Category: Los Angeles

On the Shelf ‘Good Time Girl’ By Heather GaySimon & Schuster: 288 pages, $30 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org , whose fees support independent bookstores. When a “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” castmate first described Heather Gay as a “good time girl” who exposed her breasts while attending Brigham Young University, an insulted Gay insisted that couldn’t be further from the truth. She wished that was her reputation, but the name plagued her in the early days of the Bravo series and caused a rift with Lisa Barlow, the castmate describing her that way. (The pair are close now.) Some four years later, Gay has reclaimed the label that once irked her and titled her second book — a follow-up to her 2023 debut, “Bad Mormon” — “Good Time Girl,” out Dec. 3 via Gallery Books. In it, Gay, 50, reveals that she was always a “good time girl” on the inside, but her Mormon faith ultimately dimmed that light; she recounts vulnerable anecdotes about bedwetting, her ex-husband throwing out her CD cases

A passenger is suspected of falling off the Ruby Princess early Monday. The U.S. Coast Guard was called in to help find the man, but has since called off the search. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press) A missing 72-year-old man is suspected to have gone overboard a cruise ship outside San Francisco early Monday, according to the cruise line and local authorities. It wasn’t immediately clear what led to the incident, but a spokesperson for Princess Cruises said its team had reviewed video footage from the ship and also had “searched thoroughly several times without success,” ruling out any other possibilities for the man’s whereabouts. The man, who wasn’t immediately identified, had been traveling alone on the Ruby Princess, which had departed from San Francisco on Nov. 27 for a five-day trip, according to Briana Latter, a Princess Cruises spokesperson. The ship was set to return to San Francisco just before 7 a.m. Monday after traveling to San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico. The man is believed to have gone overboard sometime early Monday before the ship docked, Latter said in a statement. “We extend our

Stunning details in “Black Swan murder” trial “48 Hours” reviews gripping testimony in “Black Swan” murder trial 03:41 A former ballerina was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday in the 2020 shooting death of her estranged husband in Florida. CBS affiliate WTSP reports that Ashley Benefield was sentenced to 20 years, with credit for time served, followed by 10 years probation. The case, which became known as the “Black Swan murder” trial, garnered national attention, with some comparing Benefield to the protagonist of the 2010 film “Black Swan.”  The former ballerina was found guilty by a jury in July of manslaughter for shooting and killing her husband, Doug Benefield, in September 2020 after an argument. Ashley Benefield, 32, claimed that she killed her then-58-year-old estranged husband in self defense during an argument at her mother’s home, where she had moved from South Carolina after leaving him. Authorities said she shot him twice. “I just held the gun like in front of me and I said, stop, and he like turned and he got into this like almost like a fighting stance. He started like

A 2-year-old child from Crestline was killed after what authorities are calling a “gun-related accident” involving the child’s 7-year-old brother.  According to a media release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were dispatched to a call regarding a shooting in a parking lot at 8250 Day Creek Blvd. in Rancho Cucamonga around 3:53 p.m. Monday.  The address given by officials is a parking lot within the Foothill Crossing shopping center.  “When deputies arrived, they learned a 2-year-old boy had been shot,” SBSD said.   The boy was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.  Intentional crash leads to murder-suicide in Compton “Through investigation, deputies learned the victim and his 7-year-old brother were inside a truck when the 7-year-old found a firearm in the glovebox, resulting in the fatal shooting,” deputies confirmed.  SBSD’s Specialized Investigations Division responded and assumed the investigation, and a report will be sent to the District Attorney’s Office for review.  Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact the Specialized Investigations Division at 909-890-4904. To remain anonymous, contact We-Tip (1-800-782-7463) or visit their website. 

A Chinese man living illegally in Ontario was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly sent guns, ammunition and military equipment to North Korea by disguising it in shipping containers headed out from Long Beach. Shenghua Wen, 41, was charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the United States Department of Justice said in a news release. According to prosecutors, Wen overstayed a student visa, making him legally unable to possess guns or ammunition. Despite that, he and his co-conspirators “exported shipments of firearms and ammunition to North Korea by concealing the items inside shipping containers that were shipped from Long Beach through Hong Kong to North Korea,” the DOJ said. Items seized include about 50,000 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, a device to identify chemical threats and a hand-held broadband receiver that detects eavesdropping devices, authorities said. The U.S. DOJ provided these undated images of weapons and military equipment that Shenghua Wen allegedly tried to illegally send to North Korea. The U.S. DOJ provided these undated images of weapons and military equipment that Shenghua Wen allegedly tried to illegally send to North

