Category: Los Angeles

Drug traffickers whose entire organized crime ring was brought down by a photo of a French Bulldog were ordered to fork over more than $1.4 million, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency said.  Stefan Baldauf, 64, and Philip Lawson 63, were drug traffickers nabbed in 2020 as part of Operation Venetic along with other members of their group for smuggling drugs from the United Kingdom to Australia. The traffickers sent 448kg of amphetamine  worth about $46 million in an arm of an excavator down under. The traffickers even rigged an auction to make sure the amphetamine went into the right hands. The drugs, which investigators said was MDMA, was first stored in the heavy equipment in an industrial unit in Grays, Essex, before being shipped to Australia. It took almost three months to arrive in Brisbane, the National Crime Agency said. The ruse, however, fell apart when fellow trafficker Danny Brown sent a photo of his French Bulldog, Bob, to Baldauf. A photo of Bob, the french bulldog, helped bring down an organized crime group. National Crime Agency Investigators were able to use the photo

The Los Angeles City Council Tuesday unanimously approved a $25,000 relief fund for northeast San Fernando Valley residents who lost income due to the multiple fires that devastated the region this month. Councilwoman Imelda Padilla, who authored the motion, called for financial assistance specifically for residents of her Sixth District, encompassing parts of Van Nuys, Panorama City, Arleta and North Hills, among other neighborhoods. Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez seconded the motion. Housekeepers, pool cleaners, gardeners, personal chefs, caretakers, drivers and other service workers will be able to apply for assistance. “A stark reminder that our local economy is interconnected, means a disaster in one part of the city still affects the most vulnerable in others,” the motion reads. “… Failing to support this critical sector can lead to CD6 residents being unable to pay for expenses that can lead to homelessness, evictions or food insecurity.” The city will partner with Initiating Change in Our Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation, also known as ICON CDC, which operates the Los Angeles Business Source Centers of North and South valley regions. Applications are now open and available at iconcdc.org/la-wildfire-relief. Applicants

An Inland Empire lawmaker introduced legislation Tuesday that he says would immediately amend the state’s regulatory apparatus to eliminate “bureaucratic” stumbling blocks that get in the way of fighting wildfires. “Los Angeles is experiencing a historically destructive wildfire as a result of decades of failed policies and leadership,” Assemblyman Bill Essayli, R-Norco, said. “In addition to funding recovery efforts, we must enact significant policy reforms to protect against predictable, preventable wildfires. My wildfire legislative package will exempt all wildfire prevention projects, controlled burns and the under-grounding of utility power lines from bureaucratic environmental red tape.” Essayli, with support from Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher of Chico, submitted ABX 1-7, which would remove all wildfire prevention projects from California Environmental Quality Act standards. He additionally introduced ABX 1-8, which would permit controlled burns anytime to wipe out overgrowth and excess vegetation, without running afoul of California Air Resources Board prohibitions dealing with smoke, as well as ABX 1-9 to permit placing electrical transmission lines underground with automatic CEQA exemptions. “If California doesn’t want to see another ZIP code get wiped off the map by a devastating

The smoldering remains of a neighborhood around Rubio Canyon and Alta Loma Drive in Altadena that was devastated by the Eaton fire. (G L Askew II) The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has promised to increase patrols in Altadena to combat looting as residents begin to head back to their homes nearly two weeks after the Eaton fire swept through the region. The newly formed Looter Suppression Team will provide more surveillance and a quicker response time to Altadena neigborhoods evacuated during the fire but potentially left unsecured by residents, the Sheriff’s Department announced Tuesday. The team will join other sheriff’s deputies in the field along with helicopter coverage. “Together, these efforts ensure continuous 24-hour patrolling to provide a consistent and visible law enforcement presence, particularly in neighborhoods still dealing with utility outages and heightened security risks,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a news release. Several arrests were made during the Eaton and Palisades fires over the last few days, including two people caught impersonating reporters, a couple from Oregon allegedly using a decommissioned firetruck to pose as firefighters, and a burglary suspect in the

