California Dolphin

Supporters of a proposed November ballot initiative wanted the all-important title of their measure to reflect their beliefs, a name like “Protect Kids of California Act.” But Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta saw things differently when his office chose the name signature gatherers must use: “Restricts Rights of Transgender Youth.” Among its provisions, the initiative in question — which has not yet qualified for the ballot — would require schools to notify parents if a child changed gender identification unofficially or in schools records, such as a roll sheet. With a May 28 deadline to submit signatures — and 25% of the way to the goal — initiative backers must use the state’s description, which they say is hindering their effort. They have sued the state, claiming the initiative was “branded with a misleading, false, and prejudicial title” A hearing is set for April 19. The litigation is one of several high-profile legal jousts in California’s education culture wars over policies that have taken hold mostly in a few deep red, inland or rural areas. In addition to parent notification, activists and conservative school board members

Disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly was once worth hundreds of millions of dollars but is now serving what amounts to a life sentence in federal prison. After decades of sex abuse allegations and an acquittal on child pornography charges, a documentary series titled “Surviving R. Kelly” finally gave his accusers a voice and helped bring down the singer. Within six months of its airing, Kelly was facing federal prosecution in New York. He was convicted not only of sex trafficking but also of racketeering — charges that specify a person’s “enterprise” was used to carry out criminal conduct. Sean “Diddy” Combs now faces a similar federal investigation, though the accusations against him are significantly different and it remains unclear whether they will result in criminal charges. Authorities have said little about the probe. But law enforcement sources have confirmed to The Times that Combs is under investigation for sex-trafficking tied at least in part to civil lawsuits filed by several women who have accused him of misconduct. Combs has denied any wrongdoing, and his attorneys have slammed the investigation as unwarranted. After federal agents searched

The American Heart Assn. calls them “game changers.” Oprah Winfrey says they’re “a gift.” Science magazine anointed them the “2023 Breakthrough of the Year.” Americans are most familiar with their brand names: Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound. They are the medications that have revolutionized weight loss and raised the possibility of reversing the country’s obesity crisis. Obesity — like so many diseases — disproportionately affects people in racial and ethnic groups that have been marginalized by the U.S. healthcare system. A class of drugs that succeeds where so many others have failed would seem to be a powerful tool for closing the gap. Instead, doctors who treat obesity, and the serious health risks that come with it, fear the medications are making this health disparity worse. “These patients have a higher burden of disease, and they’re less likely to get the medicine that can save their lives,” said Dr. Lauren Eberly, a cardiologist and health services researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. “I feel like if a group of patients has a disproportionate burden, they should have increased access to these medicines.” Why don’t they? Experts

WASHINGTON —  Whatever happened to the empathetic Joe Biden who won the 2020 presidential election? Some days it feels as if that kindly Uncle Joe has been replaced by a cranky old pol annoyed at voters who don’t give him credit for a strong economy. Last week, when the Labor Department reported that inflation had ticked up to 3.5%, probably delaying a cut in interest rates, Biden didn’t offer much solace. “We have dramatically reduced inflation from 9%,” he said. “We’re better situated than we were when we took office.” That’s true, but it’s cold comfort to consumers and home buyers. Joe Biden puts his arm around supporter Diana Feige after speaking during an event in Keene, N.H., during the 2020 presidential campaign. (Michael Dwyer / Associated Press) A week earlier, when a reporter asked Biden what he would tell Americans stressed by high prices, the president replied: “I’d say we have the best economy in the world. We have got to make it better.” It’s a theme he’s been sounding for months. In his State of the Union address, he extolled the U.S. economy as

A crowd of about 40 young activists protested Sunday near Vice President Kamala Harris’ house, vowing to stay through the night if she did not meet their demands on climate change and Israel. Activists with Sunrise Movement, which has organized climate protests across the country, said they arrived in Harris’ quiet Brentwood neighborhood with two demands for the vice president: Convince President Biden to declare a climate emergency and end U.S. military aid to Israel. On the chance that didn’t all fall into place Sunday afternoon, the group came prepared with tents and sleeping bags. “We’re three houses away from her home, and we are not going away,” said Adah Crandall, an 18-year-old organizer. In February, 21 climate change protesters were arrested outside Biden’s campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Del. Crandall called Sunday’s protest “a continuation of that campaign.” As of Sunday afternoon, organizers hadn’t seen Harris, they said, though they believed she was in Los Angeles. Harris was expected to fly to Las Vegas Monday morning to attend two events. Secret Service officers will be looking to clear the roadway. The activists said they felt

