statewide California news
Carrie Preston talks season two of CBS’s hit series “Elsbeth” – CBS News Watch CBS News Carrie Preston returns for season two of Elsbeth, a spinoff of “The Good Wife.” She joins “CBS Mornings Plus” to talk about the latest season and having her real-life husband, Michael Emerson, make a guest appearance. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On
“Mornings Memory”: How ultrasounds revolutionized pregnancy care – CBS News Watch CBS News Ultrasounds, now routine in monitoring pregnancies, were a groundbreaking addition to prenatal care just over 40 years ago. Today’s “Mornings Memory” looks back at their rise. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On
Take Two Media Initiative on smartphone use tips for families – CBS News Watch CBS News With many kids asking for their first phone, the Take Two Media Initiative works with families to promote balanced tech use. Teen ambassadors Zora Penn and Gemma Graham join “CBS Mornings Plus” to talk about their mission. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On
Shopping for a new computer can be intimidating. There are so many models to choose from and so many specs to decide on. “They get really excited when they come in here. [Customers have] called us the Disneyland of tech,” said Alan Linzaga, a sales associate at Micro Center in Tustin, part of a small chain known for their larger selection. Laptops are popular for their portability. “It’s really just if you need to do on the go work,” said Linzaga. For basic web browsing, word processing, and streaming, look for a laptop with an entry-level processor like an Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5. Plus, 32 gigabytes of RAM to handle Windows 11 and at least 1 terabyte of storage for files and photos. “Intel chips, they’re pretty much the best ones you can do for productivity,” explained Linzaga. “AMD, they kind of stick more towards like your gaming, but you can still do productivity, so it’s kind of one of those best of both worlds scenarios,” said Linzaga. New this year: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips, adapted from smartphones. “So those are all more designed
A wind-driven wildfire burning in Malibu grew by hundreds of acres overnight but crews have managed to gain some containment as of Wednesday morning. The Franklin Fire remains a major threat to homes and prompted the evacuation of the Malibu Beach RV park on the 25800 block of Pacific Coast Highway. As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, the fire was mapped at 3,983 acres with 7% containment. The cause was still under investigation. Firefighters battle the Franklin Fire in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Sky5 view of the Franklin Fire in Malibu on Dec. 10, 2024. (KTLA) The Franklin Fire burns in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Smoke rises over Malibu as the Franklin Fire burns on Dec. 10, 2024. Photo taken at 7:27 a.m. (AlertCalifornia) A vehicle burns during the Franklin Fire on the campus of Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) A firefighter sprays water as the Franklin Fire burns on December 10, 2024 on Malibu, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Firefighters work as the Franklin Fire burns near a
Firefighters worked overnight to gain control over a dangerous fire that burned homes in Malibu and forced thousands from their homes. The Franklin fire continued to menace the coastal city overnight, burning close to some homes and forcing some water drops by helicopters. A red-flag fire danger warning remains in effect for the area until 6 p.m. But winds are expected to ease after that, and firefighters hope to make progress. At least seven homes were destroyed and eight damaged, but officials said that number could rise as they do more complete assessments. It had burned more than 3,900 acres and was 7% contained as of Wednesday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The blaze was reported a few minutes before 11 p.m. Monday along Malibu Canyon Road in the hills north of Pepperdine University and fanned by strong Santa Ana winds, Cal Fire said. More than 1,500 firefighters battled the fire on the ground Tuesday, building containment lines as air tankers dropped water on the blaze. By Tuesday evening, average wind speeds around the fire zone had slowed to
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Driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, the Franklin Fire in Malibu Canyon, in the hillsides near Pepperdine University, grew to more than 3,890 acres Wednesday with about 2,000 structures under mandatory evacuation orders. However, authorities said there was only a “minimal” number of homes destroyed and no injuries reported. The blaze began shortly before 11 p.m. Monday in a Malibu Canyon area where a high volume of dry brush contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze. It erupted in the midst of a rare “particularly dangerous situation red flag warning” issued by the National Weather Service in response to strong wind gusts and dramatically dry conditions. The cause of the fire was still under investigation. At an 8 a.m. multi-agency briefing Tuesday, Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said the fire was listed at more than 2,200 acres, with no reported containment. By late afternoon, Cal Fire put the size of the fire at 2,851 acres. More than 700 firefighters were battling the blaze Tuesday morning, aided by a fleet of water- and retardant-dropping aircraft, including Super Scoopers and eight Cal Fire
