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Updated on: December 19, 2024 / 6:08 PM EST / CBS News Andrew Cuomo sues woman who accused him of sexual harassment for defamation Andrew Cuomo sues woman who accused him of sexual harassment for defamation 02:28 Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo filed a lawsuit Thursday against a former aide who alleged he sexually harassed her in 2020. His legal filing came just days after she withdrew her own lawsuit against him.  In the filing, Cuomo’s lawyers claimed Charlotte Bennett, a former executive assistant in his office, lied about him making sexual advances toward her.  “Governor Cuomo did not make any sexual advances toward Bennett and did not sexually harass her,” his lawyers wrote in a notice filed in New York state court on Thursday.  Bennett was the second woman to accuse the then-governor of sexual harassment, which she said included telling her he was “lonely” and asking her if she would be open to sex with an older man. She described Cuomo as “a textbook abuser” who made her “deeply uncomfortable.” After Bennett went public with her allegations in March 2021, Cuomo held

By Harris Meyer Updated on: December 19, 2024 / 4:16 PM EST / KFF Health News Tom Contos is an avid runner. When he started experiencing rectal bleeding in March, he thought exercise could be the cause and tried to ignore it. But he became increasingly worried when the bleeding continued for weeks. The Chicago health care consultant contacted his physician at Northwestern Medicine, who referred him for a diagnostic colonoscopy, at least partly because Contos, 45, has a family history of colon issues. “I work out a lot,” he said. “But my partner said this isn’t normal. My primary care physician said, ‘Given your family history, let’s get you in.'” Northwestern Memorial Hospital asked him to prepay $1,000 out-of-pocket, and he underwent the procedure in June. Then the bill came. The medical procedure Colonoscopies are performed in the United States more than 15 million times a year. Rates of colorectal cancer are on the rise, particularly among younger people. The procedure, which is also a recommended screening for people 45 or older, involves examining the large intestine using a tube with a video camera

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – Los Angeles police have arrested a man they believe set fire to several vehicles and structures in the San Fernando Valley earlier this year. The fires were set on the evening of Oct. 20 in the Sherman Oaks area, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Several vehicles, dumpsters and a utility building were set on fire along Ventura Boulevard and Kester Street, police said. The Los Angeles Fire Department extinguished the fires and immediately determined that they were the result of arson. This map from the Los Angeles Police Department shows the locations where several fires were intentionally set on Oct. 20, 2024. An investigation was launched by the LAPD’s Major Crimes Division, which eventually identified 42-year-old Ricardo Villanueva of Van Nuys as the suspect. A wanted flyer with Villanueva’s photo and description was distributed to law enforcement which helped lead to his arrest on Thursday during an unrelated traffic stop in Van Nuys. Villanueva was taken into custody and arrested on suspicion of arson for the October fire spree. He’s currently being held at the Valley Jail in Van

Congress has less than 12 hours to find a way to fund the federal government or risk the closure of multiple federal agencies and services. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees will either be furloughed or sent home days before Christmas Republicans abandoned a proposed bipartisan plan Wednesday after President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk voiced their opposition. The Associated Press reported that Trump told House Speaker Mike Johnson to renegotiate the deal days before a deadline when federal funding runs out. Gov. Gavin Newsom declares state of emergency amid bird flu outbreak Here’s what you need to know: What is a federal government shutdown? According to the state’s Employment Development Department, Congress sets aside money for federal agencies to use in the next fiscal year each year. When there isn’t a current federal budget, federal agencies must stop spending money until a new budget is passed. This is known as a federal government shutdown. What happens to federal workers during a shutdown? Federal workers are classified as either “essential” or “nonessential.” Essential employees, those who perform emergency work involving the safety of human

Southern Californians can rely on public transportation to attend the 2025 Rose Parade in Pasadena, avoiding traffic, street closures and parking headaches. The LA Metro A Line offers multiple stops along the parade route, giving parade-goers the chance to ring in the New Year without the hassle of fighting crowded roads. Los Angeles Metro A Line train is shown in this undated image. (Getty Images) Parade attendees can board the A Line anywhere from Long Beach to Pasadena, with six stops in the City of Roses. Both the Del Mar and Memorial Park stations are directly adjacent to the parade route. Angelenos can take Metro trains or buses to Los Angeles Union Station and hop on the A Line for a seamless transit experience. For those in outlying communities serviced by Metrolink, the regional passenger rail system, is adding early-morning trains on its Ventura County, Orange County and 91/Perris Valley lines, and is adjusting service on the Antelope Valley and San Bernardino lines. These adjusted schedules will allow trains to arrive at Union Station between 7 and 7:30 a.m. Anyone utilizing Metrolink can transfer free

The Chinese government allegedly used a Chino Hills man in an effort to advance policies favorable to the People’s Republic of China in Southern California local governments, according to a criminal complaint released Thursday. Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 64, was charged with acting as an illegal agent of a foreign power and conspiring with another man — John Chen — who had been plotting to target U.S.-based practitioners of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice banned in China. Chen was sentenced last month to 20 months in prison for acting as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China and bribing an Internal Revenue Service agent. Sun, a Chinese national, served as the campaign manager and business partner for a Southern California politician, described in court records only as Individual 1. The politician was running for local elected office in 2022. During the campaign, prosecutors allege, Sun communicated with Chen about his efforts to get the politician elected to a city council. Chen relayed information to officials in the Chinese government officials about how it could influence local-level politicians in the United States, particularly in getting

