California Dolphin

The double-murder case against football star and actor O.J. Simpson, who died of cancer Thursday at age 76, forever transformed the TV landscape. Network news was still a buttoned-down institution in 1994, when more than 30 million viewers were tuning into the evening newscasts each night. The anchors of the time — Tom Brokaw on NBC, Peter Jennings on ABC and Dan Rather on CBS — were powerful arbiters of what the public needed to know. The internet was nascent and CNN, available in about half the country on cable, was considered a tier below the Big Three networks. But the landscape changed on June 17, 1994, the day of the wild slow-speed police chase on the freeways of Los Angeles of Simpson in his white Bronco, two days after the brutal slayings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. A reported 95 million people watched Simpson flee capture. Airing across all three networks, local stations and CNN, the chase became a defining “where were you” TV moment on par with the Kennedy assassination in 1963 or the explosion of the

AUGUSTA, Ga. —  Bryson DeChambeau created some headaches for himself a few years ago when he suggested Augusta National wasn’t as tough as its billing. He said the par-72 course was “a par-67 for me” because he could reach all the par-5 holes in two shots. He was mercilessly mocked for the comment, especially after he pulled out of that Masters because of vertigo. An older, wiser DeChambeau was far more respectful of the storied course Thursday after an opening-round 65 put him atop the leaderboard for the opening round. He said he has learned “a lot of patience, especially out here on this golf course where you feel it’s gettable, you see it’s right in front of you, but it’s just tricky out here. It can be super tricky.” Even in inclement weather that delayed the start of the tournament 2½ hours, DeChambeau deftly navigated his way through his round, with birdies on the first three holes and another stretch of five birdies in six holes. It was his best performance in 25 career rounds at the Masters and the first time here he has

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Thursday vacated the conviction of William Woods, who spent nearly two years locked up — including a stint in a psychiatric hospital — for a crime he did not commit. Woods had pleaded no contest to identity theft and false impersonation in 2019, despite trying to convince authorities he was the real Woods and someone else had stolen his identity. Last week, the man who stole Woods’ identity — Matthew David Keirans — pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a National Credit Union Administration-insured institution and aggravated identity theft. The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office then filed a motion to vacate Woods’ conviction. In a hearing that lasted less than 15 minutes, Judge William C. Ryan said he was “more than happy” to sign the order vacating the conviction, calling the case “astounding.” “The word that comes to mind is Kafkaesque, out of the novels of Franz Kafka,” Ryan said. Woods, who now lives in El Paso, was not present in court but called in to the hearing. “I’m happy, because I knew I was

Two weeks after sinking into a murky abyss, the legend of Shohei Ohtani has suddenly come up for air, surfacing powerfully through a thick layer of felonious lies and criminal deceit. It smiles at those who doubted its integrity. It shakes its head at those who questioned its motives. The legend lives. I didn’t quite believe Ohtani recently when he said he knew nothing about an alleged $4.5 million in wire transfers to an illegal bookie. With federal prosecutors announcing Thursday that they have charged translator Ippei Mizuhara with stealing more than $16 million from the Dodgers superstar to pay Mizuhara’s gambling debts, I now believe. (Sixteen million? Are you kidding me?) I didn’t quite believe Ohtani when he recently threw Mizuhara under the bus by saying, “Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies.” With Thursday’s criminal complaint containing allegations of phone conversations in which Mizuhara actually impersonates Ohtani to gain access to the money, I believe. (He actually faked Ohtani’s voice? Are you serious?) After hearing the charges announced in a downtown Los Angeles news conference by E. Martin

Every year, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation bestows an award meant to honor acts of political courage. The criteria include strength of character, sound judgment, decisiveness (“particularly during periods of crisis”) and determination “in the face of adversity.” David Hume Kennerly, a member of the foundation board, had in mind the perfect candidate: Liz Cheney. The former Wyoming lawmaker sacrificed her political career and was effectively excommunicated from the Republican Party for defying President Trump and overseeing the congressional probe into the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, as well as Trump’s treacherous attempts to overturn the 2020 election. “There was only one human on the planet who should have been getting that award,” Kennerly, who served as White House photographer during the Ford administration, said in an interview. “She checked every box.” But the foundation’s executive committee ignored Kennerly’s recommendation and passed over Cheney — even after others declined the award — citing concerns that, as a possible 2024 presidential candidate, her selection could imperil the group’s tax-exempt status. It’s a fig leaf so thin the merest whisper of a breeze wafts it away. In

Paul Flores, the man convicted of killing Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart nearly 30 years ago, was attacked in prison for the second time, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Flores was attacked Wednesday afternoon inside Pleasant Valley State Prison and the assault is being investigated as an attempted homicide, officials said. Prison staff reported that Flores was stabbed by another inmate in a recreation yard. Officers responded and recovered two “inmate-manufactured weapons” at the scene. Flores was transported to an outside medical facility, but has since returned to prison. His condition is described as “fair.” A suspect has not been identified, but prison staff say the attacker has been placed in restricted housing as the investigation continues. Flores was previously attacked in August 2023, days after arriving at Pleasant Valley, and was hospitalized in serious condition after his throat was slashed by another inmate. The inmate suspected in that attack was later identified as Jason Budrow, the man who made national headlines in 2021 after he strangled serial killer Roger Reece Kibbe, known as the I-5 Strangler who was responsible for

The 2023-24 ski season at Big Bear Mountain Resort was one for the record books. Officials say the recent season is the second-snowiest in the last quarter-century when the resort began formally tracking snowfall at its three mountains. Snow Valley received 199 inches, and both Snow Summit and Bear Mountain received 174 inches, according to the resort’s historical snow tracker. Big Bear Mountain Resort is shown on April 1, 2024, after a weekend of storms dropped more than two feet of snow. (Big Bear Mountain Resort) February proved to be the big difference maker this season. According to resort officials, it was the snowiest February since at least 2000, including one week in particular that created massive snow banks. From Feb. 2 through Feb. 8, Snow Valley received more than eight feet of snow, including 73 inches that took place over a 72-hour period starting Feb. 6. California ski resorts benefiting from wet winter History aside, all good things must come to an end, including this year’s ski and snowboard season. This weekend, Snow Valley and Bear Mountain will officially close for the season; Snow

Can Trump save Mike Johnson’s speakership? – CBS News Watch CBS News Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene continues questioning House Speaker Mike Johnson’s fitness for the job. Could Johnson’s upcoming meeting with former President Donald Trump end the efforts to oust him? Longtime national political correspondent Olivier Knox and Semafor political reporter Kadia Goba join “America Decides” to discuss. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Trump “hush money” trial to begin Monday: What to know – CBS News Watch CBS News Jury selection in former President Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial is set to begin on Monday. CBS News legal analyst Rikki Klieman joins “America Decides” to preview the proceedings. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Biden campaign goes on the offensive on abortion in Arizona – CBS News Watch CBS News President Biden’s reelection campaign launched a seven-figure ad buy in Arizona focused on abortion rights. The battleground state is grappling with the fallout of the state’s Supreme Court upholding a near-total ban from 1864. CBS News senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang reports. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On