Category: Los Angeles

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general sent a clear signal through Washington on Wednesday that Trump intends for his Justice Department to take a sharp-elbowed, hyperpartisan approach to law and order — one that is both unquestioningly loyal to Trump and openly antagonistic toward his political opponents, legal and political experts said. That approach, after all, has long been the norm for Gaetz, a hard-right member of the House since 2017 who is deeply unpopular among his Democratic and Republican colleagues, but has won praise from Trump by being unflinchingly defensive of the former and future president and openly derisive of the various state and federal criminal cases against him. “If anything shows Trump will make no effort at unity or conciliation, it is this pick,” said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of UC Berkeley School of Law. Matt Gaetz with Donald Trump outside the New York courtroom where Trump was convicted of 34 felonies in May. (Mike Segar / Pool photo via Associated Press) House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday that Gaetz had submitted his resignation from Congress “effectively immediately,” in

A suspicious bag seemingly abandoned on a bench prompted the shutdown of the Torrance courthouse early Wednesday and drew the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s bomb squad to the scene. Investigators have not officially confirmed whether the liquid-filled bag was determined to be a bomb or other explosive, but one law enforcement source familiar with the situation told The Times it “for sure was intended to hurt someone.” The source — who asked not to be identified as they were not authorized to speak on the record — also said video cameras captured footage of a man in a hoodie planting the bag along with a note. The note did not describe a clear motive, the source said, but indicated a desire to cause harm and included claims that the man had “killed before.” Authorities said the incident started around 7:30 a.m., when the Sheriff’s Department responded to a call for service at the courthouse on Maple Avenue, a few hundred feet from both the Torrance Police Department and Torrance City Hall. The courthouse was evacuated, and L.A. Superior Court officials said in a news

Pete Hegseth served as a National Guardsman in Cuba, Iraq and Afghanistan, earning two Bronze stars. But after President Biden was elected, Hegseth left the military, complaining he was ordered to stand down from his duty guarding Biden’s inauguration because top brass dubbed him a “white nationalist” and an “extremist.” “The military I loved, I fought for, I revered… spit me out,” Fox News co-host Hegseth wrote in a recent book. “I separated from an Army that didn’t want me anymore. The feeling was mutual — I didn’t want this Army anymore either.” The man that didn’t want “this Army” may soon control it. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Hegseth as secretary of Defense, a move that would put a combat veteran who has complained about “woke” forces — and called for the firing of top generals — in charge of the Pentagon. “Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First,” Trump said Tuesday as he announced the nomination on Truth Social. “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice — our military will be great again, and America will

President-elect Donald Trump has given two wealthy entrepreneurs a mission that has eluded many other occupants of the White House: Make the U.S. government smaller and more efficient. No one knows much about how Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy plan to accomplish that task, only that they and the president they will serve want big reforms not beholden to precedent. In naming the space and electric car tycoon and the healthcare entrepreneur to head a new Department of Government Efficiency, Trump said he expected them to drive “radical change,” something like the Manhattan Project, the government initiative that created the atomic bomb during World War II. “This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!” Musk, the chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX, said in a statement. Ramaswamy said during his run for the Republican presidential nomination that he planned to advance a “radical dream” that would cut three-quarters of a U.S government workforce that numbers about 2.2 million. In his announcement Tuesday, Trump said he expected the “major cuts and new efficiencies in bloated

A 32-year-old Orange County man is facing possible hate crime charges after he reportedly grabbed a woman by the buttocks with both hands inside of a store and made a comment about her ethnicity.   The Nov. 8 incident, according to a news release from the Westminster Police Department, occurred at around 7:45 a.m. at a retail outlet in the 13500 block of Beach Boulevard.   Police said the victim, a 43-year-old Garden Grove woman, entered the store and walked into the laundry aisle. She told investigators that when she bent down, the suspect, now identified as Westminster resident Aaron Navies, assaulted her.   “The victim alleged when she reached down to pick up an item, the arrestee without provocation and against her will grabbed her buttocks with both hands,” the release stated. “The victim immediately stood up, threw an item at Navies and backed away. Navies told the victim, ‘You don’t have rights because you’re Mexican and I can do what I want to.’”   Authorities added that when the woman, disgusted, began speaking Spanish, Navies “stuck his tongue out and moved it up