A Los Angeles fertility doctor with decades of experience helping couples conceive was sued Thursday for allegedly inseminating a woman in 1986 with the sperm of a man who was not her husband, according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. Dr. Hal Danzer — a current UCLA professor and co-founder of the Southern California Reproductive Center — ran the Los Angeles Fertility Institute in the 1980s when the “young, happy couple dreaming of building a family together” approached him, according to the suit. The couple, who filed the suit anonymously, had struggled to conceive naturally but the wife became pregnant through artificial insemination conducted by Danzer. The couple had twin daughters that year. “This was 1986. Across the decades since, [the plaintiffs] have relished their role as parents, working multiple jobs… to raise the girls with the best quality of life they could,” their lawyers with the Clarkson Law Firm, wrote in the lawsuit. The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages. But the family’s reality was shattered this year. After one of the couple’s twin daughters had a baby, DNA testing revealed that

This season’s finale of “The Masked Singer” had a few more surprises than usual. The Emmy-winning series capped off its 12th season Wednesday night with a festive segment complete with tears, celebrity family cameos and a historic victory that shocked the live crowd and competitors alike. Building up to the big reveal, host Nick Cannon called the finale “probably the most legendary episode ever,” People reported. The show opened with a number from Season 5 victor Nick Lachey, the former 98 Degrees frontman-turned-reality TV star. Disguised during his season as Piglet, Lachey brought the holiday spirit with a rendition of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Next, Season 12 finalists the Buffalos and Wasp delivered two final performances each, after which the audience members cast their votes. “It was very, very, very close,” said Cannon, sporting a gold sequined Santa hat . In the end, though, the Buffalos came out on top — becoming the first group to take home the show’s Golden Mask trophy. Upon Cannon’s announcement, one Buffalo dropped to the stage floor and pretended to make snow angels. The winning

Five Latino films — stoner comedy “Up in Smoke” (1978), teen action flick “Spy Kids” (2001), Mexican Mafia crime drama “American Me” (1992), sci-fi adventure “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (1982) and intergenerational indie “Mi Familia” (1995) — have been added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry. “The new Latino-led films added to the National Film Registry tell complex and sometimes difficult stories, featuring Latinos as heroes and villains, hard-working immigrants and goofballs, space travelers and so much more,” said U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) in a statement . Castro, a longtime advocate for Latino representation in media and entertainment, has successfully advocated for the inclusion of films such as “Selena” (1997), “¡Alambrista!” (1977) and “The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez” (1982) in the registry. This year, the polititian gathered hundreds of public suggestions for Latino-centered films and shared the nominations in hopes that they would would make the the Library of Congress list, which adds 25 titles each year. Four of his nominations were selected this year; “Star Trek II” was not his suggestion, although he welcomed its inclusion. He adds

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. If you’re planning to open a short-term CD before the new year, you may want to consider these top account options. Getty Images For the past several years, savers who have wanted to maximize the returns on their money have had lots of great options to choose from. After all, the high-rate environment that made it tough to borrow money at an affordable rate also had an upside: high rates on interest-bearing accounts. As a result, savers who were looking for hefty returns on their money had plenty of high-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit accounts to choose from. The rate environment has been shifting over the last few months, though. Inflation has cooled dramatically compared to years prior, and, in turn, the Federal Reserve has cut its benchmark rate three times, with the latest rate cut occurring this week . That has resulted in the Fed rate falling by a full percentage point in total during 2024. While this has helped to ease

UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione appears in federal court – CBS News Watch CBS News Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared before a federal judge Thursday in New York. CBS News’ Anna Schecter has more. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Dec 19: CBS News 24/7, 1pm ET – CBS News Watch CBS News Luigi Mangione facing four new federal charges; President-elect Donald Trump and allies criticize latest government spending measure. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Inside the new federal charges against CEO shooting suspect Luigi Mangione – CBS News Watch CBS News Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is now facing four new federal charges for the shooting. CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson has more. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Dozens of people were reportedly sickened by norovirus at an event unveiling the Los Angeles Times’ list of the 101 best restaurants. The party at the Hollywood Palladium earlier this month left more than 70 people feeling ill, the L.A. Taco reports. While some who were in attendance said they couldn’t be entirely sure what left them sick, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on Wednesday advised of tainted oysters, including those under the Fanny Bay brand, which Times spokesperson Hillary Manning confirmed were served at the event. “We are still waiting for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to conclude their investigation, but it appears that the issue was specific to the supplier of the oysters, Fanny Bay Oysters. Fanny Bay Oysters originating from British Columbia, Canada, were sourced by Santa Monica Seafood, a sponsor and the seafood vendor of the event, and provided to one of the featured restaurants to serve,” Manning told L.A. Taco in a statement. If you are infected with norovirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests you rest and drink plenty of fluids.

A man who allegedly sold fentanyl resulting in the deaths of two others could face a minimum of 40 years in prison, according to federal prosecutors. Christopher Morales, 22, was formally charged by a grand jury on Wednesday with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death — which is now his second charge for the same crime. The initial charge came in October after the death of a person in Palmdale. That charge, which prosecutors say he’ll be arraigned on in the coming weeks, came after a Palmdale resident died of a fentanyl overdose in March. Prosecutors allege that Morales knowingly sold that person fentanyl. The investigation of that initial incident led to a search of his Palmdale home in April, when the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department discovered 4.3 grams of fentanyl. Another insurance company is rolling back coverage in California The investigation also produced text messages between Morales and the victim, which prosecutors say indicated a transaction for fentanyl. After he was arrested again for a second death, authorities found an ounce of fentanyl pills. “Within a five-month period, two victims