Authorities are searching for a Lakewood couple missing for three days in Joshua Tree National Park. Officials say the man and woman were reported missing by family members after not returning from an off-road weekend excursion. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Helen Melnyk or Tony Nosow is asked to contact authorities.

The pilot killed when his helicopter exploded in Corona has been identified. Sixty-one-year-old James Bechler of Long Beach died when his small copter struck hoses at an airport fueling island Sunday night. No one else was hurt. The cause is under investigation.

A federal judge has ruled that major tobacco companies must spend their own money on a public advertising campaign admitting that they lied for decades about the health risks associated with smoking. The judge says such advertisements must be published in a variety of media forms for as long as two years.

A Banning man is behind bars on suspicion of making moonshine on his property. Police discovered the moonshine still on Saturday while they were serving a warrant at a home on King Street.

President Obama hosts a White House event today aimed at pressuring congressional Republicans to extend Bush-era tax cuts for the middle class. Republicans want to extend all tax cuts, including those for the wealthiest Americans. On the other side of the debate, Obama and congressional Democrats insist on letting the high-end tax cuts expire.

“Two and a Half Men” star Angus T. Jones is apologizing for trash talking his CBS sitcom. Jones’ apology comes just one day after his video testimonial for a Christian church went viral.

The winner of this year’s “Dancing With the Stars” is Melissa Rycroft . Rycroft, who in her previous run finished in third place, was named the “champion of champions” on the all-star season finale.