Category: Los Angeles

Sundance Institute CEO Joana Vicente, who helped bring the beloved indie film festival back in person after the COVID pandemic shutdown, is stepping down, the nonprofit organization announced Friday. As part of the unexpected leadership shake-up, Amanda Kelso, who has served on the institute’s board of trustees for four years, has been named acting CEO, taking over the reins from Vicente after just two and a half years in the role. Vicente, who previously served for three years as co-head of the Toronto International Film Festival, did not offer any specific reason for her departure. But, in the wake of the pandemic and last year’s Hollywood strikes, the organization, like the broader independent film community, has been facing significant financial challenges; last year, the institute laid off 6% of its staff. “Over the past six years, I have had the privilege of leading two of the most culturally significant organizations for independent film in North America through some of the most challenging times for our industry,” Vicente said in a statement. “This journey has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m so proud of the work our

I wonder what the people will look like. You know, the ones police in Texas are supposed to stop and question if they look as if they might be in the U.S. illegally. Opinion Columnist LZ Granderson LZ Granderson writes about culture, politics, sports and navigating life in America. Lone Star Republicans passed Senate Bill 4 last year, which would make illegally crossing the border into Texas from Mexico a misdemeanor with a punishment of up to six months in jail. Repeat offenders could face 20 years. The state could even try to deport people to Mexico . Courts have kept the law in limbo so far , but it’s still a looming threat. Legislating immigration and border issues is not the role of states — according to the Constitution — however Gov. Greg Abbott has a plausible justification for trying to usurp the federal government and tighten enforcement: Border towns in his state lack the resources to process the historic volume of migrants seeking refuge. Consider this: San Antonio has processed more than 600,000 migrants since 2021. It is about 150 miles from Eagle

MOSCOW (AP) — Several assailants burst into a large concert hall in Moscow on Friday and sprayed the crowd with gunfire, killing at least 40 people, injuring more than 100 others and setting fire to the venue in a brazen attack just days after President Vladimir Putin cemented his grip on power in a highly orchestrated electoral landslide. It wasn’t immediately clear what happened to the attackers, and there were no immediate claims of responsibility for the raid, which Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described as a “huge tragedy” and which state authorities were investigating as terrorism. The attack, which left the concert hall in flames with a collapsing roof, was the deadliest in Russia in years and came as the country’s war in Ukraine dragged into a third year. Russia’s Federal Security Service, the main domestic security and counter-terrorism agency, said 40 people were killed and more than 100 were wounded in the attack at Crocus City Hall, a large music venue on Moscow’s western edge. The assailants threw explosives, triggering the massive blaze at the hall, which can accommodate 6,000, according to Russian news

State Farm General Insurance Company announced Wednesday that it plans to non-renew 30,000 property insurance and 42,000 commercial apartment policies in California. The 42,000 commercial apartment non-renewals represent a complete withdrawal from the commercial apartment market in California. The other 30,000 non-renewals would impact homeowners, rental dwellings, and other property insurance policies, according to State Farm. State Farm to non-renew 72,000 policies in California The announcement applies to California customers only. The company said those impacted will be notified between July 3 and Aug. 20. So, what should State Farm customers do if the company’s latest announcement impacts their policy? Here’s what insurance experts recommend: Customers should shop for another insurance policy by asking for recommendations from trusted sources or seeking an independent insurance agent. Utilize the California Department of Insurance shopping tools available on their website. Compare multiple policies, shop smart and choose the best coverage that suits your needs. Call the state’s insurance consumer hotline at 800-927-4357. Buy insurance through the California Fair Plan if you strike out in the normal marketplace. Regardless of the latest announcement, State Farm said that it will

After weeks of speculation about her whereabouts, Kate, the Princess of Wales, announced in a video message Friday that she is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. Kate, 42, was hospitalized in January for unspecified abdominal surgery and until this week hadn’t been seen publicly since Christmas, sparking a frenzy of conjecture about her health. Britain’s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, leaves BAFTA, after she delivered a speech to launch the “Taking Action On Addiction” campaign, in London, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File) FILE – Britain’s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, shelters from the rain as she arrives at Kensington Palace for a reception for parents of users of a Centre for Early Childhood, on the day of the launch of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, in London, Friday, June 18, 2021. (Tolga Akmen/Pool Photo via AP, File) FILE – Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales, smiles as she visits the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust and meets with some of the young people that the charity supports, May 16, 2023, in Bath, England. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File) FILE – Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, right, walks with the

Law of the Sea I Sunday on 60 Minutes – CBS News Watch CBS News There’s a mad dash for critical minerals on the sea floor – vital for next-generation electronics. But in this crucial race, America is nowhere – sidelined by a group of Republican senators who refuse to ratify the U.N.’s Law of the Sea. Sunday. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

U.S.-led resolution calling for cease-fire in Gaza vetoed at U.N. Security Council – CBS News Watch CBS News Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Friday to discuss the latest in a potential cease-fire with Hamas. Meanwhile, a U.S.-sponsored resolution at the United Nations Security Council calling for an “immediate and sustained cease-fire” was vetoed by Russia and China. CBS News foreign correspondent Chris Livesay reports. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

