Category: Los Angeles

The Chicago Bears are expected to select former USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft Thursday night in Detroit. If that happens, USC will have more players taken with the top overall pick than any other program. Williams is set to become the sixth former Trojan to earn the honor and the first in more than 20 years. The first was offensive lineman Ron Yary, who was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in 1968. Yary played defensive tackle for the Trojans in 1965 and was named the Pac-8 defensive player of the year before switching to offensive line, where he was a consensus All-American in 1966 and 1967 and won the Outland Trophy for the nation’s top interior lineman in 1967. Yary spent 14 seasons with the Vikings before spending one season with the Rams to finish his career. The seven-time Pro Bowler was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. In 1969, the Buffalo Bills selected former USC running back O.J. Simpson with the top overall pick. Simpson had led the nation in rushing

Pro-Palestinian protests grew Thursday at California colleges and universities, including a new encampment at UCLA and demonstrations at UC Santa Barbara, a day after police in riot gear arrested 93 protesters at USC. Fallout over the Israel-Hamas war grew Thursday as USC announced that it would cancel its main stage commencement ceremony after more than a week of national controversy over its decision to pull a pro-Palestinian valedictorian’s speaking slot from the May event that was expected to draw 65,000 attendees. The university cited new safety measures, saying that the “time needed to process the large number of guests coming to campus will increase substantially.” Dozens of smaller graduation ceremonies and celebrations at USC will continue under a new ticket policy and security checks. At Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata, the campus remained closed and classes shifted online, with pro-Palestinian students occupying multiple buildings since Monday night. And at UC Berkeley, 50 tents remained up by Sproul Hall, the historic home of the campus’ free speech movement. On their fourth day of a “Free Palestine Camp,” students called for the university to divest its endowment

Almost a decade ago, “The Flash” premiered on the CW with a pilot episode that teased a storyline far in the future. In a future front page of the fictional Central City Citizen paper, the headline read that the Flash had disappeared in a “crisis” event. The date: April 25, 2024. The ominous scene set up multiple important storylines in the nine-season series, from villain Reverse-Flash looming large in the first season to a massive DC Comics crossover storyline that didn’t come into play until Season 6. Actor Grant Gustin, who portrayed the speedster, commemorated the occasion with a throwback photo of himself in a Flash bathrobe from April 25, 2016. He looked for a photo from the set on every April 25 during the nine years they were in production, he wrote, but the cheeky shot was “the only Flash related April 25th photo” he had. “We made it — April 25, 2024. I can confirm that Flash has in fact not vanished,” the actor captioned the post. Fellow “Flash” alum Tom Cavanagh, who played scientist Harrison Wells and the Reverse-Flash who takes over

The potential buyer of a half-dozen troubled homeless housing developments in Skid Row announced Thursday it was pulling out of the deal, throwing the future of the properties and the city’s rescue efforts for one of its largest supportive housing portfolios into disarray. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation had agreed to buy six buildings owned by the Skid Row Housing Trust for $27 million in a receivership sale earlier this month. But during due diligence, the foundation discovered the properties needed millions of dollars in further repairs and were on track to continue suffering large operating losses, foundation spokesperson Ged Kenslea said in a statement. “Any buyer of these properties will find themselves in the same situation that led to the failure of Skid Row Housing Trust in short order unless a new model can be developed,” Kenslea said. The foundation’s decision adds another obstacle to efforts to salvage the trust properties, and potentially puts the city on the hook to increase the nearly $40 million in financing it’s already authorized to repair and operate the buildings over the past year. After Skid Row Housing Trust

A 46-year-old native of Colombia has been identified as the cyclist hit and killed by a fleeing driver in Los Angeles Wednesday morning. Jose David Monsalve Rojas was hit in the Central-Alameda neighborhood by a vehicle allegedly driven by 23-year-old Germaine Smith. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers responded to the area around 6:10 a.m. after a woman who was the victim of a burglary the night before informed them that she was tracking her stolen electronic device. She believed her device was in the suspect’s vehicle and she contacted police to report its location, police said. Officers found the vehicle, a gold Chevrolet Suburban, parked in front of an apartment building at East 48th Street and South Central Avenue. A police vehicle approached the SUV from behind and flashed its lights, and the driver of the vehicle immediately drove off at high speeds down Central Avenue, police said. Police pursued and a brief chase began down several surface streets, but it came to an end after the SUV struck the passing cyclist and then collided with several vehicles and a telephone pole

Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s mother on Hamas video of son in captivity – CBS News Watch CBS News A new video released by Hamas appears to show Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American hostage taken during the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel. His mother, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, tells CBS News’ Debora Patta what it was like hearing her son’s voice. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

What’s next for Harvey Weinstein after New York conviction is overturned – CBS News Watch CBS News The State of New York Court of Appeals overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction Thursday and has ordered a new trial. Julie Rendelman, a criminal defense attorney, and CBS News national correspondent Jericka Duncan look at the possible reasons why it was overturned and what it means for Weinstein, who was also convicted of rape in Los Angeles in 2022. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

An 18-year-old man was charged Thursday with leading police on a pursuit from Orange to Long Beach, where a 15-year-old girl in the passenger seat of the stolen vehicle was killed. Izaiah Joseph Miranda was charged with leading police on a chase causing death, gross vehicular manslaughter, child abuse and endangerment, hit-and-run permanent and serious injury, all felonies, and a misdemeanor count of hit-and-run with property damage. Miranda also faces a sentencing enhancement for fleeing the scene after committing vehicular manslaughter. The victim was identified as 15-year-old Denisse Uribe, who died on March 13, according to Los Angeles County coroner records. The chase began in the city of Orange March 8 and ended just before 1:40 a.m. at Seventh Street and Orange Avenue in Long Beach, according to Long Beach police. Police in Orange were pursuing a driver of a stolen vehicle at a high speed west on Seventh Street when the car crashed into another vehicle and veered out of control, police said. The stolen vehicle crashed into five parked cars before breaking down in the road, prompting the driver to run away, Long

A Brown Pelican that was found in San Pedro with a slashed pouch was released back into the wild in San Pedro Thursday after undergoing weeks of treatment and receiving more than 500 stitches. The bird, nicknamed Blue, spread her wings and took flight to join other pelicans at White Point Park Thursday morning. Russ Curtis, from the nonprofit International Bird Rescue, told City News Service visitors often see other pelicans roosting or just hanging out at the park, which will make it easier for Blue to rejoin them in the wild. The bird was brought to the care center in San Pedro on March 10 after being found with its pouch severed from the base to the tip on both sides — injuries that are believed to have been human-caused. Curtis noted Blue healed pretty quickly after undergoing two surgeries. Blue required about 500 stitches to reconnect her pouch to her mouth. “Pelicans are pretty resilient, especially if we get them in early and get them hydrated,” Curtis told City News Service. “We were able to put some sutures into her pretty quickly, so

Crisis at Pearl Harbor I Sunday on 60 Minutes – CBS News Watch CBS News Jet fuel from a Navy facility leaked into the water system, contaminating the drinking water for thousands of military families. Families say they are dealing with ongoing health issues and are suing the government. Sunday. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Excelsior Charter School in San Bernardino. (Google Maps) April 25, 2024 2:12 PM PT A teacher in San Bernardino County was arrested after being accused of lewd conduct with a 16-year-old girl, according to authorities. Brett David Dahl, a 43-year-old Victorville resident, was arrested on allegations of child endangerment, child abduction, contacting a minor to commit a felony and meeting with a minor for a lewd purpose, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. He is being held on $60,000 bail. Dahl was a teacher at Excelsior Charter Schools, but authorities did not clarify whether the victim was a student of Dahl. Authorities believe there could be more victims. A spokesperson for Excelsior Charter Schools could not be reached for comment. Anyone with more information has been encouraged to contact Det. Jason Desario at 909-890-4904. Those who want to be anonymous may call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com. More to Read Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. You may occasionally

