Kari Lake declines to defend defamation suit by AZ official

By Jonathan J. Cooper | Associated Press PHOENIX — Kari Lake, a Republican Senate candidate in Arizona who says she lost a 2022 race for governor because of fraud, is declining to defend against a defamation lawsuit filed by a top election official. Lake this week asked a judge to jump directly to the damages phase of the lawsuit filed by Republican Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer. The extraordinarily rare request for a default judgment seeks to bypass the opportunity to argue her statements weren’t defamatory, skipping ahead to determine how much she owes Richer. The court had already rejected her motion to dismiss the case, and the Arizona Supreme Court declined to take her appeal. “After months of doubling down and defending their lies across Arizona, in the media, and on social media, when push came to shove, the defendants decided to completely back down and concede that their lies were just that: lies,” Richer said in a statement. While declining to defend her statements in court, Lake maintains she was truthful and says she wants to avoid spending time and money on a

Two teens arrested in deadly Chula Vista shooting

CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Two 15-year-old boys have been arrested following a shooting in Chula Vista that left one man dead and another wounded early Wednesday, police said. The shooting was reported around 1:30 a.m. at an apartment building in the Otay Ranch neighborhood, Chula Vista police said. A woman called police from Salerno Luxury Rentals on Calle Verona to say her friend had been shot, authorities said. Officers arrived and found a man outside an apartment who been shot in the head, police said. The man died at the scene. Winning $1 million Mega Millions ticket sold in Southern California Inside the apartment, officers found another shooting victim who had been shot in the face, police said. Paramedics took the man, 24, to a hospital. During the investigation, both teens were identified as suspects and taken into custody without incident. They were booked into a Juvenile Detention Facility on attempted murder and weapons charges, according to law enforcement. Detectives are still investigating but believe the shooting was not a random attack, authorities said. Anyone with information is urged to contact San Diego

Where to find Richard Serra’s sculptures in Southern California

Acclaimed artist and sculptor Richard Serra was known for his massive works of steel that live in institutions and public spaces across the world. The influential sculptor died Tuesday at age 85, but his work and his legacy of challenging audience perspectives lives on. In a 1998 interview with The Times, Serra emphasized that even he couldn’t give an explanation or interpretation of his work. “I can tell you formally about them. I can’t tell you how to interpret them,” he said. “The subject matter of these pieces is your ability to decipher what is going on, either psychologically or emotionally or formally. I think the content is your ability, or lack of ability, to figure out your relationship to the space.” Serra’s work can be found all over the world, from New York City to Qatar, but much of the San Francisco native’s art can be found closer to home at museums and galleries. Here is a guide to Serra’s towering structures and artwork in Southern California. Richard Serra in front of his sculpture “Band” at LACMA in 2007. (Ken Hively / Los Angeles

Teens allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of beauty products in Orange County

Two teenagers were arrested for allegedly ransacking a store and stealing thousands of dollars worth of beauty products in Orange County. The theft happened at a Walgreens located on the 6300 block of Irvine Boulevard on March 22, according to the Irvine Police Department. Two 17-year-old girls had entered the store and began ransacking the shop, taking as many beauty products as they could carry, police said.   The teenagers were spotted by officers walking out of the store with thousands of dollars worth of merchandise “concealed under their clothing.” The girls were stopped and during their arrest, police discovered around $3,000 worth of beauty products had been taken from the shop. Photos of the stolen goods show a variety of beauty and personal care products including liquid and powder foundations, lip gloss, expensive face creams, cleansers, lotions, body creams and more. 3 L.A. County residents stole over $2.5 million in Target gift cards The suspects had placed all the stolen items inside large tote bags during their attempted escape. Detectives later learned the two teens were allegedly responsible for ransacking another store earlier that same

Hunter Biden’s lawyers push California judge to toss out tax charges

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Attorneys for Hunter Biden asked a judge Wednesday to toss out the tax case accusing him of a four-year scheme to avoid paying $1.4 million in taxes while living an extravagant lifestyle. President Joe Biden’s son has pleaded not guilty to the nine felony and misdemeanor tax offenses. His attorneys argued the prosecution is politically motivated, was tainted by leaks from IRS agents who claimed publicly the case was mishandled and includes some allegations from before he moved to California. Prosecutors framed the claims as far-fetched during the three-hour hearing. Prosecutor Leo Wise scoffed at the idea that the case was tainted by the IRS agents “who I couldn’t have picked out of a lineup.” Defense attorney Abbe Lowell, on the other hand, maintained the case was hopelessly contaminated by partisan politics, calling it “the least ordinary prosecution a person could imagine.” U.S. District Judge Mark C. Scarsi appeared to be skeptical, telling Lowell the hard evidence for some of his claims was lacking. “You cite to a lot of things on the internet,” he said. Scarsi said he would likely