El Cruz Azul regresará este fin de semana por primera vez en tres años para un partido amistoso ante el América, el cual ya está vendido en su totalidad. El “Clásico Joven” entre Club América y Cruz Azul está programado para el sábado, 23 de marzo a las 5:30 p.m. en el estadio Dignity Health Sports Park, con capacidad para 27,000 aficionados, en Carson, California. “Esperemos que haya un ambiente festivo, que la gente lo disfrute y ojalá que brindemos un buen espectáculo, especialmente a la gente del Cruz Azul”, dijo el director deportivo del Cruz Azul, Iván Alonso, durante una entrevista con LA Times en Español después de una clínica de fútbol con niños de la comunidad. El domingo pasado, entrenadores y directivos de Cruz Azul convivieron con niños del Sur de California de seis a 17 años, mayormente del Valle de San Fernando. Además hubo una clínica de teoría futbolística con directivos y entrenadores del fútbol local, incluyendo al Cruz Azul Soccer Club. “Queremos llegar a los cientos de aficionados del suelo americano. Son muchos y muy fieles y después de tanto tiempo

Authorities are searching for a 20-year-old convicted killer who failed to report to a halfway house in Santa Ana, allegedly violating the terms of his probation. Ike Souzer is an “extremely dangerous and violent criminal” who was released from police custody on Wednesday after serving a jail term for a vandalism offense, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer’s office said in a news release. According to the terms of his probation, Souzer is required to check in regularly with the Project Kinship halfway house in Santa Ana, but he failed to return to the house Wednesday night. He also has not reported to his probation officer, as required under the terms of his release from police custody, authorities said. Family and friends described Souzer as autistic. In 2017, his mother, Barbara Scheuer-Souzer posted fliers on Facebook asking for the public’s help to find her son, who she said had run away. A few weeks later, Souzer fatally stabbed his mother outside their Garden Grove home, according to police. With her dying breath, Scheuer-Souzer told police that her son stabbed her. He was arrested a short

Comedian Dana Carvey conceded that not every skit from his “Saturday Night Live” days has aged gracefully — including his “Airport Security Check” sketch starring Sharon Stone. The six-minute gag aired in April 1992 and starred Carvey as an “Indian man” manning an airport security checkpoint. Carvey wore makeup to darken his face and spoke with an accent as the character, who — along with staffers played by his former “SNL” co-stars — urges Stone to strip down to ensure she isn’t concealing any weapons. By the end of the bit, Stone’s character is down to her skirt, heels and a bra as several men gawk at her figure. “I want to apologize publicly for the security check sketch…. It’s so 1992, you know, it’s from another era,” he told Stone in the Wednesday episode of his “Fly on the Wall” podcast. David Spade, Carvey’s podcast co-host, added that the skit was “so offensive.” Stone said she didn’t have any issues with the sketch, looking back on it more than 30 years after it aired, because she “know[s] the difference between a misdemeanor and a

Five golfers filed a class-action lawsuit this week against the city of Los Angeles, alleging that officials failed to rein in a bustling black market in tee times at municipal golf courses. In October, some of the golfers, who are members of an Asian American golfing group, shared evidence with L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks officials of brokers selling tee times on public courses, according to the lawsuit. “To date, however, nothing has been done to prevent the illegal tee time bookings at LA City Golf Courses,” said the lawsuit, filed Thursday in L.A. Superior Court. “Nothing has been done to ensure the booking process is fair to all golfers who wish to play.” The city Department of Recreation and Parks operates 12 golf courses of varying sizes, including seven 18-hole golf courses. Golf has surged in popularity in recent years, and L.A.’s courses — convenient and affordable — draw players who can’t (or won’t) pay the five- and six-figure initiation fees to gain entry to tony private country clubs. But in recent years, a network of brokers, primarily in the Korean community, has

Star Wars fans no longer have to travel to a galaxy far, far away in order to enjoy a glass of Blue Milk. Star Wars Blue Milk by Dairy Farmers of America TruMoo will be hitting store shelves beginning on April 17, according to a news release. Details on which stores will carry the product weren’t disclosed. Trumoo’s version of Blue Milk has been described as vanilla-flavored milk with blue food coloring. (Lucasfilm) Trumoo’s version of Blue Milk has been described as vanilla-flavored milk with blue food coloring, a different take on the Blue Milk sold at Milk Stands within Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Walt Disney World in Florida. Disneyland announces new additions to Star Tours attraction Disney’s version of the product is described as a “plant-based blend of Coconut and Rice Milk with alluring fruity characteristics,” according to the Disney dining website. Blue Milk’s debut in stores comes as Lucasfilm celebrates “Imperial March,” a month-long Star Wars celebration. Fans can expect to see new merchandise like an Imperial Stormtrooper watch by Citizen, new Star Wars figurines by Hasbro and apparel. The

