Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain:

Daughter's illness leads mom to take in 120 needy kids (OCR)
Lake Forest woman fostered so many children, including those with major disabilities, because 'I didn't have an excuse not to. It's a kid's life in the balance.'

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY: 'My mom's the best' (DP)
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following letters to moms were submitted by teacher Pat McLaughlin's third-grade class at Mariners Elementary School. Further down are letters from residents of Newport-Mesa.
High-end shopping goes to the dogs at Newport Beach's Fashion Island mall (LAT)
Pooches can accompany their owners into stores, get massages, scarf down treats or take in a canine fashion show at the outdoor mall.

Motorcyclist killed in accident was wearing novelty helmet, officials say (OCR)
Daniel Allen Dunn, a Garden Grove resident, was thrown from his motorcycle when he hit a center median. The helmet was not approved by the Department of Transportation.

A three-hour tour of foreclosed homes (OCR)
The Foreclosure Bus took potential home buyers and investors to several repossessed properties on Saturday.

TALES FROM THE FRONT: Medic fights his own battle (DP)
This is the third in a six-part series about war veterans who are members of UC Irvine's Veterans Student Union.

O.C. man gets life for cutting out girlfriend's tongue (LAT)
A man who cut out his girlfriend's tongue and let her bleed to death has been given a life sentence without chance of parole.

Orange County toll road agency hails wildlife deal (LAT)
Backers say it gives new life to the proposed Foothill South extension. But fish and game officials say further permits are needed, and environmentalists call the accord insignificant.