California Dolphin

After five years of construction and numerous delays, crews have finished tunneling operations for the 9-mile westward expansion of the Metro D Line, which will stretch from the current terminus in Koreatown to a new Westwood/VA Hospital Station. The expansion project will add seven Metro stations and a high-speed connection from downtown Los Angeles to the Westside, according to L.A. Metro’s website. Construction of the $9.5-billion project began in 2019. “As one of L.A.’s busiest areas, the Westside is the region’s second-largest job center,” Metro says on its website. “We are closer than ever to connecting busy areas and improving travel for everyone who lives, works and plays in L.A. County.” The extension of the D Line, also known as the Purple Line, is taking place in three phases in sections that are roughly 3 miles long each. Section 1, which will include the Wilshire/La Brea Station, Wilshire/Fairfax Station and Wilshire/La Cienega Station, is slated to open first, in 2025. Section 2, consisting of the Wilshire/Rodeo Station and Century City/Constellation Station, is set to open in 2026. Section 3 is expected to be completed in

A man accused of talking his way past the front desks of posh Beverly Hills hotels and walking off with suitcases full of jewelry, shoes and designer dresses admitted Tuesday that he stole a guest’s diamond necklace valued at $395,000. Appearing in a federal courtroom in downtown Los Angeles, Jobson Marangoni De Castro pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property. The tall, slender 38-year-old wore a white jail jumpsuit, his gray hair thinning and his goatee streaked with gray. The victims, identified in an affidavit only as residents of Brazil, traveled to Los Angeles in May 2023 to attend a fashion event, FBI Special Agent Gary Wallace wrote. They packed jewelry and designer clothes inside their six suitcases, along with several AirTag tracking devices. Four days after the couple checked into the Peninsula Beverly Hills, De Castro ate dinner at the bar and charged the bill to the couple’s room, Wallace wrote. It’s unclear why De Castro, a Brazilian citizen with legal residency in the United States, singled out the couple, who told the FBI they didn’t know him, the agent said. Items stolen

Ultravox bassist Chris Cross, who co-wrote the U.K. new wave group’s 1981 smash “Vienna,” has died. He was 71. The English bassist, born Christopher Allen, was a founding member of Tiger Lily, the group that became Ultravox in the late 1970s, and took its cues from the electronics-curious post-punk and art-rock of the era. The group signed to Island Records and recorded its experimental-minded debut with Brian Eno, but found popular success with “Vienna,” a drum-machine and synth-driven ballad that hit No. 2 on the U.K. pop charts. The song’s moody music video — inspired by the spy thriller “The Third Man” — helped make it one of the defining tracks of an emerging synth-driven movement in pop. In 1985, the band performed a memorable set at Live Aid, the massive multi-venue famine relief event co-organized by Ultravox singer Midge Ure. The group released several more successful albums in the mid-1980s, featuring hits like “Dancing With Tears in My Eyes,” “Reap the Wild Wind” and “All Stood Still,” before going inactive in 1987. Ultravox reunited with its core lineup in 2008 and released a new

With California snowpack and reservoirs at above-average levels following two wet winters, Gov. Gavin Newsom stood on a snowy field near Lake Tahoe on Tuesday and urged the state to do much more to make its water supplies resilient to the extreme droughts and flooding that come with climate change. “These extremes are becoming the new reality, and that new reality requires a new approach,” Newsom said. “The water system in California was designed for a world that no longer exists.” The governor presented a new water plan that lays out priorities for changing how the state captures, stores and moves water, including efforts to replenish groundwater, recycle wastewater and restore the natural ecosystems of watersheds. Newsom said his administration is focusing on infrastructure projects such as building the Sites Reservoir — the first new major reservoir in decades — and he vowed to move ahead with the proposed Delta Conveyance Project, a 45-mile tunnel that would transport water beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. “We’re seeing real progress. … My goal is to get that permitted by the time you kick me out,” Newsom

The owner of a Porsche that was vandalized in Venice on Thursday is looking for the brick-wielding woman who was caught on camera. Video of the attack at Rose and Bernard avenues shows a woman approach a Porsche SUV and throw a brick at it, then pick up the brick and return to her own vehicle, a white SUV. And it turns out this may not have been the first such incident. George Frem of Exclusive Motors, who fixed the Porsche’s windshield, told KTLA’s Erin Myers that he’s seen a video that appears to show the same woman using a brick to damage another vehicle. “It was an aggressive hit on the car, so that’s why I decided to look it up and see if there are any other crimes that are similar to it. Luckily, someone else has footage of her face when she did the same thing,” he said. That other incident occurred at Camden and La Grange avenues, and footage was shared to the Citizen app. The Venice victim, Katerina Meyer, said she hopes the brick-thrower is caught. “She’s obviously targeting nicer