Windy and dry conditions are expected to linger Wednesday in Los Angeles County, a day after a round of destructive Santa Ana winds battered much of the region, fueling a massive brush fire in Malibu and raising fears of additional blazes across the Southland. As expected, the winds began whipping Monday night, helping the Franklin Fire in Malibu chew its way into thick vegetation and grow to more than 3,000 acres as of Wednesday. A “minimal” number of homes in the area were destroyed or damaged, fire officials said, although no numbers were immediately available. No injuries were reported, but about 18,000 people were under evacuation orders or warnings. According to the National Weather Service, wind gusts approached nearly 50 mph in parts of Malibu during the early morning hours Tuesday. To the north, a gust of 93 mph was reported near the Magic Mountain Truck Trail in the Santa Clarita area. By Tuesday evening, however, conditions were showing signs of improvement, although the wildfire danger persisted. “The strongest winds have passed, however gusty winds are still expected through Wednesday morning, especially in the mountains,”
A hiker was rescued Sunday from an Oregon state park where she had been missing almost two full days, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The 64-year-old woman’s calls for help caught the attention of search and rescue crews that had been looking for her. The woman showed signs of hypothermia and dehydration when a Coast Guard crew and ground search party located her in a remote area of Shore Acres State Park, according to the agency. Whether she suffered additional injuries was not immediately clear. Oregon State Police asked the Coast Guard for help when the woman went missing Friday evening. She became separated from her group that day without proper survival gear. Members of a county rescue team and regional task force joined the Coast Guard in its search for the missing hiker over the weekend, but their efforts were temporarily stalled by challenging weather that grounded the flight crew. They were also unsuccessful trying to locate her using a thermal imaging device on one of the Coast Guard helicopters. They later realized the woman was undetectable on infrared cameras, which should be able
We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. Prospective gold investors should consider making three smart moves now, ahead of the new year. PeilingLeeCopyright/Getty Images The economy has been unpredictable lately, and with a new presidential administration coming in and Federal Reserve policy unclear, that trend seems likely to continue for the foreseeable future. As an investor, that means diversifying your portfolio is more important than ever. If there’s a stock market downturn or the value of one major asset drops, you need protection in other classes to safeguard your wealth. Gold is often a solid choice when looking to diversify. And in 2024, it even saw massive price gains — something that could continue as we head into 2025. Are you considering diversifying your portfolio with gold before the year comes to a close? If so, it helps to know how experts recommend you do (and don’t) do it. Start exploring your gold investing options online here now. 3 big gold investing moves to make before 2025, according to experts Not sure
Financial expert on rising inflation Financial expert on rising inflation 04:53 Inflation rose 2.7% on an annual basis in November, according to the latest government report on the Consumer Price Index, or CPI. Last month’s CPI was forecast to come in at 2.7%, according to economists surveyed by financial data firm FactSet. The Consumer Price Index, a basket of goods and services typically bought by consumers, tracks the change in those prices over time. The Federal Reserve has been battling high inflation since 2022, when it began ratcheting up its benchmark rate in order to dampen demand from consumers and businesses. That’s helped lower the inflation rate to its current level from a recent peak of 9.1% in June 2022, yet the last leg of the Fed’s journey to push inflation down to a 2% annual rate is proving elusive. “This is the second month in a row that the year-over-year change in the Consumer Price Index has increased. Prices rose by 0.3% between October and November,” noted Bright MLS chief economist Lisa Sturtevant in an email after the report was released. She added, “Since
