Category: Los Angeles

The average cost of gas has dropped steadily in the last month in California and is dramatically cheaper than this time last year, according to AAA. As of Thursday, Aug. 22, the average cost of regular gas in the state is $4.59. While that’s still more than $1.20 more than the national average and the second highest in the country (Hawaii, $4.65), it’s nearly 70 cents less than the cost from one year ago. The average then was $5.26. The price average fluctuated and kept rising well into the spring, but it has since decreased across the country. The current average of $4.59 is lower than one week ago ($4.605) and one month ago ($4.682) in addition to one year ago. An Arco gas station in Sacramento, California, US, on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Getty Images) The main factor for the drop has more to do with matters outside of America than inside, according to AAA. “The clouds of war overseas are less dark at the moment and the Atlantic is quiet now too, which is taking pressure off of oil prices,” said Andrew Gross

Celebrity sightings are to be expected in Los Angeles, but not by a search and rescue crew scouring the San Gabriel Mountains for a missing hiker. The San Dimas Mountain Rescue team ran into former “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno shortly before finding 78-year-old hiker Ki Soo Yang, who had been missing for 30 hours after he became separated from a group climbing Mount Waterman on Saturday afternoon. Someone saw Yang’s missing person’s flier and found the hiker between Mount Waterman and Twin Peaks. The individual contacted authorities and Yang was transported to a local hospital, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release. Yang, who was described as “very fit,” was in “good health but dehydrated” after spending more than a day in the Angeles National Forest, the department said in a social media post. He was reunited with his family. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone involved in the search, especially the good Samaritan whose quick thinking and action played a critical role in this rescue,” according to the Sheriff Department‘s post. “This outcome is a powerful reminder of how

So what is former President Trump “like”? Speakers at the Democratic National Convention have some ideas, and this week they’ve offered up plenty of comparisons — and punchlines. Neighbor with a leaf blower Former President Obama, speaking at the convention in Chicago on Tuesday night, likened the 45th president to a noisy neighbor: “The childish nicknames and crazy conspiracy theories and weird obsession with crowd size. It just goes on and on. The other day, I heard someone compare Trump to the neighbor who keeps running his leaf blower outside your window every minute of every day. “From a neighbor, that’s exhausting. From a president, it’s just dangerous.” Ex-boyfriend House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York got laughs Wednesday with this comparison: “Donald Trump is like an old boyfriend who you broke up with, but he just won’t go away. He has spent the last four years spinning the block trying to get back into a relationship with the American people. Bro, we broke up with you for a reason.” Communist dictator Republican commentator Ana Navarro, noting on Tuesday that Trump has called Vice

Sources: RFK Jr. considers ending campaign RFK Jr. considering ending presidential campaign, sources say 01:59 Sen. JD Vance , the Republican vice presidential nominee, said he would welcome an endorsement from Robert F. Kennedy Jr . amid reports that Kennedy is  considering ending his third-party presidential bid.  “I think it’s a great endorsement for the president to have,” Vance told “CBS Evening News” anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell in an interview on Wednesday. “I don’t know if it’s actually going to happen, but I’d certainly welcome it and encourage RFK to join the team.” Kennedy is considering ending his presidential candidacy in the coming days, two sources familiar with his campaign told CBS News. On Friday, Kennedy plans to address the nation “about the present historical moment and his path forward,” according to his website.  Earlier this week, Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, suggested to “Impact Theory” podcast’s Tom Bilyeu that Kennedy was considering supporting Donald Trump, saying that if he remained in the race, Kennedy might “draw votes” from the former president. Republican vice presidential candidate, Sen. J.D. Vance, addresses the audience at

The story of 2 American economies A look at the rising stock market and widening U.S. wealth gap 01:57 The cost of living is much higher than just a few years ago — and so is the amount of money that Americans say is required to be considered wealthy.  Americans believe it now takes an average net worth of $2.5 million to be counted as rich, a 14% increase from last year’s $2.2 million, according to a new survey from Charles Schwab. That may seem like a stretch for many, given that the median net worth of U.S. households stood at $193,000 in 2022, according to the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances. But the survey’s results reflect the typical American’s feelings about their wealth goals, and hint as well at the impact inflation has had on their views about money, said Rob Williams, managing director of financial planning at Charles Schwab.  “Wealth can be very personal and aspirational, and also, they haven’t done extensive calculations; it’s more how they feel — and that’s meaningful,” Williams told CBS MoneyWatch. He added, “If you look over

