Kobe Bryant, Daughter Among 9 Dead in Helicopter Crash

BREAKING NEWS TIMELINE SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 KOBE BRYANT, DAUGHTER AMONG 9 DEAD IN HELICOPTER CRASH On a foggy Sunday morning in late January, a helicopter crashed into a hillside on the western edges of Los Angeles County. The Times published a small breaking news post on the fiery crash, which occurred shortly before 10 a.m. and was in viewing distance of the home of a reporter, who immediately went to the scene. Scant information was available, and some details, including the number of passengers, were inaccurate at the time. Ninety minutes later, news that Lakers legend Kobe Bryant had been killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas erupted on social media. The Times marshaled resources across departments — from Sports to Metro to Entertainment — to confirm the report. While our reporters scrambled to authenticate the news, our social media team recognized that readers needed answers now. Audience Engagement editors crafted a carefully worded tweet, acknowledging that we were aware of reports about Bryant and were investigating and that we would update as soon as we could confirm anything. At 11:54 a.m., roughly two hours after the helicopter went down, a Times Sports reporter on a flight with Bryant’s long-time security guard tweeted verification: “This is not a hoax.” The Times updated its initial crash post moments later with news that Bryant was dead. 9:45 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 26 >> Crime reporter Richard Winton is sitting at his dining room table in his Calabasas home when he hears the splutter of an aircraft and then a boom. He contacts Weekend Metro Editor Carlos Lozano, who was in the office, and begins writing a short post about the crash, which had ignited a small brush fire. https://twitter.com/LAcrimes/ status/1221492035745509376

10:27 a.m. >> Our first story is published on latimes.com. The post contains only four sentences, with minimal information. Lozano calls the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in search of more details as Winton heads to the scene. We update the post three times in the next hour, as confirmation of multiple fatalities comes in.

11:26 a.m. >> A Dataminr alert in a Times Slack channel announces “Kobe Bryant Dies in Helicopter Crash in Calabasas” and links to a TMZ article that was published two minutes earlier. https://twitter. com/IAautograph/ status/1221514450144047105

11:30 a.m. >> Chatter erupts in The Times’ Slack channel for Metro coverage as multiple reporters, including one at a Biden campaign rally in Iowa, send alerts about the TMZ story. Reporters and editors across multiple sections of the paper — Metro, Sports and Entertainment — begin scrambling to confirm the news. At the same time, the Audience Engagement team begins seeing replies attached to a tweet from the main @latimes Twitter account about our initial post on the Calabasas helicopter crash. Twitter users were also tagging @latimes, seeking confirmation before they believed TMZ’s reporting.

11:36 a.m. >> Jessica Roy, who was an audience engagement editor at the time, brainstorms language with her team and sends the first tweet from the @latimes Twitter account about Bryant: “We are aware of reports about Kobe Bryant and are currently investigating. We will update here as soon as we can confirm anything.” The language was very intentional; it did not say “dead” or “death” anywhere. We wanted to confirm that we were aware of and looking into what people were talking about without repeating what, at that point, had not been confirmed by any major media outlets. We also wanted to reassure readers that we would provide verified up-to-date information on Twitter as quickly as possible. https://twitter.com/latimes/status/1221517388056629248

HELICOPTER CRASH, KOBE BRYANT AMONG DEAD | SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 2 11:42 a.m. >> Roy replies to the initial “we are aware” tweet with information about the helicopter crash and a link to the story The Times had published earlier that morning, noting that victims had not been publicly identified. https://twitter.com/latimes/status/1221518784394981377

As reporters continued to work sources for confirmation on Bryant’s death, Audience Engagement team members, including Deputy Director Seth Liss and editors Christina Schoellkopf and Fidel Martinez, handled the following: • Posted the helicopter crash story to Facebook with a breaking news tag that notified all Facebook followers that a new story was developing • The post included only the information confirmed at the time: that there were multiple fatalities and no victims had been identified https://www.facebook.com/latimes/posts/10158308825498010 • Prepped Instagram posts and Facebook gallery posts • Paused scheduled posts on Twitter so no other tweets went out from the main @latimes account • Retweeted the “we are aware” tweet from relevant accounts, including @latimesports • Pitched the main tweet to Twitter to be included in any Moments or guides

11:54 a.m. >> Lakers reporter Dan Woike, who was on a flight with Bryant’s long-time security guard, tweets confirmation. “This is not a hoax,” Woike told his 29,000 followers, who were questioning the veracity of the earlier news that had shocked the world. https://twitter.com/danwoikesports/status/1221521861646962692?lang=en

11:55 a.m. >> Deputy Managing Editor Sewell Chan creates a Slack channel to contain cross-desk coverage plans. News Desk Editor Jessica Perez works with Angel Rodriguez, then assistant managing editor of the News Desk and Audience Engagement teams, to prep the existing story with a new photo, headline and SEO information. Other editors on the News Desk begin surfacing archival content about Bryant’s career and life to use in related links and repost on social media.

11:56 a.m. >> Roy tweets from the main @latimes account that The Times had confirmed Bryant’s death. https://twitter.com/latimes/ status/1221522393086038017

11:57 a.m. >> Roy tweets another reply to the initial “we are aware” tweet with the update that Bryant had died. It was important to confirm the information in two tweets: one as a standalone post that could travel on Twitter independently and one as a reply to the first @latimes tweet so that people seeing it would also see the latest news.

HELICOPTER CRASH, KOBE BRYANT AMONG DEAD | SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 3 11:59 a.m. >> The Times updates its original story with the devastating news: “Kobe Bryant killed in helicopter crash.” Over the next 12 hours, the post would be updated 63 times as Woike and Lakers reporter Tania Ganguli gleaned more information from Sports sources, Winton continued to gather details from the Sheriff’s Department while at the scene of the crash and Metro reporters Sonali Kohli and Ben Poston took feeds from field reporters. But it was just one of more than two dozen articles that published that day from The Times’ widespread coverage of the event.

Noon >> The News Desk sends a Push Alert to readers, noting: “Kobe Bryant, a legendary basketball star who had a 20-year career with the Lakers, has died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. He was 41.”

12:02 p.m. >> Roy refreshes the Times’ Facebook post to reflect the new headline and include confirmation that Bryant was among the victims of the earlier helicopter crash. The post would garner 1,000 comments. https://www.facebook.com/ latimes/posts/10158308825498010

12:04 p.m. >> The Sports Department publishes its first standalone post, reaction from the sports world on social media to the Lakers legend’s death. The post is updated multiple times to include tweets from celebrities, politicians and everyday fans. https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-01-26/sports-world-mourns-death-lakers- legend-kobe-social-reaction

12:06 p.m. >> Rodriguez and the News Desk publish the first post on a live blog that would include current stories; archival content; statements and other reactions from officials; and color reporting from across Los Angeles and Orange counties, where Bryant worked and lived. The blog would include 74 posts over the next 12 hours and would go on to be updated with an overall 173 items before being closed at 5:04 p.m. Jan. 30, four days after Bryant’s death. https://www.latimes.com/sports/liveblog/kobe-bryant-dies-in-helicopter-crash-in- calabasas

12:15 p.m. >> Roy tweets that there were no survivors of the crash, though we had not yet identified who else was on board, nor at that point had accurately reported the number of victims. Rumors were flying on social media that all four of Bryant’s daughters were on the chopper with him, as was former Laker Rick Fox, numbers that didn’t add up based on initial reports of five victims. Times reporters worked furiously to weed out misinformation and fact-check tips about the others who had been killed. The post was retweeted 1,600 times. https://twitter.com/latimes/status/1221527201864019969

HELICOPTER CRASH, KOBE BRYANT AMONG DEAD | SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 4 12:17 p.m. >> The @latimes homepage modifies its lead package to create a Kobe Bryant module, including an updated News story, a reaction post from Sports, a gallery from the Photo Department and From the Archives content.

