’t get some calls early in the game and thought they were fouls, so he went out and was aggressive and finished strong.”

Recap: Thunder Go Up 2-0 On Lakers

Pierce had been just 5-for-20 in the series in the first two games, but helped the Celtics send a message as they took a 2-1 series lead. While he only added four assists, he credited the team’s ball movement for getting the offense going.

“Our offense finally came alive,” Pierce said. “We moved the ball. We knew that’s what we were going to have to do to score 100 points.”

“We just wanted to come out and establish who we are as a team,” Pierce said.

They certainly did that. Now they just need to keep it going on Friday night.

Fiat 500

Welcome back to America Fiat, and thanks for buying half of Chrysler

(Photo by PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Here’s a car that everyone calls cute, adorable playful, loveable. It’s the Fiat 500, so Italian looking, even though it’s manufactured in Mexico. The 500 are a small 3-door car that comes in three trim packages. I tested the sport version. 12 body colors and a bunch of different interior configurations.

The engine makes 101 horsepower. Many say it’s a little anemic, but it never found myself wishing for more juice. If you have the need for a little more speed, you can spend a few additional Euros and pick up the Abarth edition that makes 160 horsepower.

The interior of the Fiat is pretty clever, in fact even though this car is smaller than a mini, there’s more cargo space.

These days, small doesn’t mean cheap materials. The plastics are nice, the switches feel upscale, you can get Bluetooth and you hands free communication with a USB port.

I was surprised at how quiet the little Fiat was around the city and on the highway. The manual gearbox felt great, handling was solid and the 500 felt, substantial, especially for it’s tiny size. The seats are supportive. The only hitch was adjusting them took a little doing.

Will American’s fall in love with this Italian designed automobile? Not sure. Some people call it a chick car; some think it’s too small. If you spend time in Europe, you know how much they love this Fiat. I hope American’s warm up to the 500. It’s great to see Fiat back in America after almost 3 decades.

Box Score | Playoffs Schedule

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Kevin Durant scored 22 points and rattled in the go-ahead basket on a baseline runner with 18 seconds left, and the Oklahoma City Thunder scored the final nine points to rally for a 77-75 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday night.

Oklahoma City trailed by seven with 2 minutes left before surging back with a series of defensive stops by its stars to take a 2-0 lead.

Game 3 is Friday night in Los Angeles.

Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum scored 20 points apiece for the Lakers, who came up empty on their last six possessions after Bynum’s hook shot made it 75-68 with 2:09 remaining.

Game 2 Photo Gallery (Photo:Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

After struggling throughout the second half, the Thunder suddenly came alive after Scott Brooks called timeout following Bynum’s basket that gave Los Angeles its largest lead of the game.

James Harden drove for a layup before Durant used his height advantage to reach up and tip away a pass from Bryant, who he was guarding. Durant ran out for a right-handed dunk at the other end before Russell Westbrook forced another turnover by aggressively challenging an outlet pass to Bryant along the sideline.

Harden made the next stop, blocking Bryant’s jumper on the next Lakers possession and getting a layup in transition off it to cut the deficit to one in the final minute.

Bryant couldn’t connect again, this time on a 3-pointer, to give the Thunder the ball back with the chance to take the lead and Durant was able to make it happen.

Steve Blake missed a 3-pointer from the right side with about 5 seconds left after Metta World Peace couldn’t get the ball to Bryant on the inbounds play. Durant was then fouled with 0.3 seconds left and made his first try before missing the second on purpose – failing to hit the backboard or rim for a violation.

The Lakers got a desperation try but World Peace’s long pass for Bynum was intercepted by Harden.

Westbrook added 15 points for Oklahoma City, which matched its lowest scoring total of the season but still gutted out the win.

Historically, the loss makes a huge difference. Los Angeles is 29-12 when splitting the first two games of a seven-game series and has lost 17 of 19 when falling into a 2-0 hole. The Lakers’ last comeback was in the 2004 West semifinals against San Antonio.

The Thunder have won all nine of their series after leading 2-0, dating back to the franchise’s days in Seattle.

In a game that was nip-and-tuck throughout, the Lakers started inching away early in the fourth quarter while Westbrook was on the bench.

Bryant drilled a jumper from the left wing and Blake followed with a 3-pointer before World Peace hit one of two free throws for a 69-63 advantage with 7:27 remaining – the Lakers’ largest lead to that point.

Westbrook returned then but only provided the briefest of sparks for the struggling Oklahoma City offense, and Bynum’s second straight basket – on a left-handed hook shot at the left block – made it 75-68 with 2:09 to play.

Until that point, Oklahoma City had made only 7 of 27 shots in the second half while committing eight turnovers.

After getting ripped apart by the Thunder’s pick-and-roll attack and giving up 119 points in Game 1, the Lakers made it an emphasis to put up more resistance in the rematch and it showed. Matt Barnes shuffled back and forth around three Nick Collison screens to contest Harden’s jumper and preserve the Lakers’ 22-21 lead after one quarter.

The Lakers’ defense was at its best just after halftime as they got out of a 48-45 deficit by holding Oklahoma City scoreless for the first 4 minutes and allowing just two baskets in the first 8 minutes. But Los Angeles still couldn’t create any sort of a cushion and Westbrook’s wide-open 3-pointer from the left corner – after World Peace airballed a similar shot on the opposite end – had the Thunder back within 57-56 with 3:31 left in the third.

