Category: Los Angeles

“Wicked” actor Marissa Bode is speaking out against the ableist discourse surrounding her character, Nessarose, after the movie musical’s debut. The 24-year-old, who makes her feature film debut in “The Wizard of Oz” prequel adaptation, is the first wheelchair user ever to be cast as the “tragically beautiful” younger sister to Wicked Witch-to-be Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo). But her complicated character was met with mixed reactions after “Wicked” was released in theaters last week and broke the box-office opening record for a film based on a Broadway musical. “It is absolutely OK to not like a fictional character,” Bode said in a TikTok posted Saturday, acknowledging her bias toward the “complex” Nessarose. “‘Wicked’ and these characters and the movie wouldn’t be what it was if there weren’t different opinions on the characters and who’s truly wicked or not.” “That being said,” she continued, “aggressive comments and ‘jokes’ about Nessa’s disability itself is deeply uncomfortable because disability is not fictional. At the end of the day, me, Marissa, is the person that is still disabled and in a wheelchair. And so, it is simply a low-hanging fruit

It took less than an hour Monday for all tickets to be sold for The Weeknd’s one-night-only, in-the-round concert at the Rose Bowl. The concert is scheduled for Jan. 25. According to concert promoter Live Nation, more than 300,000 fans were in the online ticket queue when ticket sales began Monday morning. The show was sold out in less than an hour, according to Live Nation. The Canadian-Ethiopian star (real name Abel Tesfaye) said the one-night-only show will feature a previously unseen production, and the stage will take over the entire floor of the stadium. The concert will mark the release of The Weeknd’s new album, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” due Jan. 24. The Rose Bowl performance comes on the heels of The Weeknd’s recent one-night-only stadium show in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It also follows his fall tour across Australia, which included multiple shows in Melbourne and Sydney. The Weeknd’s “After Hours Til Dawn” tour in 2022-23 included more than 60 sold-out stadium shows across North America, Europe, the UK and Latin America, drawing more than 3 million attendees.

A San Fernando Valley man pleaded not guilty Monday to possessing two suitcases containing clothing caked in methamphetamine while preparing to board a flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Australia. Raj Matharu, 31, of Northridge entered his plea to a federal count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A trial date of Jan. 21 was tentatively set in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. “Drug dealers are continually inventing creative ways of smuggling dangerous narcotics in pursuit of illicit profit — as alleged in the facts of this case,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. “In the process, they are poisoning communities throughout the world. Law enforcement is committed to fighting drug trafficking, knowing that every seizure saves lives.” According to court documents, on Nov. 6, Matharu attempted to travel from Los Angeles to Sydney. At the ticket counter, Matharu checked two luggage items — one pink suitcase and one gray suitcase. After Matharu checked the suitcases, screening officers X-rayed them. The X-ray revealed irregularities and officers pulled the suitcases for a secondary inspection.

Ethics concerns over Trump, Musk relationship President-elect Trump’s relationship with Elon Musk raises ethics concerns 03:02 Elon Musk’s efforts to get his massive $56 billion 2018 Tesla pay package reinstated was rejected by a Delaware judge on Monday.  The decision, issued by Delaware Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen St. J. McCormick, comes after a majority of Tesla shareholders in August reauthorized the compensation package during the electric vehicle maker’s annual meeting.  After it was initially approved in 2018, the pay package sparked a lawsuit from some Tesla shareholders who accused Musk and Tesla’s board of directors of breaching their duties and unjustly enriching the billionaire. In January 2024, McCormick had ruled that Musk and his company failed to prove that the huge payout was legally warranted, prompting Musk to take the issue back to his shareholders in August. In her Dec. 2 decision, McCormick said that Musk had asked the court “to flip its decision and enter judgment in their favor.” She added, “The motion to revise is denied,” citing what the judge described as “at least four fatal flaws” in arguments from Musk’s attorneys. “The

A central California middle school teacher died after contracting rabies from a suspected bat bite, local health officials said. The victim’s death was reported last Tuesday. The Fresno County Department of Public Health confirmed the victim was exposed to rabies in Merced County. Friends identified the victim as Leah Seneng, 60, an artist and art teacher at Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos. “We are raising funds for her family after her unexpected death for funeral expenses. We ask for privacy for her family during this difficult time and thank you in advance for any donations. Every little bit helps,” Laura Splotch wrote in a GoFundMe campaign. Leah Seneng is seen in a GoFundMe campaign photo. (Laura Splotch) Splotch told a local TV station that Seneng found the bat in her classroom in mid-October and was bitten after she picked it up to move it outside. “She didn’t wanna harm it,” said Splotch. “But that’s when I guess it woke up or saw the light or whatever – It swooped around a bit, and it took off.” Seneng didn’t experience any symptoms at first, Splotch