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a top aide to President Trump, drew and quickly dismissed a raft of condemnation from Democratic lawmakers, left-wing politicians abroad and others across the internet after twice making what to some looked like a Nazi salute from an inauguration stage. Musk — who has endorsed antisemitic remarks and aligned himself with far-right factions, including the Alternative for Germany in that country — made the gestures during a giddy speech celebrating Trump’s return to power at an indoor rally Monday at Capital One Arena in Washington. “I just want to say thank you for making it happen. Thank you,” Musk said to the crowd. He slapped his chest with his right hand and then shot that hand out and up, open and flat and palm down, with his right arm rigidly extended. He then turned and made a similar gesture in the opposite direction. “My heart goes out to you,” he said. Some defended Musk. The Anti-Defamation League, which works against antisemitism, offered Musk a pass with a post on X — a platform Musk owns. “It seems [Musk]

By Kiki Intarasuwan January 21, 2025 / 8:45 PM EST / CBS News Four men have been arrested for allegedly breaking into Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow ‘s home in Ohio last month, authorities said Tuesday. They each are facing several charges, including participating in a criminal gang and possessing criminal tools, according to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.  Bastian Morales, 23, Jordan Sanchez, 22, Sergio Cabello, 38, and Alexander Chavez, 24, all of whom are from Chile, are accused in a string of burglaries targeting multimillion-dollar homes. The men were taken into custody on Jan. 10 after they were pulled over by police, who then found punch tools, which investigators say are used to break windows on houses, according to affidavits filed in Clark County.  Sanchez, who was driving when they were pulled over, Morales and Cabello gave Ohio State Highway Patrol officers fake IDs, police said. Sanchez also did not have a valid driver’s license, according to the affidavit. Chavez was the only one with a real driver’s license, which was from New York, the affidavits said. According to the affidavits, they told officers

What Trump’s executive orders mean for the fight against climate change – CBS News Watch CBS News On his first day in office, President Trump signed a slew of executive orders promoting fossil fuels and ending many of the Biden administration’s efforts to combat climate change. CBS News national environmental correspondent David Schechter joins “America Decides” to explain what Trump’s actions could mean for the planet. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Trump’s return to power looming over World Economic Forum – CBS News Watch CBS News Leaders from around the globe are currently gathering in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum’s annual multi-day meeting as newly-inaugurated President Trump is beginning his second term. Ravi Agrawal, editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy magazine, joins “America Decides” from Davos to discuss how Trump is looming large over world leaders’ talks. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Updated on: January 21, 2025 / 8:18 PM EST / CBS/AP Dangerous Journey on the Silk Road The FBI Declassified: Dangerous Journey on the Silk Road 43:25 President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he has pardoned Ross Ulbricht , the founder of Silk Road, an underground website that the FBI once called “the most sophisticated and extensive criminal marketplace on the internet.”  Ulbricht was  sentenced to life in prison in 2015. Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social, his social media site, that he had spoken to Ulbricht’s mother on his first full day in office. “It was my pleasure to have just signed a full and unconditional pardon of her son, Ross,” he wrote. “The scum that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics who were involved in the modern day weaponization of government against me.” He called Ulbricht’s prison sentence “ridiculous.” During the campaign, he had promised to help Ulbricht in a speech at the Libertarian Party National Convention last May. Libertarian activists, who generally oppose criminal drug policies, have long believed that government investigators overreached in building their case against

(KTLA) – Authorities in Riverside County are asking for the public’s help in locating a person of interest sought for questioning in connection with a homicide earlier this month, officials announced.   On Jan. 12, deputies with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department responded to reports of a shooting in San Jacinto and located an adult male on the ground suffering significant injuries.  In a news release, authorities said a short time after the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased, a male juvenile arrived at a local hospital where he received treatment for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.   “Investigators determined that this second victim was injured during the same incident,” the release noted.   Jonathen Amezola, last seen in Corona is wanted for questioning in connection with a fatal shooting on Jan. 12, 2025. (RCSD) Detectives are now searching for a person of interest, identified as Jonathen Amezola, described as a Hispanic male standing approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing around 135 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.   250 roosters, guns, cash seized in Southern California cockfighting bust Amezola was