Boeing whistleblower’s family speaks out after his death

Boeing whistleblower’s family speaks out after his death – CBS News Watch CBS News The family of Boeing whistleblower John Barnett is speaking exclusively to CBS News weeks after he was found dead. Barnett expressed concerns about safety issues within the aviation giant. CBS News senior national correspondent Mark Strassmann reports. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Remembering Joe Lieberman’s legacy of public service

Remembering Joe Lieberman’s legacy of public service – CBS News Watch CBS News Former Connecticut senator and vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman has died at the age of 82. His family says he died from complications after suffering a fall. CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett joins to discuss Lieberman’s legacy. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Illegal border crossings shifting from Texas to Arizona

Illegal border crossings shifting from Texas to Arizona – CBS News Watch CBS News As Texas has become more hostile to migrants, the number of people crossing in Arizona has soared. CBS News immigration reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez has the details. Then, Andrew Schoenholtz, professor from practice at Georgetown University Law Center, joins CBS News to discuss the Lone Star State’s border crackdown. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Divers recover 2 bodies from Baltimore bridge collapse site

Divers recover 2 bodies from Baltimore bridge collapse site – CBS News Watch CBS News Maryland police said they recovered two bodies from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse site on Wednesday. CBS News’ Kris Van Cleave and Nicole Sganga have the latest. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Opinion: How the U.N. Gaza resolution could lead to a lasting cease-fire

After 171 days of a relentless Israeli assault on Gaza, the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, with the United States abstaining. It’s a breakthrough that must be built upon. The resolution calls for an immediate cease-fire that should lead to a “lasting sustainable” cease-fire. But it weakens these adjectives by limiting the cease-fire to the remainder of the holy month of Ramadan, just two more weeks at most. Although U.N. officials consider their resolutions to be international law and thus binding , there is no direct means of enforcing these measures. Nonetheless, the resolution can be a key building block for serious negotiations. Hamas, although not a state and therefore not under the power of the U.N., quickly welcomed the decision. Israel, on the other hand, rejected the Security Council’s decision and canceled a trip to Washington by officials to work out military plans to avoid further civilian casualties in Gaza. Still, Hamas’ reaction is a hopeful sign. Earlier negotiations in Doha, Qatar’s capital, included a U.S.-sponsored offer for a six-week humanitarian cease-fire and hostage release and

TV can spark social change. These big names just urged Hollywood writers to embrace it

Halle Berry got the memo. At “A Day of Unreasonable Conversation,” a conference at the Getty Center in Los Angeles on Monday, the star regaled an audience of TV and film writers, Hollywood executives and activists with a deeply personal episode: About three years ago, when she experienced excruciating pain after sex with her then-new partner, Berry’s doctor diagnosed her with “the worst case of herpes he had ever seen,” she recalled. Event co-chair Kerry Washington had opened the proceedings by urging speakers to be not just unreasonable but also brave in tackling hot-button topics — from artificial intelligence to climate change to the throbbing bass line of the day, political polarization — and Berry’s shocking revelation was certainly brave. Halle Berry, left, and First Lady Jill Biden onstage at the “A Day of Unreasonable Conversation” conference in Los Angeles. (Lindsay Rosenberg / “A Day of Unreasonable Conversation”) It was also funny, informative and clearly more than a little surprising to her onstage conversation partner, First Lady Jill Biden , who joined the event to tout her husband’s recent executive order investing $12 billion in

Former Trump lawyer John Eastman should lose his license, judge rules

John Eastman, the former Orange County law school dean who helped forge Donald Trump’s legal strategy for retaining power after losing his 2020 presidential bid, should be disbarred, a State Bar Court judge ruled Wednesday. Judge Yvette Roland’s recommendation to yank the 63-year-old Eastman’s license to practice law in California will go to the state Supreme Court, which has the power to approve it. In a marathon trial that lasted off and on from June to November, the State Bar, the agency that regulates lawyers, argued that Eastman was unfit to practice law for peddling bogus claims that fraud cost Trump the election and for promoting a fake-elector scheme to block the electoral count. Eastman fomented “predictable and destructive chaos” when he stood beside fellow Trump advisor Rudolph W. Giuliani on Jan. 6, 2021, and told an enormous crowd the election had been fraudulent, the bar argued. Eastman claimed he was acting in good faith, and as a vigorous champion of his client. But State Bar attorneys argued “the evidence, including his often not-credible trial testimony, shows that he held — and still holds —

