Category: Los Angeles

Students are massed peacefully on campus, making politically charged demands on university presidents. The police are summoned, leading to mass arrests and even to violence — and to the collapse of confidence in the administration. You may see the punchline coming: This picture isn’t drawn from USC and Columbia University of the present day, but Berkeley in 1964. The lessons should be obvious. Bringing police onto a college campus on the pretext of preserving or restoring “order” invariably makes things worse. It’s almost always inspired not by conditions on campus, but by partisan pressure on university administrators to act. Often it results in the ouster of the university presidents who condoned the police incursions, and sometimes even in the departure of the politicians whose fingerprints were on the orders. Arresting peaceful protestors is also likely to escalate, not calm, the tensions on campus — as events of the past week have made abundantly clear. — ACLU In other words, nobody wins. Perhaps in recognition of the astonishing ignorance of college administrators of their own responsibilities, the American Civil Liberties Union last week issued a succinct

In one of the more odorless crimes in Southern California, authorities are asking the public for help in locating a toiletry thief who targeted a very specific aisle in a local drug store.   The theft occurred at around 8:40 p.m. on March 17 at a CVS in Agoura Hills, according to a bulletin from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.   Surveillance cameras captured the man walking into the store, where he filled a reusable Target store bag with various deodorant products and walked out without paying for the merchandise.  “The total amount of deodorant stolen was $1,196.98,” the sheriff’s department said. Authorities are searching for a suspect who stole more than $1,000 in deodorant from a CVS in Agoura Hills on March 17, 2024. (LASD) Authorities are searching for a suspect who stole more than $1,000 in deodorant from a CVS in Agoura Hills on March 17, 2024. (LASD) Authorities are searching for a suspect who stole more than $1,000 in deodorant from a CVS in Agoura Hills on March 17, 2024. (LASD) The suspect was only described as a male Hispanic dressed

The owner and operator of multiple addiction treatment centers in Orange County has been charged for an alleged kickback scheme in which he’s accused of paying individuals to bring him new patients so he could milk their insurance. Scott Raffa, 57, of Newport Beach operated multiple treatment centers around Orange County, including Sober Partners Waterfront Recovery Center, Sober Partners Reef House and Sober Partners Beach House. From April 2020 to October 2021, Raffa allegedly paid nearly $175,000 to “body brokers” who would refer new patients to his businesses so he could bill the patient’s insurance significantly more than he paid out. According to the United States Department of Justice, these body brokers operated their own businesses and were paid thousands of dollars for each patient they referred to Raffa’s treatment centers. Raffa is accused of drawing up fake contracts with some of those businesses that were specifically designed to conceal the true reason for certain payments. This was achieved by using language that stated they weren’t for “volume or value” of the patients, when they actually were. The DOJ alleges Raffa met in secret or

A West Covina man made his first appearance in federal court Monday after he allegedly defrauded an elderly couple from Encino. The U.S. Department of Justice says 48-year-old Tai Su used a cyberattack to scam the victims out of $25,000 before his arrest. On April 23, the victims opened an email and clicked on a link launching malware that seized their computer and displayed a phone number that was purportedly Microsoft support. The elderly couple called the number and spoke with a person who told them that they had been hacked and that the suspects had their banking information for their accounts with City National Bank. According to the DOJ, the victims were told they were being transferred to a fraud and risk investigator with City National Bank, who told the elderly couple to withdraw $25,000 in cash and hand it over to federal agents who would meet them at their home. Later in the day on April 23, two men pretending to be federal agents came to the victim’s home with a fake badge and collected the money. The DOJ alleges that Su and

Senate Democrats ahead in 2 key states, CBS News poll finds – CBS News Watch CBS News Senate Democratic candidates are leading their races in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, according to CBS News polling. Executive director of elections and surveys Anthony Salvanto unpacks the numbers. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem defends decision to kill dog – CBS News Watch CBS News South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is facing backlash after revealing in a book that she shot and killed her 14-month-old dog. Semafor politics reporter Shelby Talcott and CBS News political director Fin Gómez join with analysis. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

