In other news: GM shifts focus to electric vehicles; Scores of sick pelicans found along California coast

Published 12:00 am Saturday, May 11, 2024

By The Associated Press

Chevrolet Malibu heads for the junkyard as GM shifts focus to electric vehicles

The Chevrolet Malibu, the last midsize car made by a Detroit automaker, is heading for the junkyard. General Motors confirmed Thursday that it will stop making the car introduced in 1964 as the company focuses more on electric vehicles. The midsize sedan was once the top-selling segment in the U.S., a stalwart of family garages nationwide. But its sales started to decline in the early 2000s as the SUV became more prominent and pickup truck sales grew. Last year midsize cars made up only 8% of U.S. new vehicle sales, down from 22% as recently as 2007. GM sold just over 130,000 Malibus last year, 8.5% fewer than in 2022.

Scores of starving and sick pelicans are found along the California coast

Scores of sick and starving pelicans have been found in coastal California communities and many others have died. The executive director of the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach says that group has taken in more than 100 birds that are anemic, dehydrated and weighing only about half of what they should. The group Bird Rescue reports 110 sick pelicans in the past three weeks at its two centers. It is not immediately clear what is sickening the birds.

Judge finds Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson needs conservatorship because of mental decline

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A judge says Beach Boys co-founder and music luminary Brian Wilson should be in a court conservatorship to handle his personal and medical decisions. The Los Angeles judge on Thursday granted the petition for the conservatorship filed by the management and family of the 81-year-old Wilson. They say he needed the legal arrangement because of serious mental decline and the recent death of his wife, who handled many of his affairs. Two longtime Wilson representatives will now be empowered to make decisions for him. Wilson and his bandmates were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.