Notes: The NBA on Wednesday fined Devin Ebanks $25,000 for actions related to his Game 1 ejection and Bynum $15,000 for failing to speak to reporters Tuesday. Bynum, who has had recent disciplinary issues within the team, talked at the Lakers’ morning shootaround Wednesday and called it a make up for skipping the previous day. “I think he’s learning. Is he going to be a perfect citizen the rest of his career? I don’t know,” coach Mike Brown said. “He’s bound to make mistakes. I think everybody makes mistakes.” … World Peace has said he supported Scott Brooks to become Sacramento’s coach back in 2007, when Brooks had been an assistant under Eric Musselman. “Little does he know, if I would have got the job, I was going to ask for him to be traded,” Brooks joked. He then called World Peace, or Ron Artest at the time, the third-best two-way player at the time behind Bryant and Kevin Garnett. … Harden caught World Peace with an inadvertent elbow to the face in the first quarter.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Two women face possible charges after authorities say a text message seeking the illegal purchase of alcohol was errantly sent to an Alaska State Trooper.

Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peterstells KTUU-TV an off-duty trooper in the southwest Alaska town of Bethel began getting text messages from an unknown number just after midnight Wednesday.

The trooper, Mike Ingram, responded to the texts and arranged a meeting. Authorities say the woman who sent the texts and another alleged buyer showed up to the meeting. So did Ingram, in uniform.

Alcohol sales are barred in Bethel because no one has been cleared to sell it in the community 400 miles west of Anchorage.

Both women face possible misdemeanor charges, which have been sent to the Bethel district attorney’s office for review. The women’s names were withheld pending charges.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

It worked twice, and the Eastern Conference finals are all even, as a result.

David Clarkson scored a tip-in goal off Adam Henrique’s shot 2:31 into the third period to break a tie and lift the Devils to a 3-2 victory over the Rangers that squared the series at one game apiece on Wednesday night.

“It’s a very hard building to play in, and 1-1 sounds much better than down 2-0,” Devils captain Zach Parise said. “We’re happy. We would have liked to have snuck out of here with two wins, but it didn’t happen.

“We’ll take 1-1.”

For the third straight series, the Rangers are wondering what went wrong in Game 2 after they took the opener. They stressed how important it would be to grab a 2-0 lead, which would have been their first two-game edge in this postseason, but didn’t provide the necessary effort to get it done.

New York was riding high after its 3-0 series-opening win on Monday night, but now has relinquished home-ice advantage again.

“You need to improve as a hockey team every game,” said succinct and disappointed coach John Tortorella, who declined to say what areas were deficient.

Game 3 will be Saturday in New Jersey.

Clarkson built off the momentum created by Ryan Carter’s deflected goal late in the second that tied the game, 2-2. Ilya Kovalchuk had given the Devils a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal in the first. Defenseman Bryce Salvador added two assists, and Martin Brodeur stopped 23 saves for his 108th playoff win.

Clarkson has three goals in this postseason, and every one has been a winner, including the clincher against Philadelphia in Game 5 of the second round.

“Mr. Clutch? I don’t know about that,” Clarkson said. “I’m going to skate up and down and finish the checks and just bounce off people. It’s just a great feeling to be able to contribute. To get a tip on that felt pretty good.”

New Jersey had 26 attempted shots blocked in Game 1, five more than they got through to goalie Henrik Lundqvist. The Devils cut the blocks to 16 on Wednesday and managed to get 27 on goal — two more than New York.

“That team blocks so many shots,” Clarkson said. “It’s unbelievable how many. I think we found a way to shoot it and get sticks on it, and definitely that was big for us.”

Marc Staal and Chris Kreider scored power-play goals in the second for the top-seeded Rangers, who received 24 saves by Lundqvist.

New Jersey got even at 2 when Salvador wound up for a shot at the blue line and fired a drive that Carter — with his back to the net — brilliantly deflected past Lundqvist with 1:51 left in the second. Marian Gaborik stood up straight in front of Salvador, but didn’t drop down as many of his teammates have to try to block the shot. For that, he was pinned to the bench by Tortorella, even through New York’s power play in the third.

Gaborik returned to the ice with 8:40 remaining as the Rangers pressed to tie.

The Devils kept the pressure on the Rangers at the start of the third and wiped out the good work the Rangers displayed in the second.

“It was a much different reaction when we went down by a goal than it was in the first game,” Parise said. “We didn’t change the way we played, and I think that was a big difference. We were comfortable with how we were playing.

“All I think they got was really on their power play.”

After spending much of the first trapped in their own end, the Rangers rebounded to erase their early deficit and briefly take the lead thanks to the previously inept power play.

With Alexei Ponikarovsky off for interference, Staal fired a shot that sailed wide of the net and struck the back boards before popping back in front and pinballing into the net off Salvador and Brodeur at 2:23. The goal was originally credited to Derek Stepan, who was in front, but the puck managed to miss him both on the way toward the net and on the bounce back.

“I saw most of the pucks, but the Rangers came out hard,” Brodeur said. “They were around me a lot, and there were some bad bounces. It’s such a tough place to play sometimes here. There are bad bounces, and the boards are terrible.”

Staal nearly netted another moments later when he ripped a drive that Brodeur had to lunge fully to his left to snare with his glove.

