Category: Los Angeles

For those rightly concerned about the timing of Donald Trump’s federal Jan. 6 trial, Thursday’s oral arguments before the Supreme Court gave plenty of reasons for worry. Moreover, the court’s conservative majority seemed inclined to define presidential immunity from prosecution in a way that could undermine some of the charges in special counsel Jack Smith’s indictment. Much of the court’s questioning went well beyond the immediate issue of Trump’s immunity for the criminal acts alleged. The court’s conservatives focused almost exclusively on abstract questions of immunity for future presidents rather than the charges against the former president. Even the more moderate members of the conservative majority seemed preoccupied with the difficulty of drawing the line between official and unofficial acts, assuming that the former deserve extensive protection from prosecution. Justice Amy Coney Barrett read a litany of acts from the indictment and asked Trump’s lawyer whether they were official or not. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. indicated that the line between public and private presidential conduct is hard to draw, saying he was concerned that the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals “did not get

For years, scientists have said that atmospheric rivers can either make or break the water supplies of thirsty California cities and farms. For the last two winters, a steady succession of these giant “rivers in the sky” have dumped record-breaking and drought-busting precipitation across the state, while simultaneously causing catastrophic floods, landslides, and dangerous blizzards. But now, new research has found that these recent atmospheric rivers pale in comparison to some of the monster storms that battered ancient California — a sobering revelation that suggests to some experts that the state could be revisited once again by such cataclysmic storms. “Our findings show that atmospheric river activity exceeds what has occurred since instrumental record keeping began,” said Clarke Knight, a U.S. Geological Survey research geographer and the lead author on the study that detailed — for the first time — atmospheric river activity dating back 3,200 years. “This is important because it suggests the latent potential of our area to experience storms beyond those that we have seen today.” Although few people had even heard of atmospheric rivers just a couple of decades ago, research

Two doctors testified that the man who drove his Tesla off a cliff with his wife and children in the car suffered from major depressive order and was experiencing a psychotic break at the time of the crash. The testimony came Wednesday in the case of Dharmesh Patel, a Pasadena radiologist who was charged with three counts of attempted murder after he drove the family’s Tesla off the cliff at Devil’s Slide on Highway 1 near Half Moon Bay, according to prosecutors. At the time of the crash, the doctors testified, Patel was experiencing a psychotic episode in which he believed that his children might be sex trafficked, according to Dist. Atty. Stephen Wagstaffe. Two doctors, Mark Patterson and James Armontrout, testified for the defense. Patel is seeking mental health diversion in his case, which would allow for him to be released from jail and put on a treatment plan for two years. If he does not commit another crime or break any of the rules imposed when he is released in that time, the charges against him would be dropped. Prosecutors oppose diversion in

USC announced Thursday that it is canceling its main May commencement ceremony, capping a dramatic series of moves that began last week after it informed valedictorian Asna Tabassum, who had been opposed by pro-Israel groups, that she would not be delivering the traditional speech. In ending the university-wide May 10 graduation ceremony altogether, which was expected to draw 65,000 people to Alumni Park, USC aimed to quell the controversy that grew as it dismantled aspects of the ceremony, drawing criticism from both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel activists nationwide. “We understand that this is disappointing; however, we are adding many new activities and celebrations to make this commencement academically meaningful, memorable, and uniquely USC, including places to gather with family, friends, faculty, and staff, the celebratory releasing of the doves, and performances by the Trojan Marching Band,” USC said in a statement. The university also announced that it will require tickets for “all commencement events taking place on May 8-11” and direct “all campus access through specific points of entry.” Since citing unspecified security threats as the reason for canceling Tabassum’s speech, USC has faced multiple on-campus

Picture this: It’s a Thursday night in Santa Monica, and you’re feeling good. You’re sitting across from a cute stranger, and the vibes are vibing. In a spacious warehouse-style space, which might sound a tad sketch but somehow isn’t at all, 20- and 30-somethings are seated around rows of tables with chess boards. House music is bumping, and drinks are flowing. There’s pizza being made on-site, and two tattoo artists are around if you’re feeling adventurous and looking to commemorate the experience. And if you need a buffer for maintaining conversation with someone unfamiliar, no worries. All of this is unfolding as you play a low-stakes game of chess. This is the magic of L.A. Chess Club . From 8 p.m. to midnight every Thursday, happy regulars and excited first-timers show up to play chess and exercise their social muscles. On this particular night in early April, 250 people show up, some opting for heels and outfits you’d see at a chic lounge, with many others going the casual route — yet neither group looks out of place. Whether you’re looking to competitively play chess