Disneyland is once again offering discounted, multi-day ticket offers exclusively for Southern California residents. For a limited time, eligible Southern California residents can purchase a three-day, one-park ticket for as little as $67 per person per day. In comparison, the same ticket bundle typically starts at $139 per day, according to the Disneyland website. Disneyland looking to ‘amplify’ its lands following Bayou Country retheme Beginning on Tuesday, Southern California residents can purchase the following ticket packages: Three-day, one park per day ticket for a total price of $199 Three-day Park Hopper ticket for a total price of $289 Three-day, one park per day ticket with Lightning Lane Multi Pass for a total price of $295 Three-day Park Hopper ticket with Lightning Lane Multi Pass for a total price of $385 The discount tickets can be used from Jan. 1 to May 15, 2025, and can be used on consecutive or non-consecutive days. Proof of residency within Southern California ZIP codes 90000-93599 will be required to purchase and use the tickets. For those who don’t live in Southern California, the theme park resort also offers discounted

Authorities may consider Hannah Kobayashi, 30, who vanished in Los Angeles on Nov. 8, a “voluntary missing person,” but her family isn’t done looking for her. Kobayashi, who authorities say was spotted unharmed and crossing into Mexico on Nov. 12, was thought to possibly be the victim of a violent crime after her disappearance, though authorities now believe no foul play was involved and she entered Mexico of her own free will. Her family, however, hasn’t given up the search. They traveled from Hawaii to L.A. to look for her, though her father, Ryan Kobayashi, was found dead in a parking lot near LAX on Nov. 24. On Tuesday, the rest of the family released a statement saying that they “remain hopeful that Hannah is safe,” adding that “the search is far from over, and we are committed to doing everything possible to bring her home safely.” Maui woman who vanished in Los Angeles seen voluntarily crossing into Mexico “We want answers and a resolution that ensures Hannah’s safety and urge law enforcement and the public to stay focused on finding her and to avoid

This month a local landmark is expected to close in Venice: The Rose, né the Rose Café, lived a few culinary lives during its 45-year run. It opened as a charming cafe boasting neighborhood art nights, and it’s closing as one of the city’s most high-profile day-to-night eateries — helmed by multiple celebrity chefs. “Forty-five years is really something,” read a social media post from the restaurant on Dec. 1. “A lot of smiles, morning coffees, and celebrations for more than four decades. It is with sincere gratitude and sadness to announce that The Rose Venice is bidding our beloved corner of Rose and Main a fond farewell.” The last day of business for the Rose is set for Sunday, Dec. 15. “This decision has not been made lightly but reflects the cumulative challenges we have faced in recent years,” the restaurant’s management team said in a statement to The Times. “From economic shifts to a downturn in tourism and foot traffic in our neighborhood, we have navigated these hurdles with determination and optimism. Unfortunately, these factors have made it unsustainable to continue operating a

Shohei Ohtani to recoup $325,000 in baseball cards. Ex-interpreter still owes him $16 million Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, left, stole nearly $17 million from Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, including $325,000 worth of baseball cards. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press) Ippei Mizuhara’s fleecing of Shohei Ohtani was straightforward for the most part. Ohtani’s former interpreter had access to a bank account full of Ohtani’s money, and he simply wrote checks, withdrew cash or wired funds whenever he made bets or needed to pay gambling debts. Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud in June and was ordered to pay full restitution to his victims, which includes $16,975,010 to Ohtani, and $1,149,400 to the IRS. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 24 in federal court. But apparently Mizuhara found other ways to steal from Ohtani while the two-way baseball star played for the Angels and after he signed with the Dodgers in December 2023. On one occasion, Mizuhara needed $60,000 worth of dental work, and Ohtani approved payment from a business account. Mizuhara, however, deposited the money into his personal bank account and paid the dentist

By Analisa Novak Updated on: December 3, 2024 / 1:10 PM EST / CBS News Golden Globes presenters revealed Mindy Kaling and Morris Chestnut named Golden Globe presenters 00:46 Actors Mindy Kaling and Morris Chestnut will announce the  2025 Golden Globes  nominees, “CBS Mornings” revealed exclusively on Tuesday.  Kaling, known for her roles in “The Mindy Project” and “The Office,” will join Chestnut, who gained fame in “Boyz n the Hood” and will star in the upcoming CBS drama “Watson.” When will the nominees be announced? The nominees for the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards will be revealed on Monday, Dec. 9. Ten categories will be revealed exclusively on CBS Mornings, and a complete list of nominees across the 27 award categories will be available on GoldenGlobes.com and CBSNews.com following the live announcement. Who is hosting the Golden Globes? Comedian Nikki Glaser will host the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards. Glasser was announced in August as the host following a breakout performance during Comedy Central’s “The Roast of Tom Brady.” “I am absolutely thrilled to be hosting the Golden Globes. It’s one of my favorite