It seems Rebel Wilson and her team decided to keep parts of her book “Rebel Rising” from hitting some shelves — perhaps to avoid legal backlash from former co-star Sacha Baron Cohen. Weeks after the Australian “Pitch Perfect” and “Senior Year” star published her memoir in the U.S., HarperCollins reportedly confirmed that some copies of “Rebel Rising” won’t include a controversial chapter about Wilson’s experience working with Cohen on the 2016 comedy film “The Brothers Grimsby.” The chapter, reportedly titled “Sacha Baron Cohen and Other A—,” will be printed as black lines in copies sold in Australia and New Zealand, the Guardian reported Thursday. “For legal reasons we have redacted one chapter in the Australian/New Zealand edition and included an explanatory note accordingly,” a HarperCollins spokesperson said in a statement shared with multiple outlets. “That chapter is a very small part of a much bigger story and we’re excited for readers to know Rebel’s story when the book is released.” Representatives for Wilson and HarpersCollins did not immediately respond to The Times’ requests for comment on Thursday. While promoting “Rebel Rising” in March, 44-year-old Wilson

Amy Duggar King hopes that her cousin Josh Duggar, who is behind bars for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse materials, is suffering for his actions. “I hope every day there is absolute torture for him,” the “19 Kids and Counting” and “Marriage Boot Camp” alum said in this week’s issue of People. “I really hope that because what he watched and what he was viewing for his own fulfillment is those kids experiencing torture.” Josh Duggar, 36, was convicted and sentenced to 12½ years in prison in May 2022 and is locked up at FCI Seagoville federal prison in Texas. He is expected to stay imprisoned until October 2032 after his appeal was denied in October. “He deserves every second in there, and I hope he gets a longer term. I hope he messes up again,” his cousin told the magazine. The disgraced reality TV star and his ultra-religious family starred in TLC’s hit “19 Kids and Counting,” which was canceled in 2015 after allegations surfaced that he had, as a teen, molested four of his younger sisters, including Jill Duggar Dillard and Jessa

Para los que están esperando una temporada 10 de “El Señor de los Cielos” comandada por Rafael Amaya, la mala noticia para sus fans es que el actor decidió no firmar un nuevo contrato con la cadena Telemundo. De acuerdo a People en Español, el actor mexicano dijo que a su vida están por llegar nuevas “oportunidades profesionales”, algo que en enero de 2024 ya se lo había insinuado a Los Angeles Times en Español durante una entrevista exclusiva en esta ciudad. Hay que recordar que desde que Rafael Amaya asumió el papel de Aurelio Casillas en la saga ‘El Señor de los Cielos’, el actor mexicano apenas hizo una película en paralelo por considerar que haciéndolo de esa manera, le era fiel al proyecto de la cadena Telemundo y a su personaje. “Desde la primera he hecho muy pocas cosas, creo que nada más he hecho una película y series no he hecho ninguna, pero esto, entonces ya va a cambiar”, le confesó a Los Angeles Times en Español en enero de este año. (Telemundo) Entre el final de las grabaciones de la octava

(Pacific Council on International Policy) The Pacific Council on International Policy, a membership-based organization in Los Angeles that focuses on global issues, announced Thursday that Duncan Wood of the Wilson Center will become the council’s new president and chief executive. Wood will replace Jerrold D. Green, who is retiring after 16 years with the Pacific Council on July 1. Wood was the unanimous selection of the council’s board of directors, the organization said. Currently vice president for strategy and new initiatives at the Wilson Center, Wood has focused most recently on supply chains, critical minerals, Mexican politics and U.S.-Mexico ties, according to the center, a nonpartisan Washington, D.C.-based think tank that researches a wide range of public policy issues. “With an impressive career in the policy and academic sectors, Duncan brings with him a wealth of experience, recognized thought leadership and a proven track record in fundraising,” said Arthur J. Ochoa, chief advancement officer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and leader of the council’s search committee. Richard Goetz, a partner at O’Melveny & Myers who serves as the council’s co-chair, said Wood’s expertise in U.S.-Mexico policy

Two Los Angeles bars were named among the 50 “best” in North America, according to a report from North America’s 50 Best Bars. The rankings were based on votes from 270 anonymous experts ranging from bartenders and bar owners to media and well-traveled “cocktail connoisseurs” from Canada, America, Mexico and the Caribbean. 4 California beaches named among ‘best’ in America, according to Travel & Leisure Thunderbolt, a bar in Echo Park known for its cocktails and Southern-inspired food menu, placed 8th on the list. Another bar, Mírate, placed 46th on the list. The bar, based in the Los Feliz area, is known for its unique variations of classic cocktails. Two bars located in San Francisco, True Laurel and Pacific Cocktail Haven, placed 30th and 38th on the list, respectively. Taco Bell bringing back fan-favorite item for its longest run next week North America’s 50 Best Bars list was launched in 2022 as an effort to “celebrate the best of the region’s drinks industry and shine a much-deserved spotlight on North America as a first-class cocktail destination,” according to the website. The complete report can be