Kreider, the rookie from Boston College, scored for the second straight game to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead at 12:19. Anton Stralman let go a shot from above the right circle that ticked Kreider’s stick and fluttered past Brodeur for the rookie’s fourth goal. He had to wait to get it because it was first given to Stralman before being changed during a commercial break.

But that was hardly the longest delay of the night. Before Kreider’s power-play goal, the action was stopped for about eight minutes as arena workers struggled to get the door to the Devils’ penalty box opened. Travis Zajac stood patiently as he waited to have a seat in the box. He even managed to laugh as did New Jersey coach Peter DeBoer and the usually stoic and agitated Tortorella.

Zajac, who first was sent to the Rangers’ box, stayed in New Jersey’s sin bin for only 1:47 before Kreider scored the Rangers’ second power-play goal of the night.

New York registered the first six shots of the period before New Jersey had its first about eight minutes in, but the teams were even at 17 through 40 minutes.

Lundqvist had a bit of glove magic of his own midway through the second when a shot by Anton Volchenkov was deflected by Kovalchuk but tracked and grabbed by Lundqvist.

The Devils got their elusive first goal of the series, and the all-important lead in the game, when Kovalchuk connected on the power play late in the first period.

After Brian Boyle was sent off for slashing Parise, the Devils continued their puck-possession prowess in the Rangers’ end. New Jersey moved the puck all around the zone in search of a clean shot that could get past the diving New York defense and perhaps challenge Lundqvist, who made 21 saves in the series-opening win.

Marek Zidlicky curled with the puck to the center of the blue line and slid a pass down to the left circle to Kovalchuk, who calmly and patiently drifted in and snapped a shot up and under the crossbar in the upper corner of the net for his sixth goal of the playoffs and fourth on the power play.

“We had to keep going to the net, and I think we were doing some good things,” Clarkson said. “We’ve been playing some good hockey and we’ve got to continue to do it. That is a big win for us.”

The Devils didn’t record a shot on goal until 6:01 in when Patrik Elias put a wrist shot in on Lundqvist, but New Jersey finished the first period with an 8-5 edge in shots — despite having six more blocked by the Rangers.

Whether Brodeur was kidding or not about wanting Rangers to be injured by blocking shots, the home team wasn’t deterred from getting in front of drives. New York forward Brandon Prust was doing a bit of a dance in front of the dangerous Kovalchuk, trying to deny any potential drive, even though he was defending without a stick.

“We have to try to get in lanes,” Rangers captain Ryan Callahan said. “Try to limit their time with the puck. If we do that, they are not going to have time to shoot.”

When Kovalchuk finally scored later in the period, he let out a big yell — part celebration and an exclamation of relief — as he skated in front of the glass behind the net.

“We have built some momentum,” Brodeur said. “And now, we have to try to take that into our building, and make our building a tough place to play.”

NOTES: The Rangers were 10 for 61 (16.4 percent) on the power play in the postseason before Wednesday. This marked the second time they netted a man-advantage goal in consecutive games, but the fourth time they scored two in a game. … The Devils returned defenseman Peter Harrold to the lineup and sat rookie Adam Larsson. Harrold replaced Larsson in the lineup late in the season and started the first nine postseason games. Larsson played in the previous five games.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Former and Future Congressman Alan Grayson calls in at 7am to talk about how the Bush economy is still affecting us

Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) calls in at 7:30am to talk about the Violence Against Women Act and the GOP’s efforts to weaken it

The Obama campaign dispatched Vice President Joe Biden to eastern Ohio Wednesday to push the president’s economic record and take direct aim at presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s history as a venture capitalist.

Responding to attacks by the Obama campaign about his work at the helm of Bain Capital, presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney defended his record, saying he “was no longer” at the company when it closed a steel factory.

The GOP-led House on Wednesday voted to approve the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a piece of legislation that is the subject of partisan controversy because the GOP stripped out some of the most basic protections for women.

John Edwards’ defense team rested Wednesday without calling the two-time Dem presidential candidate or his one-time mistress to the witness stand, a sign of confidence after presenting two days of testimony and evidence.

Pushing back against a federal effort to stem the proliferation of medical marijuana operations, one of the nation’s largest drug policy groups claimed credit Wednesday for the defeat of a former federal prosecutor who was the early favorite to win the Democratic primary for Oregon attorney general.

As interim U.S. attorney, Dwight Holton called Oregon’s medical marijuana law a “train wreck” and oversaw efforts to crack down on medical marijuana clubs and grow operations that he said were fronts for illegal marijuana sales. Federal prosecutors have led similar crackdowns in other states that have legalized marijuana for medicinal use.

“Drug war rhetoric and tactics will not be tolerated,” said Jill Harris, managing director for the campaign arm of Drug Policy Alliance.

Retired state appeals court judge Ellen Rosenblum said she’d make marijuana enforcement a low priority. She easily defeated Holton with the help of Harris’ group and its allies, which chipped in at least a quarter of Rosenblum’s total campaign cash.

“What we’re hoping, and what we assume, is that any U.S. attorney who’s thinking of running for statewide office in a Democratic Primary anywhere in the country is going to think twice now before adopting a highly aggressive posture toward the medical marijuana law,” said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director Drug Policy Alliance and its campaign branch, Drug Policy Action.

Rosenblum downplayed the role of the marijuana vote in her victory in a brief interview following her victory Tuesday night. With most votes counted, she defeated Holton 64 percent to 36 percent.

“There’s lots of issues that played into my victory, and that may well be one of them,” Rosenblum said of the surprising emergence of medical marijuana as a defining issue.

