NJN/am for Monday, June 18

It’s Monday, so let’s saddle up…

Weather: Summertime. It’s a typical Alabama summer pattern this week. Sunny and hot is the forecast for the entire work week, with highs near 90 today and nighttime lows in the upper 60s. Temperatures will slowly increase throughout the week, reaching the middle to upper 90s by the weekend. No rain is in sight.

Traffic: The usual stuff around the Corridor X construction zone, but nothing else is happening on local freeways, according to ALDOT.

Rodney King dies. The central figure in the Los Angeles race riots in 1992 died Sunday after being found at the bottom of a swimming pool in Rialto, California. King was shown in a famous video being beaten by Los Angeles police after being pulled over for speeding. When those police officers were acquitted of criminal charges in the beating, riots broke out which resulted in 55 deaths, and led to King’s famous televised plea: “Can we all get along?” The cause of King’s death will be determined by an autopsy. He was 47.

Pinson robbery suspect escapes. Police are searching for Deandrea Miles, who escaped from St. Vincent’s East hospital with nothing but his hospital gown, slippers and handcuffs. Miles was shot during an attempted home invasion on Friday and taken to the hospital. Miles, 19, is black, 6-foot-4, weighs about 170 pounds and presumed to still be wearing the cuffs. Sheriff’s deputies called off a search for him in Center Point yesterday evening. If you see someone matching this description, call 911.

Sports: The drought is over. For four years, NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. has not been able to find his way to the winner’s circle. That losing streak finally ended Sunday, as Junior cruised to the checkered flag in the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International. Earnhardt, who had a 5.3-second lead over Tony Stewart at the end, had gone 143 races without a win… Golf: Webb Simpson overcame a brutal Olympic Club course in San Francisco to win the U.S. Open with a 1-over-par 281. Simpson won his first major by one stroke over two golfers with local ties: Birmingham resident Michael Thompson, who led the Open after the first round; and Graeme McDowell, the former UAB player who won the Open two years ago. Tiger Woods had stellar first and second rounds, but faltered Saturday and Sunday to finish 7-over, in 21st place…. Basketball: The Miami Heat took a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals series, thanks to a 91-85 win at home over Oklahoma City. LeBron James led the way for the Heat with 29 points and 14 rebounds.