Category: Los Angeles

Police are searching for the gunman involved in a random shooting that left a motorist dead in the Panorama City neighborhood of Los Angeles early Friday. The incident was reported around 1:30 a.m. on Van Nuys Boulevard near Osborne Street. Police said the motorist was shot while driving, lost control of the vehicle and careened into the fence of an apartment complex. Police investigate a fatal shooting of a motorist in Panorama City on Aug. 22, 2024. (KTLA) Video showed other vehicles parked on the street were also struck by the gunfire. The unidentified driver was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital. Los Angeles Police Department Detective Christine Moselle described the shooting as random and said authorities are still searching for a suspect. No description of the suspect or any possible vehicle used in the shooting was released.

By Kerry Breen Updated on: August 23, 2024 / 9:13 AM EDT / CBS News Calls to reauthorize Violence Against Women Act Calls grow to reauthorize Violence Against Women Act 02:21 Virginia police investigating the disappearance of a 28-year-old mother who went missing last month said Thursday they have arrested her husband on charges of concealing a body.  Mamta Kafte Bhatt was last seen on July 27, the Manassas Park Police Department said on Thursday, and spoke to a friend over the phone on July 28, according to CBS affiliate WUSA. Her husband Naresh Bhatt reported last seeing her on July 31, according to WUSA, but he did not report her missing until August 5.  Before his arrest, Bhatt told WUSA that his wife had disappeared three other times, but never for this long.  Earlier this month, police said the woman had been “involuntarily” missing. A search warrant for the couple’s home was executed on Wednesday, police said. During the search, police obtained “additional evidence” that led to the charges. Bhatt was marched out of his home in handcuffs on Thursday, WUSA reported.  Mamta Kafte Bhatt GoFundMe

Inside SpaceX’s “Polaris Dawn” mission to attempt first commercial spacewalk – CBS News Watch CBS News Four astronauts are set to launch on Tuesday for a groundbreaking six-day mission, “Polaris Dawn,” aiming to reach a record orbit 870 miles above Earth—three times higher than the International Space Station. The mission will also feature the first-ever commercial spacewalk. Mark Strassmann met the crew, who have trained for two years for this historic journey. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Democratic strategist on key takeaways from the final night of the DNC – CBS News Watch CBS News CBS News political contributor Joel Payne breaks down the key moments from the final night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

COVID-19 cases continue rising, FDA approves new booster – CBS News Watch CBS News The new Food and Drug Administration-approved booster will address strains that are presently circulating in the U.S., according to Dr. William Schaffner, a professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, who joins CBS News with more details. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

A crash involving a Metro bus left seven people injured in Studio City Friday morning. The collision was reported around 4:30 a.m. in the 3900 block of Lankershim Boulevard near Universal City. Video from the scene showed heavy damage to the partially crushed front passenger side of the bus. Seven people were injured when a Metro bus crashed in Studio City on Aug. 23, 2024. (KTLA) Six of the seven people injured in the incident were taken to the hospital and listed as trauma patients due to the damage, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. Fortunately, the injuries to the patients were considered to be non-life-threatening. The seventh patient declined transportation. There was no immediate word on what caused the bus to crash or how many other vehicles may have been involved.

Police are searching for a gunman in the fatal shooting of a motorist who crashed in the Panorama City neighborhood of Los Angeles early Friday. The incident was reported around 1:30 a.m. on Van Nuys Boulevard near Osborne Street. Police said the motorist was shot while driving, lost control of the vehicle and careened into the fence of an apartment complex. Police investigate a fatal shooting of a motorist in Panorama City on Aug. 22, 2024. (KTLA) Video showed other vehicles parked on the street were also struck by the gunfire. Investigators have not confirmed any further details about the shooting but freelance media firm KNN reported the motorist may have been shot in the chest. The unidentified driver was unconscious and not breathing when transported to a local hospital. The motorist was later pronounced dead, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson confirmed. No information regarding the suspect or any possible vehicle used in the shooting was released.