By Sara Moniuszko Edited By Paula Cohen August 22, 2024 / 1:58 PM EDT / CBS News The health benefits of pumpkins Pumpkins a spooky superfood, packed with vitamins and health benefits 01:53 It’s still summer, but pumpkin season is already here, with Starbucks rolling out  its 2024 fall menu featuring pumpkin spice lattes earlier than ever.  As more pumpkin-inspired products hit the market, experts say consumers should be aware that the impact they have on your diet can vary greatly. While some popular pumpkin spice flavored items are high in sugar, the seasonal squash itself is actually a superfood. “Pumpkin offers a unique combination of nutrients that have powerful effects on brain health, primarily through its rich content of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals,” nutritional neuroscientist Timothy Frie told CBS News.  Antioxidants like vitamin A and C found in pumpkin, for example, can help protect our cells from damage. Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic, previously told CBS News that pumpkin is also high in fiber, which helps with blood sugar management, keeps you feeling satisfied and aids in gut health and digestion.

Updated on: August 22, 2024 / 1:59 PM EDT / CBS/AP IRA killer’s confessions on tape 02:39 A 61-year-old man appeared in a Dublin court Thursday after being arrested in connection with an Irish Republican Army car bombing that killed three Northern Ireland policemen in 1982. Martin John McCauley was arrested Wednesday on an extradition warrant and will be prosecuted on murder charges in the deaths of Royal Ulster Constabulary Sgt. Sean Quinn and constables Allan McCloy and Paul Hamilton, said Iain Livingstone, head of Operation Kenova that investigated scores of murders, including dozens allegedly carried out by the IRA against informants. “The decision to prosecute more than 40 years after the incident shows the rigor and application Kenova has applied to this investigation and that evidence will now be tested by a court,” Livingstone said. “Our thoughts remain with the three officers’ families who have continued to act with courage and great dignity over the past four decades.” Charging McCauley with murder would mark a rare prosecution at this time over the violence known as “the Troubles” that reigned for three decades in a

A team of city workers alongside Los Angeles Police Department officers returned to a Sun Valley property described by neighbors as a “hoarder lot” and a “junkyard” just two days after an appeal by the owner was denied.  The 6-acre parcel located off La Tuna Canyon Road has been at the center of a yearslong legal battle over the accumulation of trash, old vehicles and potentially hazardous waste. “This is a project that has been going on for five years. This has been known to the residents and to the city for five years,” area resident Scott told KTLA earlier this week. City workers escorted by police are seen on a “hoarder” property in Sun Valley on Aug. 22, 2024. (KTLA) Neighborhoods are also concerned that the property is located along a fire road and the debris could block firefighters from accessing the area in the event of an emergency. Sky5 was overhead at 10 a.m. while city workers and police were on the property. “You see some of those members there being assisted by the LAPD making sure that everyone stays safe while they

Multiple lanes on the San Bernardino (10) Freeway in El Monte between Peck Road and Temple City Boulevard will be closed over the weekend for construction work on the San Gabriel River Bridge. The closures will take place from 11:59 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, according to Caltrans. During the closure, only three lanes will be open to traffic and one HOV lane will be closed. The following lanes will be available: — Southbound 605 (San Gabriel River) Freeway to westbound I-10 connector; — Westbound 10 Freeway, Durfee Avenue off-ramp; — Westbound 10 Freeway, Garvey Avenue/Bess off-ramp; Traffic detoured from the southbound 605 to westbound 10 connector will exit at Lower Azusa Road/Los Angeles Street off-ramp and motorists can access the westbound 10 by traveling west on Lower Azusa Road and south on Santa Anita Avenue.

Groundbreaking producer Greg Berlanti will receive the Television Academy’s 2024 Governors Award, which will be presented during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards telecast on Sept. 15, it was announced Thursday. Berlanti, a film and TV creator, writer, producer and director, is being recognized for his “significant impact on television and culture by depicting the underrepresented in film and in such iconic series as `Dawson’s Creek,’ `Riverdale,’ `All American,’ `The Flight Attendant’ and `You,”’ according to the Television Academy. Berlanti is currently the executive producer of “Brilliant Minds,” a new NBC series premiering this fall, which features the first single gay lead in a U.S. medical drama, the academy said. “Greg is an extraordinary creator who consistently delivers characters and stories that are in dialogue with the real world,” Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego said in a statement. “From the beginning of his career, his commitment to representing three-dimensional LGBTQ+ characters in particular has paved the way for greater cultural understanding and acceptance of a community that is often under attack in both social and political discourse. For seizing the power of television to move our