By Emily Mae Czachor April 29, 2024 / 7:59 PM EDT / CBS News Tracing family trees to catch killers Tracing family trees to catch killers 01:56 Authorities have finally identified the remains of a New York City teenager coined “Midtown Jane Doe,” after her grisly murder spawned a decadeslong cold case investigation. A recent breakthrough owed to advanced forensics linked her DNA to the mother of a woman killed on 9/11. Jane Doe was identified as Patricia Kathleen McGlone, who was just 16 at the time of her death and had previously lived and attended school in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. Investigators believe she was murdered during the latter half of 1969, or, potentially, at some point in early 1970, said Detective Ryan Glas of the New York City Police Department. Glas has worked this case for much of the last two years. The case drew an initial wave of horror and intrigue in 2003, when construction workers discovered human remains buried beneath a Manhattan building that was being taken down. That February, as workers were breaking up the floor of the

What we know about Trump’s meeting with DeSantis – CBS News Watch CBS News Former President Donald Trump met with former Republican rival Ron DeSantis on Sunday, marking their first meeting since the Florida governor ended his 2024 presidential bid in January. A senior Trump source says they met for several hours at DeSantis’ request. Semafor politics reporter Shelby Talcott and CBS News political director Fin Gómez join to discuss. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

For someone who once thought he’d never coach, Nick Hardwick found himself in the strangest of places: Sitting in an Indiana high school, as midnight approached, breaking down film. “I was getting four hours of sleep a night,” he recalled Monday, “and I was like, ‘Well, if I’m doing this for free and actually donating money, why would I not do this at another level, one that I’m more familiar with?’ ” That’s part of what led Hardwick back home, to the Chargers, the former Pro Bowl center now an offensive line assistant. A veteran of 11 NFL seasons, Hardwick, 42, is making his professional coaching debut with the only franchise he has ever known and for a boss who has spent the last three months preaching the importance of the offensive front. Jim Harbaugh hasn’t stopped talking about his trench-first philosophy since his introductory news conference in February. Just last week, he called offensive linemen “weapons.” The Chargers on Thursday used their first pick in the draft — No. 5 overall — on Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt. They also just picked up the

Tents and banners cropped up on the campus of the University of California, Irvine on Monday as pro-Palestinian demonstrators took their message to yet another college campus in Southern California. University officials told KTLA 5 News that approximately a dozen tents had been erected as of mid-afternoon by protesters demanding UCI divest ties to Israel over the Jewish state’s military response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. KTLA 5 News reporter Chip Yost reported that deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and campus police were staged in a parking lot across from the demonstration. No incidents were reported. In a statement, a school spokesperson said that the institution “respects the rights of any students to engage in free speech and expression including lawful protest,” indicating that it would follow the University of California’s systemwide guidance and not disrupt the demonstration. “The safety of all members of the campus community is always a top priority, and we continue to monitor and evaluate the situation to ensure that we are able to continue to provide a safe and secure learning environment,” the statement said. A pro-Palestinian

By Megan Cerullo Edited By Anne Marie Lee April 29, 2024 / 7:10 PM EDT / CBS News Key issues for Wisconsin voters Wisconsin voters weigh in on immigration and economy ahead of presidential election 02:40 Voters’ impressions of how good each presidential candidate is for the economy could determine the outcome of the 2024 Presidential election. In Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are engaged in close contests , most voters said the economy will be a major factor in deciding whom they will cast their ballot for, results from a CBS News and YouGov poll show.  In Michigan, 80% of voters say the economy is a top issue for them, followed by 77% of voters who say inflation is. Seventy-two percent of voters ranked the state of democracy as one of the issues that matter most to them. Biden currently has a narrow lead over Trump in the state.  In both Pennsylvania and Washington, 80% of voters similarly ranked the economy as one of the topics they care most about this election. Other lower-ranked topics included

By Sara Moniuszko Edited By Paula Cohen April 29, 2024 / 6:29 PM EDT / CBS News Dairy cows to be tested for bird flu closely More dairy cows to be tested for bird flu after findings in grocery store milk 02:45 Pasteurization is working to kill off bird flu in milk, according to tests run by the Food and Drug Administration — but what about unpasteurized dairy products like raw milk? Experts advise to stay away, especially with the recent avian influenza outbreak affecting growing numbers of  poultry  and  dairy cows .  “Do not consume unpasteurized dairy products,” Dr. Nidhi Kumar told CBS New York. “I know there are people that are real advocates for it, but this is not the time to do it.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls raw milk “one of the riskiest foods.” “Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria,” the health agency’s website explains. “Raw milk can be contaminated with harmful germs that can make you very sick.” The CDC says raw milk can cause a number of different foodborne illnesses, and