(NEXSTAR) — It wouldn’t be movie awards season without a little drama, would it? But with the 97th Academy Awards just months away, recent revelations about the use of AI in one of the ceremony’s biggest contenders has film industry folks and film fans alike unsure how — if at all — these developments will (or should) affect its consideration. For starters, it’s quite likely that Brady Corbet’s historical drama “The Brutalist” will be a frontrunner for Best Picture at this year’s Oscars. The stirring and terrifically crafted film (which we named among our 10 best films of 2024) has been a critical hit for its intimate glimpse into the life of fictional architect László Tóth, who immigrates to the U.S. after surviving the Holocaust. Should the Oscars be canceled? Stephen King says yes — industry workers say differently But controversy about the A24 Films production, which stars Academy Award winner Adrien Brody, arose over the weekend, when editor Dávid Jancsó told technology magazine Red Shark News that artificial intelligence was used to enhance the Hungarian accents of Brody and co-star Felicity Jones. “I am

A judge on Tuesday ordered Southern California Edison to preserve data, equipment and evidence related to the deadly Eaton fire, a decision praised by attorneys who sued the giant utility company and suspect the fire was started at the base of an electrical tower. Issued by L.A. Superior Court Judge Ashfaq G. Chowdhury Tuesday morning, the ruling approved a temporary restraining order requested by attorneys for an Altadena woman whose home was burned in the fire and is now suing the utility company. In their request, attorneys asked the court to intervene and order Edison to preserve evidence out of concern the company would destroy evidence linked to the fire. The ruling is significant because investigators with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have focused their investigation on a hillside in Eaton Canyon and the base of an Edison electrical tower, where residents captured video footage of the first flames of the destructive fire burning at the beginning of the blaze on Jan. 7. Attorneys for at least one of the homeowners suing Southern California Edison have asked that equipment and data beyond

WASHINGTON  —  A day after President Trump issued 11 executive orders cracking down on illegal immigration, advocates and a coalition of states led by California are preparing for court battles against an administration that appears to have learned from previous legal missteps made during Trump’s first term. Among the many sweeping changes in Trump’s orders were the declaration of a national emergency at the southern border, the revocation of birthright citizenship and the designation of drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Immigrants and those who hoped to immigrate to the U.S. are reeling from the news. Thousands of migrants are indefinitely stranded in Mexico after Trump ended use of a phone app and canceled long-standing appointments by asylum seekers for legal entry. Afghan refugees who had been cleared for travel to the United States are now in limbo after Trump paused refugee resettlement. Undocumented immigrants in Chicago and other cities across the country stayed home out of fear of planned immigration raids. Legal experts said subtle modifications to some of the orders reflected attempts by the Trump administration to beat back legal challenges preemptively. “Some

The TV viewership for President Trump’s historic second inauguration fell far short of the audience for his first ceremony in 2017 and former President Biden’s 2021 event. Nielsen data showed Trump’s festivities averaged 24.6 million viewers across 15 networks from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern, a decline of 27% from four years ago. The figure was also down 20% from Trump’s first inauguration. The audience level for a presidential inauguration are historically far lower for incumbents elected to a second term. But there is no comparable situation for Trump, the first president elected to a second nonconsecutive term since Grover Cleveland in 1892. The ratings for cable news outlets broke down along political leanings, with conservative-leaning Fox News pulling 10.3 million viewers from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance were sworn in and the president spoke to the gathering in the Capitol Rotunda. CNN averaged 1.7 million viewers for the proceedings while progressive MSNBC scored 848,000 viewers. Inauguration viewing peaked overall in the 12:15 p.m. Eastern quarter hour at 34.4 million, falling short of the 40 million

Did TikTok legally have to shut down, or did its leadership choose to? – CBS News Watch CBS News President Trump signed an executive order delaying a nationwide ban on TikTok for 75 days. The move comes after the app was unavailable in the U.S. for around 12 hours over the weekend. CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson and dosomething.org CEO DeNora Getachew break it down. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

By Meg Oliver, Alicia Hastey January 21, 2025 / 7:47 PM EST / CBS News 4 teens swap smartphones for flip phones What happened when 4 teens swapped their smartphones for flip phones 03:58 For 14-year-old Ben Cohen-Vigder, accidentally losing his smartphone on the school bus last February ended up gaining him so much more.  “I was without my phone for like two days and I realized how my days were so much longer and full,” Ben said. It was so much better that the 8th grade lacrosse goalie made the radical choice to get a flip phone, giving him the ability to communicate without all the smart features — and distractions. A growing number of experts are sounding the alarm about increased screen time and the effect it has on kids and teens. In a 2023 advisory on social media use and mental health, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy recommended creating “tech-free zones” and encouraging kids to “foster in-person friendships.” Meanwhile, several states have taken steps to ban cellphones in schools. Swapping smartphones for flip phones Ben said he used to average