12:19 p.m. >> Roy posts news of Bryant’s death on Instagram, including details about his storied career and an image from staff photographer Luis Sinco. The post would receive nearly 20,000 likes.

12:43 p.m. >> Sports reporter Jack Harris is among several Times reporters dispatched to LA Live and the Staples Center, home arena for the Lakers, where a massive crowd had gathered to pay respects to their hometown hero. Entertainment reporter Chris Erskine was already inside Staples Center, where the Grammy Awards dress rehearsal was interrupted by news of Bryant’s death. https://twitter.com/jack_a_harris/ status/1221533285513216000?s=21

HELICOPTER CRASH, KOBE BRYANT AMONG DEAD | SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 5 1:25 p.m. >> Tania Ganguli, who was then the Lakers reporter, confirms that Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, is among the dead. The news is immediately tweeted from the @latimes accounts and included in the ever-growing main story.

1:53 p.m. >> Assistant Sports Editor Steve Henson confirms that Bryant’s group was en route to the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks for a girls basketball game with daughter Gigi and other players, coaches and parents.

1:57 p.m. >> Metro reporter Richard Winton publishes a first-person account of the crash that includes eyewitness comments. He would follow this post with a second article an hour later after additional witnesses were interviewed at the scene. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-26/kobe-bryant-helicopter-crash-witness https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-26/kobe-bryant-helicopter-crash-boom- fireball

2:28 p.m. >> A local reaction article is published as multiple field reporters compile scenes of grief from across the region. The post includes video shot by Times video journalist Steve Saldivar of fans gathered at Staples Center. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-26/did-you-hear-kobe-bryant-death- public-grieves

2:36 p.m. >> Sports columnist Bill Plaschke posts the first of what eventually would be four distinct columns The Times published on the day of Bryant’s death. Plaschke tells readers, “Don’t be embarrassed, cry with me.” https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2020-01-26/bill-plaschke-column-on-kobe- bryant

2:38 p.m. >> Winton reports breaking news from the scene of the crash: There were nine people on board the helicopter, not five, as previously thought. No one survived. Kohli immediately updates the running story with the new information and alerts are sent to readers.

2:41 p.m. >> The Times’ Entertainment & Arts team posts its first article, a reaction piece of celebrities mourning one of their own. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-01-26/kobe-bryant-stars- celebrities-react-death

3:12 p.m. >> Sports reporters confirm longtime Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli and his daughter Alyssa, a teammate of Gianna’s, are among the victims of the crash. Thirty minutes later, reporters confirmed John’s wife, Keri, was also among the dead.

HELICOPTER CRASH, KOBE BRYANT AMONG DEAD | SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 6 3:26 p.m. >> The Times’ Graphics team publishes the first aerial map of the crash location. https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/67/9f/61b1fd7745e58ee81310221040d3/satellite-kobe- crash-map.png

4:19 p.m. >> Entertainment reporter Christi Carras publishes an article on the last-minute scramble at the Grammy Awards, which were slated to begin just hours after Bryant’s death, to perform a tribute to the late star. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-01-26/grammys-2020- kobe-bryant-tribute

6:44 p.m. >> After an earlier online call-out to readers, The Times’ Audience Engagement team publishes an article with reader responses to Bryant’s death. https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2020-01-26/kobe-bryant-memories-from- times-readers

7:13 p.m. >> The first investigative piece of the crash is published by Metro reporters Ben Poston, Richard Winton and Matthew Ormseth, who noted that dense fog impaired visibility that morning. https://www.latimes.com/ california/story/2020-01-26/ kobe-bryant-helicopter-crash- dense-fog-investigation

8:06 p.m. >> Times’ foreign correspondent Tom Kington and Metro reporter Cindy Chang, who was reporting from Beijing at the time, publish a story on the global outpouring of grief over Bryant’s death. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-01-26/kobe-bryant-mourned-in-italy- where-he-spent-part-of-his-childhood

HELICOPTER CRASH, KOBE BRYANT AMONG DEAD | SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 7 9:24 p.m. >> Just as Bryant’s life intersected many venues, aspects of his death were reported by every department in The Times. Here, The Times’ Sports, Entertainment and Business departments combine for a look at Bryant’s empire beyond basketball. https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-01-26/kobe-bryant-businessman-investor

9:56 p.m. >> Times Metro writer Thomas Curwen and Sports writer David Wharton publish the narrative obituary on Bryant. https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2020-01-26/lakers-kobe-bryant-obit

10:43 p.m. >> Times Metro and Community News reporters Luke Money and Hillary Davis attend a memorial in Newport Beach, where Bryant lived. He was not a superstar to these friends and neighbors, just another dad you bumped into at the grocery store. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-26/here-kobe-bryant-was-just- another-dad-you-bumped-into-at-the-grocery-store

11:58 p.m. >> The last article published on the day of Bryant’s death examined a darker part of the Lakers legend’s life: a 2003 sexual assault case against him. https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-01-26/what-happened-kobe-bryant-sexual- assault-case

Monday, Jan. 27 >> Like the previous day, every section of the paper — Sports, Metro, Foreign/National, Business and Features/Entertainment — would continue their coverage of Bryant’s death and the fallout from it. The Times would again publish more than two dozen stories online, including six commentary pieces.

