'King's Speech' Rules; New Archdiocese Leader

1. The King's Speech reigns as 2010's top Oscar winner this morning. The film won top awards for best picture and best actor Colin Firth along with best director and original screenplay to rule the 83rd annual Academy Awards. Natalie Portman won best actress for her role in Black Swan and  Melissa Leo and Christian Bale took supporting actress and actor for their work in The Fighter.

2. Cardinal Roger Mahony turns over the L.A. Archdiocese today to its new leader, Archbishop Jose Gonez. It's Mahony's 75th birthday and under church law he must step down. Mahony is credited with overseeing construction of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels but his legacy is tarnished by a clergy sexual abuse scandal. Gomez arrived here from San Antonio in May.

3. Funeral arrangements are pending this morning for Dodger Hall of Fame outfielder Duke Snider who led the team to two World Series titles in the 1950s. Snider, 84, died Sunday at the Valle Vista Convalescent Hospital in Escondido. Snider was among the game's most prolific hitters during his 16 seasons with the Brooklyn and L.A. Dodgers. He played on a pair of title teams in 1955 and 1959.

4. At 6;30 p.m. tonight, U.S. Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez will lead a discussion on "Civil Rights Enforcement in the Obama Era: A View to the Past and the Future.'' UCLA School of Law, 385 Charles E. Young Drive East.

5. Weather: Skies will be mostly sunny today with highs in the low 60s. In some parts of the Southland westerly winds will reach 15 miles per hour this afternoon. Evening lows will be in the 40s.

City News Service was used to compile this report.

Follow Westwood-Century City Patch on Facebook and Twitter.