Student protests over the Israel-Hamas war have popped up at many college campuses following the arrest of demonstrators this month at Columbia University. The students are calling for universities to separate themselves from companies that are advancing Israel’s military efforts in Gaza — and in some cases from Israel itself. The number of arrests nationwide has approached 1,000 since New York police arrested demonstrators at Columbia on April 18. Protests on many campuses have been orchestrated by coalitions of student groups. The groups largely act independently, though students say they’re inspired by peers at other universities. Some universities say outsiders have joined student protesters and caused trouble. The protests have even spread to Europe, with French police removing dozens of students from the Sorbonne university after pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the main courtyard. A look at protests on campuses: Columbia University Pro-Palestinian student protesters set up a tent encampment at the Ivy League university in New York earlier this month. Police first tried to clear the encampment April 18, when they arrested more than 100 protesters. But the move inspired students across the country and motivated

Tyronn Lue gathered his team in the huddle during a timeout with 2 minutes and 14 seconds left Sunday in Game 4 and looked them in the eyes with a firmness after the Clippers’ 31-point lead had evaporated down to one. Lue was the calm Clippers coach at a time when the Dallas Mavericks had overwhelmed his team and changed the momentum of the game. Lue was resolute in the middle of a Mavericks offensive storm in which Kyrie Irving was virtually unstoppable. Lue was steadfast in his belief in the Clippers during the game’s most tense moment even with their best player, Kawhi Leonard, sidelined because of inflammation in his right knee. Lue crossed his arms after his team took the court, looked at the media while the fans inside American Airlines Center were delirious, smiled and mouthed: “We’ll be good. We’ll be good.” The play Lue dialed up for was for Paul George down low, but he fumbled the basketball, retrieved it and then knocked down a 23-foot, step-back three-pointer in the corner for a two-point lead the Clippers never relinquished. When the

“Vanderpump Rules” exes Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval fired back at former co-star Rachel Leviss, denying her allegations that they distributed sexually explicit videos without her consent. Last week, Madix and Sandoval filed separate responses in Los Angeles County Superior Court to Leviss’ February lawsuit, which accuses the former romantic partners of eavesdropping, revenge porn, invasion of privacy and “intentional infliction of emotional distress.” The 29-year-old reality TV star’s complaint stems from the tabloid scandal — known among Bravo fans as “Scandoval” — that revealed she had been sleeping with Sandoval, Madix’s longtime boyfriend. A legal representative for Leviss (formerly “Raquel Leviss”) did not immediately respond Monday to The Times’ request for comment. Madix, 38, filed a declaration on Friday requesting that the court strike Leviss’ complaint, citing California’s anti-SLAPP law, which protects against frivolous lawsuits. The reality TV personality turned Broadway star‘s declaration countered Leviss’ claims that Madix had obtained and distributed at least two sexually explicit videos of Leviss without her knowledge or consent. Leviss claimed in her February complaint that her co-star had informed the “Vanderpump” cast and production team about the

Jason Kelce has his first post-NFL gig lined up. The newly retired Philadelphia Eagles center earned seven Pro Bowl selections and one Super Bowl ring during his 13-year NFL career. Along the way, he became one of the faces of the Eagles and — along with younger brother and “New Heights” podcast co-host Travis Kelce, the star Kansas City Chiefs tight end who happens to be dating pop superstar Taylor Swift — one of the league’s most recognized names. Now Jason Kelce is making the move to TV. The Times has learned he will be joining the on-air crew for ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown,” the pregame show to the network’s “Monday Night Football” broadcast. ESPN, which has yet to announce the move, declined to comment. The Athletic was the first to report the news. Last season, “Monday Night Countdown” was hosted by SportsCenter anchor Scott Van Pelt, who was joined by analysts Ryan Clark, Marcus Spears and Robert Griffin III. Kelce was a walk-on linebacker at Cincinnati and a sixth-round pick for the Eagles in the 2011 draft. He made his first Pro Bowl in