In the wake of a controversy surrounding the valedictory address and pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campus, the University of Southern California on Thursday announced its main graduation ceremony will not be held. “With the new safety measures in place this year, the time needed to process the large number of guests coming to campus will increase substantially,” the school wrote in an announcement. “As a result, we will not be able to host the main stage ceremony that traditionally brings 65,000 students, families, and friends to our campus all at the same time and during a short window from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.” School officials said they plan to detail their plans for commencement by April 30, and they’ll be shared on the graduation website. “We understand that this is disappointing; however, we are adding many new activities and celebrations to make this commencement academically meaningful, memorable, and uniquely USC, including places to gather with family, friends, faculty, and staff, the celebratory releasing of the doves, and performances by the Trojan Marching Band,” the statement said. The school has undergone a turbulent few weeks recently.

Alaska Airlines is expanding its presence in Southern California this fall, increasing existing and adding new service to two of the region’s busiest airports. The airline announced Thursday it would be offering its largest Southern California schedule in years, with more flights going in and out of LAX and San Diego International Airport (SAN). Beginning in October, new service will connect Los Angeles with Washington’s Tri-Cities, a 300,000-population metro area comprised of the cities of Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland, Washington. Alaska is also bringing back its LAX-to-Reno flights, which it says were a guest favorite. Also on the horizon, Alaska will add a 39th nonstop destination from San Diego, beginning new service to Las Vegas. These flights are available for booking now, with service officially beginning in October 1. Map shows new Alaska Airlines service launching in Southern California in October 2024. (Alaska Airlines) In addition to new service, Alaska says it is adding more flights to destinations it already serves out of LAX, including its existing routes linking to Boise, Idaho; Medford and Portland, Oregon; San Jose and Santa Rosa, California; and Seattle, Washington. Passenger capacity on those routes

By Brittany Vincent April 25, 2024 / 4:09 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. Getty Images Kids are glued to tech these days. If you’re a parent looking to buy your child their first wearable, a smartwatch or fitness tracker that’s specifically designed for kids is a smart pick. While a kid-friendly Apple Watch SE is one of the best options for older kids, top brands like Fitbit and VTech make watches packed with fun, kid-friendly perks. That includes step counters, virtual rewards for activity, sleep tracking, and apps that let parents set schedules and monitor progress. Most also have built-in GPS so you can check your child’s location when they’re out playing. Some even let you call or message them in case you need to speak to them, making it easy and quick to stay in touch no matter the situation. When you’re shopping for a smartwatch or fitness tracker for kids, look for tough

Nvidia I Sunday on 60 Minutes – CBS News Watch CBS News One of only five companies to ever surpass $2 trillion in stock market value, computer chip maker Nvidia ushered in the artificial intelligence revolution with its groundbreaking software and graphics processing unit. Bill Whitaker reports, Sunday. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Pro-Palestinian protests continue to spread on American campuses for one simple reason: They are working. You do not have to agree with the protesters’ politics and demands — which in most cases involve universities divesting from firms that contribute to the Israeli war effort — or their methods, which include setting up tent encampments on shared spaces, to acknowledge that the demonstrations are doing exactly what student demonstrations almost always do. That is, force this country to face issues that many would prefer to ignore or dismiss. Including if, and how, students should be allowed to gather and make their feelings known. Let’s settle that last issue right now: Of course students are allowed to protest. This country is quite literally built on protest and we take pride in the many student demonstrations that have regularly contributed to changes in policy and cultural attitudes. In 1960, student sit-ins at the segregated Woolworth lunch counters of Greensboro, N.C., became one of the most famous actions of the civil rights movement. In 1968, a months-long demonstration at San Francisco State led to the creation of African American

Shortly after a New York appeals court overturned Harvey Weinstein’s conviction on rape charges in Manhattan, a defense attorney in the disgraced movie mogul’s Los Angeles case said the same should happen in California. If Weinstein’s lawyer Mark Werksman has any doubts about whether the same legal strategy will work in both states, he didn’t betray them in his comments after Thursday’s victory for his client. “We faced the same fundamental unfairness in the Los Angeles case, where the judge let the jury hear about four uncharged allegations of sexual assault,” said defense attorney Mark Werksman. “Harvey was subjected to a firehose of uncharged and incredible allegations which destroyed his right to a fair trial on the charges in the indictment. The case here should be reversed for the same reasons the New York case was reversed.” Not all legal experts are as convinced. In its 77-page decision, the New York appellate court ruled that a Manhattan judge robbed Weinstein of a fair trial when he let prosecutors put three women on the stand who accused the Miramax co-founder of sex crimes that he had

