Los Angeles

Muslim Employee Suing L.A. Dept. of Water and Power Over Harassment, Discrimination Allegations

By CaliNews 5 months ago

An employee of the L.A. Department of Water and Power is suing the utility, along with four of her colleagues, over what she is calling a years-long campaign of harassment, retaliation and discrimination. Saiara Shams, 41, filed a lawsuit in L.A. Superior Court earlier this year, alleging her co-workers made derogatory comments about her religion, retaliated after she reported wasteful contracts and prevented her from moving up the ranks at DWP. Shams also filed complaints with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. DWP spokesman Michael Ventre declined to comment, citing pending litigation. “We take all allegations of discrimination seriously,” he said. Read the full story on LATimes.com.

Equifax $700M Data Breach Settlement to Provide up to $425M in Monetary Relief to Customers

By CaliNews 5 months ago

Equifax will pay up to $700 million to settle with the U.S. and states over a 2017 data breach that exposed Social Security numbers and other private information of nearly 150 million people. The settlement with the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission, as well as 48 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, would provide up to $425 million in monetary relief to consumers, a $100 million civil money penalty, and other relief. The breach was one of the largest ever to threaten the private information. The consumer reporting agency, based in Atlanta, did not detect the attack for more than six weeks. The compromised data included Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, driver license numbers, credit card numbers and in some cases, data from passports. Affected consumers may be eligible to receive money by filing one or more claims for conditions including money spent purchasing credit monitoring or identity theft protection after the breach and the cost of freezing or unfreezing credit reports at any consumer reporting agency. All impacted consumers would be eligible to receive at least 10…

Driver Wanted In Hit-And-Run That Killed Bicyclist In Exposition Park

By CaliNews 5 months ago

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Help is needed Monday to identify the hit-and-run driver that hit a bicyclist in the Exposition Park area this weekend. Police say the man was riding his bicycle alongside his girlfriend on Jefferson Boulevard near Denker Avenue when he was hit by a car going in the same direction. The car was traveling at a high rate of speed and the driver continued on without stopping, according to police. The girlfriend, who was on her own bicycle, was not struck or injured. The man was taken to a hospital, where he later died. His identification was withheld pending notification of his family. The suspect car was described only as a dark-colored sedan that was last seen going westbound on Jefferson Boulevard. A $25,000 reward for information is available in this case. Anyone with information about the crash can contact Detective Flannery or Officer Pollard in the LAPD South Traffic Division at (323) 421-2500.

Iran Detains 17 Citizens Accused of Acting as Spies for CIA, Says Some Will Be Executed

By CaliNews 5 months ago

Iran has detained 17 Iranian citizens accused of acting as spies for the United States Central Intelligence Agency, according to the country’s Ministry of Intelligence. An Intelligence Ministry document sent to CNN claims Iran had broken up a CIA spying ring and captured 17 suspects, all of whom confessed to acting as spies for the CIA. “Defendants serving their sentences in prison mentioning tempting promises of CIA officers including emigration to USA, a proper job in America, and money,” the Intelligence Ministry document said. It added that the spy mission was to collect classified information “from substantial centers as well as intelligence/technical operations.” The ministry said some of the 17 will be executed. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged caution in response to the announcement. Speaking on the Fox & Friends morning news show, he said: “The Iranian regime has a long history of lying … I would take with a significant grain of salt any Iranian assertion about actions they’ve taken.” The announcement comes amid a standoff between Tehran and Western powers following President Donald Trump’s 2018 decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions on Iran, and…

Fire Engulfs 99 Cents Only Store in Culver City

By CaliNews 5 months ago

Flames engulfed a 99 Cents Only Stores location in Culver City early Monday morning. The fire was reported about 1:45 a.m. at the store in the 12000 block of Washington Boulevard, a fire official at the scene told KTLA. Video showed the fire was still burning as of 5 a.m. while firefighters continued to spray water into the building. The structure’s roof had already collapsed and some of the walls were beginning to crumble. Officials have not determined a cause for the fire. Some nearby residents said they believe the fire started at the back of the store. The store was closed when the fire began. No injuries were reported and no other businesses were in danger, a spokesperson for the Culver City Police Department said. **Traffic Advisory**Avoid the area of Washington Blvd and Rosabell Street. Streets are closed in the area due to a structure fire. — Culver City PD (@Culver_cityPD) July 22, 2019