MONDAY,JANUARY27, 2020 :: LATIMES.COM/SPORTS D SPORTS KOBE BRYANT Kobe Bryant dies in crash Copter 1978 -2020 Lakers legend, daughter and 7 others killed in helicopter accident crash

OBITUARY takes life By Richard Winton, Jack Harris and Joe Mozingo of local He was Helicopter rotors chopped through the foggy canyon Sunday morning, legend too loud, too low. a talent Scott Daehlin was taking asmoke break while setting up the sound at his church in Calabasas. It was 9:44 a.m. Wife and daughter of like no He tracked the sound in the longtime Orange sky toward an empty hill across Las Virgenes Road. Coast College The helicopter hit the baseball coach other slope in a violent crush of metal, followed by the boom Altobelli also perish. of an explosion that rever- The NBA wasn’t berated across the canyon — By Mike DiGiovanna and soon enough, around convinced about the world. Bryant’s early path. Kobe Bryant, one of the Asingle bouquet of flow- greatest basketball players ers sat on home plate as doz- He was undeterred. of all time — a beloved, at ens of Orange Coast College times frustrating star who former and current baseball By Thomas Curwen mesmerized Los Angeles for players and coaches, and and David Wharton his 20 legendary years as a their family members and Laker — was killed in the friends filed into Wendell From the very start when wreckage at age 41. Pickens Field on the school’s Kobe Bryant played his first His 13 -year-old daughter, Costa Mesa campus Sun- game for the Los Angeles Gianna, died alongside him, day. Lakers as an 18-year-old as did seven others — every- Under ominous gray basketball phenom, his path one on board. Bryant ap- skies, with an early after- to greatness seemed as- pears to have been headed to noon chill in the air, they sured. But it would not be Thousand Oaks to coach his hugged each other tightly, easy. daughter’s basketball team cried on each others’ shoul- The NBA wasn’t con- in a travel tournament. He ders and prayed together as vinced that any player, no leaves behind his wife, they tried to come to grips matter how sensational or Vanessa, and three daugh- with the tragedy that talented, could jump di- ters — Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, claimed their baseball coach Reinhold Matay Associated Press rectly from high school to and Capri, seven months. Sunday morning. FANS AT AMWAY ARENA in Orlando observe a moment of silence to honor Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash along with the big leagues. Officials did not release John Altobelli, 56, who eight others earlier Sunday. The Clippers and Magic devised their own tributes with a 24-second clock hold and an eight-second violation. But Bryant was a differ- the names of the other vic- guided the Pirates to four ent sort of athlete, the son of tims, but Orange Coast Col- California community col- awell-to-do Philadelphia lege confirmed that its base- lege state championships family who spent his forma- ball coach, John Altobelli, and racked up more than 700 tive years in Europe. His un- his wife, Keri, and daughter, victories in 27 seasons at Or- usual upbringing and steely Alyssa, were among them. ange Coast, was among the determination — holding Christina Mauser, an assist- nine victims in the helicop- himself and those around ant coach of a girls basket- ter crash that killed former him to the highest stand- ball team at the Mamba Lakers star Kobe Bryant. ards — sometimes led to fric- Sports Academy, also died, Tony Altobelli, John’s Show of emotions tion with coaches and team- her husband said on Face- younger brother and the mates. book. school’s sports information None of that could stop Los Angeles County Fire director, confirmed that Bryant dies in With their hearts heavy, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard Chief Daryl Osby said fire- John Altobelli’s wife, Keri, from becoming one of the fighters responding to a 911 and daughter, Alyssa, 13, helicopter crash greatest in the history of the call at 9:47 a.m. found a de- who played on the Newport Lakers legend and Clippers go about business game, equally dangerous bris field in steep terrain Beach-based club basket- daughter Gianna among driving to the basket or amid a quarter-acre brush ball team with Bryant’s nine dead in fiery crash behind Leonard’s 31 points shooting from outside. None fire. [See Altobelli, D2] in Calabasas. A1 of it could dull the sense of Paramedics arriving by shock that came over Los helicopter searched the area Kobe just can’t backcourt violation. Angeles, a city that grew to but found no survivors. leave us like this CLIPPERS 112 Quickly, inside Amway love him, when he died Sun- Bryant, who had homes ORLANDO 97 Bryant was this city’s Center, fans, coaches and day in a helicopter crash in Newport Beach and Los players stood from their that also took the lives of his Angeles, was known to keep champion for 20 years, By Andrew Greif and his death is unreal, seats, recognizing the ges- 13 -year-old daughter, Gi- achartered helicopter at Or- tures as tributes to Kobe Bill Plaschke writes. V2 anna, and seven others. ange County’s John Wayne ORLANDO, Fla. — In- Bryant, the former Lakers “Just to see the joy he Airport. A star grew up stead of a flurry of move- great who wore No. 24 and played the game with, the joy ASikorsky S-76 helicop- ment after Sunday’s open- No. 8 during his 20-year Lak- he brought to fans, was ter, built in 1991, departed before our eyes ing tipoff, there was stillness. ers career, and was one of pretty remarkable,” Lakers John Wayne at 9:06 a.m. Bryant proved me wrong Clippers guard Landry nine people who died Sun- great Jerry West said. “You Sunday, according to publi- early in his career and Shamet collected the tip day in a helicopter crash in don’t get players of that skill Wally Skalij Los Angeles Times cly available flight records. learned from mistakes, won by teammate Ivica California. Clippers assist- and that caliber that are The National Transporta- ‘A LEGEND ON THE COURT’ Steve Lopez writes. V6 Zubac and, standing inside ant coach Tyronn Lue, a able to do those things and tion Safety Board database “Just to see the joy he played the game with, the joy he brought to fans, was pretty remarkable,” Lakers halfcourt, dribbled out a 24- Lakers teammate of Bry- bring that joy.” shows no prior incidents or L.A. mourns great Jerry We st said of Kobe Bryant. Bryant was a five-time world champion and 18-time All-Star. second shot-clock violation. ant’s from 1998 to 2001, Magic Johnson called accidents for the midsize its adopted son On the next possession, clapped from the sideline, him “a different cat,” and he helicopter. OCC Magic guard Markelle Fultz his eyes red from tears. was. Opposing teams — SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE Around the city and far He wasn’t from here, but JOHN ALTOBELLI,56, Kevin C. Cox Getty Images intentionally failed to move Honoring Bryant by us- [See Obituary, A8] Looking back at the legendary Kobe Bryant, whose life, and tragic death, captivated this city. SECTION V [See Bryant, A10] Bryant represented this led the Pirates to four city like no other, Dylan HAWKS’ Trae Yo ung dons No. 8 and holds the ball the ball past halfcourt, ing his numbers had been state championships. Hernández writes. V7 for an eight-second violation to honor Kobe Bryant. drawing an eight-second [See Clippers, D4] State sees Calls for witnesses grow louder “sneak preview” to Mon- week, and bolsters Demo- IN A FLASH, first two Revelations about day’s main event — but that crats’ calls for witnesses in Leishman finds was before revelations that the trial. The Times could Ukraine aid reported Trump told John Bolton he not immediately independ- cases of to be in Bolton’s book wouldn’t lift a hold on mili- ently confirm the account. A SENSATION undercut Trump’s tary aid to Ukraine until it in- “There can be no doubt his poa annua vestigated his political ri- now that Mr. Bolton directly Cut by several teams, Mostert new virus impeachment defense. vals, according to the presi- contradicts the heart of the dent’s former national secu- President’s defense and speeds into spotlight with 49ers By Molly O’Toole rity advisor. therefore must be called as a By Alex Wigglesworth That exchange, de- witness,” the House man- comfort zone scribed in a draft of Bolton’s agers responded Sunday By Jeff Miller Health officials con- WASHINGTON —Presi- book and first reported by night in a statement. “Dur- firmed California’s first two dent Trump’s defense law- the New York Times, se- ing our impeachment in- that he pointed it out to his He joined the Lakers when he was17. At 25,hefacedasexual assaultcharge that threatened cases of the new strain of yers said their opening foray verely undercuts the defense quiry, the President blocked SANTA CLARA — They Australian likes those caddie, Matty Kelly. coronavirus in Los Angeles this weekend in the im- that Trump’s counsel our request for Mr. Bolton’s already knew about him kinds of greens and it “It’s nice when it happens and Orange counties Sun- peachment trial was only a sought to showcase this [See Impeachment, A16] 250miles north of Super like that,” Leishman said. “I his marriage, careerand reputation. Butbythe time he retired, he had wonfiveNBA day, brought by travelers Bowl LIV, knew about the SUPER BOWL LIV shows in winning at wish it could be like that ev- who came from the epicen- speed, the elusiveness, the San Francisco Torrey Pines. ery week.” ter of the outbreak in eye-arresting skill set. When that feel arrives, championships. He wasthe NBAFinals MVPtwiceand league MVPonce.Hewon twoOlympic Wuhan, China. But for everyone else, the vs. Kansas City players are eager to take ad- By Tod Leonard In both counties, the Robert Gauthier Los Angeles Times explosiveness of his game AT MIAMI vantage of it, because they virus infecting the two indi- SWEEPING THE GRAMMYS How the rollout of ‘Dirt’ got so nasty was symbolized best by the Sunday, 3:30 p.m. PST don’t know how fleeting it gold medals.Hescored81pointsinone game. He scored 60 points in hisfinalgame.Hestayed viduals was the same strain way Raheem Mostert TV: Channel 11 SAN DIEGO — On the could be, and Leishman can as the one that has spread to Billie Eilish, 18, won all four of the top awards for seemed to burst into the practice putting greens of say that his putter carried more than 2,700 peoplein 14 acoveted selection in ism against author Jeanine NFL last week — on a stage Torrey Pines in the days him to his first Farmers music she and her brother Finneas O’Connell By Daniel Hernandez in LosAngeles forhis entire20-year career. TheLakersretired not one, buttwo of his numbers. countries and territories Oprah’s Book Club and was Cummins, who said in the as large as the NFC title is,” Lance Jenkins said. “I’m leading to the Farmers In- Open title after a couple of made in their family’s L.A. home. CALENDAR, E1 and caused80 deaths since it shipped to celebrity influ- book’s author’s note, “I was game, no less — impossibly proud of him. The entire city surance Open, Marc Leish- frustrating close calls. was discovered late last It was designed to be a encers including Stephen worried that, as a nonmi- still unknown in a league is proud of him. We’re all man’s thoughts turned to, of Struggling in the final He founded GranityStudiosand wonanAcademyAward.Hebecame known as the devoted month in central China. blockbuster long before cop- King, Sandra Cisneros and grant and non-Mexican, I that otherwise is fully mic’d proud of Raheem around all places, Malaysia. round with a driver that had Three other cases have been Protesters in LAFD’s female ies arrived in bookstores last Salma Hayek. A reported had no business writing a up, backstage-accessed and here.” Donald Miralle Getty Images Fifteen months ago, the been good to him on previ- diagnosed in the U.S., one Iraq defy cleric ranks still sparse week: a thrilling contempo- first run of 500,000 copies book set almost entirely in Instagram-driven. Jenkins coached Mostert MARC LEISHMAN completes the final round to 36-year-old Australian ous days, Leishman more fatheroffour daughters.Heloved acitythatloved him back. Kobe Bryant is deadatage 41. each in Arizona, Washington rary migration story follow- was printed. The film rights Mexico, set entirely among “The world finally got to in high school in New win the Farmers Insurance Open by one shot. dominated the TPC Kuala than made up for it, rolling in Security forces kill one Wo men are just 3.3% of state and Chicago. ing a mother and her son, were sold. migrants.” person. Separately, the force, missing a 2020 see how talented he really [See Mostert, D2] Lampur course to shoot 26 eight birdies while making In L.A. County, the in- desperate to cross Mexico But by week’s end, the Despite the backing of Farmers Open under par and notch a run- three tremendous par saves rockets target the U.S. target. CALIFORNIA, B1 fected person was a return- and reach the United States. novel “American Dirt” had towering figures in Ameri- FINAL-ROUND LEADERS away win in the CIMB Clas- on the back nine in shooting Embassy. WORLD, A3 ing traveler from Wuhan Its publisher, Flatiron garnered attention that its can media, Cummins’ page- Torrey Pines Golf Course (North), La Jolla | Par-72 | 7,258 yds sic. aseven-under 65. who is receiving medical Weather Books, an imprint of boosters likely didn’t expect: turning portrayal of a Always comfortable on Among his birdie putts, Rounds 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total +/- treatment at a hospital, offi- Mostly sunny. Macmillan, paid a seven-fig- angry charges of cultural ap- mother on the run is now at Practice doesn’t Treinen comes the poa annua greens of Cal- Leishman made a 42-footer cials said. L.A. Basin: 73/54. B6 ure advance after outbid- propriation, stereotyping, the center of the first make perfect to Fiers’ defense Marc Leishman 68 72 68 65 273 -15 ifornia that are similar to and two 14 -footers, and he ding competitors. It snagged insensitivityand even rac- [See ‘Dirt,’ A14] [See Coronavirus, A4] Despite preparing for Pitcher says former Jon Rahm 68 71 65 70 274 -14 those he grew up on, Leish- drained a 20-foot par effort the press, UCLA can’t teammate did nothing Brandt Snedeker 69 67 72 68 276 -12 man got the most welcome on the par-four 12th, the overcome its mistakes wrong in blowing the Rory McIlroy 67 73 67 69 276 -12 of familiar feelings when he hardest hole on the course. vs. No. 12 Oregon. D3 whistle on Astros. D5 started rolling balls at Tor- “You’re not going to win Tom Hoge7171 67 68 277 -11 rey. He was so taken by it [See Golf, D6]