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. Many investors can benefit from investing in gold ahead of 2025. Getty Images One of the most popular and successful investments in recent years is also one of the more traditional ones: gold. Investing in the precious metal surged to an 11-year high in 2023 and the price broke multiple records in 2024, the latest of which came in late October. And it’s possible that the metal could hit a new price record of $3,000 per ounce , possibly even before December 31.  Understanding this dynamic, those who are considering a gold investment now, as well as those who have already got started, may be wondering how the precious metal could help their portfolio in the new year. While gold’s benefits remain traditional and reliable, they can be particularly beneficial now. Below, we’ll break down three ways a gold investment could boost your portfolio in 2025. Learn more about the gold investment options available to you here. How a gold investment could boost your portfolio

By Eric Henderson Updated on: December 3, 2024 / 1:02 PM EST / CBS News Most anticipated movies this season What are the most anticipated movies of the Thanksgiving, holiday season? 03:55 Actor-turned-director Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist” was named the best film of 2024 by the New York Film Critics Circle Tuesday afternoon. One of the nation’s oldest and most venerated critics’ groups, the NYFCC traditionally kicks the movie awards season into high gear.  The group, comprised of roughly 50 print and online movie reviewers based in the city, is frequently the first major critics’ group to announce its best-of choices for the year. Their winners are chosen via ballot, and on a category-by-category basis. “The Brutalist,” a three-and-a-half-hour period piece, was also cited for Adrian Brody’s central performance. Meanwhile, Marianne Jean-Baptiste was named the year’s best actress for “Hard Truths,” her reunion with British director Mike Leigh. She was previously nominated for an Oscar for her role in Leigh’s “Secrets & Lies.” The best director prize went to RaMell Ross for his adaptation of author Colson Whitehead’s 2019 novel “Nickel Boys.” Full list of NYFCC winners

A homeowners group is asking a judge to pause plans to build an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Los Angeles’ Woodland Hills neighborhood. The proposed site for the popular burger chain is on Ventura Boulevard near Fallbrook Avenue but the West Valley Alliance for Optimal Living has concerns about the location. The group says the In-N-Out drive-thru would be placed near multi-family housing and wants more information about how the restaurant would impact traffic, noise and water quality, mynewsla.com reported. They have petitioned a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to halt the project until an environmental impact study can be done. The City of Los Angeles has yet to respond to the homeowners’ petition.

Select Taco Bell drive-thrus nationwide will be transformed into a “one of a kind” photo booth experience to capture fans’ everyday “Live Mas” moments. Taco Bell rewards members in California, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Florida will be able to participate in the drive-thru photo booth experience. Some of the photos could end up in Taco Bell’s upcoming commercial during the Super Bowl, according to the chain. Iconic Taco Bell items from previous decades returning to 3 Southern California stores “Every day in our drive-thrus, we see moments that are so uniquely ‘our fans’ – the moments, the memories, and the energy that makes Taco Bell who we are,” Taco Bell’s Chief Marketing Officer Taylor Montgomery said in a statement. “That’s why, for our return to football’s biggest stage, we’re sidelining the celebrities and turning the camera on the fans who already make Taco Bell what it is.” The photo booth experience will be available at these locations for a limited time: Dec. 3 to Dec. 5: 1604 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90019 Dec. 4 to Dec. 6: 17565 E. Bagley Road, Middleburg

Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, left, stole nearly $17 million from Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, including $325,000 worth of baseball cards. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press) Ippei Mizuhara’s fleecing of Shohei Ohtani was straightforward for the most part. Ohtani’s former interpreter had access to a bank account full of Ohtani’s money, and he simply wrote checks, withdrew cash or wired funds whenever he made bets or needed to pay gambling debts. Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud in June and was ordered to pay full restitution to his victims, which includes $16,975,010 to Ohtani, and $1,149,400 to the IRS. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 24 in federal court. But apparently Mizuhara found other ways to steal from Ohtani while the two-way baseball star played for the Angels and after he signed with the Dodgers in December 2023. On one occasion, Mizuhara needed $60,000 worth of dental work, and Ohtani approved payment from a business account. Mizuhara, however, deposited the money into his personal bank account and paid the dentist from the Ohtani account he illegally controlled, prosecutors said. And shortly after Ohtani joined

A high-speed police chase of an arson suspect ended in a fiery, violent rollover crash in Fountain Valley that left a woman dead and the suspect and two other people hospitalized, authorities said Tuesday. The collision occurred around 10 p.m. Monday near Ellis Avenue and Magnolia Street, according to the Fountain Valley Police Department. According to police, the events leading to the pursuit began about 7:30 p.m. Monday, when officers went to a residence in the 18000 block of Arches Court “in reference to an arson that just occurred.” “Investigation revealed because of an ongoing domestic dispute, a known suspect doused a bush adjacent to the home with lighter fluid and lit it on fire,” a police statement said. “The fire engulfed the bush in flames and spread to the structure of the home.” The fire was extinguished by residents before officers arrived, police said. “Using investigative resources, officers located the suspect’s unoccupied vehicle, a white Dodge Ram truck, in a parking lot in the 17900 block of Brookhurst (Street) in Fountain Valley,” the police statement said. “Officers conducted surveillance of the Dodge, and at

