Category: Los Angeles

Nov 8: CBS News 24/7, 1pm ET – CBS News Watch CBS News GOP eyeing several key House races across the country; 43 monkeys escape from research facility in South Carolina Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Trump wins Nevada President-elect Trump discusses future plans for White House 02:04 Washington — President-elect Donald Trump’s victory Tuesday has stirred up whispers about whether Justice Sonia Sotomayor should step down from the Supreme Court to allow President Biden to nominate a successor before Republicans take control of Washington. But any changes in the composition of the nation’s highest court are unlikely in the coming months, even as lawmakers return for a lame-duck session to finish their business before Trump is sworn in for a second term and the GOP assumes the Senate majority . Sotomayor hasn’t responded publicly to the chatter about a retirement, and she did not return a request for comment about her future. She remains an active questioner during oral arguments and has become known for biting dissents in hotly contested cases.  At 70, she is not the oldest member of the Supreme Court — Justice Clarence Thomas is 76 and Justice Samuel Alito is 74 — and she is newly into her tenure as the senior-most member of its liberal wing, a position she assumed following the retirement of Justice

Massive fires in both U.S coasts force evacuations, destroy homes – CBS News Watch CBS News Brush fires in New Jersey’s Palisades area spread smoke across the Hudson River. CBS News New York’s Christine Sloan has the latest. In the West, California’s Mountain Fire is still roaring after weather conditions contributed to its growth. CBS News Los Angeles’ Kara Finnstrom reports. Also, CBS News Bay Area’s Jessica Burch has the latest weather forecast. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Biden’s immigration spouse program struck down – CBS News Watch CBS News A federal judge ruled President Biden’s program to provide unauthorized immigrants married to American citizens legal status and a path to U.S. citizenship is illegal. CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes breaks down what’s next for the initiative. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

The Mountain fire has wrought devastation on Camarillo Heights in Ventura County, destroying 132 structures and damaging 88 more as of Friday morning. New satellite images show a before-and-after view of several sections of the neighborhood. The image below shows one street in detail on Oct. 21, weeks before the fire, at left. The homes are situated in hilly terrain and surrounded by brush. On the right, the same area can be seen on Thursday, after the fire had passed through. The devastation is clear: Most homes have been burnt to the ground, and the surrounding brush is charred. The fire had grown to more than 20,400 acres by Thursday evening, forcing thousands to evacuate and straining local resources. It swept into foothill communities around Camarillo and Moorpark, pushed by offshore winds that the National Weather Service deemed “particularly dangerous.” The image below shows another section of Camarillo which was also devastated by the blaze. On Oct. 21, at left, several dozen homes resemble what appears to be an oasis on a dry landscape, with swimming pools and verdant surroundings. On Thursday, at right, more

USC President Carol Folt, who sought to reset the scandal-plagued university with major initiatives to boost athletics, expand computing programs and widen student access — but also drew criticism for her handling of pro-Palestinian protests — will retire in July, she announced Friday. “After more than twenty years of leadership at three great universities,” Folt wrote to the USC community, “I am excited to embrace the freedom that comes with a next big leap, and to pass the baton to the next president who will be able to build upon our accomplishments and create a new chapter for this extraordinary institution.” Folt, 73, will remain at USC as a tenured faculty member. Her future had been in doubt after the USC Board of Trustees in July offered her an extension on her five-year contract — but would not disclose the length or terms — as they reviewed her performance. After she took the helm on July 1, 2019, with a contract that compensated her at the same level as former President Max Nikias, she was expected to serve for at least a decade, Rick Caruso