JayL.Clendenin Los Angeles Times

3 a.m. >> The Times publishes its first second-day post, an only-in-L.A. reactionary piece that saw Kobe Bryant fans and Grammy attendees converging at the same site in downtown Los Angeles. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-27/kobe-bryant-fans-gather-outside- staples-center-on-grammy-night

HELICOPTER CRASH, KOBE BRYANT AMONG DEAD | SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 8 4 a.m. >>In another cross-departmental effort, Times investigative reporter Kim Christensen partners with Metro reporter Matthew Ormseth and Business reporter Samantha Masunaga to examine the initial stages of the investigation into the helicopter crash. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-27/kobe-bryant-crash-and-helicopter- safety

9 a.m. >> The Times publishes its first version of an article commemorating the nine victims killed in the helicopter crash, with vignettes on each written and contributed to by numerous staff writers. The story would be updated with additional information throughout the day, ultimately being finalized 24 hours later. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-27/kobe-bryant-helicopter-crash- victims

12:26 p.m. >> Metro reporter Richard Winton, who broke the initial story of the helicopter crash, stayed at the scene for multiple days, as authorities first removed the victims’ bodies and later the wreckage from the hillside. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-27/removing-remains-kobe-bryant- helicopter-crash-site

5:30 p.m. >> Times Metro reporters, led by breaking news reporter Hannah Fry, publish the first in a series of articles on findings from the National Transportation Safety Board, which detailed the pilot of the helicopter, who had not been publicly identified yet, had requested special visual flight rules that allow flying under 1,000 feet. The NTSB also noted that the pilot had tried climbing to avoid thick fog just before the “devastating” crash. https:// www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-27/kobe-bryant-helicopter-crash-becomes- focus-of-intense-federal-investigation

Tuesday, Jan. 28 >> The Times continues its wall-to-wall coverage of the Bryant crash, publishing 21 stories online and again spanning all sections of the paper.

