California Dolphin

NEW YORK — Judge Juan Merchan has now seated and sworn in seven jurors to sit in judgment of former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial, after each side used several preemptory strikes and other prospective jurors were stricken over politically-charged social media posts. “You are the first six jurors selected for this trial,” Merchan said. Eleven more people still need to be picked before opening statements begin as early as next week in the Manhattan case accusing the Republican of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal during his 2016 campaign. The first seven jurors selected to serve in Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial represent a diverse cross-section of New York City, according to their biographical information. A prospective juror speaks out after being excused from Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial. Here’s what we know about the seven jurors who have been seated: Juror 1 – B400 – Male Juror No. 1, the foreperson, is a middle-aged salesman who immigrated to the United States from Ireland. He lives in West Harlem and said he normally gets his news from the

NASA takes ownership of space junk that crashed into Florida home

A Florida homeowner was treated to a shocking surprise when a jettisoned piece of metal from the International Space Station crashed into his home in March. On Monday, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration confirmed the space station was the source of the debris. The debris “tore through the roof” of Alejandro Otero’s home on March 8, passing through two floors and nearly hitting his son, the Naples resident said in a March 15 post on X. A month later, NASA released a public statement taking responsibility. “The hardware was expected to fully burn up during entry through Earth’s atmosphere,” NASA said. “However, a piece of hardware survived re-entry and impacted a home.” The remaining piece of debris, a stanchion, weighs 1.6 pounds, NASA said. The object is 4 inches tall and 1.6 inches wide. An external pallet packed with old nickel-hydrogen batteries is released from the Canadarm2 robotic arm as the International Space Station orbits 260 miles above the Pacific Ocean west of Central America. (NASA) Increasing amounts of space debris — due to an explosion in the number of satellites launched into low

Former L.A. Councilmember Jose Huizar is granted delay for his 13-year prison term

Disgraced former Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar has been allowed to delay the start date for his 13-year prison term, citing confidential medical information, according to recent court filings. The 55-year-old former head of the council’s Planning and Land Use Committee was sentenced in January for his role in a sprawling federal corruption case that involved him taking cash payouts and other bribes while in office. He was ordered to surrender to federal authorities April 30. But in federal court filings this week, Huizar requested that his surrender date be pushed to Aug. 30. The application, filed under seal, did not publicly disclose reasons for the request. However, a separate motion to seal the application asked for secrecy because the application “contains private medical information,” Huizar’s attorney Cuahtemoc Ortega, a federal public defender, wrote in court papers. On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge John F. Walter found that “good cause” was shown in the request and approved the four-month delay for Huizar’s surrender date. The motions said prosecutors did not oppose the request or object to it being filed under seal. A spokesperson for

Body found in trash can in Sunland, police say

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating after a body was found inside a “sealed trash can” in Sunland Tuesday morning. The gruesome discovery was made around 10:30 a.m. on the 8500 block of Wentworth Street. Details are limited at this time, but the LAPD said its homicide detectives have been assigned the case. Around 3:30 p.m., video from Sky5 showed several law enforcement officers investigating the black trash can, which appeared to have been placed along the curb as if it were waiting for a normal trash pickup. Later, a crime scene van arrived to the scene and a white tent that is typically used to conceal the bodies of deceased people was placed above the trash can. The area was blocked off with crime scene tape and traffic was being diverted. It was not immediately clear how long the road would be closed or how long police would remain on scene.

Warner Bros. Studios launches new classic films tour in partnership with TCM

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood in Burbank will be taking guests back in time to Hollywood’s heyday as it launches a new classic films tour in partnership with Turner Classic Movies. The new 3.5-hour tour will take riders through the Golden Age of Hollywood as part of a celebration of 30 years of TCM, with iconic films from the Warner Bros. library featured along the way. The 90-minute guided tour portion will be aboard new TCM-themed carts with the focus of the tour being the early days of Tinseltown. “Casablanca,” “My Fair Lady,” “The Music Man,” “Blazing Saddles” and more are highlighted along the tour, with brand new stops related to the films found on Turner Classic Movies. An exterior view as Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood and Turner Classic Movies launch new TCM Classic Films Tour at Warner Bros. Studios on April 16, 2024 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood) Costumes are displayed as Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood and Turner Classic Movies launch new TCM Classic Films Tour at Warner Bros. Studios on April 16, 2024 in