State Bar Judge Recommends Disbarment for Former Chapman Law School Dean

A California State Bar hearing officer Wednesday recommended disbarment for one-time Chapman University law school dean John Eastman for his role as former President Donald Trump’s attorney in attempts to delay or block the certification of the election of President Joe Biden. The hearing officer, Yvette D. Roland, also recommended Eastman, who was admitted to the State Bar in 1997, pay $10,000. Eastman began making national headlines when he addressed the crowd of Trump supporters in Washington, D.C., before the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol aimed at halting the certification of President Joseph Biden’s election. It set off a firestorm at Chapman University, where some faculty and students pushed for the ouster of Eastman, who had been its law school dean from 2007-10. Eastman agreed to retire in January 2021. A year later, Eastman sued the congressional Jan. 6 committee seeking to block lawmakers from accessing his Chapman emails. That litigation ultimately led U.S. District Judge David O. Carter to turn over some emails that would normally be kept private by law because Carter concluded there was evidence a crime was committed

Curren Price Faces More Ethics Allegations in Latest Blow to LA Council

Councilman Curren Price has been accused of 21 violations of city ethics laws for voting on several projects and other matters connected to his wife, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday. According to The Times, the alleged violations are similar in nature to charges filed last year against the councilman by L.A. County prosecutors. The L.A. Ethics Commission notified Price of the accusations last week, the newspaper reported. Price has not commented on the story, and the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Price has been accused of voting on projects involving developers tied to Del Richardson Price’s consulting firm, then failing to report the connections. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of theft by embezzlement, perjury and conflict of interest, vehemently maintains his innocence and denies any wrongdoing. A trial date has not been set. The criminal complaint also alleges that Price effectively embezzled money between 2013 and 2017 by having the city cover roughly $33,800 in medical premiums for Del Richardson, to whom he claimed to be married, although he was still married at

Here’s how much rain Southern California could get this weekend

Any chance of a mild, dry Southern California weekend appears to have slipped away as a storm system bringing wet weather and cooler temperatures is forecast to land Friday and last through Monday.   For the time being, daytime temperatures should remain in the 60s through Friday, with evening temps in the low 50s.   Late Friday, though, that starts to change as the cold front moves in and brings the possibility of moderate precipitation that evening and heavy rainfall Saturday morning across Los Angeles County, the Inland Empire and Orange County, the National Weather Service reports.   Valley and coastal communities could get anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rainfall, with foothill and mountain communities seeing the possibility of 3 to 5 inches.   “I can pretty much assure you that we will see a soggy Easter Sunday,” KTLA Weather Anchor Kaj Goldberg said.   Radar models showing likely precipitation for Sunday, Mar. 31, 2024. (KTLA) Between Saturday and Sunday nights, there is a 10-20% chance of thunderstorms over the Southland and the potential for blasts of more severe weather, including heavy downpours

Burbank City Council, L.A. Metro teaming up for bus project

The Burbank City Council is moving forward with a plan to possibly bring a LA Metro transit project to the city. “The Burbank City Council unanimously agreed to enter a Cooperative Agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) for the design and construction of the North Hollywood to Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor Project,” the city announced Wednesday. Within approving the agreement, the City Council supported “mixed-flow lanes on OliveAvenue and refrained from including specific project description language in the agreement tofurther continued discussion with Metro and the city in an effort to reach a consensus onoutstanding project issues,” a news release said. Copper thefts wreak havoc on Metrolink system, causing overlooked issues for public Plans for the LA Metro project indicated that Olive Avenue, which currently utilizes two lanes of vehicle traffic on both sides of the road, would be one of those roads that would need retooling to accommodate the new bus rapid transit line. However, some residents claim that having dedicated bus lanes in a vital corridor through Burbank will only lead to further traffic congestion. “We think one lane is

Nurses on the Picket Line: Crisis at San Bernardino’s Dignity Health Community Hospital Over Unsafe Staffing

Registered nurses at Dignity Health Community Hospital in San Bernardino are set to hold an informational picket on Thursday, March 28, to highlight their concerns over unsafe staffing levels that they say are compromising patient safety. The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) announced the action, stating that the hospital administration has failed to meet its own staffing standards. Nurses have raised their concerns in meetings with the hospital’s chief nursing officer, but they claim that management has consistently failed to adhere to safe staffing standards. This lack of support has reportedly led to delays in care, patients developing pressure sores, and increased workplace violence. “Community Hospital is continually short-staffed, putting patients’ safety at risk and forcing nurses to work in unsafe conditions,” said Virginia Licerio, RN in the post-partum unit. “Community Hospital is accepting more patients than it can safely take care of. It’s time Dignity Health invests in staffing and prioritizes safe patient care.” The informational picket is scheduled to take place from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Dignity Health Community Hospital, located at 1805 Medical Center Dr., San Bernardino. Lidya Sihotang