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A former priest has been sentenced to a year in jail and 10 years on the sex offender registry after he pleaded no contest to possessing child pornography. Rodolfo Martinez-Guevara, 39, pleaded guilty in October to a felony count of child sexual abuse material, as well as several special allegations, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release: Aggravated possession of child pornography, containing more than 600 images The crime involved a large quantity of contraband Victim was vulnerable The manner in which the crime was carried out indicates planning, sophistication or professionalism Rodolfo Martinez-Guevara, 39. (VCDA) In addition to his sentence of 365 days in jail, two years of formal probation and 10 years on the sex offender registry, Martinez-Guevara was given a suspended two-year prison sentence to serve if he violates probation. Catholic priest charged with possession of child porn Martinez-Guevara, a Roman Catholic priest who served in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles at churches including Our Lady of Guadalupe in Oxnard, was identified as a suspect “after dozens of reports were made to the National Center for Missing and

NEW YORK (WPIX) – A man arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been identified as Luigi Mangione, officials said Monday. Mangione, 26, was taken into custody in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday. He was arrested by the Altoona Police Department on unrelated firearms charges after a McDonald’s employee recognized him, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. “Responding officers questioned the suspect, who was acting suspiciously and was carrying multiple fraudulent IDs as well as a U.S. passport,” Tisch said. Officers recovered a firearm and suppressor consistent with the weapon used to kill Thompson, the commissioner said. Clothing and a mask consistent with those worn by the shooting suspect, as well as a fake New Jersey ID matching the one used at a Manhattan hostel where the gunman was believed to have stayed before the shooting, were also recovered. McDonald’s restaurant, where an employee alerted authorities to a customer who was found with a weapon and writings linking him to the the brazen Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Altoona, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J.

The historic Norms on La Cienega Boulevard will not be changed into a fast-food chicken joint, according to the building’s owner. Raising Cane’s, the restaurant chain that owns the iconic Googie-style diner, had planned to convert the Norms location into one of its chicken-strips locations when Norms’ lease lapsed at the end of 2026. But after community outcry about the decision, the company has reversed course. “We have heard the community’s concerns, and we are in discussions with Norms about the future of the site,” said Dale Goss, the senior vice president of real estate for Raising Cane’s, in a brief statement. The company canceled its presentation to the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission last week, where it had planned to outline its goal of transitioning the space into a Raising Cane’s. It is not clear what the chain plans to do with the space. A rendering shows what a redo of Norms might have looked like. (Raising Cane’s) Raising Cane’s had gone so far as to develop a rendering of what the space would look like if it were converted. The famous sawtooth neon

Actor Barry Keoghan “can only sit and take so much” online, he says, after he was “dragged across the internet” in the wake of his reported split from pop star Sabrina Carpenter. “The Banshees of Inisherin” and “Saltburn” star deactivated his Instagram account over the weekend and posted a lengthy statement on X addressing the “disgusting” trolling he had been relegated to, presumably since reports about his break-up cropped up last week. “I have to respond now because it’s gettin to a place where there are too many lines being crossed. I deactivated my account because I can no longer let this stuff distract from my family and my work,” the Irish actor wrote in the statement, which also asked his 335,200 followers on X to “Please be respectful.” Keoghan, 32, said he had received messages that “no person should ever have to read,” including comments that he described as “absolute lies, hatred, disgusting commentary about my appearance, character and how I am as a parent and every other inhumane thing you can imagine.” He said the comments dragged his character and everything he had

Rapper Azealia Banks is demanding $1 million and a public apology from 1975 frontman Matty Healy amid their recent social media squabble. The “Anna Wintour” and “Liquorice” rapper, infamous for her scathing rants on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), announced Sunday in a since-deleted tweet that her legal team had sent a cease-and-desist letter to Healy, accusing him of cyberbullying and cyber harassment, among other allegations. Banks shared the letter after she and Healy began trading blows on X last week. The letter that Banks’ lawyer Wallace Collins sent requests that Healy refrain “from making further threats or defamatory statements” against the rapper, in addition to the requests for “compensation for damages in the amount of $1,000,000 in full settlement of this matter” and a “prompt public apology.” Banks’ cease-and-desist continues: “If we cannot resolve this satisfactorily and expeditiously without Court intervention, then my client will be forced to commence legal action immediately and seek substantial monetary damages as well as legal fees and appropriate injunctive relief.” A representative for Healy did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment. The friction between the