Got EBT SNAP benefits? Spend them on qualifying meal kits

By Tom Horton Updated on: April 16, 2024 / 7:14 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. Looking for a healthy way to use your EBT SNAP benefits that will make life easier to boot? The government-run Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income households stay healthy by helping to pay for certain foods. Shoppers use an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to pay for grocery items like fresh vegetables and baby food — but did you know it could also be put toward select meal kit purchases? Most home delivery services don’t accept EBT SNAP benefits for subscription fees, but meal kits like Home Chef have a workaround for low-income households looking for quick, easy, and — most importantly — nutritious meals. SNAP benefits can be used for a number of healthy foods, but there are some limitations. Eligibility requirements can be confusing, so here’s the main thing to keep in mind: Grocery items like breads, cereals, and

The 5 best riding lawn mowers in 2024

By Jason R. Rich Updated on: April 16, 2024 / 7:08 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. Troy-Bilt, John Deere One of the biggest responsibilities of living with a lawn is keeping it looking lush. And if your property is a decent size, a traditional push mower just won’t cut it (pun intended). That’s where a riding lawn mower (also called garden tractors) comes in handy. These mowers are ideal for typical home lawns from .75 acres and up. Based on the make and model riding mower you choose, most offer optional attachments, such as a mulching kit, bagger option for capturing clippings and leaves, the ability to easily spread seed and aerate your lawn, or a detachable snow plow (or snow blower) which make your investment something you’ll use year-round. Best riding mower overall for most yards: John Deere 170 lawn tractor (42-inch deck) Best electric riding mower for most yards: Greenworks Crossover Z (42-inch

The best deals at Amazon will save you a bundle on tech, mattresses and more

Dyson Need any new essentials for spring? Here you go: Everything you want to buy is probably on sale right now at Amazon. Head on over to the retail giant to score some great deals on must-haves for your entire home. Amazon has steep discounts on everything from home essentials to tech goodies and all those things you need in between, like Alexa-enabled devices , TVs , laptops and more. Whether you’re still getting caught up with cleaning your house and need some spring cleaning supplies like robot vacuums , or cooking tools to improve your skills in the kitchen, Amazon has you covered. We’ve sifted through hundreds of deals on offer right now to bring you discounts you won’t want to miss. The best deals at Amazon Ready to start shopping? See our picks for some of the best deals you can buy at Amazon. Whether you’re in the market for a new set of cookware , a grill to make delicious meals at home, or some new tech , these discounts have you covered. Best furniture deals Best kitchen deals Best spring cleaning deals Best

Tom Cruise’s daughter Suri will soon be free to talk about their estrangement and Scientology: report

Tom Cruise’s three ex-wives, Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes, probably would have a lot to say about being married to the famously intense mega-star and their time inside his beloved Church of Scientology. But these women have mostly kept Cruise’s secrets, with experts in the inner workings of Scientology saying that Kidman and Holmes, in particular, probably signed non-disclosure agreements when their marriages to the “Top Gun” actor ended. US actress Katie Holmes and daughter Suri Cruise arrive the opening night premiere of “In The Heights” during the Tribeca Festival at the United Palace Theatre on June 9, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images) But no such agreement probably applies to Cruise’s youngest child, Suri Cruise, from whom he’s long been estranged, Page Six reported. With Suri turning 18 on Thursday, she and her mother Katie Holmes should no longer receive the reported $400,000 a year Cruise paid as part of a divorce settlement. Cruise also agreed to pay Suri’s college and health care costs, Page Six added. As an adult

Lauren Sanchez’s friends defend her against ‘mean’ post calling her ‘revolting’

When New York City restaurateur Keith McNally called James Corden a “tiny Cretin of a man” in 2022, he was able to count on swaths of support among people who tend to agree that the former late-night host is one of today’s more annoying celebrities. But it looks like McNally, the owner of famed eatery Balthazar, has gone too far with one of his brash and provocative opinions about another famous person. In an Instagram post Monday, he called Lauren Sanchez “absolutely revolting” and said that she and her fiancé, multibillionaire Amazon fonder Jeff Bezos, make “an ugly and (expletive) smug-looking couple.” “Is this what having 1000 billion dollars does to people?” McNally asked. For some reason, McNally doesn’t seem to know that it’s not considered cool to comment on women’s looks. He also insulted a woman who is well-regarded by others in her elite social class, people who view her as a beautiful, kind, accomplished woman. Some of those people came to Sanchez’s defense on McNally’s Instagram, including Chrissy Teigen. The model and influencer is no stranger to the nastiness of social media, both