A wind-driven wildfire burning in Malibu grew by hundreds of acres overnight and was burning in a southwesterly direction Wednesday morning. The Franklin Fire remains a major threat to homes and prompted the evacuation of the Malibu Beach RV park on the 25800 block of Pacific Coast Highway. As of 4:25 a.m. Wednesday, the fire was mapped at 3,893 acres with no containment. The cause was still under investigation. Firefighters battle the Franklin Fire in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Sky5 view of the Franklin Fire in Malibu on Dec. 10, 2024. (KTLA) The Franklin Fire burns in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Smoke rises over Malibu as the Franklin Fire burns on Dec. 10, 2024. Photo taken at 7:27 a.m. (AlertCalifornia) A vehicle burns during the Franklin Fire on the campus of Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) A firefighter sprays water as the Franklin Fire burns on December 10, 2024 on Malibu, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Firefighters work as the Franklin Fire burns near a building on December
Michael Cole, who starred as one-third of “The Mod Squad,” has died. He was 84. The actor played Pete Cochran in the hit ABC crime show that aired from 1968 to ’73. Cole died Tuesday, his Atlanta-based talent agent Christy Clark confirmed to The Times. On the tail of a decade of civil unrest due to the Vietnam War and the midcentury civil rights movement, “The Mod Squad” made fighting crime cool to the younger generation’s counterculture. Peggy Lipton, left, Michael Cole, Clarence Williams III and Tige Andrews in a scene from the 1960s TV series “The Mod Squad.” (ABC) With “one black, one white, one blonde,” as the show’s tagline, “the rabble on the wrong side of the law was now the law,” said television critic Lorraine Ali in 2018. That same year, Cole authored a memoir that referenced his undercover-cop role titled “I Played the White Guy.” Cole’s nephew, who was named after him, announced his uncle’s death Monday in a post on Facebook. “He was my inspiration to the craft of acting and helped guide me my whole career. He taught me
Updated on: December 11, 2024 / 7:14 AM EST / CBS/AFP More than 200 sentenced in Italy mafia trial More than 200 people sentenced in Italy mafia trial 04:04 Italy’s mafias make more than three billion euros a year from the tourism sector and are primed to pocket even more from large-scale upcoming events, a research institute warned on Tuesday. Organized crime groups preying on vulnerable companies from hotels to restaurants are currently taking home 3.3 billion euros ($3.5 billion) a year and are set to cash in on the Catholic Church’s Jubilee celebrations in Rome and the Winter Olympic Games, the Demoskopika research institute said. “Italian tourism is under attack. The 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics and the 2025 Jubilee whet the appetites of the mafia,” Demoskopika president Raffaele Rio said in a report. The powerful ‘Ndrangheta mafia, which is rooted in Calabria, alone accounts for half of the entire turnover, the report said. The Campania-based Camorra, the Sicilian Mafia and organized crime groups in the region of Puglia also rake in large amounts of money from tourism. While those mob heartlands are in the south
Updated on: December 11, 2024 / 6:28 AM EST / CBS/AP A southeast Georgia man was arrested and charged in the 1985 killing of a couple at a Black church after the original suspect — who spent 20 years behind bars — was exonerated on DNA evidence, authorities said. Erik Kristensen Sparre, 61, was jailed on charges of felony murder and aggravated assault in the killings of Harold and Thelma Swain, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a news release Monday. Sparre was arrested nearly four decades after the couple was fatally shot inside Rising Daughter Baptist Church in coastal Camden County. Sparre became the focus of a renewed investigation into the Swains’ deaths after authorities concluded they had initially prosecuted the wrong man. Dennis Perry was sentenced to life in prison when a jury convicted him in 2003 of murdering the Swains. He spent two decades in prison before a Superior Court judge ordered a retrial in 2020. The judge dismissed all charges against Perry in 2021 after prosecutors asked to drop the case. Dennis Perry spent two decades in prison before a
December 11, 2024 / 6:18 AM EST / AP Protesters in South Korea continue Protests in South Korea calling for impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol 02:28 Seoul, South Korea — South Korea’s previous defense minister was stopped from attempting suicide while in detention over last week’s martial law declaration , officials said Wednesday, as President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office resisted a police attempt to search the compound. The main liberal opposition Democratic Party is pushing for a new motion to impeach Yoon for his Dec. 3 decree that imposed martial law in South Korea for the first time in more than four decades. Its first impeachment attempt against Yoon last Saturday failed after ruling party lawmakers boycotted the vote. The party said it plans to submit the new motion on Thursday to set up another vote this Saturday. Yoon’s ill-conceived power grab has paralyzed South Korean politics, frozen its foreign policy and rattled financial markets. On Wednesday, rival North Korea ‘s state media for the first time reported about the turmoil across the border, but the country hasn’t shown any suspicious activities. Shin Yong Hae, commissioner
