California Dolphin

A plan to get rid of nearly 2,000 unfilled Los Angeles city jobs would cut especially deep at the Department of Recreation and Parks, resulting in the elimination of 341 positions at that agency, according to an analysis released Thursday. City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo, the city’s top budget official, provided his recommended list of 1,974 vacant positions to be eliminated as part of a larger strategy to erase a looming budget shortfall. Of that total, more than 17% would come from the city’s parks agency, which handles the upkeep of Griffith Park, Elysian Park and hundreds of other open spaces. An additional 14%, or about 280 positions, would be eliminated at the Bureau of Sanitation, which carries out cleanups at homeless encampments and removes large items from city curbs. More than 11% would come from the Bureau of Street Services, which repairs streets and sidewalks, while 5% of the vacant posts, or 105 positions, would come from the Department of Transportation. Cutting those positions would save more than $155 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year, Szabo said in his report. Because they are already

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued tough new emissions standards Friday for heavy-duty trucks and buses, with the aim of cutting air pollution, addressing climate change and boosting economic growth. California’s government enacted similar rules last year. The state rules are tougher than the Biden administration’s and are expected to remain so. The new federal rules will curtail a billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year and provide financial benefits worth $13 billion annually “related to public health, climate, and savings for truck owners and operators.” Big rigs, delivery trucks, cement mixers, garbage trucks, transit buses and school buses are all included. Unlike California’s rules, which mandate sales of new electric battery and fuel cell trucks in increasing percentages through 2042, the federal rules allow more flexibility in fuels, as long as air emissions standards are met. Gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, hydrogen and electric-drive trucks would technically all be allowed, but even the EPA acknowledged the rules in effect will require a huge increase in the numbers of electric trucks. Aggressive and impactful reporting on climate change, the environment, health and science. Those rules are

The Easter weekend storm expected to move into Southern California late Friday could bring a string of hazards to the region, with weather officials warning of possible flash flooding, dangerous thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy mountain snow through at least Sunday. The most constant and widespread rainfall is forecast to begin late Friday across Los Angeles County and continue through early Saturday — a precursor for a less steady, but possibly strong, string of showers and thunderstorms expected to last through Sunday. “That band of pretty steady, moderate rain, will be moving down the coast today and tonight,” Ryan Kittell, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Oxnard, said Friday. “The focus of the rain will be after midnight … going through 6 or 8 o’clock in the morning.” Rain totals for the storm are expected to range between 1 and 3 inches across most of Southern California’s urban areas, with up to 6 inches possible in the mountains and foothills, according to the weather service. And with much of the region still unstable or recovering from a particularly wet winter, Kittell said the additional rainfall

The legal battle between United Talent Agency and its former partner Michael Kassan intensified this week, with Kassan filing a defamation lawsuit against the Beverly Hills agency’s legal counsel. Kassan accused UTA’s attorney Bryan Freedman of libel and slander, citing Freedman’s quote in a Deadline article in which he called Kassan “a pathological liar.” Kassan is seeking monetary damages of at least $125 million as well as punitive damages and other costs. “To render a statement such as he did illustrates the fact that all Mr. Freedman and UTA are doing are trying to block Mr. Kassan from competing by hurting him in the press as alleged in Mr. Kassan’s demand to arbitrate,” said Kassan’s attorney Sanford Michelman in a statement. In response, Freedman on Thursday hit back against Kassan, saying “facts are not defamation.” “Michael Kassan’s continuous baseless filings and statements are nothing more than an attempt to create a false media narrative and divert attention from his fraudulent activities,” Freedman said in a statement on Thursday. “Today we filed our response rejecting all of Kassan’s arbitration claims. While MediaLink will continue to focus