Princess Kate diagnosed with cancer, receiving preventative chemotherapy – CBS News Watch CBS News Catherine, the Princess of Wales, revealed in a video Friday that cancer was found during her abdominal surgery in January. Princess Kate said she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Princess Kate cancer diagnosis comes after weeks of speculation about her health – CBS News Watch CBS News Kate, the Princess of Wales, announced she’s undergoing preventative chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer. She said the cancer was found during tests conducted after her abdominal surgery in January. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Charlie D’Agata and CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook have more on the details we have about the situation. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

World March 22, 2024 / 3:02 PM EDT / AP Putin’s courageous Russian critics speak out Russian critics of Putin fight for freedom, democracy — even after going into exile 13:27 Several gunmen burst into a large concert hall on the edge of Moscow on Friday and sprayed visitors with automatic gunfire, injuring an unspecified number of people and starting a massive blaze in an apparent terror attack days after President Vladimir Putin cemented his grip on the country in a highly orchestrated electoral landslide . There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the raid, the worst terror attack in Russia in two decades that came as the fighting in Ukraine dragged into a third year. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the attack as a “huge tragedy.” Russia’s top domestic security agency, the Federal Security Service, said there are dead and wounded but didn’t give any numbers. Russian news reports said that the assailants threw explosives, triggering a massive blaze at the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow. Video posted on social media showed huge plumes of black smoke rising over

College student Riley Strain’s body found after Nashville disappearance – CBS News Watch CBS News The body of college student Riley Strain was recovered from the Cumberland River in West Nashville on Friday, police said. Kathy Guider, a retired FBI special agent, joins CBS News with more details. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Catherine, Princess of Wales, has an undisclosed form of cancer. She announced the news Friday after months of speculation about her condition and whereabouts. The British princess, in a video announcement posted on her and Prince William’s official Instagram, said that after undergoing “major abdominal surgery” in London in January, she was diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing preventative chemotherapy. “The surgery was successful; however, tests after the operation found cancer had been present,” she said after noting that she had initially been told her condition was not cancerous. The 42-year-old, who married into the British royal family in 2011, added that it has been “an incredibly tough couple of months” and took a while to go public with her diagnosis because the family needed to take time to inform their young children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, ages 9, 5 and 8, respectively. “This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family,” she added. “As you can imagine, this has

Very often, success is a matter of timing. For Katie Crutchfield, the songwriter and musician who performs as Waxahatchee, that meant releasing the right album at the right time, even if nothing about that particular time, a.k.a. March 2020, would otherwise be considered “right.” Since Crutchfield’s 2012 debut “American Weekend,” Waxahatchee has become one of the most beloved acts in indie rock, specializing in incisive, vulnerable lyrics and feedback-drenched power chords. But the fifth album, 2020‘s “Saint Cloud,” was a sharp break from her past work, a set of introspective old-school country songs about recovery and perseverance that earned comparisons to Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson. Looking back, Crutchfield acknowledges she wasn’t sure how it was going to go over. “I really, genuinely had no expectations for it, because I knew I was making this really concentrated pivot. I finally figured out what exactly I need to do to my songs to make them feel how they’re supposed to feel,” she says. “But because it was a pivot, I felt, ‘I have no idea how my fans are going to feel or if this is

Our dogs understand us better than they’ve been given credit for — and scientists say they have the brain wave evidence to prove it. By placing electrodes on the heads of 18 pet dogs, researchers found striking evidence that the animals did not merely recognize the patterns of sound that come out of their owners’ mouths, they actually realized that certain words refer to specific objects. The findings were reported Friday in the journal Current Biology. “For decades there has been a debate about whether animals are capable of such a level of abstraction,” said study leader Marianna Boros, a neuroscientist and ethologist at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary. The experiments with dogs knock down the uniqueness of humans “a little bit.” A few exceptional dogs have been trained to learn the names of hundreds of objects. Among the most esteemed was Chaser, a border collie from South Carolina who could remember the names of more than 1,000 toys. Boros wondered whether more dogs understood that words had meanings but just didn’t have a way to show it. Even when dogs succeed in behavioral

A chiropractor was arrested Thursday on suspicion of sexual battery in his Ventura-based office, according to authorities. Dr. Fernando Gomez, 43 of Oxnard, was arrested when the Ventura Police Department executed an arrest warrant at Limitless Functional Therapy, located on 4562 Westinghouse Street. The arrest stemmed from two alleged sexual battery instances from two different clients of his. They said they were battered while seeking his chiropractic care. No additional details were immediately made available. The Major Crimes Detectives are asking anyone with information related to these crimes or any other crimes committed by the suspect to contact Detective Gray at 805-339-4472.

A guide to preventative health care and screenings – CBS News Watch CBS News CBS News HealthWatch compiled a series of guides for preventative care and screenings to stay on top of your health at different ages throughout your life. Dr. Celine Gounder, a CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at the Kaiser Family Foundation, breaks down the advice. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On