Dozens of Google employees protest use of company’s tech for war in Gaza

SUNNYVALE — A group of disappointed and angry Google employees protested outside a company building on Tuesday after it was reported that the search giant had deepened a contract with the Israeli government. Googlers in New York City and Sunnyvale took action with the activist group No Tech for Apartheid, demanding that the company drop a cloud contract with the Israeli military and government. They also called on the company to stop the harassment, intimidation and censorship of Muslim, Arab and Palestinian employees; and stop retaliation against workers who speak out against Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud-computing project spearheaded by the Israeli government with collaboration from Google and Amazon Web Services. Emaan Haseem, a software engineer, said that working at Google and supporting human rights issues by speaking out against the war in Gaza should not be mutually exclusive. “To find out that your labor is being used for war still is very jarring to my coworkers and myself,” Haseem said. Google employee Emaan Haseem talks to the media as other demonstrators protest against the war in Gaza and Google’s work with the Israeli

Vallejo man grabbed his alleged killer’s rifle in last-ditch effort to avoid gunfire, police say

RICHMOND — The trial date has been set for a man who’d been off parole in a manslaughter case less than a year when he allegedly shot and killed a 26-year-old Richmond man. A judge held 38-year-old Bobby Dee Dozier to answer on murder and gun charges after a March preliminary hearing. His trial has been set for Sept. 9, according to court records. Police say Dozier has addresses in Martinez, El Cerrito and Pinole. Authorities identified Dozier as the man who shot and killed 26-year-old Emari Cook on the night of July 14, 2022, near South 49th Street and Cutting Boulevard in Richmond. Police say that Cook purchased pizza with his girlfriend at a Little Caesars on San Pablo Avenue and was walking home when Dozier pulled up behind them in a Cadillac. Dozier allegedly got out holding a rifle and asked Cook, “Is that you?” Cook replied that his name was “Emak,” citing a stage name he used as a rapper, according to authorities. When Dozier approached, Cook grabbed the barrel of the rifle and attempted to wrestle it from Dozier’s hand, but

Whitey Herzog dies at 92; Baseball Hall of Famer led St. Louis Cardinals to 3 pennants

By Hillel Italie | Associated Press NEW YORK — Whitey Herzog, the gruff and ingenious Hall of Fame manager who guided the St. Louis Cardinals to three pennants and a World Series title in the 1980s and perfected an intricate, nail-biting strategy known as “Whiteyball,” has died. He was 92. Cardinals spokesman Brian Bartow said Tuesday the team had been informed of his death by Herzog’s family. The team did not immediately have additional details about Herzog, who had been at Busch Stadium on April 4 for the Cardinals’ home opener. “Whitey Herzog devoted his lifetime to the game he loved, excelling as a leader on and off the field,” Jane Forbes Clark, chair of the Hall of Fame’s board of directors, said in a statement. “Whitey always brought the best out of every player he managed with a forthright style that won him respect throughout the game.” A crew-cut, pot-bellied tobacco chewer who had no patience for the “buddy-buddy” school of management, Herzog joined the Cardinals in 1980 and helped end the team’s decade-plus pennant drought by adapting it to the artificial surface and

News publishers’ alliance calls on feds to investigate Google for limiting California links

The News/Media Alliance, a journalism trade organization and advocacy group, on Tuesday asked federal government officials to investigate Google after the tech giant said it would limit links to California news outlets in its search results. The alliance, which represents publishers in the news and magazine industry, said Google’s actions appear “to either be coercive or retaliatory, driven by Google’s opposition to a pending legislative measure in Sacramento.” The proposed state measure in question, called the California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA), would require tech companies, including Google, who sell advertising alongside news content to pay news publishers. In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice, News/Media Alliance Chief Executive Danielle Coffey called on regulators to “investigate whether Google is violating federal law in blocking or impeding their ability to find news that they rely upon for their business, their prosperity, their pleasure, their democracy and, sometimes, their lives.” The L.A. Times is a member of the News/Media Alliance. Google, the Justice Department and the FTC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Google said Friday that it would start to

