Category: Los Angeles

The Biden administration is announcing it is cancelling student loan debt for another 206,000 borrowers even as seven more states this week filed a lawsuit to stop the forgiveness plans. The lawsuit alleges President Joe Biden is overstepping his authority, setting up another legal showdown over student debt forgiveness. With Friday’s announcement, the White House says 4.3 million Americans can now claim some amount of federal student debt relief to the tune of $153 billion. “We are past the point where one in ten people who have student loans have had their loans discharged,” said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. Eighteen Republican-led states are now suing to stop those efforts. “The president is simply shifting the burden to those individuals who paid off their student loans or worked their way through school or chose to take a career that didn’t require a 4-year education,” said Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.). Education Secretary Miguel Cardona defends the administration’s plan as critics say the administration’s plans amount to a bailout for people who took out federal loans they couldn’t repay. “Are you telling me these are the people getting

April 12, 2024 / 11:51 AM EDT / CBS/AP A Houston hospital has halted its liver and kidney transplant programs after discovering that a doctor reportedly manipulated records for liver transplant candidates. “Inappropriate changes … effectively inactivated the candidates on the liver transplant waiting list,” Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center said in a statement published Thursday in the Houston Chronicle. “Subsequently, these patients did not/were not able to receive organ donation offers while inactive.” The New York Times, citing officials, identified the doctor as Dr. J. Steve Bynon Jr., a surgeon at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston who had a contract to lead Memorial Hermann’s abdominal transplant program. In a statement to CBS News, UTHealth Houston called Bynon “an exceptionally talented and caring physician, and a pioneer in abdominal organ transplantation.” “Our faculty and staff members, including Dr. Bynon, are assisting with the inquiry into Memorial Hermann’s liver transplant program and are committed to addressing and resolving any findings identified by this process,” UTHealth Houston spokesperson Deborah Mann Lake said in a statement. CBS affiliate KHOU reported last week that the hospital

Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter turns himself in to face criminal charges – CBS News Watch CBS News Baseball star Shohei Ohtani’s longtime interpreter has turned himself in to face criminal charges that include bank fraud. Federal prosecutors say Ippei Mizuhara stole from the L.A. Dodgers star to pay gambling debts. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Mick Mars, who in January won a legal battle with his former Motley Crue bandmates over corporate document production related to his 2022 dismissal from the group, has been awarded more than $130,000 in attorneys’ fees. The $131,665 granted by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant on Thursday was less than half the $285,000 the musician sought. The 72-year-old former lead guitarist for the group filed a petition in April 2023 asking that companies associated with the band turn over business records and pay for his attorneys’ fees. Mars says he has suffered from a chronic form of arthritis that has effectively fused his spine and made him three inches shorter than he was in high school, and that he is unable to turn his head in any direction. On Jan. 16, Chalfant found that Mars was forced to file a legal action in order to obtain the documents he was entitled to receive long before the Dec. 8 timeline when nearly 1,400 pages were finally delivered. Mars’ attorneys subsequently filed court papers seeking $282,160 in attorneys’ fees and $2,180 in costs. But

A prominent law firm has obtained a judgment of more than $1 million against former Assemblyman Matthew Dababneh, who allegedly owed the firm fees and costs associated with filing a defamation suit against a woman who accused the ex-lawmaker of sexual assault. On Thursday, Los Angeles Superior Court Wendy Chang confirmed an arbitrator’s award of $930,930 to the firm of Glaser, Weil, Fink, Howard, Avchen & Shapiro LLP. Chang also added attorneys’ fees, interest and costs for a total of $1.050 million. No one appeared at the hearing on Dababneh’s behalf. “The court may not vacate or correct the award as the petition is unopposed,” Chang wrote. Attorney Patricia L. Glaser, whose clients include Fortune 500 companies, major studios, real estate investors and developers, financial institutions and high-profile entertainers and public figures, is among the members of the Glaser Weil law firm. According to the petition filed in February 2023, Glaser Weil represented the former Woodland Hills politician during an assembly committee investigation into Sacramento lobbyist Pamela Lopez’s allegations against him as well as Dababneh’s subsequent civil action against his accuser. Dababneh, a 43-year-old Democrat