His Bumble bio and photos were appealing. He also traveled frequently and loved to dance. Over the phone, he came across as dorky to me. But when he suggested that we go salsa dancing for our first date, I decided dorky was doable. I love dancing too. There was a lesson at 9 p.m. followed by live music from a band. Despite my challenges with dating in L.A., I responded enthusiastically: “Sounds nice! I’m looking forward to it.” “Great,” he said. “Let’s meet at 8:30. We can have a drink and then you can join the lesson.” He emphasized the word “you.” With a playfulness in my voice, I countered: “Well, we will both do the lesson.” The nerd suddenly morphed into a snob. “I’m an expert salsa dancer. I don’t need the lesson.” I remained bubbly. “But this is a date. We will do the lesson together since it’s fun. Plus, there are never enough men. You’ll have to join.” His attitude surfaced again. “As I said, I’m an expert salsa dancer. I don’t need the lesson. That’s for you as a novice.” Firmly

It’s impossible to say with confidence that Matthew Perry would be alive today had he not gotten into his hot tub on Oct. 28 last year. But it’s hard not to wonder. The medical examiner’s report named “acute effects of ketamine” as the cause of Perry’s death, with contributing factors including coronary artery disease, an opioid known as buprenorphine — and drowning. The actor’s body was found face down in the water. The report was released in December, but the question came up again last week after the arrests of five people criminally charged with supplying Perry with ketamine. Federal prosecutors charged two dealers, two doctors and Perry’s personal assistant with obtaining and administering thousands of dollars’ worth of ketamine. The harm is not in ketamine itself, nor even in its rising popularity among the rich and famous. It’s in using it to prey on the ill and vulnerable for personal gain. Crackdowns on a drug are generally counterproductive. Crackdowns on unconscionable exploitation of vulnerable people for personal gain are generally in order. Ketamine can have great therapeutic value when administered responsibly under controlled conditions

A San Bernardino County wildfire that spanned 680 acres and took 275 firefighting personnel eight days to contain began with a few sparks from an excavator. That’s what the federal government is claiming in a complaint filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. The government is suing an Upland-based pipeline contracting company and its founder, Garrett John Gentry, for negligence and is seeking more than $2.2 million in damages in the fire, which chewed through 450 acres of the San Bernardino National Forest. “Defendants are liable for all damages to the United States resulting from the South Fire, including its fire suppression costs and the United States’ administrative, investigative, accounting, and collection costs,” the government says in the lawsuit. A call to Garrett J. Gentry Engineering was not immediately returned. The 14-year-old company serves California and Arizona and clears $35 million in revenue annually . The South fire commenced on Aug. 25, 2021, and was eventually contained on Sept. 2, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . The agency said nine structures — residential and commercial — were destroyed

By Ian Lee, Steve Berriman Updated on: August 23, 2024 / 7:35 AM EDT / CBS News Ukraine using drones in attacks inside Russia How Ukraine is using drones to attack targets inside Russia 02:01 On the Ukraine-Russia border — CBS News met the troops of Ukraine’s 117th Territorial Defense Brigade in the eastern Sumy region as they prepared for another trip to the front line. Their mission is to support Ukraine’s military operations inside Russia’s Kursk region. The forces were preparing another drone for a one-way mission — its deadly payload: a grenade attached with cable ties. The simple weapon cost only about $400 to assemble, but it would soon be hunting multimillion-dollar targets. Private Igor piloted the drone on a test run, but on real missions he can watch someone’s final moments on his small screen, and he admitted that it can feel personal. A member of Ukraine’s 117th Territorial Defense Brigade assembles an explosive drone in the country’s eastern Sumy region, as the unit supports Ukraine’s military operations inside Russia’s Kursk region. CBS News “It’s emotional,” he told CBS News. “But I understand

By Anna Matranga Updated on: August 23, 2024 / 8:12 AM EDT / CBS News Several bodies recovered from Bayesian’s wreckage Several bodies recovered from wreckage of sunken yacht off Sicilian coast 01:35 Divers have recovered the remains of the last person who was left missing when the superyacht Bayesian sank early Monday off the coast of Sicily, the head of the island’s Civil Protection agency, Salvo Cocina, told CBS News on Friday. The body has been brought to shore, not been formally identified.  It is believed to be that of Hannah Lynch, British  tech magnate Mike Lynch ‘s 18-year-old daughter, according to Italian media.  Mike Lynch’s body was retrieved Thursday from inside the sunken vessel, which was left resting on the seabed at a depth of more than 160 feet, at a 90 degree angle, making rescue efforts complicated and dangerous.  Shortly after the 184-foot luxury sailing yacht sank, the body of the ship’s cook was recovered from the water near the wreck. Divers managed to retrieve four other bodies from the Bayesian on Wednesday, including two Americans. The 184-foot sailing yacht Bayesian is