Universal Studios Hollywood is gearing up to celebrate 60 years of its Studio Tour with new and returning experiences for guests to enjoy, the park announced Tuesday. In 1964, Universal Studios invited guests to board red and white Glamor Trams as they took a two-hour journey to see moviemaking magic behind the scenes. In celebration of the Studio Tour’s 60th anniversary, Universal is bringing back the Glamor Tram design for its Studio Tour trams. Guests will also be able to stop mid-tour to experience photo ops which celebrate the lot’s history. New treats coming to Universal Studios Hollywood in honor of Butterbeer Season Universal Studios Hollywood reissues iconic Glamor Trams as world-renowned Studio Tour celebrates a milestone 60 years with new and nostalgic enhancements, including a unique step off tram and onto a movie set moment, a reimagined Earthquake attraction, return of the Runaway Train and a colossal Jurassic World T. rex dinosaur encounter from April 26 through August 11, 2024. (Universal Studios Hollywood) Universal Studios Hollywood reissues iconic Glamor Trams as world-renowned Studio Tour celebrates a milestone 60 years with new and nostalgic enhancements

For the second year in a row, California’s snowpack levels measured above average in April, according to the California Department of Water Resources. DWR officials conducted the fourth snow survey of the season at Phillips Station in El Dorado County Tuesday morning and found that, despite a dry start to the year, a deluge of storms throughout March has pushed snowpack levels in California into the black. Tuesday’s survey revealed a snow depth of 64 inches at Phillips Station and a “snow water” equivalent of 27.5 inches. DWR officials say that total translates to about 113% of the average at that measuring site this time of year. Snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack, DWR said. It’s a crucial component of the state agency’s annual water supply forecast, which helps determine water allocation across the state throughout the year. The April survey is considered to be the most crucial and telling of all snowpack surveys that DWR conducts. April is considered the peak period for snowpack levels in California and it marks the official transition to spring snowmelt at the

Officials in Jan. 6 cases warn of threats to democracy in 2024 – CBS News Watch CBS News Even as sentences are handed out to Jan. 6 defendants, some judges, witnesses and prosecutors involved in the cases are warning of future threats to democracy ahead of November’s presidential election. CBS News congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane explains. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

How Trump hopes to win back Michigan and Wisconsin – CBS News Watch CBS News Former President Donald Trump campaigned Tuesday in the two key battleground states of Michigan and Wisconsin. Trump lost both states to President Biden in 2020 after winning both of them in 2016. CBS News campaign reporter Taurean Small unpacks Trump’s strategy for winning back the states. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

By Christopher Brito April 2, 2024 / 5:50 PM EDT / CBS News “Ghost Army” awarded Congressional Gold Medal “Ghost Army”, top-secret WWII unit that relied on deception, awarded Congressional Gold Medal 01:05 Germany’s soccer federation is redesigning its national team’s Adidas jerseys after claims that the kits’ No. 44 numbering looked similar to a Nazi symbol.  The German soccer federation (DFB) announced on social media that the organization and its partner, 11teamsports, an online store that sells sports gear, will develop an alternate design for the number 4 after fans spotted similarities between the custom No. 44 jersey and the logo of the  Schutzstaffel  – Adolf Hitler’s infamous paramilitary force. Jonathan Tah of Germany, who wears No. 4, dribbles during the international friendly match between France and Germany at Groupama Stadium on March 23, 2024 in Lyon, France. Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/Getty Images The DFB said it was taking the matter “very seriously” after people on social media used Adidas’ online customization service to make shirts with the number 44 and showed how it resembled the Schutzstaffel’s SS symbol, which looks like two

By Kate Gibson Edited By Alain Sherter April 2, 2024 / 5:42 PM EDT / CBS News Can Ozempic and Wegovy curb alcohol cravings? Can weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy treat alcohol addiction? 02:04 Some Costco members may soon have less of a hankering for the retailer’s  popular $1.50 hot dog and soda  meal.  The warehouse club and health care marketplace Sesame are now teaming to offer access to a weight-loss program that includes clinically approved access to GLP-1 prescription drugs including Ozempic, Sesame said. As of April 2, Costco members can sign up for the service, which runs $179 for three months. It includes consultations with a clinician and a medically appropriate treatment program, which can include medications.  “We are witnessing important innovations in medically-supervised weight loss,” David Goldhill, Sesame’s co-founder and CEO, said Tuesday in a news release. “Sesame’s unique model allows us not only to make high-quality specialty care like weight loss much more accessible and affordable, but also to empower clinicians to create care plans that are specific to — and appropriate for — each individual patient.”  Doctors warn