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. By Jessica Walrack Edited By Angelica Leicht Updated on: April 12, 2024 / 11:24 AM EDT / CBS News If you’re feeling overwhelmed by high-interest debt, these payoff strategies can help you tackle what you owe. Getty Images If you’re carrying variable-interest debt on credit cards or other credit products, you’ve likely noticed an uptick in interest over the past few years. The Fed implemented a series of rate hikes throughout 2022 and 2023 to help fight inflation, which caused lenders to increase the rates on their credit products. For example, the average rate on U.S. credit card accounts went from 14.71% in 2020 to 21.47% by late 2023.  To give you an idea of how that translates, if you have $5,000 in credit card debt and a 14% APR, you’ll owe about $58 in interest charges per month compared to about $87 per month with a 21% APR. And the cost difference compounds over time. If you’re paying off the balance through monthly payments

Police are continuing their search for a 23-year-old woman from Sacramento who was last seen in Los Angeles and whose phone was found at L.A. International Airport. Noelle Lynch, 23, was last seen leaving an apartment building in the 900 block of East Redondo Boulevard in Inglewood on April 3 around 5 p.m., the Los Angeles Police Department said in a news release. She was described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall with brown hair and blue eyes and weighing approximately 125 pounds. Her father told the news outlet SF Gate that Lynch is a Sacramento State University student, but that she drove to Los Angeles on April 1 in a “difficult state of mind.” The family didn’t know where she was going when she left their home in the Sacramento area appearing upset, but the following day she was involved in a car crash in Los Angeles, her father Mark Lynch said. Her car was totaled. The family booked Lynch a hotel room near LAX and her mother was set to drive to Los Angeles to get her. Noelle spoke to her mother from

WASHINGTON —  The Supreme Court ruled Friday that developers and home builders in California may challenge the fees commonly imposed by cities and counties to pay for new roads, schools, sewers and other public improvements. The justices said these “impact fees” may be unconstitutional if builders and developers are forced to pay an unfair share of the cost of public projects. Developers contended that limiting California’s high fees for new construction would lead to the construction of more affordable new housing. California state courts had blocked such claims when they arose from “a development impact fee imposed pursuant to a legislatively authorized fee program” that applies to new development in a city or county. But the 9-0 Supreme Court decision opened the door for such challenges. The decision could have wide impact in California, since local governments have increasingly relied on impact fees rather than property taxes to pay for new projects. But the justices did not set a rule for deciding when these fees become unfair and unconstitutional. Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson said they joined the court’s opinion in Sheetz vs. El

If there’s anything that can harsh the mellow of “Dead Heads,” it’s probably this. On Tuesday, the founder of Skull & Roses, a Grateful Dead tribute festival that was set to be held in Ventura next weekend, announced it had been canceled. In the same announcement, it was noted that those who purchased tickets won’t get their money back. “With deep sorrow I must inform you that SKULL & ROSES 6 has been canceled,” a statement signed by festival founder Chris Mitrovich reads in part. “In all transparency, the financial devastation of the 2023 show has made it impossible to sustain the weight of the new production.” Taylor Swift reportedly gives ‘Eras Tour’ truckers $100,000 bonuses It was not immediately clear what the “financial devastation” relating to last year’s show was, but the 2024 show was canceled just 10 days before the first day was set to kick off. The festival had been held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds each year since it began in 2017. While the news of the cancelation was likely bad enough for fans, the statement also informed ticket holders that

By Jan Crawford, Analisa Novak April 12, 2024 / 11:07 AM EDT / CBS News Country artist ERNEST on new album Country artist ERNEST talks new album, next chapter in his career 06:12 Celebrated for his impromptu lyrics and catchy melodies, country music singer-songwriter Ernest Smith said he first realized his knack for songwriting in sixth grade when he listened to the “Space Jam” soundtrack. “I was ingesting rap at like, you know, second, third grade,” said ERNEST. His love for music blossomed in elementary school, where he honed his skills by freestyling at the lunch table and making up songs about friends. “They throw out words, I’d make up rhymes. And that was, that was kind of like when I realized I had a skill for it,” said ERNEST. That skill has earned him nine No. 1 hits and led to ERNEST writing with and for some of country music’s biggest names, like Kane Brown and ERNEST’s good friend, Jelly Roll. His songwriting took him to Nashville, where he signed a record deal and recently released an album named after his hometown, “Nashville, Tennessee.” “I