About 55,000 people are registered marijuana users in Oregon.

Sixteen states allow people with a doctor’s recommendation to use marijuana, an issue that has long been a source of tension with the federal government. Federal officials have said some state medical marijuana laws are being used as cover to grow and sell pot for the black market. Law enforcement agencies have cracked down on some pot growers, dispensaries and clubs in several states, including California, Colorado and Oregon.

Campaign finance records show Rosenblum raised $600,000 through May 9, including $80,000 from Drug Policy Action and $70,000 from John Sperling, Chairman of Apollo Group Inc., who has financed medical marijuana campaigns nationally. Oregon has no caps on campaign contributions.

Citizens for Sensible Law Enforcement, a local organization working on a ballot measure to legalize marijuana, spent another $40,000 to boost Rosenblum, much of it on radio ads attacking Holton over marijuana.

“We’re glad to have played a role in her victory,” said Bob Wolfe, one of the organization’s directors. “But I do think Dwight’s defeat is directly related to his stance on marijuana.”

Holton declined to comment. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle police are scratching their heads about this one.

A car prowler shattered a window of a parked Jeep, stole nothing and left behind a little something for the car’s owner — a dozen tortillas scattered across the floor.

Bemused by last week’s break-in, police were moved to pun, “The Seattle Police Department would like to take this opportunity to remind car prowlers that you shouldn’t break in to something that’s nachos.”

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

The West Seattle Helpline is a non-profit social service agency dedicated to helping members of the West Seattle community. They provide information, referrals, and one-time limited financial assistance to help working families in need. It’s a “neighbors helping neighbors” organization that you can feel good about.

And new this year, you can purchase VIP tickets now for early admission, reserved seating, a VIP wristband, and other awesome perks!

Confirmed restaurants and participants include: Metropolitan Market, Prost! West Seattle, Cupcake Royale, Bin 41, West Seattle Cellars, Beveridge Place Pub, Freshy’s, Blackboard Bistro, Hotwire Online Coffee House, Great Harvest Bread Company, Slices on Alki, Sugar Rush Baking Company, Salty’s on Alki, Angelina’s, Bakery Nouveau, The Bridge, Chaco Canyon Cafe, Eats Market Cafe, Full Tilt Ice Cream, Locol Barley & Vine, Husky Deli, Elliot Bay Brewery, Tuxedos & Tennis Shoes Catering, West5, Talarico’s, Bang Bar, Blue Willow Catering, Pizzeria 22, Feedback Lounge, Zats a Better Bagel, Three Queens Catering and more to come!

Tickets are only for those 21+, with valid ID. $40/person for general admission tickets online. A limited number of $45/person tickets will be available at the door. VIP tickets are $80/person, and are only available online. Purchase your tickets online HERE.

Doors will open at 6:00pm on Thursday, May 17 for VIP ticket holders, and at 6:30pm for general admission attendees. For more information, go to www.tasteofwestseattle.org

The Taste of West Seattle is located at:
Hall at Fauntleroy
9131 California Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98136
www.tasteofwestseattle.org

MAJOR Senior Legal Analyst time today with three law stories – including the latest in the Trayvon Martin murder case; the John Edwards trial and a court case involving Citizens United and secret money in politics!

Former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson joins us to discuss his presidential bid and related issues! Also, Nebraska is getting a very interesting U.S. Senate race going and I”ll have details!

U.S. veterans are giving back their medals to protest the “war on terror” and THIS is causing controversy. What do YOU think of this?

The Presbyterian Church is now embroiled in the marriage equality issue. The what and wherefores of this today!

On Beyond The Norm, part two of our two-part corporate governance series. Can you say “Wal-Mart”???

Fierce independence means being willing to upset the status quo. We do this regularly, here, at the place where fierce independence IS the norm – The Norman Goldman Show!

1-888-321-6001
]]> http://seattle.cbslocal.com/2012/05/16/norm-is-serving-justice-on-almost-too-many-topics-today/feed/ 0 http://seattle.cbslocal.com/2012/05/16/seattle-symphony-performs-bluebeards-castle/ http://seattle.cbslocal.com/2012/05/16/seattle-symphony-performs-bluebeards-castle/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 21:03:32 +0000 tamacbsseattle http://seattle.cbslocal.com/?p=48455 On Thursday, May 17, the Seattle Symphony will delight you with the only opera by composed by Béla Bartók. A castle filled with forbidden doors, a torture chamber, a jewel house, a garden and a lake of tears make for an eerie story about past lives and Bluebeard's past wives. ]]> Following Seattle Symphony’s acclaimed 2007 production of this concert-staged opera, the stunning sets — designed by artist Dale Chihuly ‐ have traveled to Milwaukee, Nashville and Tel Aviv, and will return to Benaroya Hall for this special engagement.

On Thursday, May 17, the Seattle Symphony will delight you with the only opera by composed by Béla Bartók. A castle filled with forbidden doors, a torture chamber, a jewel house, a garden and a lake of tears make for an eerie story about past lives and Bluebeard’s past wives.

Seattle Symphony staffers Amy Bokanev, Kelly Boston and Elizabeth Wormsbecker, all recent brides, play the roles of Bluebeard’s wives.

Tickets are available online HERE for the 7:30pm perfomance at Benaroya Hall on May 17. For more information, visit the website at www.seattlesymphony.org.