By Graham Kates, Katrina Kaufman April 15, 2024 / 6:00 AM EDT / CBS News Trump “hush money” trial set to begin Monday Trump “hush money” trial to begin Monday: What to know 07:32 The historic criminal trial of former President Donald Trump is poised to kick off in a Manhattan courtroom Monday, when he will become the first former president in U.S. history to stand trial. The proceedings before Judge Juan Merchan are set to move forward after Trump made multiple attempts to delay them, resulting in a string of losses that failed to derail the trial’s start. The prosecution by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg stems from allegations Trump made a “hush money” payment to an adult film star in an effort to conceal damaging information about him during the 2016 election.  It is the first of four criminal cases involving the former president to go to trial and comes as Trump is making a bid to return to the White House for a second term. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges he faces and claims the prosecutions are politically motivated.

By Graham Kates, Katrina Kaufman April 15, 2024 / 6:00 AM EDT / CBS News Trump “hush money” trial to begin Monday Trump “hush money” trial to begin Monday 02:03 When order is called in room 1530 of the Manhattan Criminal Court at about 9:30 ET on Monday morning, it will mark the beginning of an event never before seen in American history: a former president on trial for alleged crimes . Flanked by his attorneys, Secret Service agents and key campaign staff, Donald Trump will be seated on the left side of the largest courtroom in the 83-year-old building, at a table where countless defendants before him have appeared. The case is the first of four criminal prosecutions against Trump to make it to trial. He faces charges in two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith in Washington, D.C., and Florida, and in a second state case brought by prosecutors in Georgia. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, claiming the prosecutions are part of a plot by his political opponents aimed at keeping him from retaking the White House. Monday’s

April 15, 2024 / 5:46 AM EDT / AP Mass shooting survivors seek assault weapons ban Survivors of recent mass shootings call for federal assault weapons ban 02:45 Denver — Colorado’s Democratic-controlled House on Sunday passed a bill that would ban the sale and transfer of semiautomatic firearms, a major step for the legislation after roughly the same bill was swiftly killed by Democrats last year. The bill, which passed on a 35-27 vote, is now on its way to the Democratic-led state Senate. If it passes there, it could bring Colorado in line with 10 other states – including California, New York and Illinois – that have prohibitions on semiautomatic guns. But even in a state plagued by some of the nation’s worst mass shootings, such legislation faces headwinds. Colorado’s political history is purple, shifting blue only recently. The bill’s chances of success in the state Senate are lower than they were in the House, where Democrats have a 46-19 majority and a bigger far-left flank. Gov. Jared Polis, also a Democrat, has indicated his wariness over such a ban. Last year, a similar

By Meredith Gordon April 15, 2024 / 5:33 AM 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. Former Boston Bruins NHL player Zdeno Chara (C) and Becca Pizzi (L) poses with their medals after completing the 127th Boston Marathon on April 17, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. Omar Rawlings/Getty Images Expect sunny skies for today’s Boston Marathon and appearances by some of the city’s most beloved celebrities, including former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara.  Gronk will serve as the race’s grand marshal, while Chara will run his second Boston Marathon . Gronk will deliver the trophy to the finish line ahead of the athletes today and tour the marathon course. Last year’s winners, Evans Chebet for the men and Hellen Obiri for the women, both from Kenya, are back in hopes of winning the $150,000 first-place prize, while approximately 30,000 runners and para-athletes will hit the streets in hopes of securing

Caltrans reported a rock slide heading southbound on Highway 101. The report came in at around 8 p.m. on Sunday. The slide deposited mud and gravel and caused significant traffic along the highway. Crews closed off the third (far right) lane nearest to the slide. This closure runs from halfway down the Cuesta Grade to Hawk Hill. Another crew will return Monday morning to survey the hillside.

