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Los Angeles

Michael Jackson’s accusers seek to open sealed records that include nude photos of the singer

Michael Jackson’s production company is fighting to keep sealed court records out of the hands of two of his accusers ahead of a forthcoming jury trial. MJJ Productions filed a motion Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court to quash four subpoenas issued by Jackson’s alleged sex-abuse victims, Wade Robson, 41, and James Safechuck, 46. The subpoenas, directed at the county sheriff’s offices and the district attorneys of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties, are for sealed police records related to Jackson’s 2005 pedophilia charges. The production company believes Robson and Safechuck’s actual target is a series of nude photographs of Jackson included in the records. The nude photographs were taken by police in 1993 amid accusations from a 13-year-old boy that he was sexually abused by Jackson, which culminated in an estimated $20-million settlement. They are also protected by a court-entered protective order, MJJ Productions said in the Wednesday filing. “Beyond the invasion of privacy issues, the available records indicate the photographs Plaintiffs now seek are also subject to a strict protective order agreed to by Michael Jackson and Santa Barbara law enforcement and

Los Angeles

Lakers look to keep momentum going into last five games of regular season

“We’ll be ready to play, I promise you.” That was the prediction Lakers coach Darvin Ham made to the media following Friday morning’s practice in El Segundo. His team is in playoff mode entering Saturday afternoon’s home game against Cleveland (46-31), the team with the third-best record in the East. “The key thing today was to make the focus about us,” Ham said. “Trying to sustain the stuff we’re doing good and clean up the things we’re not doing well. Of course you look at the trends. You take all of the information you’re provided and come up with different combinations and lineups that are high up in the plus-minus categories.” On the positive side, the Lakers appear to be playing as well as they have at any stage this season. However, despite winning eight of their last 10 games, they have not gained any ground in the Western Conference playoff race and remain in ninth place with five games left. Rui Hachimura said one of his friends advised him to be more aggressive and the forward has taken the message to heart. “I’m trying

Los Angeles

ESPN executive criticized on-air by Pat McAfee leaves network after nearly 40 years

Norby Williamson, a longtime ESPN executive who was recently criticized by popular on-air personality Pat McAfee, is leaving the network after nearly 40 years, according to a memo sent to employees Friday. The move has nothing to do with McAfee, a person familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak about it publicly told The Times, but came about because Williamson did not share ESPN president of content Burke Magnus’ long-term vision for the company’s content strategy. In a note to employees, which was viewed by The Times, Magnus wrote: “I am reaching out with some important news. Norby Williamson will be leaving the company today after nearly 40 years of dedicated service. “During Norby’s career, he made significant contributions across many important roles within Content. Through his steadfast commitment and attention to detail, Norby has had a lasting impact on the sports fans’ experience. His wide-ranging influence includes SportsCenter, breaking news coverage, immense creativity within event and studio productions and diverse storytelling across various ESPN platforms.” The note to employees also included a message from Williamson, which read: “Almost 40 years ago in

Los Angeles

Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher have split after 13 years of marriage, three kids

Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher‘s marriage has come to an end after 13 years. The comedians and “Brothers Grimsby” co-stars announced their split Friday, revealing in matching Instagram story posts that “in 2023 we jointly filed to end our marriage.” The now-exes shared a photo on both their accounts of themselves in coordinating white athletic outfits. “After a long tennis match lasting over twenty years, we are finally putting our racquets down,” their joint statement said. A Cohen representative confirmed the legitimacy of both the stars’ posts to The Times on Friday, but did not provide additional comment. A Fisher representative did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment. “Borat” star Cohen, 52, and “Now You See Me” actor Fisher, 48, married in 2010 after first meeting in 2001 at a party in Sydney, according to People. After their quiet March 2010 marriage in Paris, the actors welcomed three children. For much of their marriage, the actors kept their family life away from the public eye and social media, aside from a few interview comments and appearances at Hollywood events, including at