Cal Poly Humboldt will remain closed through the weekend, with classwork continuing remotely as the Northern California university struggles with Gaza protests and what it calls “hateful graffiti” on campus, officials said. Administrators at the public university in Arcata are weighing whether to keep the campus closed beyond then as protesters occupy Siemens Hall, an academic and administration building, and another building. “Unidentified non-students with unknown intentions” are occupying Siemens Hall, the university said, which creates an “unpredictable environment.” Campus administrators said there are also reports that protesters broke into the president’s office and accessed sensitive materials. The university said there is a risk of other buildings being occupied, as protesters have “shown a willingness to enter unlocked buildings and either lock themselves in or steal equipment,” and the occupation has a “negative impact” on other students who are trying to complete classwork in the last weeks of the semester. Officials said “hateful graffiti” also has been painted on university property in recent days, citing at least two areas that have been “tagged with language that is harmful to the Jewish community.” Administrators estimate damage

A man was shot at a park in downtown Los Angeles Thursday morning. The man, whose identity has not been released, was shot a few minutes after 10:30 a.m. in the 800 block of East 6th Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. He sustained a single gunshot wound and was taken to a nearby hospital, police said. His condition is unknown. Aerial footage from Sky5 showed a large amount of blood alongside a basketball court at Gladys Park. While officers are on scene investigating, the intersections of Stanford Avenue and 6th Street and San Pedro and 5th streets are closed. Nancy Fontan contributed to this report.

Knott’s Berry Farm has extended the duration of its annual Boysenberry Festival. The festival will now run until May 12. The event was initially scheduled to end on April 28. The food-centric event, available on the weekends, features unique boysenberry-infused food and drinks. This year, festival offerings include the chicken tikka masala with boysenberry curry sauce, boysenberry chicken tinga nachos and pickle pizza, among others. Knott’s Berry Farm adding new rides and more during Camp Snoopy renovation Along with the boysenberry-infused foods, guests can enjoy musical performances and interactive gameplay, participate in the Boysenberry Pie Eating contest, or visit the Boysenberry Festival Craft Fair and more. More information about the Boysenberry Festival can be found on the Knott’s Berry Farm website.

By Megan Cerullo Edited By Aimee Picchi April 25, 2024 / 2:58 PM EDT / CBS News Garisenda, Italy’s other leaning tower Garisenda, Italy’s other leaning tower 05:40 On Thursday, Venice, Italy became the first city in the world to charge day tourists a fee  just to visit its historic canals and other attractions on peak days.  The measure is designed to counter over-tourism and mitigate the deleterious impact large crowds can have on some of the city’s fragile sites, while also persuading some tourists to visit during less busy times of the year.   The roughly $5.37 fee only applies on 29 days that are deemed to be the busiest between April 25, a holiday in Italy, and July 14, in a trial phase of the reservation-and-fee system.  A tourist displays a QR code used to enter the Venice, Italy on the first day of a pilot program charging visitors a 5 Euro entry fee. Getty Images Most people entering the city must register and obtain a QR code, or a ticket for visitors without smartphones, but some tourists are exempt from paying the

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. By Joshua Rodriguez Edited By Matt Richardson April 25, 2024 / 2:52 PM EDT / CBS News There are multiple ways to pay $7,500 in credit card debt off.  Getty Images/iStockphoto Today’s economic environment can be a challenging one if you have credit card debt. The cost of living is climbing as inflation continues unabated , which can make it difficult to budget for your credit card payments. Moreover, the Federal Reserve’s federal funds rate target currently stands at a 23-year high . And since that’s the primary benchmark for consumer interest rates, your credit card interest rates may be higher today than they were just a couple of years ago, pushing your minimum payments higher, too.  This can quickly result in thousands of dollars in accumulated credit card debt. So, what should you do if you have $7,500 (or more) in credit card debt? Since $7,500 is often the minimum amount of debt that debt relief companies are willing to help with, you may