August 23, 2024 / 7:16 AM EDT / AP Dad gives free Pride hugs Florida couple gives free hugs to LGBTQ+ community 01:31 Key West, Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors and St. Petersburg are among several Florida cities that have long been top U.S. destinations for LGBTQ+ tourists. So it came as a surprise this week when travelers learned that Florida’s tourism marketing agency quietly removed the “LGBTQ Travel” section from its website sometime in the past few months. Business owners who cater to Florida’s LGBTQ+ tourists said Wednesday that it marked the latest attempt by officials in the state to erase the LGBTQ+ community. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis previously championed a bill to forbid classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity and supported a ban on gender-affirming care for minors as well as a law meant to keep children out of drag shows . “It’s just disgusting to see this,” said Keith Blackburn, who heads the Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “They seem to want to erase us.” The change to Visit Florida’s website was first reported by NBC News, which noted

A few days before Max Muncy strained his oblique in May, the Dodgers infielder noticed a bruise on his chest. At first, he didn’t pay it much mind. “You look in the mirror and you’re like, ‘Oh I’ve got some weird bruises there. Maybe I took a weird hop on a ground ball in practice or something,’” Muncy recalled recently. “You really don’t even think about it.” As it turned out, the contusion actually was an early clue in what became a three-month odyssey for Muncy, who languished on the injured list for most of the summer with perhaps the most confounding ailment of any Dodger this season. When Muncy went on the IL on May 17, the Dodgers expected him to return in a matter of days. “I remember when it first happened,” manager Dave Roberts said, “we were even contemplating not even making it an IL.” But as days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, Muncy’s discomfort never improved. His swing never felt right. And as his absence dragged on, he and the Dodgers medical staff started looking for other reasons the

Rams defensive back Tre Tomlinson tackles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal during their preseason game. (Kyusung Gong / Associated Press) The duo of Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins is set to handle the lion’s share of the carries at running back heading into the season, but the competition for the third spot has intensified. Apparently a two-man race has emerged between Kimani Vidal and Jaret Patterson since Vidal recently returned from injury. Last week against the Rams, Vidal played 28 snaps and Patterson 24. Vidal did well with his opportunities, rushing for 27 yards in six carries, adding two receptions and impressing the coaching staff in the process. Patterson, who started the first two preseason games, got fewer touches and managed just four yards in two attempts and caught one pass for two yards. Last season the Chargers carried four running backs on their 53-man roster, and they might employ a similar strategy, which would benefit Vidal and Patterson. A sixth-round pick in April, Vidal had a late start battling for a roster spot and, according to offensive coordinator Greg Roman, the rookie’s sense of

Updated on: August 23, 2024 / 7:08 AM EDT / CBS/AP Flurry of sexual assault suits filed before law expires Flurry of sexual assault lawsuits filed before temporary New York law expires 02:01 A man accused of faking his own death and fleeing the U.S. to avoid rape charges will stand trial, a judge in Utah ruled Thursday. District Judge Barry Lawrence ruled during Nicholas Rossi’s preliminary hearing that prosecutors had presented enough evidence to warrant a jury trial, CBS affiliate KUTV reported. Rossi was scheduled back in court for an arraignment and bail hearing on Oct. 17, the station reported. Prosecutors say Rossi, 37, raped a 26-year-old former girlfriend after an argument in Salt Lake County in 2008. In a separate case, he is accused of raping a 21-year-old woman in Orem, Utah, that same year and was not identified as a suspect for about a decade due to a backlog of DNA test kits at the Utah State Crime Lab. His attorneys at the Salt Lake Legal Defender Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Associated Press on