Los Angeles

Fore! ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ is indeed in development, per Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore

Almost three decades later, it’s still all in the hips. Adam Sandler confirmed rumors that a sequel to “Happy Gilmore” is in development, following Christopher McDonald’s accidental leak last month that Sandler had shown him a first draft of the script. “Dude,” Sandler said, recounting his conversation with McDonald on Wednesday’s “Dan Patrick Show,” “we’ve been talking about a ‘Happy 2’ and we’re working on some stuff… But don’t tell anybody.” The comedian spilled more info, noting that he’s collaborating with college roommate Tim Herlihy on the project and wants to use it as an opportunity to honor the late Bob Barker, Carl Weathers and Joe Flaherty, in addition to staying true to the original cast. “Netflix is excited about it,” he said. Of course, a secret like that didn’t stay secret for long. Drew Barrymore, a longtime Sandler friend and castmate, exclaimed “I want it, I need it,” in reaction to the news on her talk show on Thursday. Later in the segment, Barrymore checked her phone and then reported to the audience: “This just in, I have breaking news…. I’ll just say this

Los Angeles

Owner of Compton Animal Rescue charged with animal cruelty, neglect

A man who owns a nonprofit organization meant to help dogs in need and find them homes has been charged with 25 counts of animal abuse and neglect, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Damian Wesley, 31, was charged Friday, the D.A.’s Office said, months after search warrants were served at two properties related to Compton Animal Rescue, a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization. During those searches, 145 live animals were accounted for, as well as 12 animals that were dead. The vast majority of the animals were “severely underweight and suffering from various illnesses,” the D.A.’s Office said, and many had to be euthanized due to their grave health conditions. It’s further alleged that Wesley was aware of the condition of 25 distressed animals and had time to act but did nothing. “I am deeply saddened by the alleged animal cruelty committed by Mr. Wesley,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a news release. “Our community relies on animal rescues to properly care for animals as they await their new homes. The suffering endured by these innocent animals is incomprehensible and will not

Inland Empire

Claremont Lewis Museum of Art plans three ‘This is not a chair’ events

The Claremont Lewis Museum of Art has three events planned in April in conjunction with its “This is not a chair” exhibit, which runs through April 21. The first is “Maloof it off the Roof” 6-7 p.m. Saturday, April 6, during the April Art Walk. During the event, artists and furniture makers will provide a variety of “chairs” to be dropped from the museum’s roof with musical accompaniment. The performance event is based on tales that, as a young furniture maker, Sam Maloof would drop his chairs from the roof of his garage to test the strength of their joints, according to a news release. The second event is Jack Rogers Hopkins Film Night at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 11. The museum will screen “Jack Rogers Hopkins: California Design Maverick,” a 30-minute documentary about the Modernist sculptor, in the Calaycay Gallery. Following the screening, there will be a discussion with Katie Nartonis, the film’s director, and Jim Rawitsch, executive director of the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts. The free program is held in conjunction with the Claremont museum’s “This is not

Sacramento

Kurtenbach: Things are different for the 2024 SF Giants, and fans have noticed

SAN FRANCISCO — New Giants manager Bob Melvin couldn’t wait for his team’s home opener Friday. First pitch might have been at 1:35 p.m., but he was at the ballpark at 6:30 a.m. “There are very few days that get you kind of nervy like this,” Melvin said before the game. “There’s basically one in 162.” After back-to-back seasons of boring play and mediocre results, the Giants organization hopes to keep that buzz going for the next 80 home games. Then, hopefully, for a few more games in the postseason. Friday’s walk-off winner, with new third baseman Matt Chapman going first-to-home on a Thairo Estrada double in the bottom of the ninth to win 3-2, is an excellent home start. But it’s important to remember that scope. Baseball is six months of play, day in, day out. The Giants might have entered Friday’s game coming off a sweep at the hands of baseball’s superteam — the rival Dodgers — and with only two wins on the season, but this team has the makings of a club that can make noise in the National League. The