A judge has denied a bid by the Los Angeles Unified School District to dismiss wholly or in part a lawsuit filed by the mother of a 15-year-old girl who died of a drug overdose in a high school restroom in 2022, finding that there were triable issues for a jury. Plaintiff Elena Perez’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit alleges that Bernstein High School officials knew there was a problem with drug use at the Hollywood campus, but took no action that could have saved her daughter, Melanie Ramos. The coroner’s report stated that Melanie died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl on Sept. 13, 2022. In court papers filed previously with Judge Lisa R. Jaskol, LAUSD lawyers contended the Bernstein High administration did not fail Perez or her daughter and that both the district and the administrators have immunity from Perez’s causes of action. But in her ruling Monday denying the LAUSD’s motion, the judge said that between 2013 and the fall semester of 2022, several medical emergencies related to drug use took place at the Bernstein campus and that three of the medical

By Eric Henderson Updated on: December 3, 2024 / 12:11 PM EST / CBS News Most anticipated movies this season What are the most anticipated movies of the Thanksgiving, holiday season? 03:55 The New York Film Critics Circle, one of the nation’s oldest and most venerated critics’ groups, is kicking movie awards season into high gear Tuesday as they select their choices for the best of 2024.  The group, comprised of roughly 50 print and online movie reviewers based in the city, is frequently the first major critics’ group to announce its best-of choices for the year. Their winners are chosen via ballot, and on a category-by-category basis; the awards have traditionally taken a number of hours to reveal.  Marianne Jean-Baptiste was named the year’s best actress for “Hard Truths,” her reunion with British director Mike Leigh. She was previously nominated for an Oscar for her role in Leigh’s “Secrets & Lies.”  The group selected as its best non-fiction film winner “No Other Land,” an Israel-Palestinian collaboration directed by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. Longtime film critic J. Hoberman recently called

By Robert Legare Updated on: December 3, 2024 / 12:57 PM EST / CBS News U.S. calls on China to sway North Korea U.S. calls on China to sway North Korea to stop efforts with Russia in Ukraine war 03:02 A Chinese national living in California has been arrested and charged by federal law enforcement after he allegedly bought and exported guns and ammunition to North Korea at the direction of North Korean agents who funneled him $2 million to purchase the equipment, according to a newly unsealed criminal complaint. Shenghua Wen, 41, also admitted to trying to obtain military uniforms in an apparent attempt to help North Korean soldiers disguise themselves and conduct a “surprise attack” against South Korea, prosecutors said in an affidavit accompanying the complaint, which was filed on Nov. 26. Prosecutors alleged Wen came to the U.S. on a student visa in 2012 and lives in Ontario, California. During a series of interviews earlier this year, he allegedly told investigators that he met with North Korean officials in China before coming to the U.S., and they directed him to procure firearms

By Kelsie Hoffman December 3, 2024 / 12:03 PM EST / CBS News Jon M. Chu on making “Wicked” a movie Jon M. Chu on bringing “Wicked” from Broadway to the big screen 05:58 After fewer than 10 days in theaters, the movie “Wicked” made more than $360 million worldwide, making it the highest grossing Broadway musical adaptation of all time. Director Jon M. Chu said there was a need to make “Wicked” now — “that it was speaking to a new voice of a new generation.” Before casting Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda , Chu said he was originally set on finding fresh faces for the movie in his largest casting call ever. “I didn’t believe, like when Ari came in, like no way Ariana Grande could commit herself to a role like this. I knew she was funny. I knew she had great pipes, but when she came in, she became Glinda,” he said. “When those two walk in… the moment you look in their eyes, there’s no denying it, they just took those roles.” Chu called it a

December 3, 2024 / 11:57 AM EST / CBS/AP Controversy at Young Thug RICO trial Prosecutors trying to use Young Thug’s lyrics against him in RICO trial 05:56 The gang and racketeering case in Atlanta that previously involved the rap music star Young Thug ended on Tuesday, when a jury found the last two defendants not guilty of murder and gang-related charges in the culmination of Georgia’s longest criminal trial. Deamonte Kendrick, who raps as Yak Gotti, was acquitted of all charges. Shannon Stillwell was found guilty only of a gun possession charge.  The verdicts came nearly two years after jury selection began and a year after opening statements in a trial plagued with problems. Kendrick appeared in court this week despite having been stabbed and injured Sunday in jail, his attorney Doug Weinstein confirmed. Weinstein said in a social media post that he expected Kendrick, who “sounded tired” when they spoke in the wake of the incident, “to make a full recovery.” The stabbing occurred almost a year after Stillwell was also stabbed inside the jail, CBS News affiliate WANF reported. The original, sweeping