Hosting the Olympics is a feat for any city, and after Paris’ many successes, fans are looking to see how Los Angeles will meet the challenge in 2028. One issue already on people’s minds: Will L.A.’s notorious traffic and air quality be the Achilles’ heel of our Games? Mayor Karen Bass wants a car-free Games, though the LA28 committee in charge of staging the events prefers to say “public-transit first.” While those efforts may ease congestion on our roads, addressing L.A.’s air quality during the Olympics requires much more. Southern California has long had the smoggiest air in the nation, making it unhealthy to breathe on hundreds of days each year, especially for vulnerable populations. To ensure cleaner air for visitors and athletes in 2028, as well as for L.A. residents long after the Games, we will need as many zero-emission vehicles as possible by 2028. In 2018, public and private sector partners came together to use the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a catalyst for accelerating transportation electrification by the time the world arrives in Los Angeles. We set ambitious targets to get

Avantika Vandanapu has a bad date to thank for discovering one of her favorite restaurants in Los Angeles. On a recent afternoon, the actress, who goes by her first name only, sits at the counter at Gyoza Bar, a small, dimly lit restaurant on that stretch of Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park in the shadow of Dodger Stadium. Ongoing Series Columnist Jenn Harris joins your favorite celebrities to explore their go-to cuisines and restaurants in Los Angeles. “I came here on a first date and I never spoke to this person again,” she says with a laugh. “But I left with wonderful memories of Gyoza Bar.” 1:59 p.m. Gyoza Bar (Jane Kim / For The Times) As the star of “Spin,” Disney’s first TV film with an Indian American lead and breakout roles in the recent musical remake of “Mean Girls” and the horror film “Tarot,” multiple projects in the pipeline (she can’t mention them just yet), her own production company in the works and school at Columbia University (she’s majoring in Cultural Anthropology and Economics), Avantika doesn’t have much time to eat out. But

After his heartfelt reaction to his father’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention thrust him into the spotlight, 17-year-old Gus Walz has become one of the most high-profile people with nonverbal learning disorder. The condition doesn’t mean Gus can’t speak — he does. After hearing his dad, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, describe his family as “my entire world” Wednesday night, the tearful teenager rose to his feet, pointed toward the stage and said, “That’s my dad!” Gus is one of millions of Americans with nonverbal learning disorder. A 2020 study in JAMA Network Open estimated that 3% to 4% of children and adolescents in the U.S. may have the condition, and another study this year in Scientific Reports concluded that the prevalence in children may be as high as 8%. The condition, known as NVLD, was first recognized in 1967 and doesn’t yet have a formal clinical definition. It is characterized by a significant gap between verbal abilities — which are just fine — and nonverbal kinds of learning that involve visual-spacial processing, such as telling time on an analog clock, reading a map

For the second time in two years, the California Legislature passed a one-off law to circumvent the California Environmental Quality Act. And this time, the optics aren’t good: In June, the Legislature exempted its own new office building project from CEQA. The new law passed quickly. Even Sen. John Laird of Santa Cruz, one of the state’s leading environmentalists, expressed concern about the way CEQA was driving delays and therefore the cost of the project, which is more or less the same concern that developers have been expressing forever about CEQA. The state office building exemption comes on the heels of a similar action last year that kept a UC Berkeley dorm and apartment project alive on the site of People’s Park, despite a court finding that noisy students in the new residences might constitute a significant environmental impact that required CEQA analysis and mitigation. Everybody loves to hate the California Environmental Quality Act — except the environmentalists, neighborhood groups and unions that use it and often abuse it. Those groups have enough political power to create an eternal stalemate in Sacramento over whether and

August 23, 2024 / 5:16 AM EDT / AP 8/22: CBS Evening News 8/22: CBS Evening News 19:25 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — A woman plunged Friday into a 26 feet deep sinkhole in the Kuala Lumpur city center after the pavement she was on caved in, burying her alive, Malaysian authorities said. The incident happened in Dang Wangi area of the Malaysian capital, where local police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman said that based on eyewitness accounts, the woman was walking along the pavement when the earth suddenly collapsed beneath her. Kuala Lumpur’s fire and rescue department, which received a distress call early Friday, has said the woman was believed to be an Indian national. This photograph provided by Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia shows rescue personnel entering a deep sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur after receiving reports that a woman had fallen in after a section of the sidewalk caved in on August23, 2024. Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia / AP But Sulizmie said he couldn’t confirm her identity, as investigations are ongoing. Rescuers have barricaded part of the area and used an excavator