Mail and retail operations have resumed at select post office locations impacted by the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles County. The following locations have reopened. La Cañada Flintridge 607 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011-9998   Hours of operation: Mon – Fri: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Sat: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.   Malibu Post Office 23838 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265-9994   Hours of operation: Mon – Fri: 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. Sat: 9:30 a.m.– 1:30 p.m.   Woodland Hills Post Office 21200 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills, CA 91367-9998   Hours of operation: Mon – Fri: 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sat: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.   Encino Station 5805 White Oak Ave., Encino, CA 91316-9998   Hours of operation: Mon – Fri: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Sat: 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.   Topanga Post Office 101 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd.,Topanga, CA 90290-9998 Hours of operation: Mon – Fri: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.Sat: 10 a.m. – noon The Altadena, La Costa Malibu Station and Pacific Palisades post offices have been relocated, and customers can pick up mail

A suspect was taken into custody after a police chase ended with a crash in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley Tuesday afternoon. The pursuit began at about 2:52 p.m. when, according to LAPD, officers with the North Hollywood Division attempted to stop the suspect, who was “wanted” for an undisclosed crime. Two minutes later, the suspect crashed along Vanowen Street just west of the 170 Freeway in Valley Glen. Sky5 footage showed the suspect’s white SUV overturned next to a utility pole. Police said the suspect jumped out of the SUV and tried to run away but was quickly apprehended. They were treated by paramedics at the scene, Sky5’s Gil Leyvas reported.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a man while responding to a report of domestic violence in the Florence-Firestone area of South Los Angeles Tuesday morning. A woman called for help at about 1:30 a.m., telling officials that her ex-boyfriend arrived at her home in the 1500 block of East 77th Place, “threatened her and was armed with a gun,” the LASD said in a news release. That man, who has not been identified, was located by deputies in the 7600 block of Compton Avenue. He tried to run, pulled out a handgun and opened fire at deputies, prompting them to return fire, the LASD said. The man was struck at least one time and was declared dead at the scene. No deputies were hurt, and authorities said they found a gun at the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call the LASD Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. To provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

MEXICO CITY —  Mexico will not object to President Trump’s plan to force asylum seekers detained at the southwest border to wait in Mexico until their cases are heard in U.S. immigration courts, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday. Sheinbam did not endorse Trump’s controversial Remain in Mexico policy but said Mexico would accept returned noncitizen asylum seekers as a “humanitarian” gesture, and would work to repatriate them to their homelands in Central America and elsewhere. Sheinbaum’s comments at her daily news conference were her first on Trump’s inaugural-day blitz of executive orders, including several directly affecting Mexico and others overhauling U.S. immigration and border policy. Sheinbaum, a leftist who took office in October, adopted a conciliatory tone and did not directly criticize Trump. She said that although Mexico must protect its sovereignty — its people must remain “calm” and “cool-headed.” “We have to avoid confrontations; that’s a responsibility,” said Sheinbaum, who was accompanied at the news conference by her foreign and security secretaries. “At the same time, we have to behave as equals, never subordinate. Defend our sovereignty, our independence and defend Mexicans.” As she

Federal prosecutors described David Dempsey as “one of the most violent rioters” during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Van Nuys man used flagpoles, metal crutches and broken pieces of furniture as he stormed the building, injuring both police and other insurrectionists, according to court documents. He “viciously assaulted and injured police officers” for more than an hour “during one of the most violent stretches of time, at the scene of the most violent confrontations,” prosecutors wrote. In August, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting a law enforcement officer with a dangerous weapon and breaching the seat of Congress. But on Tuesday, after President Trump granted sweeping pardons or commutations to everyone convicted of Jan. 6 offenses — more than 1,500 people — Dempsey was released, having served less than 3½ years, officials confirmed. Other Jan. 6 defendants — whom Trump called “hostages” — were also released across the country, based on Justice Department referrals of Trump’s orders to the Bureau of Prisons. “People are being released by the minute, it seems,” said Amy