By Olivia Gazis, Margaret Brennan Updated on: April 25, 2024 / 5:46 PM EDT / CBS News Wife of American held by Taliban speaks out Wife of American held captive in Afghanistan says husband’s condition is worsening 07:34 Attorneys for Ryan Corbett, an American who has been imprisoned without charge by the Taliban in Afghanistan since August 2022, filed urgent petitions on Thursday with the United Nations in the latest push for his release.  The petitions include testimonies from two recently released, non-American detainees who described Corbett’s deteriorating mental and physical condition as well as descriptions of torture and other cruel and degrading treatment by the Taliban. Filed before the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture and the U.N. Working Group for Arbitrary Detention, the petitions said the individuals who were jailed with Corbett expressed concerns that the 40-year-old father of three could die soon, due to medical problems, maltreatment or self-harm. The former detainees described Taliban holders’ threats of physical violence against Corbett, who they said was forced to listen to the torture of other prisoners in a cell where blood was visible on the

An outage cut power to more than 1,800 Imperial Irrigation District customers in the Coachella and Thermal area Thursday for about two hours after a vehicle came in contact with the district’s infrastructure. The utility alerted the public shortly after 6:30 a.m. Thursday that a power outage was affecting areas in Coachella and Thermal and that troubleshooters were responding to the scene. “The outage, affecting approximately 1,900 customers, started at 6:18 a.m. due a heavy equipment vehicle making contact with district infrastructure,” IID officials wrote in a statement shortly after 10 a.m. It was not immediately known where exactly contact was made. Power was restored to all customers by 8:20 a.m., IID officials said. Anyone who continued to have issues was asked to call the utility at 800-303-7756. The IID provides electricity to more than 150,000 customers in parts of Riverside and San Diego counties, and to all of Imperial County.

Calling her allegations a “thinly veiled attempt to extend her fame and to rebrand herself as the victim,” Tom Sandoval is seeking dismissal of most claims brought by former “Vanderpump Rules” cast member star Rachel Leviss, who alleges he and Ariana Madix produced and distributed revenge porn involving the plaintiff. In court papers brought Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Sandoval’s attorneys urge judge Daniel M. Crowley to toss out Leviss’ claims for eavesdropping, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The motion, scheduled to be heard May 24, does not challenge Leviss’ revenge porn claim. The 40-year-old Sandoval’s lawyers also are asking that the 29-year-old Leviss’ request for punitive damages be denied. “After thrusting the vicissitudes of her life into the limelight for ongoing public consumption and critique from 2016-23, Leviss has now filed the instant action against Sandoval and Madix, his 38-year-old former girlfriend, complaining of being an object of public scorn and ridicule,” Sandoval’s attorneys state in their pleadings. In reality, Leviss’ complaint is a “thinly veiled attempt to extend her fame and to rebrand herself as the victim instead

Sophia Bush finally feels like she can breathe after coming out as queer and opening up about her long-rumored relationship with soccer star Ashlyn Harris. “When I take stock of the last few years, I can tell you that I have never operated out of more integrity in my life. I hope that’s clear enough for everyone speculating out there,” the “One Tree Hill” alum wrote Thursday in an essay for the April issue of Glamour. The 41-year-old detailed how her one-year marriage to Grant Hughes felt phony and fell apart amid her grueling fertility issues. She also explained how her recovery from that relationship led her to Harris, who simultaneously had been going through her own divorce from former teammate Ali Krieger. Bush wrote that after her storybook wedding — which she doesn’t regret — she found herself “in the depths and heartbreak of the fertility process.” She kept all that private as she endured months of ultrasounds, hormone shots, blood draws that led to scar tissue in her veins and numerous egg retrievals, “while simultaneously realizing the person I had chosen to be

British actor Jessica Gunning said she usually has a “what will be, will be” attitude toward auditions. That, however, was not the case when she was trying out to play Martha in Netflix’s surprise hit series “Baby Reindeer.” “I really kind of fought for it,” she said in a video interview this week. “I really thought, if this gets into the wrong hands and it ever gets played by an actress who sees her as scary, or plays a kind of crazy version of a stalker, I think you’d absolutely ruin what is such nuanced, careful, delicate storytelling.” That storytelling was born out of creator and star Richard Gadd’s real-life experience with stalking that began as a one-man stage show and was woven into a darkly comic miniseries about isolation and the aftereffects of abuse. In the show, Gadd plays Donny Dunn, a struggling comedian working as a bartender, who offers a cup of tea one day to Martha (Gunning), a crying woman. What begins with some mutual flattery eventually turns grim when Martha’s affections turn to unrelenting harassment and threats. But Gunning’s performance never