Travelers planning a summer getaway may want to consider one of this year’s top summer destinations listed as part of USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The 20 summer destinations were nominated by a panel of experts, USA Today says, but only one will be named the No. 1 summer trip destination. Competing for that title is one beloved California travel destination: Catalina Island. The 22-mile island located off the coast of Southern California welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and is home to pristine beaches, some of the region’s most unique plant and animal species, and world-famous seafood. Luxury hotels, mid-range bungalows and cheap overnight stays are all among the accommodations travelers can book when visiting Catalina. The island is also a hotspot for film and television production, particularly in the early days of Hollywood and the silent-film era. Multiple episodes of “Baywatch” were filmed on site in the 1990s, and portions of the classic Steven Spielberg thriller “Jaws” were also filmed there. For the younger generations, its most indelible pop culture moment might be from the 2008 comedy “Step Brothers,” in which characters played

By Kate Gibson Edited By Anne Marie Lee April 29, 2024 / 6:07 PM EDT / CBS News Is bird flu the next pandemic? Doctor explains what to know. Is bird flu the next pandemic? Doctor explains what to know. 02:43 The government is now testing samples of ground beef sold in retail stores in the nine states where outbreaks of highly virulent bird flu have occurred in dairy cows, while offering assurances that U.S. meat is safe, the USDA said on Monday. The effort comes after samples of pasteurized milk from around the country tested positive for inactive remnants of the virus known as H5N1, with those samples taken after the the virus was confirmed in dairy herds in nine states: Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas.  The agency also plans to sample infected beef muscles from culled dairy cows to study whether cooking ground beef reduces the H5N1 virus.  The agency reiterated recommendations that consumers properly handle raw meats and cook them to a safe internal temperature to kill bacteria and viruses.   The USDA on

By Meredith Gordon April 29, 2024 / 6:03 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. Brayden McNabb #3 of the Vegas Golden Knights knocks Joe Pavelski #16 of the Dallas Stars over in front of Logan Thompson #36 of the Golden Knights in the third period of Game Three of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on April 27, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Stars defeated the Golden Knights 3-2 in overtime. Ethan Miller/Getty Images The Dallas Stars face the Vegas Golden Knights tonight for Game 4 of the teams’ NHL Playoffs Round 1 series. Despite a loss in Game 3, the Golden Knights lead the series 2-1.  Keep reading for all the ways you can watch the Stars vs. Golden Knights NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs game tonight. How and when to watch tonight’s Stars vs. Golden Knights NHL Playoffs game Game 4 of the Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden

At the request of his attorney, arraignment was postponed Monday for a man accused of supplying a deadly dose of fentanyl to a 40-year-old Norco resident. Johnnie Curtis Stevens, 40, of Norco, was arrested Wednesday following a months-long Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation into the death last year of Jason Schmuch. Stevens made his initial court appearance Friday and returned to the Riverside Hall of Justice Monday morning, when his newly appointed public defender requested a delay in proceedings for reasons unspecified in court minutes. Superior Court Judge Gary Polk granted the motion, resetting the arraignment to June 10. Stevens is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta. According to sheriff’s Sgt. Sean Liebrand, on the morning of Nov. 19, 2023, patrol deputies were called to the intersection of Roundup Road and Stagecoach Drive to investigate reports of a comatose man. Schmuch was pronounced dead at the scene, Liebrand said. “Deputies located evidence indicative of a fentanyl overdose,” the sergeant said. He said the sheriff’s Overdose Death Investigations & Narcotics Unit was assigned to the case after

Dallas real estate developer Bill Hutchinson, who starred in the Lifetime unscripted series “Marrying Millions,” pleaded guilty Monday to sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl at his Laguna Beach vacation home and was sentenced to 90 days of home confinement in Texas. The 65-year-old Highland Park, Texas, resident pleaded guilty to a count of misdemeanor sexual battery and was placed on three years of formal probation and ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years. If he clears two years of formal probation then it will be changed to informal status for the third year. Hutchinson was charged in July 2021 with a felony count of rape of an unconscious person and five misdemeanor counts of touching an intimate part of another person. In the original complaint he was accused of sex assaults on two 16-year-old girls. Prosecutors negotiated a plea deal with the one victim because there wasn’t enough evidence to prove the case with the other accuser, prosecutors said. Two teenagers went on vacation with the defendant at his Laguna Beach residence in April, according to prosecutors, who alleged he raped one