Los Angeles Unified School District has said it is removing race as a factor for determining which students will be helped by its Black Student Achievement Plan. The move comes after a federal civil rights complaint about the program was filed by a conservative group in Virginia in 2023. The group charged that the plan was unconstitutional because it targeted support for students based solely on race. We have consulted with LAUSD on the Black Student Achievement Plan since its inception. It was established in 2021 after efforts by parents and community activists drew attention to the district’s dismal track record serving its Black students. In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, the school board voted to direct a portion of its funding for school policing to an improvement plan for the academic experiences and outcomes of Black students. We supported this decision then and think its results show the plan should remain in place without removing race as a consideration factor. Not only has it helped Black students in Los Angeles, but Black student achievement programs generally help all the students in schools that
California’s coastal areas are obviously at highest risk from an incoming tsunami. But how far inland does the threat extend? The answer might surprise you. Tsunami hazard areas can be quite large depending on the location, and in some cases, they are home to large numbers of people. A large swath of Venice and all of Marina del Rey are in a tsunami hazard area. So are wide sections of Long Beach, including Belmont Shore, Naples Island and the city Convention Center. Significant segments of Orange County are also at risk. They include Newport Beach’s Balboa Island and Balboa Peninsula, as well as neighborhoods in Sunset Beach and Seal Beach. Even where tsunami hazard zones are relatively narrow, many Californians may not have the instinct to get to higher ground after the ground shakes. The Malibu Village mall is separated from the coast by two rows of houses, a golf course and Pacific Coast Highway, yet is still at risk because of its proximity to not just the ocean but also Malibu Lagoon. And the risk can vary. The tsunami hazard area in Manhattan Beach
Harmeet Dhillon — one of California’s most prominent Republican Party operatives, a cultural crusader against “woke” politics and a fervent champion of President-elect Donald Trump — was named Monday by Trump to a top civil rights post in the U.S. Department of Justice. If confirmed, Dhillon would be the second woman to lead the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, following President Biden’s choice of longtime civil rights lawyer Kristen Clarke. The office is tasked with enforcing federal civil rights laws across a wide swath of American life. A frequent commentator on conservative media, Dhillon has long been one of the most charismatic figures in the California GOP. She made an unsuccessful but closely watched play for Republican National Committee chair in 2023. “Harmeet Dhillon is very conservative and hardly a champion of civil rights as it is generally understood,” legal scholar and UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky said by email Tuesday. “She was very active in challenging COVID restrictions. She has filed suits when conservatives claim their speech was restricted. She has challenged protection of transgender students. But there is nothing in
A chilling scene in the new movie “Wicked” sums up what’s wrong with President-elect Donald Trump’s view of immigrants. The two witches, Elphaba and Glinda, have traveled to the Emerald City to meet the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The Wizard explains to them that he plans to consolidate power over his restive land by demonizing its animals, who not only have the power of speech but are also the equals of human beings. He will strip them of the ability to speak and confine them to cages. But why would you do such a thing, asks the tender-hearted, green-skinned Elphaba, whose horror at his plan will eventually turn her into the Wicked Witch of the West. “The best way to bring folks together,” the Wonderful Wizard of Oz tells the women, “is to give them a really good enemy.” That is the essence of Trump’s immigration policy. Trump told Kristen Welker of NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that he plans to keep his campaign promise to deport millions of people. “You have no choice,” he said. “First of all, they’re costing us a fortune.
