818 Roundup: Ronda Rousey victory, Comfort Women statue lawsuit and storms expected

Good morning readers. Today is Monday, Feb. 24. The warm weather winter continues with a high of 79 and low of 48, though rain is expected later in the week. While you get ready for the week, check out these headlines from around the area:

First-round victories are nothing new for “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey. Wins via strikes are, however, and that’s exactly what Rousey got Saturday night in the main event of UFC 170 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay, defeating challenger Sara McMann at the 1:06 mark of the first round to defend her Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s bantamweight title. Glendale News-Press

A Glendale resident, along with a Los Angeles resident and a nonprofit group, filed a lawsuit this week asking a federal judge to force the city of Glendale to remove a controversial statue in a public park that honors women victimized by the Japanese government during World War II. Glendale News-Press

It took more than 25 years, but a section of roadway in the middle of two pieces of land that Bob Hope Airport officials bought in the late 1980s will finally no longer be a public street. Burbank Leader

Down by 14 points after one quarter and 13 at the half against a team that was shooting lights out, the odds against the La Cañada High girls’ basketball squad making Saturday evening’s CIF Southern Section Division III-A second round playoff game competitive seemed pretty long. Yet, not only did the host Spartans rally, but they salvaged their season thanks to several key offensive rebounds and a gutsy and gambling defense that produced 21 second-half turnovers, which helped turned a frantic comeback into a thrilling 44-42 victory. La Cañada Valley Sun

Get ready, L.A. -- the winter storms headed to Los Angeles this week could be the wettest in two years. The first storm, expected to hit Wednesday evening, could bring as much as a quarter of an inch of rain to Los Angeles County and leave by Thursday morning. A stronger second storm will arrive in time for the Friday afternoon commute and power through Saturday, dousing the coast and valleys with 1 to 2 inches of rain and as much as 4 inches in the mountains. Los Angeles Times

-- Dan Evans, dan.evans@latimes.com

Follow on Twitter: @EditorDanEvans.