Benaroya Hall is located at:
200 University Street
Seattle, WA 98101
www.seattlesymphony.org

Officials say a “corpse flower” that has been growing at Foster Botanical Garden for 10 years is in bloom Wednesday morning. The plant’s allure is the foul odor it emits — similar to rotting flesh.

Botanical Garden Horticulturist Scot Mitamura says the smell is so rotten, it makes his eyes water.

It blooms once every three to five years and officials are bracing for a large crowd of curious visitors eager for a whiff. The donated plant is believed to be the only one on Oahu.

When a corpse flower bloomed at Hilo’s Panaewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens last year, more than 1,000 guests visited on each of the two days it was in bloom.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

The 43-foot tall Glass House encompassing 4,500 square feet, will feature five large Chandeliers composed of red and yellow Persians designed by Chihuly to intermix and appear as one expansive installation. The interior pavilion will also include a publicly accessible café with an outdoor patio and seating area, a retail/bookstore space, a 50-seat theater/lecture hall and a lobby/ticketing area.

The outdoor garden will feature artwork including: seven walkway Chandeliers which will run along the edge of the pavilion, a 16’ diameter Sun, a green and yellow Icicle Tower, red, blue and neodymium Reeds, a Pink Crystal Tower, Ikebana, Cattails, Fiddleheads, Herons, Floats, and Seal Pups.

Representing Chihuly’s fondness for unique, vintage objects, the “Collections Café” will feature some of the artist’s favorite collections to include chalkware, accordions, vintage radios and door stops.

You can choose an audio tour that will give you information about Chihuly and his creative process, the individual works of art and architectural installations.

Tickets are available online HERE. General admission prices are $19; King County Special for Ages 13+/$15; Senior Ages 65+/$17; Youth Ages 4-12/$12; and kids 3 and under are FREE. Another option is to purchase tickets to the Chihuly Garden and Glass that include a visit to the Space Needle Observation Deck. Prices start at $33.

Chihuly Garden and Glass is on the Seattle Center campus, a repurposed space that once featured the Fun Forest. The grand opening is part of the 50th Anniversary of the Seattle Center celebrations.

You can find the Chihuly Garden and Glass at:
305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA 98109
206.753.4940
www.chihulygardenandglass.com

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, joins the 2nd hour of today’s show to discuss JPMorgan Chase’s $2 billion trading loss.

Rep. Peter Welch, D-VT, joins the 2nd hour of today’s show to discuss House Speaker John Boehner’s threat about the debt ceiling.

Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. We’ll talk about.

President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign and Democratic groups affiliated with it raised $43.6 million in April. We’ll give you the details.

President Obama threatened on Tuesday to veto a defense policy bill in the House of Representatives that would authorize higher Pentagon spending and tie his hands on national security issues from nuclear arms reductions to handling war detainees. We’ll bring you the latest.

Nordic Heritage Museum
Thursday, May 17
10:00am – 4:00pm
3014 NW 67th Street
Seattle, WA 98117
www.nordicmuseum.org

Syttende Mai, May 17th, is Norwegian Constitution Day! In celebration, admission is free at the Museum, and the beautiful Norwegian Fjord horses will be in the parking lot! From 10:00am to 2:00pm, the Nordic Café will be open at the Museum serving delicious food, and children will be able to make easy craft projects. This is a FREE program!

Entertainment at Bergen Place
Thursday, May 17
2:00pm – 5:00pm
Intersection of Market St., Leary Ave., and 22nd Ave.
Seattle, WA 98107
www.seattle.gov/default.htm

Public performances at Bergen Place featuring a number of acts with Nordic flair!

Syttende Mai Parade
Thursday, May 17
6:00pm
Downtown Ballard
Seattle, WA 98107
www.17thofmay.org

It’s the largest Syttende Mai parade outside of Norway!

44th Annual Viking Fest
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
May 18, 19 and 20
Downtown Poulsbo, WA
www.vikingfest.org

A three day festival celebrating Poulsbo’s Nordic heritage. Parade, carnival, vendors, kids’ activities, fun run, paddle board race, live music, entertainment and more. See website for details.

Rhododendron Festival
Monday – Saturday
May 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19
Port Townsend, WA 98368
www.rhodyfestival.org

The 77th annual Rhody Festival includes a flower show, carnival, Pet Parade, kids’ activities, fun run and other events that lead up to Saturday’s grand parade. Schedule of events available online.

Herb and Garden Festival
Saturday and Sunday
May 19 and 20
Pomeroy Living History Farm
20902 NE Lucia Falls Rd.
Yacolt, WA 98675
360.686.3537
www.pomeroyfarm.org

Thousands of fresh herb and garden plants, many organic selections, live entertainment, and herb garden, vendors and a Farm Cafe on the gorgeous grounds of the Pomeroy Living History Farm.

Ski to Sea Festival
Friday, May 18 – Monday, May 27
Bellingham, WA 98229
www.skitosea.com

A carnival, historical hometown parade, and other community events lead up to the 7 Sport Relay Race covering 93.5 miles of pure FUN from Mt Baker to Bellingham Bay. Lodging, best views and more information available online.

Viking Fest
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
May 18, 19 and 20
200 NE Moe Street
Poulsbo, WA 98370
www.vikingfest.org

A celebration of the spirit of Poulsbo’s Scandinavian Founders. Traditional music and dance, food, kids’ activities, parade, paddle board races, fun run and more.