B D

BOLTON CALTUESDAY,JANUIFARY28, 2020OR:: LATIMES.COM/CNIALIFORNIA A TUESPSDAY,JANUARORY28, 2020 :: LATIMETSS.COM/SPORTS CLAIMS Climate crisis Lakers RATTLE game is TRUMP snarls ocean’s tabled LAWYERS food chain by the Defense struggles to stayontrack amid dubbed “the blob,” had intensifying attempts Study links heat wave pushed anchovies and other NBA humpback food closer to to allow witnesses at to a rise in humpback shore — right where most impeachment trial. whales becoming Dungeness crab fishermen Matchup against rival tangled in fishing gear. tend to set their gear. The By Chris Megerian, crab season, in turn, had tonight postponed. been unusually delayed by AnnaM.Phillips By Rosanna Xia James spoke with and NoahBierman the blob, so fishing did not peak until the whales Bryant before tragedy. Karin Forney still re- started coming into town. WASHINGTON — Presi- members when an unusual “The timing of everything By Tania Ganguli dentTrump’slawyers strug- number of humpback is so sensitive from an gled to keeptheir impeach- whales started showing up ecosystem perspective,” Kobe Bryant always ment defense on trackMon- in Monterey Bay a few win- said Jarrod Santora, lead planned to call LeBron day,insisting Democrats ters ago. She could see them author of the study and an James once James passed had failed to provetheir case ChristinaHouse Los Angeles Times out her window — so close to ecosystem oceanographer him on the league’s all-time while resisting escalating at- OFFICIALS continue their investigation Mondayatthe site of the helicopter crash thatkilled Kobe Bryantand eight othersinCalabasas. the surf that kayakers could with NOAA Fisheries and scoring list. Michael Jordan tempts to subpoena former literally paddle up to them. UC Santa Cruz. “We could had done the same for Bry- national securityadvisor But with this delightful have prevented this perfect ant. John Bolton. arrival came an alarming storm from happening in So on Saturday night, af- Allen J. Schaben Los Angeles Times Bolton, an establishment number of humpbacks get- 2016 — if we had this ecosys- ter James did it in Philadel- Republican, has become a ALDO LUNA carries son Ethan, 7, at L.A. Live, where fans of Kobe Bryant assembled a memorial to the Lak- ting entangled in fishing tem science and a communi- phia, Bryant made the call. keyfigureinthe Democrats’ ers great. Bryant, whose wife, Va nessa Laine Bryant, is Mexican American, was a favorite of many Latino fans. gear that cut into their flesh cation system in place.” It was the last time James case to remove thepresident The final flight of Kobe Bryant and often led to death. This The ocean is already a heard Bryant’s voice. Less from office afterreports that COMMENTARY sudden crisis confounded complicated place to live, than 12 hours later Bryant, scientists, fishermen and Bolton’s unreleased memoir and it’s not getting easier. 41, died in a helicopter crash animal rights groups. Marine heat waves have makes the explosiveclaim on a Calabasas hillside. “We went from virtually doubled in frequency since thatTrump told him that he Investigators plan to The grief and devastation no humpback whale entan- 1982, and recent reports de- waswithholding militaryaid permeating the Lakers or- examine the historyof glements to one every other clared that global ocean to Ukraine to force its gov- ganization was still thick week — and then during temperatures in 2019 were ernment to announceanin- the helicopter pilot, Bryant hit it off with and painful on Monday. peak, in the spring of 2016 ... the warmest on record — a vestigation into apoliticalri- Playing a game on Tuesday maintenance records we were basically on call ev- trend that has continued for val. remained unfathomable, so ery single day,” said Forney, the last decade. The unfolding allega- and foggyconditions. the NBA postponed the Lak- an applied marine ecologist The chemistry of the wa- tionssent ashock through ers’ home game against the at the NOAA Fisheries who ter itself is acidifying at an impeachment trial that By JoeMozingo, Clippers. A makeup date will scrambled to help the rescue alarming rates — the cost of wasmomentous but largely MatthewOrmseth, be determined later. Latinos from the start efforts. relying on our oceans to ab- predictableasitentered its Kim Christensen “The decision was made “The whales just kept sorb so much of the world’s second week.Somnolent and RalphVartabedian out of respect for the Lakers coming.” heat and carbon emissions. senators, shifting in their organization, which is Many in L.A.’s immigrant community saw in him a kindred spirit In a study published Following the blob, which chairs to stayawake during deeply grieving the tragic Gary Friedman Los Angeles Times Monday, a team of scientists took hold in 2014 and over- lengthy arguments,charged Alight fog had settledon loss of Lakers legend Kobe KOBE BRYANT showed Lakers fans, and everyone who was watching, every emotion from frustration to exhilaration to shame. solved the mystery. They whelmed marine life for the corridors during breaks the runwayofJohn Wayne Bryant, his daughter Gianna It’s what made him so compelling, and our relationship with him so complicated, as he grew up before our eyes. GUSTAVO showed how one dramatic three years, scientists docu- to argueanewwhether AirportonSundaymorning and seven other people in a shift in the marine ecosys- mented the largest toxic al- Bolton shouldbecalled to when Kobe Bryant, his ARELLANO helicopter crash on Sunday,” tem, exacerbated by an ever- gae bloom in the West Coast. testify. daughter Gianna and six astatement released by the The mood at El Camino warming planet, could cause Malnourished sea lions The newquestions pro- other passengers boardeda NBA read. Real in Fullerton was acascade of problems washed ashore, another vide another starktest of charteredhelicopter to flyto Discussions about somber during the Sunday across California. study confirmed, and more Republican fealtytoTrump, abasketball tournamentin whether or not the game lunch rush, despite the An unprecedented heat than half a million seabirds who has demanded unyield- Thousand Oaks. should go on as scheduled steaming bowls of menudo wave in the Pacific Ocean, [See Whales, B4] ing loyalty, as senators qui- Ahalf-hour later,they began Sunday, with the in front of nearly everyone in etly debated behind closed were flying as clouds thick- league opting to defer to the the packed Mexican restau- doorswhether witnesses ened in the San Fernando Lakers. rant. would ultimately need to be Valley.The pilotwas worried The organization has The real Kobe Its most famous regular, summoned to Capitol Hill. enough to ask flight control- been reeling since the tragic Kobe Bryant, had died that But speaking one after lers to keeptrack of them. As event Sunday morning. morning in a helicopter another in the Senate well, he approached the hills of Their general manager, Rob crash in Calabasas, along Bryant’s reaction after I cursed at him on national television Trump’s10lawyers all but ig- WallySkalij Los Angeles Times Calabasas at 150miles per Health officials Pelinka, was one of Bryant’s with his daughter Gianna nored the debateraging FANS MOURN the death of the Lakers superstaratamakeshiftmemorialonMondaynight at L.A. Live. hour,theyradioed him, closest friends and Gianna’s and seven others. elsewhereonCapitol Hill, in- tellinghim he wastoo lowfor godfather. Families shook their showed his unflinching, authentic self — as he always did stead insisting that Demo- them to seeonradar. Lakers executives, in- heads