One of the most scandal-ridden names in American business history appears to be back, though the seriousness of its reappearance remains to be seen. “We’re back. Can we talk?,” Enron posted Monday on social media alongside a brief video and a press release. The announcement comes 23 years to the day after its Dec. 2, 2001, bankruptcy due to widespread accounting fraud that created perhaps the most notorious corporate scandal in American history. An Enron spokesperson deferred comment back to the Monday press release, though they teased that “a big announcement in the energy space” was on the way. The video also yielded no clues, only presenting generic images and slogans that evoke the Kouchtown parody ads from “30 Rock.” As one might expect, though, the scandal is referenced often in the promotional materials, as Enron promises that its “leadership team is focused on setting a high standard for ethical business practices, transparency, and sustainability, serving as a model for corporate responsibility worldwide.” Additionally, by “acknowledging the past,” Enron’s newest iteration is “founded on a renewed commitment to integrity, with a forward-looking approach that prioritizes

With every jump shot that fell through the net, a flurry of nine points in less than 2½ minutes last week, Dylan Andrews provided a reminder of the player he’s been and the one he’d like to be again. You remember the UCLA point guard from late last season, right? Driving past anyone who dared to try and stand between him and the basket. Pulling up for feathery jumpers. Almost single-handedly lugging his team on a six-game winning streak. There’s only been glimpses of that player over the season’s first month. A groin injury that sidelined the junior for two games certainly didn’t help, but it seems as if he hasn’t been nearly as much on the attack as he was last February and March. The statistics tell the story. Andrews is averaging 8.0 points and 3.8 assists on 48.6% shooting, including 31.6% on three-pointers. That’s a long way from the production of his final 14 games last season, when he averaged a team-leading 17.1 points while making 40.8% of his three-pointers. He provided a hint of that efficiency last week with his barrage of

The head of the L.A. city agency overseeing animal shelters is stepping down, according to an city email sent Monday to shelter volunteers and animal advocates. Staycee Dains resigned effective November 30, assistant general manager Annette Ramirez wrote in the email, which was viewed by The Times. Ramirez wrote that she had been appointed interim general manager by Mayor Karen Bass. Dains, who earned about $272,730, did not immediately respond to an email and phone message. She had been on paid leave since August. Officials had declined to explain why she took a leave, leading to uncertainty about the agency’s leadership. Bass, when asked about Dains’ future in October, declined to tell The Times whether she was looking for a new general manager. Bass added that Ramirez, who was tasked with leading the agency during Dain’s absence, was “performing absolutely fine.” Bass announced Dains’ hiring in June 2023, touting her arrival as part of the mayor’s effort to turn around Animal Services, which faces chronic problems including overcrowding and staff shortages. Agnes Sibal, a spokesperson for L.A. Animal Services, said earlier this year that the

California sets initial State Water Project allocation at 5% following hot, dry stretch The California Aqueduct, which transports water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to Southern California, runs near Highway 165 in Los Banos. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times) Dec. 2, 2024 Updated 2:21 PM PT California water managers have announced their preliminary forecast of supplies that will be available next year from the State Water Project, telling 29 public agencies to plan for as little as 5% of requested allotments. The state Department of Water Resources said Monday that the initial allocation is based on current reservoir levels and conservative assumptions about how much water the state may be able to deliver in 2025. “We need to prepare for any scenario, and this early in the season we need to take a conservative approach to managing our water supply,” DWR Director Karla Nemeth said. Last year, the state’s initial forecast was 10% of requested supplies, but the allocation was increased to 40% in the spring. Officials said the initial water supply forecast does not take into account the series of storms that drenched

President Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter dismayed many political figures, including Democratic elected officials, who said they worried that the protection offered to the president’s child could undermine faith in the criminal justice system. Critics said Biden’s action might embolden President-elect Donald Trump to pardon his allies, including the hundreds of people who invaded the U.S. Capitol in 2021 in hopes of overturning Trump’s loss to Biden in the 2020 election. Others defended the Hunter Biden pardon, saying the president was protecting his son from a campaign of retribution Trump has promised to wage against his political opponents. The elder Biden issued the pardon Sunday, sparing his 54-year-old son from a possible prison sentence for federal gun and tax convictions. The president had previously promised he would not pardon his son. “President Biden’s decision put personal interest ahead of duty and further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all,” U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) wrote on the X social media site Monday. Colorado’s Democratic governor agreed. “While as a father I certainly understand President @JoeBiden’s natural desire to

Airlines are improving on-time arrivals by upping the estimated time of flights Airlines are improving on-time arrivals by upping the estimated time of flights 03:04 Two flight attendants for Delta Air Lines were pulled from an international flight after failing a breathalyzer test in Amsterdam on Friday. Randomly tested by Dutch authorities before a flight to New York’s JFK International Airport, a female flight attendant reportedly showed a blood alcohol level seven times over the legal limit for crew members and a male flight attendant failed by 0.02, an official familiar with the situation confirmed.  The female Delta employee was fined 1,900 euros, or about $2,000, and her male colleague was fined €275, or about $290. Another flight attendant from a different airline was also fined €1,800 (around $1,900) for being 6.5 times over the limit with the trio flagged during a three-hour period in which police screened 445 pilots and flight attendants at Schiphol Airport, according to Aviation A2Z. A spokesperson for the Atlanta-based carrier told CBS News that the incident did not affect the flight.  “Delta’s alcohol policy is among the strictest in

Dec 2: CBS News 24/7, 1pm ET – CBS News Watch CBS News President Biden pardons son Hunter Biden for federal gun charges and tax evasion; Closing arguments to end trial of veteran accused of deadly chokehold Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

College football brawls after controversial flag moves – CBS News Watch CBS News Several players for some popular college football teams around the U.S. took to fighting as a controversial flag move grows in popularity. USA TODAY’s Dan Wolken joins CBS News with more on the brawls. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

The Internal Revenue Service and its Security Summit partners issued a warning Monday, urging taxpayers to exercise extra caution during holiday shopping to avoid falling victim to identity theft scams. The alert coincides with the start of National Tax Security Awareness Week, a campaign to educate taxpayers and tax professionals on protecting sensitive data. “The holiday shopping season and the fast-approaching tax season create a tempting target for identity thieves and scam artists,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. The IRS highlighted common scams, including phishing emails disguised as delivery notifications or tax-related messages. Those fraudulent schemes attempt to trick unsuspecting victims into providing personal or financial information, leading to identity theft. The agency encouraged taxpayers to use secure online shopping practices, such as verifying websites for “https,” avoiding public Wi-Fi for transactions, and enabling multi-factor authentication on accounts. For more tips and resources, visit the IRS’s National Tax Security Awareness Week webpage.

A whirlwind road trip to see country music star Zach Bryan in concert ended on an even higher note for a Southern California mother and son thanks to a winning California Lottery Scratcher ticket. Danielle Magalen and AJ Tamraz of Laguna Niguel drove 430 miles to Sacramento on Saturday to see Bryan perform at Golden 1 Center that night as a birthday gift to AJ, who just turned 18 in October. AJ says it was a great show – but a very quick turnaround. On Sunday, they were driving back home on the 5 Freeway when they encountered heavy traffic through the Central Valley. “We both had to use the restroom, so we stopped at a Love’s truck stop in this small town, Santa Nella,” AJ told KTLA. They planned to use the restroom, buy a couple of bottles of water, and quickly get back on the road as they still had a long drive ahead. Playing the lottery wasn’t originally on their minds. That is until Danielle noticed a new holiday-themed Peppermint Payout Scratcher ticket. “She comes back out the car and gives me

The California Assembly will limit the number of bills each legislature can introduce from 50 to 35, according to the house rules adopted at the start of the session on Monday. Senate President pro tem Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) told CalMatters, who first reported the news, that he isn’t opposed to a conversation about a similar reduction for senators. Legislators can request a waiver to exceed the cap on bills they can introduce. About 19 of the 40 senators exceeded the bill limit during the most recent session. In the Assembly, 24 out of 80 lawmakers hit or exceeded the limit, according to the Digital Democracy database. California lawmakers hold special session to ‘Trump-proof’ state policies Lawmakers introduced 4,821 bills this session and sent 2,252 to Gov. Gavin Newsom during the 2023-2024 session. The new rule by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas isn’t the first time the bill introduction limit has been changed. In 2002, former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg (D- Van Nuys) lowered the limit from 40 to 30 and in 2017, then-Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D- Lakewood) increased the limit from 30 to 50