In her daring directorial debut, “Blink Twice,” actor turned writer-director Zoë Kravitz doesn’t flinch once — not even when her film might be served by looking away. She maintains a steely gaze in this caustic social-horror fable, laced with black comedy, which has nods to Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” while Kravitz chooses to aim her artistic weapons at sexual politics, not necessarily race. Co-written with E.T. Feigenbaum, “Blink Twice” is a big, bold swing, even if its message becomes muddled along the way. It’s clear Kravitz wants to make a statement with this film. What’s less clear is what exactly that statement might be. “Blink Twice” opens with a dead-eyed scroll in a dingy bathroom; our protagonist, Frida (Naomi Ackie), thumbs her phone screen on the toilet catatonically, observing the lives of others on Instagram, before she and her roommate Jess (Alia Shawkat) rush to work, serving champagne and canapés at a swanky gala hosted by a disgraced tech mogul, Slater King (Channing Tatum). Yearning to feel a part of something bigger, the cater waiters slip into slinky gowns and join the party themselves, warmly

A business owner whose West Hollywood bike shop has been burglarized three times in the past three weeks is offering a reward to anyone who can find the thieves. Bikes and Hikes LA Tours is a popular shop located on the 7700 block of Santa Monica Boulevard. Unfortunately, it has also become a popular target for thieves, and owner Danny Roman is sick of it. Roman is now offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects. Surveillance video provided to KTLA shows thieves breaking into a bike shop in West Hollywood. The most recent break-in occurred Tuesday morning when two thieves were seen on surveillance video using a hammer to gain entry into the shop. The suspects got away with an estimated $25,000 in merchandise but also left behind a vape pen and a lock Roman is hoping can be used as evidence. He told KTLA that he has been in contact with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department asking for increased patrols and a detective to review the security footage. Roman said he plans to buy a more sophisticated

Two men who hid 770 pounds of cocaine in the hull of a boat and tried to escape arrest by swimming away have been convicted after an investigation by the U.K.’s National Crime Agency. Bruce Knowles, 55, of Dereham, and Ferhat Gumrukguoglu, 31, of the Netherlands, were arrested in June after the rigid-hulled inflatable boat they were on was intercepted in Suffolk. A video released by the Crime Agency shows Gumrukguoglu jumping from the vessel and swimming toward the beach as Knowles restarted the engines and attempted to flee. Authorities in the UK have released footage of two cocaine smugglers trying to elude capture in June. (NCA/Border Force /TMX) After a brief pursuit, the boat ran aground on the beach, and officers arrested Knowles after he also jumped overboard in a bid to escape. The boat was towed to a harbor in Lowestoft, where NCA officers found the drugs, valued at an estimated £39 million, or $49 million, hidden under a tarpaulin. Both men were charged with importing a controlled drug and pleaded guilty to the offense at Ipswich Crown Court.

A man was shot during an argument with three other men in Hollywood early Thursday morning. The man, whose identity has not been released, was walking on Lexington Avenue near Cherokee Avenue a few minutes before 4:15 a.m. when he was approached by the trio of attackers, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. After they began arguing, one of the three men pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and shot the victim, police said. He was transported to a local hospital in stable condition. The three other men fled in a vehicle headed west on Lexington Avenue. No arrests have been made, and police said it’s unknown if the attack was gang-related. Alexis Lewis contributed to this report.

This news will sting for anyone planning to stay in Joshua Tree National Park anytime soon, but one of its campgrounds is currently closed due to the emergence of some unwelcome visitors. The Cottonwood area, including its visitor center, parking area, bathrooms and 62 campsites, was closed on Tuesday according to the National Parks Service. The reason? Increased bee activity. According to the NPS, the closure was necessary to curb the amount of water moisture that the bees seek during the sweltering summer heat in the desert. Like other wildlife, the service said, bees seek water as temperatures increase. Due to their size and mobility, however, they can gain access to that water through condensation from air conditioners, sweat and bathrooms, which can result in swarms throughout the park. As of Thursday morning, the Cottonwood area, located near the southern end of the park, remained closed. There was no word on a potential reopening.

