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We remember the enduring legacy and leadership of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. each year by gratefully volunteering, listening to inspiring speakers, participating in a meaningful gathering, giving back to our community, or finding a quiet spot to reflect and look ahead. In 2026, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Jan. 19, but some events will happen in the days ahead of the official holiday. Several communities around Southern California will hold commemorations and parades, so check locally to find out what your neighborhood has planned. And please note that while some events are free, you may need to RSVP ahead of time; check the event’s site for further details. Official Los Angeles Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade: The powerful and long-running procession brimming with floats, marching bands, and plenty of spirit will head along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, between Western and Crenshaw Avenues, on Jan. 19. Cedric the Entertainer is the 2026 grand marshal, and several local groups are expected to take part in the effervescent spectacular. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Celebration: This venerable Long Beach festivity begins at 10 a.m. Jan. 17 with a parade kick-off at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Anaheim Street. Cultural performances will follow the parade at Martin Luther King Jr. Park starting at 12:15 p.m. with a flag ceremony. Scenes from Life: Unity, the Annual MLK Concert: Enjoy a free performance by the Santa Monica Symphony and Inner City Youth Orchestra at Barnum Hall in Santa Monica. Be sure to RSVP for the Jan. 17 event, which will begin at 3 o’clock. Several stirring songs are part of the program, including “We Shall Overcome.” Experience the Dream MLK Musical: The Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts will be the place to experience this joyful look-back at the story of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King. On stage Jan. 16, 17, and 18, the new show remembers “the personal and public lives of two of America’s most iconic figures.” Martin Luther King Jr. Concert: A free program at Herscher Hall at the Skirball Cultural Center is set for Jan. 17, with the Inner City Orchestra of Los Angeles performing, with 100-plus musicians paying tribute to “… the memory of MLK’s commitment to delivering civil rights for Black America.” While tickets are complimentary, you’ll want to reserve your spot in advance. King Day 2026: The Inner City Youth Orchestra will also perform Jan. 19 at the California African American Museum in Exposition Park, with family activities adding to the holiday celebration. Food trucks will be there, too, and guests are invited to show with children’s books for donation. Culver City’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration: An uplifting event at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium on Overland Avenue will take place Jan. 17. Live music, food for sale, and activities that honor the Dr. King are on the schedule. 14th Annual MLK Day Clothing Drive & Community Breakfast: Big Sunday is behind this well-loved and well-attended volunteer happening, which includes a meal and the chance to meet neighbors. Come sort clothing for donation, or drop off what you can; it’s happening at South Park Elementary School Jan. 19. MLK Day Volunteer Festival: Honor those who “transform compassion into action” and savor a celebration that keeps the focus on helping others and giving back. Free tickets are available for the LA Memorial Coliseum event, which is presented by LA Works. Holidays Jan 6 55 powerful Martin Luther King Jr. quotes to inspire you Community Jan 15 Catch NBC4 & Telemundo 52 at the Official Los Angeles Martin Luther King Jr Day Parade!

Obscured by the swirling white and the wayward breath of Lake Michigan, Soldier Field looked less like an NFL stadium Sunday night and more like a shaken snow globe left in the hands of the football gods.  The wind howled in tight circles at 20 miles per hour. The cold bit through pads and bones alike. Helmets glistened with frost. And by the end of it all, the Los Angeles Rams were still standing — survivors of an instant classic, victors of the 2026 NFC Divisional Round, and one win away from the Super Bowl. The Rams outlasted the Chicago Bears, 20–17, in overtime, punching their ticket to the NFC Championship Game in Seattle next Sunday. It was brutal. It was beautiful. It was unforgettable. They came prepared, or at least as prepared as anyone can be for a night like this. The Rams’ equipment staff hauled nearly 2,000 pounds of cold-weather gear into Chicago — bone broth, cayenne pepper, heaters, hand warmers, even wetsuits. Anything to keep circulation alive. Anything to fend off the elements. But nothing could prepare them for what unfolded once the ball was kicked into the frozen night. On Chicago’s opening possession, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams tested the wind and the Rams’ resolve. He never got the chance to settle in. Cornerback Cobie Durant — “The Land Shark” — undercut a throw and intercepted Williams at the goal line, stealing points and immediately setting the tone. In a game this cold, every inch mattered. Every mistake lingered longer. Cobie Durant picks off Caleb Williams on 4th down!LARvsCHI on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/Tjy8gBMQ97— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2026 Matthew Stafford responded by doing what he has done his entire career — controlling chaos. The Rams’ first drive was a masterpiece of patience: 14 plays, 85 yards, nearly seven minutes evaporated from the clock. Kyren Williams finished it with a four-yard touchdown run, churning through snow and bodies alike, giving Los Angeles an early 7–0 lead and a sense of rhythm in conditions designed to erase it. Kyren Williams starts the scoring in Chicago!LARvsCHI on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/tZeXRByo4G— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2026 Chicago answered with resolve. Williams, the former USC star playing on the biggest stage of his young career, engineered a 12-play, 80-yard march. Facing fourth-and-goal, season trembling in the balance even that early, he zipped a three-yard touchdown to DJ Moore to tie the game. Soldier Field exhaled. The Bears weren’t going anywhere. Caleb to DJ on 4th and Goal!LARvsCHI on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/aM77X2g1iy— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2026 By halftime, the game sat deadlocked at 10–10 — fitting for a night where neither team could fully escape the other or the elements. The wind knocked down throws. The ball slipped loose. Footing vanished without warning. It was football stripped to its rawest form. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JANUARY 18: A member of the Chicago Bears staff blows snow off of the field during the second quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at Soldier Field on January 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) The third quarter passed like a held breath, both defenses digging in, both offenses searching for answers. Then early in the fourth, the Rams finally found theirs. Rookie edge rusher Jared Verse knifed through on third-and-one to stonewall Chicago and force a punt. Rams defense wrecks the play immediatelyLARvsCHI on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/Aj3ijSoo3a— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2026 Sean McVay sensed the moment. What followed was a drive that felt like defiance — 14 plays, 91 yards, a balanced blend of grit and guile. Stafford picked his spots. Kyren Williams punished the interior. And once again, Williams finished the job, plunging in for his second touchdown to give the Rams a 17–10 lead. Kyren Williams' second TD puts…

Rich Paul and his recent podcast comments have sent shockwaves through the Los Angeles Lakers organization, and now, a league executive has unloaded on the Klutch Sports founder for what he called a major misstep. Paul suggested the Lakers should trade Austin Reaves to the Memphis Grizzlies for Jaren Jackson Jr. He also openly stated […] The post NBA Executive Blasts Rich Paul for ‘Outlandish’ Podcast Comments appeared first on Basketball Forever.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ injury list has grown so long this season that normalcy has become a luxury, and head coach JJ Redick knows it better than anyone. Saturday night was the latest example. Los Angeles took the floor without Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic, Jaxson Hayes, or Deandre Ayton, forcing Redick to start Maxi Kleber […] The post Injury Chaos Defines Lakers’ Season as JJ Redick Highlights Harsh Reality appeared first on Basketball Forever.