in disbelief as they crats had failed to prove MORE COVERAGE The pilot commenceda cluding Jeanie Buss and scrolled through their on alert for new their case andnofurther evi- climb, rising 765feetin36 Linda Rambis, spent time at BILL PLASCHKE “Kobe, you’re such an asshole!” I yelled. :: Kobeand Nipsey, smartphones for the latest dence wasneeded. seconds,enough to clear ad- the team facility on Sunday Acouple of writers chuckled. A couple of updates between sips of the “Wedonot deal with ‘It’slikehe’sstill here’ forever linked jacent hills. and Monday. Buss lost her It was in the first round of the others gasped. I immediately regretted the Our relationship was complicated. tripe soup. Freddy Cas- [See Bolton, A10] What happened next is a mother and a close friend, 2012 playoffs, the Lakers were outburst. Bryant stood and left the room with Nearly everyone’s relationship with Kobe The Lakers superstar tañeda, son of El Camino cases of virus mystery: The Sikorsky former commissioner David in Denver, and I couldn’t take afunny look, as if he wasn’t sure what I said. Bryant was complicated. and Grammy-winning Real’s owners, showed S-76Bsuddenly veered off Stern, in the last six weeks. it anymore. But television microphones picked up my For 20 years, I fawned over his ability while MORE COVERAGE In OrangeCounty, the Lakerssuperstar lived rapper weren’t perfect. customers a photo that course and descended rap- Monday would have been Icouldn’t bear one more words and broadcast them worldwide. The ripping his selfishness. I marveled at his That’s whyL.A. loved Bryant had taken in the Robert Gauthier Los Angeles Times mal marketin the provincial idly.The twin-engine air- her father’s 87th birthday. moment of listening to that next day, Bryant approached me at practice. Mamba Mentality on the court yet lamented The evolution of them. CALIFORNIA, B1 kitchen alongside his sister ATRIBUTE to Nipsey Hussle, left, and Kobe Bryant during Sunday’s Grammys. capital, Wuhan. Symptoms asurprisinglypublic life as just ‘a typicaldad’ craftdropped 325feetin14 Most people being The Lakers were planning to smug Kobe Bryant. By then, he knew exactly what I said. He just the way it consumed him in real life. Lindsey Graham Marissa nearly 20 years ago. of the virus include fever, seconds,reaching 17 6miles honor Jerry Buss during Asked during a postgame couldn’t believe it. Like most of Los Angeles, I felt like I really Joel Viramontes of La tested in U.S. had coughing and shortness of The senator’s shiftfrom tripwithfriends. square-foot, four-story Acomplicated per hour beforelosing con- Tuesday’s game, before Sun- news conference about the “Hey, bro, last night, did you really call me knew him. And, like most of Los Angeles, I By Luke Money, Habra, who wore a Nike breath. Trump critic to steely And slept withhis family home withinits ownset of relationship tact and hitting the hillside contacts in Chinese day’s crash changed every- defense played on him by the an asshole on national television?” wondered whether I really knew him at all. GustavoArellano at theirhouse in Orange gates. The commutefrom above LasVirgenes Road, SpongeBob SquarePants Most of the people being backer captures the Kobe Bryant was flawed, city at center of crisis. thing. Nuggets’ Danilo Gallinari, Bryant filled the “Um, yes.” We would often connect during slow and HillaryDavis County. theretothe Lakers facility in killing allnine people on sweatshirt that featured the L.A. loved Kobe, Nipsey tested for coronavirus in the GOP’s transformation he was strange, but more On Monday the team small media room with dripping sarcasm. He stared down at me. I thought he was postgame walks to his car, when he would Fornearly 20 years, one of El Segundo and home board. cartoon icon dunking a U.S. had either recently trav- since 2016. BACK STORY, A2 than anything he was By Alex Wigglesworth brought in grief counselors, He smiled, shook his head, and said some- going to take a swing. Instead he just sort of confide about the the burdens of his competi- The last Saturday of Ko- the most famous names in games at Staples Center was Federal investigators on basketball, took a call. His eled to Wuhan or had con- real, Bill Plaschkewrites. who were made available to thing like, oh yeah, he was real worried, truly laughed. tiveness. Yet, there were also many times be Bryant’s life came and sportslived asurprisingly so inconvenient that Bryant Monday began awide-rang- face was in pain. tact with someone who did, Alot of talk about SPORTS, D1 employees, according to a bothered, so stressed ... “Isn’t that like the pot calling the kettle when he would regard me with nothing more went likeany typical week- public life in this unlikeliest famously charteredchop- ing investigation intothe “Sí, ’ama, ya se que se for their imperfections Public health officials re- said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, [See Lakers, D4] And I lost it. black?” than an icy stare, [See Plaschke, D3] executive privilege end at home for the retired of places. pers as oftenaspossible. It’s crash heardaround the murió Kobe,” he said. Yes, main on high alert for addi- director of the CDC’s Na- President Trump’s law- Lakers superstar. He lived in Newport far from the publishing Game postponed world. They plan to look at Mom, I know that Kobe ERIKA D. SMITH the hills above Calabasas, tional cases of the new strain tional Center for Immuniza- yers maytry to invoke He took one daughter to Coast, agated community houses and Hollywood stu- Tonight’s Lakers game the histories of thepilot, died. Grief is shared in killing all on board, celebri- of coronavirus after two pos- tion and Respiratory Dis- it to block testimony the mall. Accompanied an- with multimillion-dollar dios Bryant sought to con- is postponed by the NBA helicopter maintenance re- “He loved this place There’s this thing that L.A. barbershops ties clamored to pay tribute itive diagnoses in Southern eases. from witnesses like other to abasketball game. views of the Pacific Ocean,in quer in post-retire- as the team grieves for cordsand the foggy condi- because people treated him happens when a person to him during the Grammy California over the weekend. “At this time in the U.S., Tracing their fateful A special kinship with Both shared a deep LeBron James He took Anthony John Bolton. NATION, A10 Planned aSunday morning acustom-built 15,760 [See Bryant, A7] Bryant. SPORTS, D1 [See Flight, A6] like a normal person,” El dies, especially when that Owners and customers Awards at Staples Center. Atotal of 110 people in 26 this virus is not spreading in helicopter flight L.A.’s Latino fans love of the game breaks his silence Davis under his wing Camino Real general man- person is famous and the recall Bryant’s legacy. B2 John Legend, YG, Meek U.S. states are under investi- the community,” she said, Kobe Bryant’s commute was The Lakers legend loved the Gianna Bryant was her fa- The current Lakers star Bryant didn’t mentor many ager Rodolfo Garcia said death is unexpected. Mill, Kirk Franklin and gation for possible infection and for that reason, officials meant to be a routine one but city’s Latino community, and ther’s basketball shadow and shares a wrenching message young players in his career over the thud of a butcher Those who are left be- others hastily modified with the deadly strain, a continue to believe the im- ended with a horrific crash. A1 in turn, it loved him back. B1 had her own hoop dreams. D2 on Instagram. D3 but made an exception. D3 breaking down carne asada hind to mourn tend to gloss