Halcon Road in Atascadero washed out just before the crossing of Rocky Canyon Road as a result of this weekend’s rainstorm. Nearby residents said the road repairs were just completed on Wednesday from the previous weekend’s storm damage. “[It’s] not a permanent structure, it’s just going to wash out every time you get a big rain,” local Jerry Gaona said. Gaona added during last year’s January storms, he was worried they might need to evacuate their animals. His wife Kelly shared her concern should an emergency happen and the bridge isn’t repaired. Rocky Canyon [Road] is only one way out,” Gaona added. “So we got one [way out] in about three miles of road. Everyone’s trying to get out at the same time and it has a lot of twists and turns, so it’s a little sketchy if the bridge is not open.” Locals on the side closest to downtown Atascadero came to view the damage all afternoon on Sunday and said this is a frequent event. We’ve been in the neighborhood about 10 years,” Greg Squires said. “I would guess maybe seven of the

A solo car crash involving the center divider on the Golden State (5)) Freeway in Sylmar left four people — including three children — seriously injured. The crash happened on the northbound 5 Freeway just south of the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway around 7:50 p.m. Sunday, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. According to Humphrey, a minivan driver apparently lost control and the vehicle hit the center divider. A person was temporarily trapped in the minivan wreckage. It wasn’t immediately known whether that person was the adult or one of the children. Traffic was expected to back up near the accident site and Humphrey warned motorists to find another route.

Residents of a Marina del Rey apartment complex recounted the terrifying experience of sheltering in place, many in their bathtubs, for three hours as another resident of the complex indiscriminately fired off as many as 100 rounds from a firearm on the building’s rooftop over the weekend. According to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s release, deputies from the Marina del Rey station responded to a call regarding gunshots from inside the apartment complex, located in the 4100 block of Via Marina, around 10:15 p.m. Saturday night.   “Deputies established a containment of the location and requested additional resources,” the LASD update stated. “An LASD air unit observed a male suspect on the roof…firing rounds from a rifle.”   “We heard three pops, and we weren’t sure what it was,” Elizabeth Amos, a resident of Pearl Apartments, told KTLA’s Rachel Menitoff.   Amos and her husband, Jeff Rubin, ran into the bathroom where they spent several painstaking hours sheltering in place.   “We were like, ‘What is that?’ and then we heard the gunman by the pool saying something along the lines of, ‘I have an AR-15

A man and his dog paddled safely to shore Sunday afternoon after the pilot’s small plane ended up in the ocean off Rancho Palos Verdes, according to law enforcement. Sgt. Jeffrey Velasco with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said a call came in around 5:20 p.m. of a plane crashing into the ocean not far from Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles. The department posted on X that it sent an air rescue team for the small plane. Responding deputies said the pilot was unharmed. Los Angeles County Fire Supervisor Bernard Peters told the Los Angeles Daily News that the plane was a single-engine Piper Cherokee Six. The plane sank, the outlet noted. The circumstances surrounding the incident were unclear Sunday evening, including where the aircraft took off from or whether it was attempting an emergency landing. Edward Wargo, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson, said there was one person on board along with their dog. “Both were able to safely swim,” he said. Wargo said the Coast Guard will now focus on ensuring there’s no environmental damage from the plane’s fuel. . More to

A 90s TV show drama that was based in Los Angeles is making a return with some familiar faces. Melrose Place, which debuted in 1992 and ran seven seasons is getting a reboot, with some cast members from the original show returning, according to E! News. The series focused on the lives of young adults living in L.A. Heather Locklear, Daphne Zuniga, and Laura Leighton will reprise their on-screen roles in the remake with CBS Studios. Zuniga and Leighton will also work as producers, alongside Tiffany Grant, Lauren Gussis, and Jason Weinberg. 1998 The 7Th Year Of Melrose Place. (L To R) John Haynnes Newton, Kelly Rutherford, Rob Estes, Heather Locklear, Jack Wagner, Jamie Luner, Josie Bisset, Michael Calabro. (Photo By Getty Images) Heather Locklear (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage) Cast of Melrose Place during 1998 Melrose Party Celebrating 200th Episode in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc) Thomas Calabro at the Final Wrap Party for ‘Melrose Place’, The Century Club, Century City. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) Frank South, Thomas Calabro, Marcia Cross, Kristin Davis,Laura Leighton, Heather Locklear