Two years ago, cases of the infectious viral disease mpox were rapidly increasing in cities across the globe — particularly in the U.S. — causing a scramble for vaccine doses to help contain the outbreak and ease the virus’ uncomfortable symptoms. That strain of mpox was rarely deadly; even still, officials soon declared it a worldwide public health emergency in July 2022. In the months that followed, the spread of the virus steadily fell, though cases have never completely gone away. But last week, a much more concerning variant of mpox, previously called monkeypox, has once again prompted such a global health alert. This outbreak is primarily affecting Central African countries, but officials warn that it appears to spread more easily than the 2022 strain — and is significantly more deadly. Where is mpox a concern right now? The World Health Organization has deemed this clade, or variant, of mpox the latest global health emergency. The majority of these mpox Clade I cases have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where there have already been 14,000 cases and 524 deaths this year, according

August 22, 2024 / 12:06 PM EDT / AP Arkansas governor on gun control, abortion Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson on gun control, abortion and 2024 07:16 The Arkansas Supreme Court upheld the state’s rejection of signature petitions for an abortion rights ballot initiative on Thursday, keeping the proposal from going before voters in November. The ruling dashed the hopes of organizers, who submitted the petitions, of getting the constitutional amendment measure on the ballot in the predominantly Republican state, where many top leaders tout their opposition to abortion . Election officials said Arkansans for Limited Government, the group behind the measure, did not properly submit documentation regarding the signature gatherers it hired. The group disputed that assertion and argued it should have been given more time to provide any additional documents needed. “We find that the Secretary correctly refused to count the signatures collected by paid canvassers because the sponsor failed to file the paid canvasser training certification,” the court said in a 4-3 ruling. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision removing the nationwide right to abortion , there has been a push to

By Meredith Gordon, Fox Van Allen Edited By Fox Van Allen August 22, 2024 / 12:06 PM EDT / Essentials CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. Anthony Richardson #5 of the Indianapolis Colts looks on in the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 17, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Justin Casterline/Getty Images The Indianapolis Colts vs. Cincinnati Bengals  NFL Week 3 preseason game  will be played tonight. The Bengals are coming off a Week 2 loss, while the Colts are riding high from a win last week. Keep reading to find out how and when to watch the Indianapolis Colts vs. Cincinnati Bengals NFL preseason game tonight, even if you don’t have cable. How and when to watch tonight’s Indianapolis Colts vs. Cincinnati Bengals NFL preseason game The Indianapolis Colts vs. Cincinnati Bengals NFL preseason game will be played on Thursday, Aug. 21 2024 at 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT). The NFL preseason game will

Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte in August beats the fall season – CBS News Watch CBS News Starbucks is rolling out its seasonal pumpkin spice latte earlier than ever this year. This comes as the company suffers from a slowdown in store traffic and sales. CBS News’ Vladimir Duthiers reports. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

By Meredith Gordon, Fox Van Allen Edited By Fox Van Allen August 22, 2024 / 11:58 AM EDT / Essentials CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. Neil Farrell #92 of the Kansas City Chiefs awaits a fourth quarter play in preseason game action against the Detroit Lions at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on August 17, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.  David Eulitt/Getty Images The Chicago Bears vs. Kansas City Chiefs NFL Week 3 preseason game will be played tonight. The Chiefs are coming off a Week 2 loss, while the Bears are riding high from a win last week. Keep reading to find out how and when to watch the Chicago Bears vs. Kansas City Chiefs NFL preseason game tonight, even if you don’t have cable. How and when to watch the Chicago Bears vs. Kansas City Chiefs game tonight The Chicago Bears vs. Kansas City Chiefs NFL preseason Week 3 game will be played on Thursday, August 22

Popular depictions of prehistoric hunts tend to show ancient humans hurling their spears into mammoths and mastodons. But such a technique would have been less than useless — leaving a hunter with no spear and an angry mammoth, a new study argues. Instead, Ice Age hunters may have used a sophisticated hunting tool to kill prey like mammoths — or predators like saber-toothed cats — using the animals’ own power and weight, according to findings published Wednesday in PLOS ONE. Thirteen thousand years ago, “people were living among saber tooths and giant bears that are twice the size of grizzlies, mastodons and bison,” Scott Byram, a stone tool specialist at the University of California, Berkeley and co-author of the study, told The Hill Byram and his co-authors hypothesized that prehistoric hunters “probably needed a weapon that could actually be used a little bit more defensively than just as an offensive throwing spear” to survive in those circumstances. If you find one of these outside your home, call police Why? Because in addition to the risks involved in throwing away one’s weapon in the face of a charging mammoth