This was very much the their performance dedi- number that is expected to mediate health risk to the ■■■ ELECTION 2020 ■■■ Trump’splan for for tacos. Bryant’s wife, over the bad decisions and case Sunday. Hours after a cated to Nipsey Hussle, the rise, the Centers for Disease general U.S. public remains Mideast gives Vanessa Laine Bryant, had focus on the good deeds, the helicopter carrying Kobe Grammy-winning rapper Control and Prevention an- low. introduced the Lakers heroic traits and the un- Bryant, his 13 -year-old and Lakers fan who was nounced. Of the two Southern Cali- Voters see Warren, Sanders Israel far more superstar to her childhood commonly charitable ges- daughter, Gianna, and killed last year outside his Five people in the United fornia cases, one was an- to their left, Biden on their right The long-stalled pro- [See Latino fans, B6] tures. seven others slammed into [See Imperfect, B2] States have tested positive nounced by Orange County Sanders grabsleadinstate’s posal is seen as likely —the two in California, plus health officials late Friday, More liberal More conservative to fail giventhe lack one each in Washington, Illi- and the second by Los Ange- Sowers breaking new ground Kershaw wants the Astros of Palestinian involve- nois and Arizona. No new les County officials on Sat- presidential primaryrace ment. The U.S. presi- U.S. cases were confirmed urday. The Orange County dent plans to unveil overnight, CDC officials said patient was described only BernieSanders the full plan on Tues- in a briefing on Monday. as a traveler from Wuhan. 49ers assistant first female to coach in a Super Bowl to at least express remorse day. NATION, A5 The strain of coronavirus The L.A. County patient is a Poll showsWarren second and Bidenrunning third Newsom sings the delta blues has sickened more than Wuhan resident who was fly- makes up about1in3Demo- ElEliizazabebeth Warren Climate change 4,400 people in more than a ing through Los Angeles In- By Jeff Miller By Jorge Castillo By David Lauter craticprimaryvoters in the snarls whales dozen countries and terri- ternational Airport on Ravens employee State of the State address. tories and resulted in more Wednesday on his way back state. Aheatwaveinthe MIAMI —Kickoff was does standout job The 2017 World Series was WASHINGTON —Sen. Along with strong sup- Andrew Yang Pacific Ocean in 2016 Amid lobbying by “Our approach can’t be ei- than 10 0 deaths since it was to China, L.A. County public ther/or. It must be yes/and.” discovered late last month in health officials said. still six days away Monday Steele, 6 feet 7, guides buried deep in the recesses Bernie Sanders, consolidat- portamong Latinos and forced humpbacks competing interests, when Super Bowl LIV made players to interviews at of Clayton Kershaw’s brain ing supportfromvoters on young voters, backing on the to move closer to One year later, the New- central China. The majority Once at LAX, the patient som administration ap- of the cases have been represented themselves as be- history. end of Super Bowl. D6 when the Houston Astros’ the left, has taken aclear leftisenough to give the Ver- PeteButtigieg Monterey Bay’s shore, the governor’s water The moment arrived sign-stealing scheme sur- lead in the race for Califor- mont senatorsupportfrom scientistsconclude, pears to be a house divided ported in Hubei province, ing symptomatic in conjunc- policies appear in flux. on water, as competing in- where most of the early vic- tion with the CDC traveler when an offensive assistant For Buck, things faced in November and un- nia’shugetrove of Demo- 26% of voters likely to take causing them to get for the San Francisco 49ers come full circle earthed the piercing memo- cratic convention delegates partinthe state’sMarch 3 Amy Klobuchar tangled in fishing terests pull it in opposite di- tims said they had visited a screening protocol that was LikeLikelyly votvotererss’’ By Bettina Boxall rections. large seafood and live ani- [See Virus, B4] stepped onto the stage as ries again. as the presidentialcam- Democraticprimary, ac- gear. CALIFORNIA, B1 Fox broadcaster will call sesellf-df-descriescribebedd the NFL opened its champi- He has reflected on his paignmoves towardacriti- cording to the latest UC The main flash point the big game half a cen- politipoliticcalal ideoloologygy Weather Soon after taking office is the Sacramento-San onship week. start in Game 5 of that World cal month of primarycon- Berkeley InstituteofGov- JoJoeeBBididen Katie Sowers is the Super tury after his dad did. D7 Series at Minute Maid Park, tests. ernmental Studies poll, con- Sunnyand warm. last year, Gov. Gavin New- Joaquin Delta, a threatened L.A. Basin: 75/53. B6 som pledged to break estuary and source of water Bowl’s first female and site of the Astros’ cheating, Sandershas been pro- ducted for The Times. Former assistant State bill targets openly gay coach. in the weeks since the allega- pelled to the topinCalifor- His gains in the state through the “status quo” of for a majority of Califor- Michael R. Bloomberg Printed with soy inkson says she was in utility blackouts “In order to dream about between two prominent me- tions emerged. He has won- nia by growing support from Kent Nishimura Los Angeles Times come as several polls in Iowa California water politics, nians. partially recycled paper. plagued by decades of litiga- In an unusual public dis- fear of Weinstein Proposal would force something you’ve got to see dia scrums, one shouting dered how much the Astros voters who label themselves BERNIE SANDERS has and NewHampshire—the Poll conducted between Jan. 15 and Jan. 21 among 2,895 people considered likely tion and impasse. agreement with a sister power companies to it,” she said. “You have to questions at tight end benefited from illegally us- “veryliberal”—ashiftthat benefited in California states withthe first contests to vote in the state's Democratic primary. The estimated margin of error is plus or At ex-mogul’s trial, minus 2.5 percentage points. “We have to get past the agency, the California Fish reimburse customers know that it exists. You have George Kittle and the other ing technology as they 2 has come largely at the ex- by growing support from of the primaryseason —also woman testifies that to know that it’s out there. at defensive tackle DeForest scored six runs off him in 4 ⁄3 UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll old binaries, like farmers and Wildlife Department Wally Skalij Los Angeles Times for financial losses tied penseofSen. Elizabeth War- voterswho label them- showSanders gaining surrender to his David J. Phillip Associated Press B3 That’s what’s important.” Buckner. innings for another misera- Chris Keller Los Angeles Times versus environmentalists, or said proposed state rules for THE THREATENED estuary that is the Sacra- to outages. ren. That very liberal group selves“very liberal.” [See Democrats, A7] advances was her best Wally Skalij Los Angeles Times North versus South,” the pumping water supplies mento-San Joaquin Delta, above, also is a crucial So there she was with the KATIE Sowers is in her The players were seated ble chapter in his postsea- chance at survival. B3 Lottery ...... B3 governor saidin his 2019 [See Wa ter, B5] source of water for a majority of Californians. rest of the 49ers, more visible fourth NFL season and on risers and armed with son resume. He can’t help CLAYTON KERSHAW says it’s interesting that than ever before, standing third with the 49ers. [See Sowers, D6] [See Dodgers, D5] Houston players haven’t said sorry for cheating.