Ever since he was a boy, Miller Moss dreamed of being USC’s starting quarterback. He followed that dream as a touted prospect into a crowded quarterback room at USC. And he waited three years as a backup, biding his time as many others in his class bolted for the transfer portal instead. Moss’ chance to lead USC’s offense lasted through one outstanding bowl performance and nine games of an up-and-down season before Moss was replaced by his own backup, and the window at his dream school had closed suddenly. By Monday morning, three weeks after he was replaced, Moss made it official that he plans to enter the transfer portal, leaving USC after four seasons. “Being a USC Trojan was a lifelong dream of mine,” he wrote. “I poured everything I have into this — body, heart, mind and soul — and am humbled by and proud of what my teammates and I accomplished, and fought tooth and nail for.” Through nine games as USC’s starter this season, Moss threw for 2,555 yards and 18 touchdowns, totals that ranked among the best in the Big

Florida considering overhaul of child labor laws Florida considering overhaul of child labor laws 02:17 Federal investigators found nearly a dozen children to be working dangerous, overnight shifts at Seaboard Triumph Foods’ pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, Iowa, the Department of Labor announced. Employed by Guymon, Oklahoma-based sanitation contractor Qvest, 11 kids allegedly used corrosive cleaners to sanitize head splitters, jaw pullers, bandsaws, neck clippers and other equipment at the Seaboard Triumph Foods facility from at least September 2019 through September 2023, the DOL stated in a news release on Friday. Federal law prohibits minors from working in meat processing due to an increased risk of injury.  Seaboard Foods is among the nation’s biggest pork producers. In addition to Iowa, Seaboard Foods, a division of Seaboard Corporation, has operations in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah, and in Mexico, according to the company’s website. “These findings illustrate Seaboard Triumph Foods’ history of children working illegally in their Sioux City facility since at least September 2019. Despite changing sanitation contractors, children continued to work in dangerous occupations at this facility,” Michael Lazzeri, the Midwest regional administrator

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. A HELOC could make sense this December, but you’ll want to avoid some costly mistakes if you take this route. TEERAYUT CHAISARN/Getty Images As the holiday season approaches and year-end expenses loom, many homeowners are considering tapping into their home equity with a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC). That can be a smart plan, especially right now, considering that these borrowing options typically have some of the lowest rates available — and that the average homeowner has about $319,000 worth of home equity to tap into.  But while home equity loans and HELOCs are both worth considering, HELOCs, in particular, can be an attractive option for accessing your home’s equity in today’s market. With a HELOC, you get low average rates and access to a line of credit that can be borrowed from multiple times (up to the limit), offering you more flexibility than you’d get with a lump-sum home equity loan. However, the decision to borrow against your

Why Trump’s FBI director pick Kash Patel is raising alarms – CBS News Watch CBS News President-elect Donald Trump’s intention to make Kash Patel his FBI director is drawing harsh critiques from some politicians who don’t think he is the right person for the job. CBS News’ Nancy Cordes reports on Trump’s second term plans, and Joshua Skule, a former FBI executive assistant director for intelligence, joins CBS News with his take on Patel. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Bluesky picking up steam as alternative to X Bluesky picking up steam as alternative to X 04:52 It’s unusual for a new social media service to get a foothold in a marketplace entrenched by the likes of X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and TikTok which, dominate people’s phones. But Bluesky , a nearly 2-year-old app, is now grabbing attention amid a recent surge of new users, which the company says is likely due to growing frustrations with X. While the platform has grown since it opened as an invite-only service in February 2023, its membership snowballed following the November 5 presidential election. Bluesky currently has more than 22 million users, up from about 12 million people in mid-October, according to the company’s data.  Bluesky believes its recent growth is partly due to changes at X under billionaire owner Elon Musk, according to Bluesky Chief Operating Officer Rose Wang, who recently spoke to CBS MoneyWatch.  Musk, who bought Twitter in 2022 for $44 billion, has overhauled the service, changing its name to X  and prioritizing accounts from people who pay for a blue checkmark — although accounts with