By Melissa Quinn April 12, 2024 / 10:51 AM EDT / CBS News What’s in the new Supreme Court ethics code? What the new Supreme Court ethics code says, and what it doesn’t 06:47 Washington — Conservative judicial activist Leonard Leo said he will not comply with a subpoena issued by Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of their ongoing investigation into ethics practices at the Supreme Court. The subpoena was issued to Leo by Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin on Thursday, months after Democrats on the panel voted to authorize it . Durbin has been looking into ethics issues at the high court for roughly a year following a series of reports that revealed Justice Clarence Thomas took luxury trips with a Republican megadonor, Harlan Crow, and did not disclose them. Crow, a Texas real estate developer, did not receive a subpoena from Durbin, a spokesman for Crow said. “Mr. Leo has played a central role in the ethics crisis plaguing the Supreme Court and, unlike the other recipients of information requests in this matter, he has done nothing but stonewall the

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. By Aly Yale Edited By Angelica Leicht April 12, 2024 / 10:47 AM EDT / CBS News If the Fed starts cutting rates, it could have a big impact on what CD accounts are offering. PHIL LEO/Getty Images Inflation has been high for years now, and while it’s decreased quite a bit from its peak of 9.1% in June 2022, it’s still below the Federal Reserve’s target goal of 2%. To move the needle and curb spending further, the Fed has kept interest rates paused at a 23-year high at its last three meetings. While that’s bad for consumers using credit cards, mortgages and loans, as higher rates mean paying more in interest on the money borrowed, it’s a boon for savers, resulting in hefty interest rates on savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs) . What goes up must come down, though, and at some point, the Fed is likely to make rate cuts once inflation is under control . While the Fed rate

Los Angeles County sheriff’s homicide investigators are asking for the public’s help in solving the killing of a woman who was fatally stabbed and whose body was then set on fire on the side of a highway in Bakersfield. Karla Terron’s body was found on the southbound Hoskins Road offramp of State Route 99 shortly before 5 a.m. on Dec. 17, 2022, the sheriff’s department said in a news release Thursday. Terron, 27, died from multiple stab wounds before her body was set on fire, according to an autopsy report. She was last seen alive at a bar in the 100 block of North Hagar Street in the city of San Fernando, but no date was given for the sighting, according to homicide investigators. No additional details were available about Terron, including a possible motive for her slaying. Anyone with information about Terron or the investigation are encouraged to call the sheriff’s homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Anonymous tips can be made with Crime Stoppers by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the P3 Tips mobile app on Google Play or the

What does rebellious style look like? Enter artist Saturn Risin9 Saturn Risin9 wears a Tommy Hilfiger jacket, Amazon bodysuit and boots from Maya Shoes of Hollywood. A bag becomes a different thing entirely when worn by different personalities — similar to how no one perfume smells the same on two different people. To test out this idea, we invited four different artists to style the same bag into their personal look and lifestyle for one day, dreaming up places across L.A. where they would wear it. The bag? The Acne Studios rivet wine box bag from the brand’s spring/summer ’24 collection. It felt like a bag tough enough to withstand a long day in L.A. and lightweight enough to not drag you down. In the second installment of the series, Saturn Risin9, a singer, performer and DJ, takes the bag to Pirate Studios, where she practices DJ sets ahead of the weekend. With the Acne bag in tow, the multi-hyphenate shows us how their personal style is a reflection of “ambition, being daring, being exciting, and how to bring those things together.” Who are you

Benny Blanco is attempting to paint a picture of the many dinner parties he throws at his Los Angeles home. “My mom will walk in with like a shirt with rhinestones on it that says ‘bada bing,’” says Blanco. We’re sitting at a table in a small Thai restaurant in East Hollywood waiting for our food to arrive. “Then you’ll be sitting next to a man who just like took toad and is trying to figure out his whole life. And then SZA might be sitting next to you and then there’s like my friend who writes books and is like 70.” “I invite all my friends and they are all so different. I love people, and food is like the best lubricant to get people together.” Benny Blanco sits at a table full of food at Spicy BBQ Restaurant. 2:38 p.m. Spicy BBQ Restaurant Blanco’s wild, curly brown hair is just barely contained to his head. In contrast, his facial stubble is so neat, it could have been trimmed with a ruler. There are chunky, tiered gold chains around his neck. At the end