The missing person saga surrounding a “Gossip Girl” actress took yet another stunning turn on Wednesday night, when the subject of a massive search took to social media to proclaim that she is “finally free” from the family that has been frantically looking for her. Chanel Banks, best known for her roles in the teen drama as well as “Blue Bloods”, was reported missing on Nov. 8, but was found in Texas on Nov. 11, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Her family, however, including outspoken cousin Danielle-Tori Singh, says that was the wrong person. “Please don’t stop looking for my cousin,” she pleaded, saying that police ended the search based on an old, expired ID they found on a person she says doesn’t even resemble Banks. The family has also shared a GoFundMe, organized by Singh, in an attempt to fund search efforts. He owed an O.C. couple $80K, so he allegedly executed them and burned their bodies in the desert However, a series of stories posted to Banks’ personal Instagram account on Wednesday claimed that the 36-year-old Playa Vista resident is safe

California Gov. Gavin Newsom preparing to “Trump-proof” his state – CBS News Watch CBS News Governors in blue states are preparing to push back against the incoming Trump administration’s agenda. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called a special session of the legislature to “Trump-proof” the state, and has lobbied President Biden for funding and federal waivers before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. CBS News California investigative correspondent Julie Watts joins “America Decides” with more on the moves. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

What does Trump’s tapping of Rubio and Hegseth say about his foreign policy plans? – CBS News Watch CBS News President-elect Donald Trump has already made picks for key foreign policy roles in his new administration: Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida for secretary of state, and Fox News host and combat veteran Pete Hegseth for defense secretary. Ravi Agrawal, editor-in-chief of “Foreign Policy” magazine, joins “America Decides” to look at what Trump’s potential team indicates about his agenda abroad. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Gaetz misconduct probes under renewed scrutiny after attorney general nod – CBS News Watch CBS News President-elect Donald Trump has selected longtime ally, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, to serve as his next attorney general. CBS News investigative producer Michael Kaplan joins “America Decides” to examine the misconduct allegations against Gaetz, which he has denied. Then, Meridith McGraw, national political correspondent for Politico, and Andrew Desiderio, senior congressional reporter for Punchbowl News, join to discuss. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

How tight will the Republicans’ new House majority be? – CBS News Watch CBS News When President-elect Donald Trump begins his second term, Republicans will have total control of Capitol Hill. CBS News projected Wednesday that the GOP will keep control of the House of Representatives, winning at least 218 seats. CBS News executive director of elections and surveys Anthony Salvanto has the details. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Music legend Quincy Jones died earlier this month reportedly from pancreatic cancer. The 28-time Grammy Award winner’s cause of death was listed as the aggressive form of cancer, according to a death certificate issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and obtained by TMZ. No other factors contributed to his death, the outlet said The 91-year-old, whose generation-spanning work shaped Michael Jackson’s solo career and included collaborations with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Diana Ross and the Weeknd, died Nov. 3 at his Bel-Air home. He was surrounded by his children, siblings and close family, his publicist, Arnold Robinson, said at the time. No cause of death was disclosed then. Robinson did not immediately respond Wednesday to The Times’ request for confirmation. The Oscar-nominated composer and renowned music producer was laid to rest Sunday during a private funeral in Los Angeles, his family said. A larger, public memorial is being planned, but no date has been announced. In a tribute to her father, “Parks and Recreation” alum Rashida Jones, one of his seven children, said that Jones’ legacy is making “everyone he ever

A man who plotted to help kill three people after they disapproved of his relationship with a minor is facing the possibility of life in prison without parole, according to prosecutors. Thirty-three year-old Frank Sato Felix was convicted on Tuesday on three felony counts of first-degree murder and three felony enhancements of multiple murders, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. The Sun Valley resident’s conviction is connected to the incident that led to his codefendant, Joshua Charles Acosta, receiving a life sentence in prison after being convicted on three counts of murder. Prosecutors say that Felix, then-25, met a 17-year-old girl after she was introduced to the “furry” subculture. That subculture involved people dressing up in costumes resembling animals with human-like characteristics. Felix illegally entered what prosecutors described as a “romantic relationship” with the minor, but her mother, 39-year-old Jennifer Goodwill-Yost, and step-father, 35-year-old Christopher Yost, didn’t approve of the relationship. He owed an O.C. couple $80K, so he allegedly executed them and burned their bodies in the desert That’s when Felix and Acosta, an Army mechanic stationed at Ft. Irwin in Barstow, decided to

