LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE – A surprisingly intense winter storm triggered massive mudflows in the foothills early Saturday, overwhelming flood-control barriers as it damaged dozens of homes and smashed cars on fire-ravaged hillside communities.

The county’s child welfare and protection agency saw an increase last year in deaths of children whose cases it had investigated, but its head said Friday that the department doesn’t plan any major policy overhauls.

An American Muslim group said Friday it has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to look into Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris’ remark last week that the city is “growing a Christian community.”

Jesse James Hollywood was sentenced to life in prison Friday for orchestrating the kidnap-murder of a San Fernando Valley teenager.