Like mobile phones, laptop makers are rethinking the standard form factor. Here’s a look at several unique laptops I’ve encountered recently—with everything from dual screens to foldable screens and even user-replaceable parts! (I know, what a concept!) ASUS Zenbook Duo 2024 This is an ultraportable laptop with two 14-inch 3K OLED touchscreens. You can use it in dual-screen mode, with its built-in Bluetooth or an on-screen virtual keyboard. There’s also a lie-flat sharing mode, or you can prop it up in desktop mode thanks to a built-in kickstand! And yes, you can also use it as a regular laptop. A recent Engadget review calls it the first dual-screen laptop worth buying. It starts at $1500 dollars. HP Spectre Foldable PC I spotted this one at CES 2024 Las Vegas. It’s a bit bulkier and more expensive, but it gives you many of the same features. The difference here is that the laptop is one giant foldable screen.. You can use it as a regular laptop or remove the keyboard to create one large 17-inch screen. Or, you can have two 12-inch screens. Built-in software smarts

Instagram says it’s deploying new tools to protect young people and combat sexual extortion, including a feature that will automatically blur nudity in direct messages. The social media platform said in a blog post Thursday that it’s testing out the features as part of its campaign to fight sexual scams and other forms of “image abuse,” and to make it tougher for criminals to contact teens. Sexual extortion, or sextortion, involves persuading a person to send explicit photos online and then threatening to make the images public unless the victim pays money or engages in sexual favors. Recent high-profile cases include two Nigerian brothers who pleaded guilty to sexually extorting teen boys and young men in Michigan, including one who took his own life, and a Virginia sheriff’s deputy who sexually extorted and kidnapped a 15-year-old girl. Instagram and other social media companies have faced growing criticism for not doing enough to protect young people. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Instagram’s owner Meta Platforms, apologized to the parents of victims of such abuse during a Senate hearing earlier this year. Meta, which is based in Menlo Park, California, also owns Facebook and WhatsApp

Eye Opener: The legacy of O.J. Simpson, who became most famous for being acquitted of murder – CBS News Watch CBS News The death of O.J. Simpson reopens old debates. Also, deadly storms sweep the north, bringing dangerous flash floods and tornadoes to yet another region of the U.S. All that and all that matters in today’s Eye Opener. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

“The Golden Bachelor” star Gerry Turner was overjoyed when he proposed to financial services professional Theresa Nist, putting a fairy-tale stamp on his journey to find love again at 72. The couple rushed to get married, eager to start their new life together. But the fairy tale is over. Just more than three months after their sprint to the altar, in a gala ceremony televised live on ABC, the widower and his new bride are breaking up. The couple announced the bombshell during an emotional interview Friday on “Good Morning America.” While maintaining that they still love and cherish each other, they say they realized the obstacles of moving forward as husband and wife are too daunting. After a number of heart-to-heart conversations, “we’ve come to the conclusion that it’s probably time to dissolve our marriage,” Turner said in the interview. They also said they were nervous about how fans would react to the shocking news. Much of the decision was linked to the inability to decide how to merge their lives. One challenge? Nist lives in New Jersey, while Turner is from Indiana. They

One person died early Friday morning after they crashed a car into a tree in Stevenson Ranch, the California Highway Patrol confirmed. The crash was first reported around 12:42 a.m. in the area of Constitution Avenue and The Old Road. A person was found trapped inside the vehicle, authorities said. Crews pulled the person out of the vehicle, though they were pronounced dead at a local hospital. No identifying information for the person was released as of Friday morning. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear.

Gen. Charles “C.Q.” Brown Jr. on his role as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – CBS News Watch CBS News Gen. Charles “C.Q.” Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the nation’s highest ranking military officer, is someone President Biden relies on for advice on how to handle some of the world’s most dangerous situations. He discussed his position and major issues facing the U.S. with CBS Mornings. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On