Officials identified a young man and a minor Friday who were shot and killed a day earlier in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Los Angeles. The shooting occurred when a car drove up as the victims were standing outside a residence in the 1400 block of Cliff Drive around 12:15 a.m. Thursday, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson said. A gunman inside the vehicle fired multiple rounds striking both victims, later identified by officials as 18-year-old Denzell Guzman and 17-year-old Juan Melendez Jr. Police investigate a double-fatal shooting in Mount Washington on Nov. 7, 2024. (ANG) Police investigate a double-fatal shooting in Mount Washington on Nov. 7, 2024. (ANG) First responders attempted life-saving measures but Guzman and Melendez Jr. were pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the suspect fled in an unknown direction driving a dark-colored vehicle. No description of the suspect was available. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

A 50-year-old man is facing charges of arson, carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon after an incident that ended with deputies firing shots at a Thousand Oaks shopping center. The incident happened on Oct. 24, after deputies responded to the Ventu Park Shopping Center around 6:25 a.m. Responding deputies found Joseph Emans, 50, of Thousand Oaks. Deputies eventually shot and hit Emans, who was wounded and taken to a local hospital for treatment. Details are limited and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office did not release detailed information about what led up to the shooting, but a press release did list his charges which include exhibiting a deadly weapon and deadly resist of a peace officer, among others. Emans survived his injuries and was arrested Wednesday after being discharged from the hospital. He was booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura and is being held on $500,000. The case was submitted to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office for review​ and he was expected to be arraigned Friday. “This case is being handled with full transparency, and we urge anyone with information to come

‘Twas the month before Christmas—and we all had that holiday feel—the warm fuzzy glow when we scored that holiday deal. But more and more, some experts say you may be getting scrooged over by the deeply discounted sale being offered.  They’re called ANCHOR prices. That’s the price you see on the top of the price tag—the price which is then crossed out and replaced with the discounted price or percentage off.    In recent years, consumer experts put those prices to the test, finding top retailers like Amazon, Gap, Nordstrom, Old Navy, William Sonoma, Wayfair and more had sales that they found to be often “misleading.” Either the items were always on sale- or that regular “anchor price” meant to show you are getting a deal, was rarely a price that was ever charged.    It was just the price to entice—like seeing the “lowest price of the season” sign.  As Free Money Finance pointed out— “What season are they talking about? And will the prices get lower “next” season (or the following week)? And just how low are the prices?”  Major U.S. retailer closing all stores, launching liquidation

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. If you’re behind on your credit card payments this month, some simple strategies could help. Getty Images The holiday season is approaching, but for many Americans, the excitement is being overshadowed by their issues with mounting credit card debt . Right now, the average person owes nearly $8,000 on their credit cards and that’s happening at a time when economic challenges, like inflated housing, groceries and gas costs, are pushing many household budgets to their limits. This perfect storm of elevated credit card balances and budgetary challenges has created a concerning cycle of debt that’s hard to break free from. What makes the situation particularly challenging, though, is the current state of credit card interest rates. Despite positive shifts in other lending markets, credit card APRs have remained stubbornly high, averaging around 23% . That makes credit card debt one of the most expensive forms of debt, as the compound nature of the interest and the elevated rates mean that any revolving balance you carry

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. HELOC rates have been on a downward trend for much of 2024. Getty Images After more than four years in which interest rates were hiked numerous times, the Federal Reserve started cutting interest rates in September, starting with a larger-than-expected 50 basis point cut. But that was just the beginning, with the Fed continuing to cut rates this week with a 25 basis point reduction . And another cut in the same increment is widely expected when the Fed meets again in December. While these cuts have brought new borrowers into the fold, they underline something that home equity borrowers may have already noticed: Interest rates have been on the decline all year. This has been particularly noticeable for those who have tapped into their home equity via a home equity line of credit (HELOC) . These products have variable interest rates , which can be problematic when interest rates are rising, as they were in 2022 and 2023, but advantageous now that the wider