Smartmatic settles defamation suit against right-wing network OAN

Voting machine equipment company Smartmatic has settled its lawsuit against San Diego-based right-wing network One America News Network, which it accused of airing false allegations of voter fraud during coverage of the 2020 presidential election. No details of the settlement were disclosed. Smartmatic lawyers on Tuesday filed for a dismissal of the case, which was in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Boca Raton, Fla.-based Smartmatic has filed several lawsuits against conservative outlets that aired former President Trump’s false claims of voter fraud and assertions that President Biden’s victory in 2020 was rigged. The suits alleged that Smartmatic’s business was damaged by the statements made on the channels in the months following the election. The company has a $2.7 billion defamation suit pending against Fox News. Another case against Newsmax is moving forward and could go to trial later this year. Fox News has a counterclaim filed against Smartmatic, saying the suit is an attempt to suppress its 1st Amendment rights. Smartmatic was repeatedly named by Trump lawyers and allies who spread the false election fraud claims in their appearances on the conservative

Dog wrapped in duct tape rescued from dumpster

Editor’s note: Some of the photos in this story may be disturbing to some readers. A missing dog found wrapped in duct tape was rescued from a trash bin earlier this week, according to the Nebraska Humane Society. Employees at the Omaha accounting firm Sweets & Associates reportedly heard an animal rustling around in the dumpster Sunday evening but assumed it was a raccoon. The next day, they discovered a dog in terrible condition inside the bin. His fur was matted with food and dirt, and tape was around his head, legs, and tail, the shelter’s employees said. “I have never seen anything like it,” said Kevin Wiederin, one of the Sweets & Associates staff members, who made the discovery. ABC’s Omaha affiliate KETV reported that the dog, identified as Leo, was rescued and taken to the humane society minutes before the garbage was supposed to be collected. Photo courtesy Nebraska Humane Society Photo courtesy Nebraska Humane Society Photo courtesy Nebraska Humane Society Photo courtesy Nebraska Humane Society Shelter employees sedated Leo and gave him a bath to remove all of the debris and gunk. Aside

Ventura County homeless count shows ‘noteworthy’ increase in sheltered people

The Ventura County Continuum of Care Alliance has released the results for the 2024 Ventura County Homeless Point in Time Count. The count took place on Jan. 24 and surveyed individuals who met the federal definition of homelessness, including those living unsheltered or in places not meant for human habitation, in addition to residents of emergency shelters and transitional housing on the night of Jan. 23. About 450 volunteers assisted with the unsheltered surveys across the county, and during the point-in-time count, 2,358 homeless individuals were found, which is 3.4% less—or 83 fewer people—than 2023’s point-in-time count. Officials looking to expand Joshua Tree National Park, create new California national monument In addition, the Ventura County Continuum of Care Alliance found a “noteworthy” 14.7% increase in sheltered people (from 808 in 2023 to 927 in 2024) and a 12% decrease in unsheltered people (from 1,633 in 2023 to 1,431 in 2024). SIMI VALLEY, CA – OCTOBER 31, 2019: Homeless encampment is evident near Easy Street in Simi Valley (Photo by Al Seib/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Ventura County officials attribute the decrease in homelessness to

Trump’s trial will impact his ability to campaign for president

Trump’s trial will impact his ability to campaign for president – CBS News Watch CBS News The judge in former President Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial expects the 2024 presidential candidate to be present during the proceedings in New York. CBS News campaign reporter Olivia Rinaldi has more. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Whitey Herzog, Hall of Fame St. Louis Cardinals manager, dies at 92

April 16, 2024 / 5:33 PM EDT / AP Whitey Herzog, the gruff and ingenious Hall of Fame manager who guided the St. Louis Cardinals to three pennants and a World Series title in the 1980s and perfected an intricate, nail-biting strategy known as “Whiteyball,” has died. He was 92. Cardinals spokesman Brian Bartow said Tuesday the team had been informed of his death by Herzog’s family. The team did not immediately have additional details about Herzog, who had been at Busch Stadium on April 4 for the Cardinals’ home opener. “Whitey Herzog devoted his lifetime to the game he loved, excelling as a leader on and off the field,” Jane Forbes Clark, chair of the Hall of Fame’s board of directors, said in a statement. “Whitey always brought the best out of every player he managed with a forthright style that won him respect throughout the game.” Manager Whitey Herzog of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on during a Major League Baseball game at Busch Stadium in St Louis, Missouri, in 1984. Focus On Sport / Getty Images A crew-cut, pot-bellied tobacco chewer who

Inland Empire

County supervisors extend $10K reward in Monrovia murder case