Spring Bird Fest
Thursday – Sunday
May 17, 18, 19 and 20
Front Street
Leavenworth, WA 98826
www.leavenworthspringbirdfest.com

Learn about the wide variety of migratory birds that come here for a brief, but important part of their year: the breeding season with field trips led by experts. Hear the songs sung only during the breeding season while you stroll, bike, boat, or van during the height of wildflower season. While birding is the heart of the weekend, activities also include wildflower walks, arts events, and family activities to ensure fun and learning for everyone!

Playing for the sixth time in 11 days, Los Angeles gave San Antonio its toughest first half of the playoffs before fading fast. And unlike their stunning Game 1 comeback at Memphis in the first round, the Clippers didn’t have the wind this time.

Manu Ginobili added 22 points for the Spurs, who’ve won 15 in a row. It’s the longest winning streak sustained in the NBA playoffs since the 2004 Spurs won 17 straight.

“It’s the playoffs. It’s going to be physical. We knew that coming in,” Duncan said. “We just expected to attack the basket as much as possible.”

Eric Bledsoe led the Clippers with 23 points.

Game 2 is Thursday night.

That gives the beat-up and banged-up Clippers one full day of rest — which is all the time they’ve had to recover between games for the past week and a half.

Los Angeles couldn’t even fly home first after knocking out the Grizzlies on Sunday in Game 7 of a grueling series that had the Clippers hobbling next to Texas. Blake Griffin scored 15 points in 28 minutes a day after estimating his sprained left knee had him feeling “80 percent” at best.

The Clippers said the injury is bad enough that their All-Star and leading scorer might be missing up to two weeks if this were the regular season. But unlike in Game 7 on Sunday, Griffin didn’t take a seat in the fourth quarter until the Spurs were safely ahead in the final minutes.

Rookie Kawhi Leonard added 16 points, hitting all three of his 3s, and Danny Green added 15 points for the Spurs.

The marquee matchup of the series — All-Star point guards Tony Parker and Chris Paul — was a fizzle. Paul, who ended the first round with an aching hip, scored just six points and didn’t make a single basket in the second half. Parker had seven points and 11 assists.

Caron Butler scored 15 points and Nick Young had 13 for the Clippers. Los Angeles cut the deficit to single digits with a 10-burst in the fourth quarter before San Antonio, which hasn’t lost in a month, ran away with its 11th double-digit victory during this dominating winning streak.

The Clippers didn’t even need San Antonio’s help getting more bumps and bruises: Mo Williams, already playing with his sore right fingers taped, took a lump on the head when teammate Reggie Evans kicked him with an errant foot after Williams fell on his back in the lane.

Williams wobbled when he tried standing, sat back down, and the Clippers burned a timeout. He never left the game, but the Clippers weren’t getting any fresher.

Parker, meanwhile, finally felt the hard knocks and slow-him-down shoves that Utah repeatedly promised but never delivered in the first round. Sometimes, the All-Star looked in vain to officials when the whistle didn’t blow. When that didn’t work once in the first quarter, he kept jabbering about a no-call on the last possession while lining up to shoot free throws on the current one.

Popovich, pacing and sensing an impending technical foul, silenced his leading scorer.

“Tony!” Popovich snapped from the sideline. “Shoot!”

Parker waved off the NBA Coach of the Year — he was under control. But his frustrations didn’t end there. He was 1 for 9 despite playing 38 minutes, scoring all but two of his points at the foul line.

Notes: Before this became the deepest Spurs team yet under Popovich, Butler said he came so close to signing with the Spurs after the lockout that he canceled a flight to San Antonio when the Clippers counteroffered. “They made a great pitch,” Butler said. …Leonard finished fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting, the highest finish for a Spurs player since Ginobili finished fourth in 2003. Said Popovich: “He’s done a good enough job to make me trust him to be in the starting lineup. I’m happy for him.”

Esparza secured her birth by beating Luu Thi Duyen of Vietnam in the second round of the Women’s World Championships in Qinhuangdao, China, on Tuesday. The boxer from Houston took a 28-13 decision in the three-round bout.

U.S. lightweight Quanitta Underwood’s hopes of qualifying for the Olympics at the tournament ended when she lost 26-25 to Norway’s Ingrid Egner in a third-round bout Tuesday.

The Seattle fighter’s hopes of competing in London now depend on an international commission that will select the additional lightweight from the Americas to compete in the games.

– Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

David West scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, George Hill added 15 and the Indiana Pacers took home-court advantage away from Miami by beating the Heat 78-75 in Game 2 of the teams’ Eastern Conference semifinal series Tuesday night.

LeBron James scored 28 points for Miami and Dwyane Wade finished with 24, but both missed big chances for the Heat late. James missed two free throws with 54.3 seconds left and Miami down one, and Wade was short on a layup that would have tied the game with 16 seconds remaining.

Mario Chalmers’ 3-pointer to tie bounced away on the final play, and the series was tied 1-1.

Danny Granger scored 11 points and Paul George added 10 for Indiana, which took advantage of Heat forward Chris Bosh’s absence and outrebounded Miami 50-40.

Game 3 is Thursday in Indianapolis.

James had a chance to give Miami the lead with 1:22 left, but his shot was blocked from behind by George, who was fouled two seconds later. He missed both free throws, keeping the Indiana lead at 76-75. And after Wade missed a jumper, James was fouled by Granger — his sixth — battling for the rebound with 54.3 seconds remaining.