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. A HELOC offers homeowners the key to cost-effective financing right now. Getty Images/iStockphoto Interest rates are heading down again, according to the Federal Reserve. On Thursday, the Fed issued another cut to its federal funds rate , the second in the last three months. Now at a range between 4.50% and 4.75%, the rate is down 75 basis points from where it was in early September and it could fall further again when the Fed meets for the final time in 2024 on December 17.  While these cuts will reduce what savers can earn with high-yield savings and certificates of deposit accounts (CDs) , they will help borrowers who have been contending with higher rates on a variety of loan products. For those who are considering accessing their home equity  now, or for those who already have a home equity line of credit (HELOC) , this can be particularly advantageous. So what does the new Fed rate cut mean for HELOC interest rates? That’s what

Trump’s support grows from 2020 across U.S. Trump’s support grows from 2020 across the U.S. 02:44 President-elect Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Friday to reiterate that he doesn’t plan to sell shares of Trump Media & Technology Group . He also called for an investigation from “the appropriate authorities” into “market manipulators or short sellers,” whom executives at the company and shareholders have previously blamed for volatility in the stock, which trades under the ticker symbol DJT. DJT shares jumped shortly after Trump’s post, gaining as much as 16% on Friday. The stock rose $3.15, or 11.4%, to $30.84 in early afternoon trading, partly reversing a 23% plunge on Thursday that had trimmed some of the company’s gains in the run-up to the November 5 election. Trump, who is the biggest shareholder of Trump Media with a 57% stake, said the business has been the target of “probably illegal rumors and/or statements” that he said allege he plans to sell shares of the company, which owns the Truth Social platform. In September, Trump had vowed not to sell his stake after a lock-up

USC President Carol Folt, who took over the university nearly five years ago to bring stability following a sweeping admissions scandal but came under fire last year like many other U.S. academic leaders during pro-Palestinian campus protests, announced Friday she will retire as president in July at the end of the academic year. “Serving as the twelfth president of the University of Southern California is one of the greatest privileges of my life,” Folt wrote in a message Friday to the campus community . “Working with so many of you to achieve the promise of our incredible Trojan Family brings me joy and inspiration each day. After more than 20 years of leadership at three great universities, however, I am excited to embrace the freedom that comes with a next big leap, and to pass the baton to the next president who will be able to build upon our accomplishments and create a new chapter for this extraordinary institution. “My north stars always have been: students at the center; academic excellence (in research, teaching, creative practice, and visionary discoveries); safe, welcoming and sustainable campuses; tackling

Recordings by Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic nabbed six 2025 Grammy nominations Friday, with Dudamel and the orchestra picking one up for orchestral performance for their work on composer Gabriela Ortiz’s “Revolución Diamantina.” That first full-length album of orchestral works by Ortiz racked up several nods, including one for contemporary classical composition, an award given to the composer. Other nominations for the L.A. Phil recording of Ortiz’s work were for engineered classical album, classical producer of the year (Dmitriy Lipay) and classical compendium. Composer John Adams’ opera “Girls of the Golden West,” performed by the L.A. Phil and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, picked up nominations for opera recording and engineered classical album; it also was cited as part of Lipay’s nomination for classical producer of the year. In the orchestral performance category, Dudamel and the L.A. Phil are up against Marin Alsop and ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra for Adams’ “City Noir,” which was commissioned by the L.A. Phil for Dudamel’s first gala. Others in the category include conductor JoAnn Falletta, who made her name as music director of the Long Beach

Two plays down, five more to go. As the 5 p.m. shows concluded, a lingering crowd filled the L.A. Theater Center’s lobby. With an hour and a half before the start of four more productions, some sparked conversations in the dimly lit lounging area, others stopped by the bar for a glass of wine and almost everyone stuck around for what would be a theatrical double feature. In the midst of the Latino Theater Company’s three-weekend Encuentro festival, ending Nov. 10, the downtown theater complex has become home base for the country’s Latino theater scene — hosting between seven and 12 productions nightly from groups all over the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico. “I first brought my kids just to come to get out of the house on the weekend,” Kelly Flores, librarian at Manual Arts High School and longtime fan of the company. “But we ended up seeing really poignant shows about what’s happening in our communities. And we haven’t stopped coming back since.” The L.A.-based arts nonprofit has brought Latino stories to the stage for nearly 40 years. And for the past decade