A company looking to use existing tracks to provide luxury overnight train trips between Los Angeles and the Bay Area has announced another crucial step toward the project becoming a reality. On Tuesday, Dreamstar Lines, a Newport Beach-based transit startup, announced it had hired a design firm to create initial concepts for its rail car interiors and exteriors. Designworks, a subsidiary of the BMW Group, has been tasked to design the future Dreamstar train cars, which will include first class suites with bedrooms and restrooms, standard cars with seating and bedrooms, and lounge cars with open seating and a bar. Dreamstar says the design concepts will provide a “vision for a luxurious blend of comfort and elegance.” A rendering of a Dreamstar Lines train car. Dreamstar hopes to launch new overnight passenger rail service between San Francisco and Los Angeles. (Dreamstar Lines Inc.) Designworks was shortlisted to design the train cars, company officials said, but was ultimately selected after expressing interest in the project early on after learning about it. “They were selected based on their capability to deliver the vision we had in mind for

By Dan Snyder, Casey Kuhn Updated on: November 13, 2024 / 6:05 PM EST / CBS Philadelphia CBS News Live CBS News Philadelphia Live Sen. Bob Casey is not giving up on retaining his U.S. Senate seat. The three-term Democrat is currently locked in a tight race with Dave McCormick, trailing the Republican by just over 29,000 votes as of 4 p.m. Wednesday. CBS News has not issued a projection in the race . Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced Wednesday afternoon that unofficial results in the race have triggered a statewide recount.  That’s because vote totals for McCormick and Casey are within a 0.5% margin, which triggers a statewide recount under state law. According to the Department of State, Casey received 48.5% of the vote with 3,350,972 votes and McCormick had 48.93% with 3,380,310.  Counties must begin the recount by Nov. 20, the announcement says. The recount will cost more than $1 million in taxpayer funds, the Department of State says. Counties must finish the recount by noon on Nov. 26 and report the results to the secretary of the commonwealth by

November 13, 2024 / 6:02 PM EST / AP The Ohio Senate on Wednesday approved a ban on transgender students using bathrooms that fit their gender identities and sent the measure to Republican Gov. Mike DeWine. The Republican-backed bill applies to public K-12 schools and institutions of higher education. It requires the schools to designate separate bathrooms, locker rooms and overnight accommodations “for the exclusive use” of either males and females, based on one’s gender assigned at or near birth, in both school buildings and facilities used for a school-sponsored event. The legislation would not apply to school employees, emergencies or people helping young children or those with disabilities, and schools would still be able to provide single-use and family bathroom facilities. State Sen. Jerry Cirino, a Kirtland Republican, said the bill “is about safety and security.” The ACLU of Ohio urged the governor not to sign the measure, which it condemned as a violation of the right of privacy of LGBTQ+ Ohioans that will make them less safe. “We are closely considering next steps,” the ACLU said on social media.  “If allowed to go

A 38-year-old Westminster man was charged Wednesday with killing a family member. Irving Abraham Ochoamondragon was charged with murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon, authorities said. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of contempt of court for disobeying a court order. Ochoamondragon is accused of killing 57-year-old Teresa M. Julio of Westminster. Police were dispatched at about 9:45 p.m. Friday to the 8200 block of 19th Street to check on the welfare of the victim, who had not been heard from in several days. Officers found the body at the scene and a search warrant led investigators to Ochoamondragon, police said. Police did not disclose a motive nor describe the relationship between the defendant and victim.