James couldn’t connect on either, and the Heat didn’t score again.

Bosh is expected to miss the rest of the series with a strained abdominal muscle. Without him, James and Wade combined for 52 points — and no other Miami player scored more than five.

A dreadful third quarter by Miami — 3 for 17 shooting — allowed Indiana to lead by as much as 11, before the emotions picked up considerably in the fourth.

Wade was steaming when he missed a shot after trying to create contact with Indiana’s Dahntay Jones with 9:53 left. As Wade argued, Jones went the other way and set Leandro Barbosa up for a score that put the Pacers up 63-56.

Chalmers turned the ball over on the next possession, and as the Pacers took off for what set up as a 2-on-none break, Wade caught Darren Collison from behind and knocked him over. A flagrant-1 was called, Collison hit both free throws, the Indiana lead was nine and tensions were suddenly high.

It all seemed to spark Miami.

The Heat scored the next six points, James — who got hit in the head by Granger with 7:25 left, sparking a bit of shoving that led to double-technicals given to both players — added a putback off an offensive rebound and Wade did the same about a minute later, getting Miami within 69-66 with 5:57 left.

James missed a free throw that would have tied it with 4:30 remaining, but after George got the rebound, James dove in to create a jump ball situation. The MVP easily won the tap, sending it to Wade, whose bank shot over West put Miami back on top 72-71.

Barbosa scored on the next Indiana possession. The Pacers weren’t rattled, and left celebrating minutes later.

Indiana scored 16 points in the first seven minutes of the first half, then scored 17 in the next 17 minutes. And even after a drought like that, Miami’s lead was only 38-33 at the break.

George missed four shots in a 60-second span early on, setting the tone for an icy-cold half by the Pacers. Indiana was up 16-9 midway through the first when the Heat went to a smaller lineup that paid quick dividends.

Three baskets at the rim — a layup by Wade, then James firing a pass to Turiaf for a dunk, followed by a Wade touch pass to James for another slam — erased most of the early deficit, and defense did the rest. Indiana missed 24 of 29 shots in one stretch, and after Hibbert used his size advantage to get three shots in the first 1:11, he only got two attempts over the rest of the half.

Miami was 0-for-7 on shots that would have pushed its margin to double digits in the first half, continuing a trend from Game 1. Neither team ever led the series opener by more than nine either, and when George made a 3-pointer with 6:09 left in the third, the Pacers had pulled into a 46-all tie. A steal and dunk by George followed on the next possession, putting the Pacers back on top.

Before long, the Pacers had that first 10-point edge of the series. Collison’s jumper with 1:29 left in the third put Indiana up 59-49, and the margin was 61-52 entering the fourth.

For as bad as Indiana’s first half was offensively, Miami’s third quarter was equally dreadful — the Heat were outscored 28-14 on 3-for-17 shooting in the period, the third-worst shooting effort by the reigning East champs in any quarter this season.

A 17-year-old girl has died and an 18-year-old boy is reportedly in critical condition at a Seattle hospital.

The shooting was reported shortly after midnight by one of the victims who said they were driving to a hospital. Deputies stopped the car and rushed them to Harborview Medical Center.

There’s no suspect or apparent motive in the shooting.

Deputy Travis DeFries says investigators don’t know if the teens were targeted or if it was a random shooting. He says shootings are rare in the Richmond Beach neighborhood.

– Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

Los Angeles dominated the opener and was even better in Game 2, withstanding Phoenix’s initial push and string of penalties for a 2-0 series lead.

Dwight King scored his third goal in two games and Quick tied a team record with his third career playoff shutout to give the Kings a dominating lead heading into Game 3 Thursday night in Los Angeles.

The Kings have won nine straight road playoff games in two seasons, matching the NHL record set by the New York Islanders from 1982-83.

The Islanders won the Stanley Cup both of those years.

Quick matched Felix Potvin’s team record for playoff shutouts and Carter finished off his first career playoff hat trick in the third period, securing the Kings’ seventh straight win overall.

The Coyotes played better early and fell apart late, becoming frustrated after being unable to contain the more-skilled Kings.

Phoenix was hit with a string of penalties starting late in the second period, including a game misconduct to captain Shane Doan for boarding Kings center Trevor Lewis. Martin Hanzal also received one for boarding Dustin Brown in the third period and the Coyotes had 13 penalties for 56 minutes — most coming after the final 5 minutes of the second period.

The Kings won the opener 4-2 by outplaying and outhustling Phoenix.

Knowing Phoenix’s makeup, the Kings figured to get more of a pushback in Game 2.

And the Coyotes were much more aggressive early, winning some of the individual battles they lost in Game 1 while creating some decent scoring chances.

Even with all of Phoenix’s hard work and a couple of line changes by coach Dave Tippett, the Kings still managed to score first. King got it, redirecting a shot by Drew Doughty that beat Mike Smith stick side late in the period.

Hard work in the corners by Mike Richards set up Los Angeles’ second goal, by Carter. He muscled the puck past Smith’s glove side as he was going down on a feed from Dustin Penner that made it 2-0 early in the second period.

“I’ve been working hard in practice to get my game where I wanted it,” Carter said.

Then things completely unraveled for the Coyotes.