USC President Carol Folt will be retiring at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year, the university announced Friday. She will officially step down on July 1, 2025. “After more than twenty years of leadership at three great universities, however, I am excited to embrace the freedom that comes with a next big leap, and to pass the baton to the next president who will be able to build upon our accomplishments and create a new chapter for this extraordinary institution,” Folt said in a statement. Folt was hired in 2019 to restore trust in the university that had been rocked with multiple scandals, according to the Los Angeles Times.   During her tenure, she implemented initiatives that would, among other things, boost athletics, improve mental health service for students and expand computing programs. However, Folt received criticism over how the university handled pro-Palestinian protests during the spring. In the wake of a controversy surrounding the valedictorian address and pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campus, USC also canceled its main graduation ceremony. After stepping down as university president, Folt will remain at USC as a tenured faculty

There’s no shortage of seasonal films that claim to extol the “true meaning of Christmas” and this year, the holiday comes early with Dallas Jenkins’ “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” based on the 1972 novel by Barbara Robinson. But whether you’ll be excited to receive this one under the tree may depend on your tolerance for precocious kiddos and faith-based stories that come wrapped as wacky family comedies. Adapted by Platte Clark, Darrin McDaniel and Ryan Swanson, Robinson’s book also was made into a 1983 TV movie starring Fairuza Balk, and Jenkins leans into 1970s and ’80s nostalgia, making his film a period piece. Narrated by Beth (Lauren Graham), her recounting of a story from childhood serves as a voice-over for the film. Jenkins reserves the adult Beth for a reveal at the very end, though the film would have been served by an opening bookend — the script is heavy on voice-over, but there’s a lack of connection with who’s doing the talking. It feels like a very generic adaptation with a celebrity narrator, when Graham’s Beth could have had a stronger presence in

Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk is facing new federal charges after being named in a superseding indictment in connection with a fatal ambush near Los Angeles’ Beverly Center shopping mall two years ago. The indictment, announced by the Justice Department on Friday, accuses the 32-year-old Chicago rapper, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, of conspiring with others to murder a rival rapper, Quando Rondo. Banks is also charged with: one count of conspiracy one count of use of interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death one count of using, carrying, and discharging firearms and a machine gun and possession of such firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death Prosecutors said Banks and his associates have had a violent, yearslong feud with Rondo. The case builds on previous charges and now lists Banks as the lead defendant alongside several associates. A previous affidavit alleged that Banks put a bounty on Rondo — born Tyquian Terrel Bowman — after a 2020 disagreement with Bowman and his associates resulted in the shooting death of Banks’ friend and collaborator King Von, who was born

The brother of Buffalo Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon died Wednesday after falling from a tree stand while hunting, authorities said. New York State Police reported that troopers were dispatched to Plato Road in East Otto around 8:45 p.m. for a welfare check. The troopers found that 54-year-old Mark Scanlon had not returned to his vehicle after a hunting trip in the area. A search of the wooded area led troopers to discover Scanlon, who had died from “an apparent fall from a portable tree stand,” police said. Officials stated there were no signs of foul play. Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon released a statement Thursday, describing his family’s “sudden and tragic loss,” and noted that Mark Scanlon died “while doing one of the things he enjoyed most, hunting.” Chris Scanlon assumed the role of acting mayor on Oct. 15 following Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown’s resignation to lead an off-track betting agency. Scanlon will serve as mayor until Brown’s term ends on Dec. 31, 2025. TMX contributed to this report.

Latest news on future of Congress as House race results come in – CBS News Watch CBS News Some congressional races are still being called as Republicans await three potential seat wins that could give them the majority in the House of Representatives. Tom LoBianco, a national politics reporter and co-founder of 24sight News, joins CBS News with more. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On