Prosecution testimony began Tuesday in the trial of a felon accused of gunning down a 20-year-old Hemet man and severely wounding the victim’s girlfriend in a dispute over unpaid debts. Roman Ralph Mendez, 22, of Castro Valley, was arrested in 2022 following a Hemet Police Department investigation into the slaying of Jason Roy and the near-fatal shooting of 20-year-old Kira Carlson. Mendez is charged with murder, attempted murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations. Riverside County Superior Court Judge F. Paul Dickerson formally swore in jurors at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta Tuesday, after which the prosecution and defense delivered opening statements, and the prosecution proceeded with its case-in-chief. Mendez is being held in lieu of $2 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center. According to a trial brief filed by the District Attorney’s Office, the defendant was a reputed narcotics dealer, and he and Roy were casual acquaintances. The victim owed the defendant “thousands of dollars,” apparently stemming from unpaid drug debts, court papers said. In the predawn hours of Oct. 27, 2022

The Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a three-year, $304.8 million contract with a Riverside County collective bargaining unit representing nearly 9,000 employees in county government, with one supervisor voting against the compact over concerns about thriftless spending. “I have to vote for the financial stability of this county,” said Supervisor Kevin Jeffries, who cast the sole dissenting vote. “This is unsustainable to me. There’s an argument to be made that we have to do it anyway. But we cannot afford what’s coming. Show me that two years from now, we’re not going to be dipping into reserves or laying off people by the thousand.” The agreement with Service Employees International Union Local 721 contains a number of concessions granted by the county that board Chairman Chuck Washington didn’t fear would create fiscal peril between now and the time when the compact expires on Jan. 29, 2027. “We are well-positioned to be able to adjust when we see an economic downturn, which everyone has been predicting for the last three years,” Washington said. “But people are still spending a lot of money. That explains some of

Beyoncé just revealed that Stevie Wonder is the person who played the harmonica on her rendition of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” Featured on her newest album “Cowboy Carter,” her version completely reimagines Parton’s original narrative — with Beyoncé forewarning Jolene instead of Parton’s previous pleading. As Wonder presented her with the Innovator Award at Monday’s iHeartRadio Music Awards in L.A., she expressed gratitude and love for him, for his music and for “making a way for all of us.” “Whenever anyone asks me if there’s anyone I can listen to for the rest of my life, it’s always you. So thank you, God bless you,” Beyoncé said. Wonder responded, “I want to thank you for motivating the world to be a better place.” In that moment, Beyoncé gave all her watchers and listeners a look into “Cowboy Carter’s” most talked about track, “Jolene.” With Beyoncé credited as the performer and producer, she has listed Parton as the sole writer of the song — despite Beyoncé reconstructing the 1973 classic. Now Wonder is thrown into the notable mix as a contributing musician. “And thank you for playing

SACRAMENTO —  Clippers All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard has a sore right knee and will miss the game Tuesday night against the Sacramento Kings, coach Tyronn Lue told reporters at the team’s shoot-around earlier in the day. Lue said he was informed about Leonard’s injury when the team landed Monday in Sacramento after the flight from Charlotte. Leonard had played 37 minutes in the Clippers’ win on Sunday in Charlotte and he had 23 points and five rebounds. “We heard about it after the game,” Lue said. “But yesterday was when we found out.” Lue said Leoand returned home to Los Angeles to get treatment. “He went back to L.A. (because there are) better resources as far as treatment and everything like that,” Lue said. “So, he went back yesterday when we landed (in Sacramento).” When asked if Leonard’s injury was something to be concerned about, Lue paused before answering. “Um, yes,” Lue said. Leonard, who is averaging 23.7 points per game on 52.5% shooting from the field and 41.7% on threes, will have missed only his eighth game of the season. Lue said the hope is

PORTLAND, Ore. —  She steeled herself, wiped her tears and took the dais. JuJu Watkins answered the first question without a hitch after USC’s season ended abruptly on Monday in the Elite Eight with a loss to Connecticut. But it was the mention of her teammates that finally broke the freshman. USC’s star guard buried her face in her hands as she thanked “the best teammates in the world.” She tried to say more. She stopped herself as her voice grew thicker with emotion. Guard McKenzie Forbes, seated to her left, patted Watkins on the leg. Like she had been all season, the graduate transfer from Harvard was there for support. The unique blend of the freshman’s star power with mature upperclassmen was just as critical to USC’s best season in decades as Watkins’ immense talent. The Sierra Canyon product will remain the face of USC’s continued resurgence as the Trojans welcome the No. 1 recruiting class in the country next year, but the six seniors who supported Watkins won’t be forgotten either. “They have completely changed a narrative about a program,” coach Lindsay Gottlieb said.