DAMASCUS, Syria —  They streamed in by the thousands, deluging Damascus’ Umayyad Square in a sea of cars and people for an impromptu parade to celebrate the stealthy flight of former Syrian President Bashar Assad the morning before. “Raise your head high. You are a free Syrian,” blared a voice from a bank of loudspeakers atop a pickup truck parked nearby. To the side, a gaggle of young men and children swarmed over an abandoned Syrian army tank, chanting “May Allah curse your soul, Hafez,” — a reference to Assad’s father, Hafez, who ruled Syria for three decades before his death. Meanwhile, dozens of militants kept up a near-constant staccato of celebratory machine gun fire, leaving a carpet of spent cartridges on the asphalt. Off to the side, a young man stomped at the singed copies of a tome entitled “The speech on tenets and the national decision by President Bashar Al-Assad,” which bore a portrait of the former president. “That scumbag, we’re finally rid of him,” he said, emphasizing the words by stepping on Assad’s image before rushing to join the crowd in the center

After nearly a quarter-century in the House of Representatives, Burbank Democrat Adam Schiff was sworn in Monday as California’s newest U.S. senator, replacing Sen. Laphonza Butler. Alex Padilla, California’s other U.S. Senator, escorted Schiff across the floor of the Senate where Vice President Kamala Harris administered the oath of office. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve all Californians as their next United States Senator,” Schiff said in a statement. “My family came to the Golden State when I was a child in the hope of finding a strong economy, safe neighborhoods and good schools. And we found all that we could hope for in each of these respects. “I will be a tireless advocate for Californians in every part of the state and work across the aisle to deliver on day one,” he added. Schiff, who is Jewish, placed his hand on the Maimonides Mishneh Torah for his swearing-in, according to his office. The edition was printed in Italy in 1490, his office said. In a separate ceremony on Jan. 3, Schiff will be sworn in again, to begin his full six-year

Another round of potentially damaging Santa Ana winds will batter much of the region starting Monday and lingering into mid-week, combining with low humidity to create dangerous wildfire conditions. The conditions are expected to peak late Monday night into Tuesday afternoon, prompting the National Weather Service to issue another rare “particularly dangerous situation red flag warning” from 8 p.m. Monday to 2 p.m. Tuesday for the San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Clarita Valley, Western San Fernando Valley, Calabasas, the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway corridor and the Malibu coast.. Those areas will remain under a standard red flag warning until 6 p.m. Wednesday, along with the eastern San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley and the Golden State (5) Freeway corridor. Forecasters said the peak of the “particularly dangerous situation red flag warning” could see winds of 25 to 40 mph, gusting to 65 mph in typically wind-prone areas. “Some of the windier foothills and mountains will likely see wind speeds of 30 to 50 mph with damaging wind gusts in the 60 to 80 mph range during the peak of the event (Monday night)

Keeping your Christmas tree happy and healthy this holiday Keeping your Christmas tree happy and healthy this holiday 03:13 If you have yet to buy a Christmas tree this year, take cheer — prices are roughly the same as in 2023.  Growers weren’t expecting to raise wholesale prices, according to an annual survey by the Real Christmas Tree Board, based in Howell, Michigan, and sponsored by annual fees paid by growers and importers.  “It’s similar to last year. From what we’re hearing, wholesalers are holding their prices,” Jill Sidebottom, a spokesperson for the National Christmas Tree Association, a trade group that advocates for the tree industry, told CBS MoneyWatch.  The median price of a Christmas tree came to $75 in 2023, down from $80 in 2022. “Since COVID, demand thankfully has been very high, and we appreciate that families are still putting up a real tree. The alternative is plastic, and that’s not good for the environment,” Lisa Angevine-Bergs, owner of the Angevine Farm in Warren, Connecticut, and executive director of the Connecticut Christmas Tree Growers told CBS MoneyWatch. “It’s more expensive the closer to