“Hawkeye” star Jeremy Renner will be the grand marshal of the 92nd Hollywood Christmas Parade on Dec. 1, organizers said Wednesday. “I’m honored to serve as the Grand Marshal for this year’s Hollywood Christmas Parade and excited to partner with Toys for Tots to bring joy to children in need,” Renner said in a statement. “Their mission aligns closely with the work we do at the RennerVation Foundation, creating meaningful experiences for at-risk youth. This season of giving is about spreading hope, and I’m thrilled to share this moment with my family and friends from the foundation as we work together to make a difference.” Renner, 53, is an award-winning actor and philanthropist whose RennerVation Foundation is a youth-focused nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for at-risk youth and children in foster care. The star of films including “The Hurt Locker” and the “Avengers” series, as well as the TV show “Mayor of Kingstown,” Renner has frequently channeled his influence toward philanthropy. A popular tradition in Southern California, the Hollywood Christmas Parade features movie cars, bands from around the country, colorful equestrians, character balloons, floats and

Swedish streaming audio giant Spotify is courting more video creators, podcasters and influencers in an effort to step up its competition with popular digital platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. The Stockholm-based company on Wednesday hosted creators at its office in Downtown L.A.’s Arts District, where executives showed off new features meant to make it easier for video makers to make money from their content and track their performance on the streaming service. The company is launching a new program to help creators earn more advertising and subscription revenue, Spotify said. For example, Spotify Premium subscribers will soon be able to view videos on the service without ads. This comes after some video podcasters have groused about the number of commercial breaks in their shows, which can irritate paying listeners. Qualified creators can earn money based on how often the ad-free videos are streamed. “Now, financial success and quality of your show aren’t at odds anymore — they are correlated,” said Spotify’s co-president and chief product and technology officer, Gustav Söderström, during the event. Ad-free videos will start in January for premium users in

Dane Brown, who survived a 2019 drug overdose and prompted an investigation against Democratic donor and activist Ed Buck, was found dead on a South Los Angeles sidewalk last week. Brown’s call to police and his testimony helped lead a jury to convict Buck of luring young, Black men into his West Hollywood apartment for nearly a decade for “party and play” sessions that involved sex and heavy drug use. Two men died in Buck’s apartment in 2017 and 2019 from drug overdoses. “I don’t think [Brown] really knew the impact that he had,” said Jasmyne Cannick, a political consultant, writer and friend of Brown’s. Brown was found dead on a sidewalk in South Los Angeles on Nov. 6, according to the L.A. County medical examiner’s office. A cause of death has not yet been determined. The men lured to Buck’s apartment, who were often homeless and addicted, were plied with drugs during the encounters and were often offered extra money if they allowed Buck to inject them with drugs. If they refused, Buck would sometimes refuse to pay them. For years, victims and advocates

A Lancaster 18-year-old pleaded guilty Wednesday to phoning in hundreds of false threats of imminent bombings, mass shootings and violence targeting locations across the U.S., including places of worship and schools. Alan W. Filion pleaded guilty to four counts of making interstate threats to injure people, federal authorities said. From August 2022 to January 2024, Filion made more than 375 “swatting” and threatening hoax calls, including calls in which he threatened to detonate bombs or conduct mass shootings at targeted locations, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Swatting occurs when a false crime or emergency is reported at a specific location to provoke an aggressive law enforcement response, often by a SWAT team. According to federal officials, it was Filion’s intention to cause large-scale deployment of police and emergency services units at targeted locations. Filion, who was 16 when he made a majority of the calls, targeted religious institutions, high schools, colleges and universities, as well as government officials and numerous individuals across the nation. When he placed a swatting call at a targeted location, Filion would call emergency responders and provide them with

“Hot in Herre” rapper Nelly is no longer feeling the heat from Missouri prosecutors three months after he was arrested on suspicion of possession of ecstasy. The Times confirmed Wednesday that the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will not charge the Grammy-winning musician. “We don’t believe the facts in this case warrant the issuing of charges,” a spokesperson told The Times in a statement. Scott Rosenblum, an attorney for Nelly (real name Cornell Iral Haynes Jr.), in a statement to The Times thanked Missouri prosecutor Wesley Bell and his office “for conducting a thorough investigation and reaching what we believe is the appropriate outcome.” The 50-year-old rapper, also known for hits “Dilemma” and “Ride Wit Me,” was arrested Aug. 7 in his home state at a St. Louis-area casino where he was allegedly carrying four ecstasy pills. He was held and released by police in Maryland Heights, a city northwest of St. Louis. At the time, the Missouri State Highway Patrol database also listed a citation for operating a vehicle without proper proof of insurance. Nelly initially received this citation in June 2018 in