Authorities have arrested an Indio man after they say he tried to kidnap two young girls as they walked to school. At about 9:20 a.m. Wednesday, the girls reported that a man tried to pull one of them into a vehicle near the intersection of Cactus Avenue and Perris Boulevard in Moreno Valley, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release. “The juvenile was able to break free from his grasp and, upon arriving at school, notified school administrators, who contacted the Sheriff’s Office,” the release said. The girls gave investigators “a detailed description of the suspect and his vehicle,” and less than an hour and a half after the incident, “Sheriff’s Investigators located the vehicle in the area of Ormista Drive and Searson Drive,” officials said. Rene Ramirez, 50, was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on charges of attempted kidnapping and annoying and molesting children. His bail has been set at $1 million, and he’s due to appear in the Riverside Hall of Justice on Friday. Anyone with information about this incident or who may have been contacted

A man died in Palmdale early Thursday morning after his SUV rolled over in a single-vehicle crash, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed. Authorities said deputies responded to reports of a collision in the area of Avenue M near 40th Street East around 1:53 a.m. Apparent road rage brawl on busy Los Angeles freeway caught on video Investigations revealed that a man was driving a 2002 Acura MDX westbound on Avenue M at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the SUV. The department said the man then drove into a ditch, got launched and crashed into a fence, which caused a rollover. The driver, only identified as a 33-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene. Anyone with information regarding the traffic collision is encouraged to call Palmdale Station’s Traffic Department at 661-272-2400.

April 25, 2024 / 4:51 PM EDT / CBS/AP In 22 states, homebuyers need 6-figure salaries to afford a home In 22 states, homebuyers need 6-figure salaries to afford a home 01:06 Well-heeled home shoppers are increasingly paying cash, helping turbocharge price gains for the most expensive U.S. homes. The median sale price of luxury homes — valued in the top 5% of the market nationally — hit an all-time high $1.23 million in the first quarter, an increase of 8.7% from the same period last year, according to an analysis by Redfin. That’s almost twice the increase seen in non-luxury homes.  For homes valued in the middle-third of the market, the median sale price rose 4.6% from a year ago to $345,000, according to the report. Redfin didn’t factor in price trends for homes with an estimated value in the bottom third of the market. One reason for the diverging sales data is that wealthy home shoppers are more likely to have the financial flexibility to bypass financing hurdles by paying in cash. The trend is helping accelerate the growth in home sale prices

Mexican singer-songwriter Carin Len will perform this summer at the California Mid-State Fair, fair officials announced Thursday. Len’s concert is scheduled to take place on Monday, July 22 in the Chumash Grandstand Arena. An opening act is yet to be announced. Tickets range in price from $65 to $180 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 3. Tickets can be purchased on the fair’s website. Len has received two Latin Grammys, an ASCAP award, and multiple Premio Lo Nuestro awards. He recently performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. The 2024 California Mid-State Fair will take place from July 17 to July 28 at the Paso Robles Event Center.

Here’s a look at some of the events taking place across our Central Coast communities from Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28. Multi-Day Events Santa Maria Strawberry Festival April 26th through 28th, Santa Maria Fairpark It is time to celebrate the Central Coast’s #1 crop, strawberries! This Friday through Sunday, the Santa Maria Fairpark will fill with strawberry tastings, art competitions, carnival rides, performances and more. While there, don’t miss the chalk art display and classic car show! Gates will be open from noon to 10 p.m. all three days. Full details can be found here! Morro Bay Kite Festival April 26th through 28th, Morro Rock Parking lot and Morro Strand BeachSoar to new heights at the Morro Bay Kite Festival! Friday night through Sunday, hundreds of kites big and small will fill the skies over Morro Strand Beach. Grab a bite from the vendors plus 500 build-your-own kite kits will be distributed to kids in attendance. Full details can be found here! SLO International Film Festival April 25th through 30th, Cinemas across San Luis Obispo CountyHeads up cinephiles! From April 25th through April