A bill introduced in the California Legislature seeks to lower speed limits within school zones statewide from 25 mph to “20 mph or less,” regardless of whether children are present. Specifically, the bill would have time-based standards for school zones’ speed limits rather than drivers only having to follow them “when children are present”. The bill would also improve safety-oriented planning within half a mile of schools. California bill could provide reparations for families displaced from site of Dodger Stadium Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) formally introduced the bill, formally known as AB 2583 or the Safer School Zones Act during a press conference on Thursday. Berman said he was inspired to introduce the legislation after 8-year-old Jacob Villanueva was hit and killed in a crosswalk on his way to Castlemont Elementary School, which is where the press conference took place. “I want to take a moment to acknowledge that this is a deeply personal and painful subject for the Castlemont Community,” Berman said at a news conference. “I know that the pain and trauma of losing a student in 2022 is still very real

In nearly every year since the Los Angeles Rams returned to the Southland, the Super Bowl LVI champs have held their annual training camp at the University of California, Irvine. This year, a surprising NFL team will take over the site. The New Orleans Saints on Friday announced that they’ll train at the Orange County university this summer as the franchise awaits the construction of a new cafeteria at its Louisiana training facility. Because of the massive construction zone at that facility, the team needed a temporary location to train ahead of the 2024 season. “The scope of this project makes it difficult to host training camp on-site in 2024, given the extensive needs for our team to prepare for the regular season,” said Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis. “We are thankful to be able to come to an agreement with the University of California, Irvine to host training camp, providing us with exceptional fields and facilities that are critical to our football team receiving the necessary work in preparation for the 2024 season.” New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, right, celebrates

Parking a car at the Hollywood Bowl is about to get more complicated. The historic outdoor amphitheater is shuttering half of its four parking lots off North Highland Avenue and converting them into hubs to streamline ride-share, bus and shuttle traffic, The Times has learned. Starting this season, the adjustment will do away with approximately 350 of the 1,700-plus parking spots that made up the Bowl’s previous stacked-parking layout. Daniel Song, the interim chief executive of the L.A. Phil, which manages the Bowl, said the change is aimed at improving pre- and post-event congestion surrounding the venue. “People don’t like getting to the Bowl, but everyone loves the Bowl,” Song told The Times in a phone interview. “So if there’s a barrier [for] someone to be able to come to the Bowl, we’re going to try to fix that and we’re going to try to mitigate that as best as we can.” The new plan, quietly announced on the Bowl’s website last week, will take effect when the season kicks off with the nearly sold-out “Keep the Party Going” Jimmy Buffett tribute concert on April

A lawyer for former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan said Friday that he would seek a mistrial after the judge revealed that a juror was overheard saying they wanted a “quick” verdict. U.S. District Court Judge John F. Walter informed attorneys on both sides of the case about the juror’s remark during a hearing on Friday, two days after Chan was convicted in a corruption case focusing on “pay-to-play” schemes involving real estate developers and city officials. Walter said he was informed earlier in the week that a courtroom deputy had been walking behind some jurors as they were heading to their cars on Tuesday — not long after attorneys delivered closing arguments. The deputy overheard one of the three jurors say to the others that they hoped the jury would arrive at a quick verdict. The deputy relayed that information to a staffer in Walter’s courtroom. The judge said that, after speaking with the deputy, he concluded that the information should be publicly disclosed. John Hanusz, who represents Chan, said he would file a motion for a mistrial and seek to have the

En esta Semana Santa, varias figuras de la música regional lanzan sus nuevas propuestas, mientras que el GOAT del género urbano sorprende con una poesía lírica que marca su nuevo camino en la música. Además el cantante urbano de origen colombiano Beéle une su talento al de la puertorriqueña Kany García en una propuesta pop urbana refrescante que resulta ser todo un deleite para el oído. Aquí está los lanzamientos más novedosos de esta semana: El brillo ‘Diamante’ de Chiquis En medio de la oscuridad que la persigue, Chiquis prefiere brillar como los “Diamantes” al enfocarse en su carrera profesional que va más allá de la música. Con el anuncio de su nueva gira norteamericana “Diamantes Tour” que la llevará por varias plazas de Texas y California, Chiquis lanza el primer sencillo de su próximo álbum titulado “Diamantes”. “Diamante” es el título de este tema que habla sobre el valor de la mujer y cómo puede enfrentar todos los retos que se le presentan en medio de las tensiones que la pueden convertir en una piedra oscura o en un brillante diamante si se lo