HELICOPTER CRASH, KOBE BRYANT AMONG DEAD | SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 9 4 a.m. >> The Times publishes a narrative look at the last flight of Kobe Bryant, which included tracking information and flying conditions, as well as graphics highlighting the differences in past flight paths from the fatal flight’s path and a timeline of crucial events from takeoff to crash. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-28/the-last-flight-of-kobe-bryant

9:24 a.m. >> Times Metro reporters, led by Winton and Fry, report the helicopter involved in the fatal crash was missing a terrain alarm system that could have warned the pilot he was approaching a hillside. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-28/deputies-patrol-kobe-bryant-crash- site-trespassers-face-arrest

5:58 p.m. >> A Graphics project reconstructs the final moments of the fatal helicopter flight, turn by turn. https://www.latimes.com/projects/ kobe-bryant-helicopter-crash-3d-map

4 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 29 >> Metro reporters Ruben Vives and Brittny Mejia combine with Times photographer Irfan Khan to share the story of how Bryant, his daughter and their legacy live on a very Los Angeles artform: its murals https://www.latimes.com/california/ story/2020-01-29/los-angeles-murals

4:21 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 30 >> Metro reporter Richard Winton writes about an L.A. congressman proposing the Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act, which would require terrain alarms on choppers. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-30/kobe-bryant-and-gianna-bryant- helicopter-safety-act-would-require-terrain-alarms-on-choppers

7:41 p.m. >> Four days after the fatal crash, Island Express Helicopters suspended its operations, Metro reporter Jaclyn Cosgrove writes. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-30/kobe-bryant-helicopter-owner- suspends-operations

4 a.m., Friday, Jan. 31 >> Data journalist Matt Stiles analyzes commercial aircraft tracking data to reconstruct the helicopter’s fatal flight, noting that the last moments raise perplexing questions about the cause of the crash. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-31/the-last-moments-of-kobe-bryants- flight-raise-perplexing-questions-on-cause-of-crash

3 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 2 >> Times investigative reporter Kim Christensen scrutinizes federal aviation regulations that have long pitted the National Transportation Safety Board against the Federal Aviation Administration. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-02/kobe-bryant-faa-ntsb-safety

HELICOPTER CRASH, KOBE BRYANT AMONG DEAD | SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 10 7:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 4 >> Metro reporters Laura Newberry and Maria La Ganga address Bryant’s complicated legacy among sexual assault survivors, who felt an important element had been omitted from the narrative growing around the beloved Los Angeles Laker. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-04/kobe-bryant-sexual-assault- survivors-legacy

2:55 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7 >> The National Transportation Safety Board releases initial reports about the crash, noting that the helicopter showed no signs of engine failure. But the cause of the accident remained unclear. https://www.latimes.com/ california/story/2020-02-07/kobe- bryant-helicopter-showed-no- signs-of-engine-failure-ntsb-says

5:21 p.m. >> The federal agency also released an image of the chopper flying into a dense cloud bank shortly before it struck the hillside. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-07/ntsb-releases-photos-related-to- kobe-bryant-helicopter-crash

10:50 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 22 >> The Times obtains records from the FAA showing that the pilot operating the helicopter, Ara Zobayan, had broken federal flight rules and been reprimanded by the FAA in 2015 for a weather-related flight violation. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-21/kobe-bryants-pilot-was- previously-counseled-by-the-faa-on-reviewing-weather-before-flying

Monday, Feb. 24 >> Los Angeles — and the world — said goodbye to Kobe Bryant in a memorial designed from the start to be filled with symbolism, from its date (2/24: daughter Gianna’s jersey number combined with her dad’s) to the three tiers of ticket prices (all incorporating those numbers). The Times livestreamed the service and told readers how to watch. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-24/how-to-watch-kobe-bryant- memorial

The main memorial article was written by Metro reporter Hannah Fry with feeds from Richard Winton, who was inside Staples Center, and field reporters Emmanuel Morgan, Luke Money, Ruben Vives and Gale Holland. The post combined tearful tributes from inside the arena with fan reaction from across Los Angeles and Orange counties. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-24/kobe-bryant-fans-urged-to-stay- away-from-staples-center-memorial-unless-they-have-ticket

A new liveblog was launched at 6:41 a.m. and was populated throughout the morning to include vignettes from the memorial. Ultimately, 44 posts would be added to the blog. https://www.latimes.com/sports/liveblog/kobe-bryant-memorial-live-updates#kobe-and- gianna-bryant-memorial-viewing-in-santa-ana-brings-people-from-as-far-as-alabama

HELICOPTER CRASH, KOBE BRYANT AMONG DEAD | SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 11 1:29 p.m. >> Sports writer Nathan Fenno reports that as mourners were gathering for Bryant’s memorial service, attorneys for his widow filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company that operated the helicopter that crashed. https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2020-02-24/vanessa-bryant-kobe-gianna- wrongful-death-lawsuit-helicopter-crash

11:55 a.m., Friday, Feb. 28 >> Times investigative reporter Paul Pringle and Metro reporter Alene Tchekmedyian, who covers the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, publish an expose on the sharing of graphic photos by sheriff’s deputies from the crime scene. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-27/kobe-bryant-photos-lost-hills- sheriff-deputies

10:05 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28 >> As Pringle and Tchekmedyian dig deeper, they discover deputies were ordered to delete the crash photos to avoid discipline. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-28/kobe-bryant-crash-photos- sheriffs-deputies

5:11 p.m., Tuesday, March 3 >> Tchekmedyian outlines how the photo scandal came to be. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-03/kobe-bryant-crash-photos- sheriffs-department-tried-to-keep-quiet

6:29 p.m., Tuesday, May 5 >> In the wake of the photo scandal, a California lawmaker introduces legislation that would make it a crime for a first responder to take unauthorized photographs of those killed in accidents or crimes, Sacramento reporter Patrick McGreevy writes. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-05-05/photos-kobe-bryant-crash-site- california-legislature

2:43 p.m., Wednesday, June 17 >> Metro reporter Matthew Ormseth examines 1,700 pages of documents released by the NTSB, which reveal the pilot dismissed concerns about the weather the day before the crash. The records draw no conclusions about the cause of the crash, but they offer the most comprehensive account to date of Bryant’s final flight, which took off from John Wayne Airport in Orange County the morning of Jan. 26 and slammed into a hillside 39 minutes later, killing everyone on board. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-17/kobe-bryant-helicopter-pilot- dismissed-concerns-about-weather-before-crash-ntsb-documents-show

HELICOPTER CRASH, KOBE BRYANT AMONG DEAD | SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 12