Trump voices support for Hegseth Trump voices support for Hegseth, says he’s “doing very well” 03:55 Washington — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Defense Department, returned to Capitol Hill on Monday as he tries to solidify support among Senate Republicans as he faces allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement of veterans’ charities and excessive drinking.  Hegseth met with at least two Republican senators on Monday who had expressed concern about the allegations. In statements after the meetings, both Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina appeared more comfortable with Trump’s pick.  “As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources,” Ernst said.  Graham shared a similar sentiment about those anonymously making accusations involving the former Fox News personality’s conduct.  “The accusations being made regarding financial management of veterans service organizations and personal misconduct should only be considered by the committee if they are supported by testimony before Congress — not anonymous sources,” he said.  Hegseth has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.  Amid the reports on his

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is being hosted in the United States, and one of the venues selected to host group stage matches is the Rose Bowl.  Matches at the Rose Bowl are scheduled for June 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25, officials announced Monday. The entire tournament — which features the best club soccer teams from across the world — runs from June 14 to July 13. But which exact teams will face off against each other in Pasadena this June? Find out below: Paris Saint-Germain Paris Saint-Germain (commonly referred to as PSG) is widely considered to be the best club team in France, playing in Ligue 1. Since 2012, they have won the league every year except 2016 and 2020. While they might not boast the star power they recently had (Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappé — considered to be three of the world’s best players — played there together between 2021 and 2023) the team is still stacked with talent, including Achraf Hakimi, who helped lead Morocco to a fourth place finish at the 2022 World Cup and

Two people were wounded Monday in a stabbing that took place at a Los Angeles high school. Authorities responded to Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga around 2 p.m. for a report of two people stabbed. One of the victims was listed in serious condition, while the other suffered injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. Both were being transported to a local hospital, according to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department. Two people were hospitalized following a stabbing at Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga on Dec. 9, 2024. (KTLA) Video from Sky5 showed ambulances and police cars at the high school, which is located on the 10600 block of Plainview Avenue. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to KTLA that the incident was being handled by the Los Angeles School Police Department. No additional details were immediately released.

Even more struggles could be coming for the already unstable legal cannabis industry in California. The state’s cannabis tax rate is expected to increase from 15% to 19% in July, SFGate reports, which doesn’t bode well for a trade already struggling with issues like pesticide contamination. One owner of a dispensary in Los Angeles told the outlet that this could be “the ‘tipping point’ that will destroy even more legal businesses,” as the additional local taxes in L.A. mean the total tax on marijuana could be as high as 50%. Jerred Kiloh, the owner of the Higher Path Dispensary in Sherman Oaks, said the high taxes have already driven many consumers onto the illegal market, where prices are lower. “You have a very nimble demographic in the under-35 demographic that is just one Instagram post away from leaving the legal industry,” Kiloh told SFGate.  DOJ moves to reclassify marijuana. What happens next? While 2023 saw a reported $5.1 billion in cannabis sales in 2023, outstanding state tax bills alone total a quarter of that: $1.3 billion, SFGate found. Adding to the tax struggles is the

Rupert Murdoch has been dealt a setback in his bid to steer control of his empire to his son Lachlan after the media mogul dies. Murdoch, 93, had sought to change the terms of his irrevocable family trust to ensure his older son, Lachlan, would have sole control over his media companies News Corp. and Fox Corp. News Corp. owns influential publications such as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, Investor’s Business Daily and Dow Jones. Fox Corp. is the parent company of Fox News and the Fox broadcast network. But a Nevada probate commissioner rejected the request to amend the trust that had been opposed by Murdoch’s other children named in the trust — Prudence, James and Elisabeth. In the current version of the trust, the four eldest siblings, including Lachlan, were set to jointly inherit control of the businesses. That commissioner, Edmund J. Gorman Jr., said in a ruling over the weekend that the elder Murdoch and Lachlan Murdoch had acted in “bad faith” in their attempt to rewrite the trust, according to a sealed court filing obtained by the New