From the LAT: Charles Hillinger, the Los Angeles Times' retired roving feature writer and columnist who traversed the highways and byways of California, America and beyond in pursuit of colorful characters and human-interest stories, has died. He was 82.

Hillinger, who battled melanoma cancer for 18 months and was hospitalized in early April, died in his sleep Monday evening at a nursing home in Rancho Palos Verdes, said his son, Brad.