The KTLA 5 Weekend Morning News team covers the day's top local and national news. April 12, 2025.

The KTLA 5 News team covers the day's top local and national news.

A harmful algal bloom off the Southern California coast continues to sicken and kill marine life, with at least seven dolphins washing ashore this week alone in Venice Beach.

Marine experts are taking samples and planning necropsies to determine if domoic acid toxicity is the cause, which has already affected thousands of sea lions and birds in recent months. Now, whales and dolphins are dying in larger numbers.

KTLA's Ellina Abovian reports on April 24, 2025.

Details: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/increasing-whale-dolphin-deaths-linked-to-toxic-algae-in-southern-california/

So many mourners lined up to see Pope Francis lying in state in a simple wooden coffin inside St. Peter’s Basilica that the Vatican kept the doors open all night due to higher-than-expected turnout, closing the basilica for just an hour Thursday morning for cleaning.

The basilica is bathed in a hushed silence as mourners from across the globe make a slow, shuffling procession up the main aisle to pay their last respects to Francis, who died Monday after a stroke.

KTLA's Samantha Cortese reports on April 24, 2025.

Details: https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/vatican-keeps-st-peters-open-all-night-for-public-viewing-of-pope-francis/

One of the brightest future stars for the USC Trojans men's basketball team was seriously hurt in a car crash Thursday. Alijah Arenas, a blue-chip USC commit, was hospitalized and put into a medically induced coma after the crash, according to ESPN basketball insider Shams Charania.

KTLA's Carlos Saucedo reports on April 24, 2025.

Details: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/son-of-nba-star-usc-commit-in-coma-after-car-crash/

The California Forestry Association (Calforests) released the following statement regarding the addition of the C-130 Hercules to its aerial firefighting fleet, marking the end of the aircraft’s retrofitting process:

This video aired on the KTLA 5 News at 4 on April 24, 2025.

One of the brightest future stars for the USC Trojans men’s basketball team was seriously hurt in a car crash Thursday.

Kareen Wynter reports for the KTLA 5 News at 3 on April 24, 2025.

Details: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/son-of-nba-star-usc-commit-in-coma-after-car-crash/

KTLA's Kimberly Cheng reports on the worsening crises of marine animals dying from domoic acid poisoning. April 24, 2025.

A demonstration was held outside the Turkish Consulate in Beverly Hills on Thursday to mark Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. Details: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/heres-why-los-angeles-public-schools-are-closed-today/

One of the brightest future stars for the USC Trojans men’s basketball team was seriously hurt in a car crash Thursday. Alijah Arenas, a blue-chip USC commit, was hospitalized and put into a medically induced coma after the crash, according to ESPN basketball insider Shams Charania. April 24, 2025. (Citizen)

CSUF confirmed that DHS agents were on campus on Wednesday, although it was only for a training, the school says. KTLA reports on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

Gov. Gavin Newsom made the announcement this week that the state’s gross domestic product surpassed Japan’s, the Los Angeles Times reports.

This video aired on the KTLA 5 Morning News on April 24, 2025.

Details: https://ktla.com/news/california/californias-economy-overtakes-another-country-now-4th-biggest-in-world/

Three burglary suspects pretending to be part of a food delivery service to determine if a home was vacant have been taken into custody in Alhambra, police said Tuesday.

This video aired on the KTLA 5 Morning News on April 24, 2025.