Sacramento

President Biden says he has a new plan for student loan relief

By Seung Min Kim and Collin Binkley | Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will announce his latest effort to broaden student loan relief next week for new categories of borrowers, according to three people familiar with the plans, nearly a year after the Supreme Court foiled his administration’s first attempt to cancel debt for millions who attended college. Biden will detail the plan Monday in Madison, Wisconsin, where the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin is located. The actual federal regulations — outlining who would qualify to get their student loan debt reduced or eliminated — are not expected to be released then, said the people, who were granted anonymity to detail a proposal not yet made public. Much of the specifics that Biden will discuss Monday have long been telegraphed through a negotiated rulemaking process at the Department of Education, which has worked for months to hash out the new categories of borrowers. The president announced immediately after the Supreme Court decision that Education Secretary Miguel Cardona would undertake the process because he would have the power under the Higher Education

Sacramento

Thairo Estrada walks off Padres to give SF Giants dramatic win in home opener

SAN FRANCISCO — A sellout crowd of 40,645 was treated to a dramatic finish to the first game of the year on the shores of McCovey Cove, beneath blue skies with a brisk breeze blowing out to right field on an otherwise pleasant spring afternoon. Thairo Estrada raised both arms above his head in celebration as he chugged into second base, turning to watch Matt Chapman beat the relay throw from Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim. Chapman slid headfirst into home, sneaking past the tag of catcher Luis Campusano and sending the capacity crowd home happy. The Giants walked off the Padres, 3-2, to snap a four-game losing streak and pick up their first one-run win of the season. Estrada delivered the decisive hit, sending a double into left-center field after San Diego reliever Enyel De Los Santos hit Chapman to put the first batter he faced on base. Making his second start, Jordan Hicks pitched deeper into the game than he had in any previous career start, receiving a rousing ovation as he walked off the mound after the top of the seventh inning. Reaching

Sacramento

Best Delta 8 Disposable Vape Pens: Top 5 Brands of THC Vapes

sponsored content Vaping is becoming a favorite way for many to enjoy it. People like vaping because they believe it’s healthier, tastes better, and gives them a better experience than smoking or other traditional methods.  For many, the switch to vaping is driven by the appealing notion that it’s a healthier, more flavorful, and ultimately more gratifying way to enjoy Delta 8 THC. With this significant shift in consumption habits in mind, this article is dedicated to showcasing the top 5 Brands for Delta 8 disposable vapes that have captured the market’s attention.  We picked these because they’re top-notch in quality, they taste great, and they make users happy. Whether you’ve been vaping for a while or you’re thinking about giving it a try, our list of the best Delta 8 disposables is here to help you get the most out of your vaping journey, showing you the best of what’s out there. Top 5 Delta 8 THC Disposable Vape Pens Elevate   – Overall Best and Strongest Delta 8 Disposable Vape Pen Diamond CBD  – High Quality THC Vape Pens for Beginners Binoid  

Far North

Judge Rules Arcata Can’t Put Earth Flag on Top

The Earth flag’s future at the top of three municipal flagpoles in Arcata is in question after a judge found this week that voters there “do not have the power to exempt” the city from following state laws mandating the U.S. flag fly above all others. Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Timothy Canning’s ruling on Measure M comes a year and a half after the citizen-led initiative directing the placement was approved in the November 2022 election with a final vote of 3,051 to 2,781, with around 52 percent having cast ballots in favor of putting the Earth flag on top. Canning noted the principle question under his consideration at the request of the city was whether Arcata voters could impose the change through the local ballot measure process. “There may be very strong policy reasons to fly the Earth flag above the national flag, as Measure M sets forth, but those policy reasons are insufficient to excuse the city from complying with mandatory state law on flying the national and state flags,” he wrote in the April 2 ruling. “The court finds and declares