Burning Culver City 99 Cents Only Store In Danger Of Collapsing

By CaliNews 5 months ago

CULVER CITY (CBSLA) — Firefighters battled a blaze early Monday at a 99 Cents Only Store in Culver City, where the entire structure is in danger of collapsing. The fire broke out at about 2:15 a.m. at the store, 12717 Washington Blvd. More than 70 firefighters working to put out the fire, which continues to burn even three hours later. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they found the building fully engulfed in flames. “We did find the fire outside of the building as well as up into power lines,” Los Angeles Fire Capt. Daniel Dobbs said. “The power wires did break and fall to the ground.” The flames reaching nearby power and telephone lines contributed to an explosion that woke up neighbors and drew them outside to see what was happening. Dobbs said the explosion was a transformer popping at the top of a telephone pole. After initially entering the building, firefighters were forced outside to battle the blaze from outside. “We found very dense packed conditions, which is very common in these stores. Lots of product,” Dobbs said. No injuries have been reported.…

Family Searching For Missing 12-Year-Old Arcadia Boy

By CaliNews 5 months ago

ARCADIA (CBSLA) — Help was needed Monday to find a missing 12-year-old boy from Arcadia. Tristan Chou was last seen Sunday morning at his home in the 100 block of Diamond Street. The boy’s family told police they don’t know where he might be, and that he does not suffer from any medical or mental health issues. Tristan was described as an Asian male with glasses, about 5-foot-1, 110 pounds with black hair. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and black shorts. Anyone with information about where Tristan could be can call the Arcadia Police Department at (626) 574-5121.

Puerto Rico Braces for Massive Protest to Drive Governor From Office

By CaliNews 5 months ago

Puerto Rico braced early Monday for what many people expected to be one of the biggest protests ever seen in the U.S. territory as irate islanders pledged to drive Gov. Ricardo Rosselló from office. Hundreds of thousands of people were expected to take over one of the island’s busiest highways Monday morning to press demands for the resignation of Rosselló over an obscenity-laced leaked online chat the governor had with allies as well as federal corruption charges leveled against his administration. The anticipated march in the capital of San Juan came a day after Rosselló announced that he would not quit, but sought to calm the unrest by promising not to seek reelection or continue as head of his pro-statehood political party. That only further angered his critics, who have mounted street demonstrations for more than a week. “The people are not going to go away,” said Johanna Soto, of the northeastern city of Carolina. “That’s what he’s hoping for, but we outnumber him.” Organizers labeled the planned road shutdown “660,510 + 1,” which represents the number of people who voted for Rosselló plus one…

House Republicans Vow Tough Questions for Mueller at Wednesday’s Hearing

By CaliNews 5 months ago

House Republicans are pledging tough questioning of special counsel Robert Mueller when he testifies before Congress this week as Democrats plan to air evidence of wrongdoing by President Donald Trump in a potentially last-ditch bid to impeach him. Rep. Doug Collins, the top Republican on House Judiciary Committee, said the American public is growing weary of the Russia investigation three months after the release of the special counsel’s 448-page report and that “any thought of impeachment is waning.” He said Republicans will be focused on making clear that the report represents a “final episode” in the Russia probe, which he described as flawed. “Remember, the Mueller report is a one-sided report,” Collins said. “It has not been questioned from the other side. This is our chance to do that.” Days before back-to-back hearings Wednesday, both sides seemed to agree that Mueller’s testimony could be pivotal in shifting public opinion on the question of “holding the president accountable.” “This is a president who has violated the law 6 ways from Sunday,” said New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler, chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He argued that Mueller’s report lays out “very substantial evidence”…

60 Freeway Closures Begin Monday in Inland Empire Project Expected to Be ‘Bigger Than Carmageddon’

By CaliNews 5 months ago

As part of a four-month repair project expected to be worse than 2011’s “Carmageddon,” nighttime closures will begin Monday on the 60 Freeway in the Inland Empire. According to a map released by the California Department of Transportation, the freeway’s east and westbound lanes will shut down weeknights in Ontario between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. from July 22 to Nov. 18. The lanes will stay open during the day. Weekend closures will begin on Friday: July 26-Sept. 23, except Labor Day weekend: Full closure of the eastbound 60 Freeway between Interstate 15 and the 60/91/215 junction in Riverside from 10 p.m. Fridays to 5 a.m. Mondays. During this time, drivers can use the westbound 60 Freeway to access local on- and off-ramps, Caltrans said. Sept. 28-Nov. 18, except Veterans Day: Full closure of the westbound 60 Freeway between the 60/91/215 junction in Riverside to I-15 from 10 p.m. Fridays to 5 a.m. Mondays. Motorists can take the eastbound 60 Freeway to get to the on- and off-ramps, officials said. The project, which officials have dubbed the “60 Swarm,” will repair worn-out pavement slabs from…

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