Doan, who was suspended three games for elbowing earlier in the season, was given a game misconduct and a five-minute boarding penalty for ramming Lewis from behind. Defenseman Keith Yandle was already in the penalty box and Daymond Langkow joined him after a slashing penalty, giving Los Angeles a two-man advantage for more than 2 minutes.

Brown was sent off for diving on a slash by Smith, but that didn’t bother the Kings. Carter scored his second a few seconds later on a redirect of a shot by Anze Kopitar, putting Los Angeles up 3-0.

“It’s no secret we been struggling a bit with the power play and to get some goals will give us confidence on it,” Carter said. “We have some pretty skilled guys out there on the power play.”

With the Coyotes racking up penalties seemingly on every shift, Carter finished them off with his fifth career hat trick, punching in a rebound with the Kings on a two-man advantage after Hanzal’s hit on Brown.

Notes: The Kings were without D Colin Fraser, out of the lineup attending to a family matter. … Coyotes LW Ray Whitney played in his 100th career playoff game. D Michael Stone played his first with Adrian Aucoin still out of the lineup and David Schlemko still not fully healthy. … Rocker Alice Cooper, who lives in the Valley, attended the game. … The last team to win seven straight road playoff games in one season was Chicago in 2010.

U.S. District Judge Michael Simon heard more than three hours of arguments Tuesday on an injunction request from The Humane Society of the United States. The group wants to keep sea lions alive while its suit against the killing goes through the court system.

Much of Tuesday’s hearing was devoted to interpretations about the number of salmon eaten by sea lions and whether it represents a “significant negative impact” compared to the numbers taken by fishermen.

Sea lions have been eating fewer salmon in recent years, and it is “completely disingenuous” for the government to add the animals to a hit list while allowing fishermen to increase their take, Ralph Henry, a Humane Society lawyer, said.

But government and tribal lawyers said fishermen — unlike sea lions —take mostly hatchery fish, not protected by the Endangered Species Act, because they can identify them from a clipped fin. The lawyers also noted that the government has taken steps over the years to limit the damage to salmon caused by fishing and hydroelectric power.

“They all have adverse effects and they’re all being managed,” Justice Department attorney Michael Eitel told the judge.

The hearing was the latest in a lengthy legal battle over a program that allows the fish and wildlife departments in Idaho, Oregon and Washington to kill sea lions that eat endangered salmon. Nine sea lions have died by lethal injection this spring, and almost 50 have been killed or relocated since the program started in 2008.

The program had a one-year hiatus in 2011, after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the killings.

NOAA’s Fisheries Service renewed the program in March, authorizing Washington, Oregon and Idaho agencies to kill up to 92 animals annually for the next four years. A Washington D.C. judge then limited the killing to a maximum of 30 per year and said the sea lions couldn’t be killed by gunshot.

Early in Tuesday’s hearing, Judge Simon told the Humane Society lawyer he would have a “tough road to hoe” in winning the injunction because the killings won’t threaten the sea lion species, and plaintiffs need to prove that significant harm was imminent.

California sea lions are federally protected as marine mammals, but not as endangered or threatened species. Each spring, they swim about 145 upriver to the Bonneville Dam, where they feed on salmon. Authorities keep close track of which sea lions are eating a lot of salmon, and target the worst offenders for capture and lethal injection.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

JP Morgan Chase held their annual shareholder meeting today and Jamie Dimon, the CEO and Chairman of the Board, came out very well indeed. Is this justice? Michael Hiltzik of the Los Angeles Times joins us to discuss this and related issues!

President Obama is getting muscular with Reset Romney. This is a good sign and leaves me with a question – can you guess the question?

The John Edwards trial continues in North Carolina and some VERY interesting things have happened in the last two days that I will analyze for you when it is Senior Legal Analyst time!

Normally, we focus on the United States and domestic issues. BUT, what is happening in Europe’s economies needs our attention and that will happen today!

On Beyond The Norm, with all this Jamie Dimon/JP Morgan Chase stuff going on, it seemed a perfect time to tackle “corporate governance”. What is that? The first of a two-part BTN starts to answer that question today!

Fierce independence means going against the weight of popular opinion. We do this as needed, here, at the place where fierce independence IS the norm – The Norman Goldman Show!

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Hour Two: Is Facebook co-founder an American hero or anti-American?  Carrie Lukas, Independent Womens Forum

Hour Three: Romney on jobs…savior or vampire?  Leo Gerard, United Steelworkers Union

In fact, the first 250 people to purchase a ticket to Opening Night will receive one FREE ticket to see the Storm play the Tulsa Shock at the Key on Friday, June 1.

To receive this special offer, you must log on to the Storm’s website HERE. Enter the Special Offer Code “FORECAST” where indicated. Indicate how many tickets you would like to purchase and the location.Verify your seat location and click Continue. Now you’re ready to check out! Your tickets, including June 1, will be available for pick up at Will Call on Friday, May 18.

The Box Office is located on the East Doors and will open at 5:30pm. You will not be asked to select seats for the June 1 game vs. Tulsa. Your tickets will be of equivalent value and seat location. You can pick them up at Will Call on Opening Night with your Opening Night tickets. This offer expires Friday, May 18, 2012 at 12:00pm and is limited to the first 250 people.

If you have any questions, please call the Storm Account Executive Team at 206-217-WNBA (9622).

Forecasters say the temperatures are forecast be in the the 70s on Tuesday and 60s Wednesday, but still dry.

In Eastern Washington, forecasters say the warm, dry weather will continue through Wednesday.

– Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.