Another delay in a long-anticipated project at Los Angeles International Airport may keep travelers wanting to avoid the busy traffic loop waiting until 2025. The Automated People Mover system is 96% complete but increasing construction delays and a “strained relationship” between the contractor and Los Angeles World Airports, which owns and operates LAX, have kept it from being completed, Fitch Ratings reported Thursday. The driverless rail project, part of a $30 billion overhaul of the airport, was expected to open in 2023 but Fitch predicts the delays will push that date to around November of 2025. Architects rendering of the new LAX Metro Connector Monday, June 21, 2021. (David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images) The train’s two-and-a-quarter-mile-long track will connect the airport to parking structures, car rental facilities and public transit hubs. Construction on the project started in 2019 as part of an effort to revamp LAX ahead of the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, the Los Angeles Times reported. Big rig travels 10 miles in wrong direction on Southern California freeway Transit experts hope the People Mover will benefit travelers

A police pursuit of a stolen vehicle through Hollywood on Thursday night came to an abrupt end as the car, an electric Tesla, ran out of battery in the middle of the road. According to stringer service KeyNews, the pursuit originated in Koreatown, in the area of Western Avenue and 8th Street, when the Tesla Model S was reported stolen around 11:35 p.m. Police pursued the car into Hollywood and was on the 101 Freeway at one point. A stolen Tesla reportedly ran out of battery in the middle of a Hollywood police pursuit on Thursday, March 28, 2024. (KeyNews) The owner of the vehicle informed police when the vehicle’s battery was down to 1%. Eventually, the Tesla’s battery died in the middle of the street on the 4600 block of Melrose Avenue. The suspect was arrested, KeyNews reports. The Los Angeles Police Department did not release any details as of Friday morning.

Essentials By Brittany Vincent , Kaylyn McKenna , Jason R. Rich Updated on: March 29, 2024 / 1:11 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. Amazon Springtime is here, and the warmer temperatures can bring out the audaciousness in porch pirates. Some folks just aren’t averse to strolling around and yanking packages right from your doorstep. Your friends and family might even decide to drop in unnoticed a little more often –- and miss you when you’re out and about. No matter the scenario, now is a great time to invest in a video doorbell or security camera .  Right now, Amazon has up to 40% off a selection of Blink home security deals on everything you need to help keep your home, family and items safe . Blink, an Amazon brand, offers indoor and outdoor cameras as well as video doorbells so you can keep a watchful eye over your home. They’re great for day or

State Department spokesperson comments on staffer who resigned over U.S. response to Gaza war – CBS News Watch CBS News State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel joined CBS News to discuss Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreeing to reschedule his delegation’s visit to Washington, D.C., to discuss Rafah, a State Department employee who resigned from her post over the Biden administration’s handling of the war in Gaza and the latest on the crisis in Haiti. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

MoneyWatch By Khristopher J. Brooks Edited By Anne Marie Lee Updated on: March 29, 2024 / 1:14 PM EDT / CBS News Startup offers shares of popular songs Startup offers shares of Beyoncé songs, other popular music 03:30 Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s has officially gone country with the release Friday of her new album, “Cowboy Carter.” The Houston native’s eighth album features 27 song tracks and guest appearances from some of country music’s biggest stars including Willie Nelson, Mylie Cyrus and Dolly Parton, whose 1973 hit “Jolene” is one of two covers featured.  “I think people are going to be surprised because I don’t think this music is what everyone expects,” Beyoncé said in a statement Friday. “But it’s the best music I’ve ever made,” said the 42-year-old, considered the one of the  top-grossing music artists of all time.  Upon its release, “Cowboy Carter” jumped to the No. 2 spot on Apple Music. The lead single on the album “Texas Hold ‘Em,” grabbed first place in the country music category on Billboard’s Hot 100, making Beyoncé  the first Black woman to top the country music charts .   Heavy