Crash Kills 3 | Fire Kills Dog Week Before Christmas | $23M Lotto Win

CALIFORNIA —On the weekend, we present a week in review of the top stories and headlines from all across California. Here's a roundup of some of the most-read stories across the state. You can also find your local Patch and catch up on those stories by clicking here.

• 3 Dead, 5 Injured As Car Flies Down CA Freeway Embankment
• CA Couple Killed In Texas Plane Crash: Reports
• Firefighters Save Christmas For Families Displaced By Fire
• Elderly Couple Rescued From Intense House Fire
• Garage Fire Kills Dog One Week Before Christmas
• CA Parking Structure Partially Collapses
• $23M Jackpot Winning SuperLotto Ticket Sold In San Fernando Valley
• Airport Worker Wins $20M Off Scratcher
• New COVID Variant Makes A Holiday Appearance: What To Know In CA
• Flu Spikes In CA, Marking State's First Pediatric Death
• With Respiratory Viruses Circulating, Health Officers Recommend Actions To Stay Healthy
• 2 Of World's Most Toxic Mushrooms Found In Parks
• Bird Flu Spreads Like Wildfire; Relief Fund Launched
• Beverly Hills Basketball Star Accused Of Kidnapping And Killing Woman
• Ex-NFL Player Derrick Ward Arrested In Robbery Spree: Report
• Female Inmate Dies In RivCo Jail; 3rd In-Custody Death Over 5 Days
• Banning Freight Train Heist: 1 Arrest Announced
• Police Hope To Reunite Victims With Trove Of Stolen iPhones & Laptops
• $10M In Meth, Cocaine Found In Vats Of Jalapeño Paste: Authorities
• Laguna Beach Among Top 3 Most Picturesque Beaches In America

Other notable stories this week include:

Man Finds Hundreds Of Rare Baseball Cards Cleaning Out Father's Home

• The pre-war collection includes a variety of Babe Ruth cards.

South OC City Deemed 'Safest Place To Live' In CA, Per Study

• Personal finance site MoneyGeek recently released a study on the safest small towns in the U.S. Find out if your town ranked.

$755K Raised For Bike Turnouts In Memory Of Lafayette's Joe Shami

• The beloved cyclist inspired the Mount Diablo bike turnouts project. With more turnouts planned, donations in his memory keep pouring in.

Disney Offers First Look Into Tiana's Bayou Adventure Ride: Report

• The new Tiana's Bayou Adventure attractions are slated to open at Disneyland and Walt Disney World next year.

Authorities Order Noodle Company In Bay Area To Fix Contamination Risk

• The company makes ready-to-eat rice noodles and bakery products, and was repeatedly warned about violations in recent years, officials said.

Watch Playful Killer Whales On The Newport Beach Coast

• Marine enthusiasts were treated to a rare sight off the coast of Newport Beach Sunday: a pod of orcas typically only found in Mexico.

See How Candy Canes Are Created At IE's Logan's Candies: VIDEO

• It's the 40th Christmas for IE's candy man, Jerry Rowley, owner of Logan's Candies. We think you'll find this cane-making video satisfying.

Save Mount Diablo To Raise $1.5M For Purchase Of 98-Acre Ranch

• It's the first property the nonprofit is purchasing directly from Contra Costa's Ginochio cattle ranching family, which owns 7,000 acres.

Ginger Cat Rescued From Busy Freeway

• Now that Callie the cat is receiving the care she desperately needs, it's only a matter of time before she becomes available for adoption.

'Shop With A Hero' Finds Gifts For Peninsula Kids In Need

• The first "Shop with a Hero" event takes place Thursday and will take 100 children on a shopping spree at Target.

Are you looking for things to do during time off?

JMC Cellars Opens In Livermore

• The Livermore Wine Community's newest member opened in November on Greenville Road and remains committed to quality, hand-crafted wines.

Seeking SoCal Snow This Christmas Weekend? Find It In RivCo, IE

• Local mountains in Riverside and San Bernardino counties should be white at the higher elevations.

See Endangered Black Rhino 'Meet Cute' At Palm Desert Living Desert

• The critically endangered rhinoceros pair were matched to breed and help save their species but can they get along? Zookeepers sure hope so.

Sky Zone Opens In Temecula 'Just In Time For The Holidays'

• Looking for things to do over winter break? Head to Sky Zone, the indoor play park with air courts, zip lines, warrior courses, and more.

Celebrities make the news — the good, the bad and the illegal

Paul Giamatti And Penelope Cruz Earn Palm Springs Film Festival Nods

• Actors Paul Giamatti and Penelope Cruz will each receive awards over two separate days at the January international film festival.

Charlie Sheen Attacked At His Malibu Home: Deputies

• One of Charlie Sheen's neighbors is accused of going to his door and attempting to strangle him, according to a report.

Tiffany Haddish Pleads Not Guilty To 2 DUI Charges

• The comedian was arrested in Beverly Hills last month after being found slumped over the wheel of her car, TMZ reported.

NBA Legend Surprises Group Trapped On Elevator In Orange County

• OC firefighters rescued an elevator full of people Monday under the watchful eyes of NBA former basketball player Shaquille O'Neal.

These photos will remind you about California’s beauty:

• Double Rainbow | Fall's Finale | Menacing Mesocyclone: CA In Photos
• Bobcat Staredown; Must-See Sunsets; Captivating Fall: CA In Photos

Happy holidays from Patch!