Los Angeles

NBC News in revolt over Ronna McDaniel hiring. Will the network reverse course?

The hosts at NBC News’ cable outlet MSNBC continued to pound away at their parent organization’s decision to hire former Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel as an on-air analyst. The blowback unfolded throughout the day on the progressive cable news network, presenting a highly unusual situation in which well-known TV personalities went directly to viewers to challenge a decision made by their top managers. The open rebellion could make it difficult for Comcast-owned NBC News to move forward with any plans to use McDaniel, who resigned from the RNC last month. A representative for NBC News said Monday there was no change in her status. But people familiar with the situation who are not authorized to comment publicly said McDaniel will probably be out before she even begins. Chuck Todd, the ex-“Meet the Press” moderator, opened the door to the criticism when he appeared on his former program Sunday and blasted the network’s decision to make McDaniel a paid contributor, citing her record of supporting former President Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. MSNBC hosts weighed in on Monday, starting with

Los Angeles

Coroner cites heart defect, extreme heat in boy’s death during P.E.

There was an excessive heat warning in Lake Elsinore on the August day when 12-year-old Yahushua Robinson — who had been instructed to run — died during P.E. class. Now, a coroner’s report has reportedly found that the boy died of a heart defect, with heat and physical exertion as contributing factors. The findings by the Riverside County Coroner’s Bureau were announced soon after the introduction of a Senate bill that would create rules for California schools on what physical activities can be allowed during extreme weather. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said deputies went to Canyon Lake Middle School around 11 a.m. on Aug. 29 after receiving a report of a minor needing medical aid. The child was hospitalized and later pronounced dead. The high temperature in Lake Elsinore that day was 107 degrees. The coroner’s report said “significant conditions” contributing to but not related to the cause of death included “presumptive environmental heat exposure and recent physical exertion,” the San Bernardino Sun reported. Yahushua had been sprinting with other students and was seen “bending over and grabbing at his chest,” according to a

Los Angeles

That’s bananas. Trader Joe’s raises price of popular fruit for first time in two decades

Inflation has hit Trader Joe’s famously affordable bananas. The Monrovia-based grocery chain confirmed Monday it had raised the individual cost of bananas for the first time in more than two decades, from 19 cents each to 23 cents, or a 21% price hike. In a statement, Trader Joe’s spokesperson Nakia Rohde said the recent price change “still represents a tremendous everyday value for bananas.” “We only change our prices when our costs change,” Rohde said, “and after holding our price for bananas at 19¢ each for more than two decades, we’ve now reached a point where this change is necessary.” Although seemingly small, the price bump represents more than just four pennies. Trader Joe’s is considered one of the more affordable grocery chains in the country, and its single-priced fruit one of the company’s most beloved products. The 19-cent banana was voted the top produce item in the Trader Joe’s 15th Customer Choice Awards. The change also reflects a broader national trend. Although the U.S. economy overall is strong, groceries have become more expensive since the COVID-19 pandemic, when inflation took off and everyday food

Los Angeles

1 dead in downtown L.A. shooting, suspect at-large

The Los Angeles Police Department confirms that one victim is dead after a shooting in downtown L.A. Authorities say the incident occurred at the northwest corner of 7th Street and San Julian Street around 4:15 p.m. Monday. When officers arrived, they found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital and succumbed to their injuries. No further information has been provided about the name, age, or sex of the victim. LAPD says the suspect was last seen driving westbound on 7th street in a maroon Lexus four-door sedan. He is described as an African-American male, with a heavyset build and shoulder-length dreadlocks. The suspect was last seen wearing a black or maroon sweater, with dark-colored sweatpants. LAPD would not release any further details. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the LAPD at 213-833-3750. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Los Angeles

3/25: Prime Time with John Dickerson

3/25: Prime Time with John Dickerson – CBS News Watch CBS News John Dickerson reports on the federal raids of homes owned by Sean “Diddy” Combs, Donald Trump’s reduced bond in his New York civil fraud trial, and what to know about ISIS-K after the attack in Moscow. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Bay Area

Foul play ruled out in death of person found in Antioch creek

Foul play ruled out in death of person found in Antioch creek Officers discovered the body Sunday morning near the 5700 block of Slatten Ranch Road ANTIOCH – A person found dead over the weekend in an Antioch creek was not the victim of a homicide, according to authorities. Antioch police officers made the grim discovery around 11:15 a.m. Sunday near the 5700 block of Slatten Ranch Road. Foul play was “conclusively ruled out” following an autopsy, Sgt. Kristian Palma said in a news release Monday. The exact cause of death, however, remains undetermined. The person’s name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, according to police. Check back for updates.

Sacramento

Is this Sandoval’s SF Giants swan song? ‘It’s whatever they want to do’

OAKLAND – Pablo Sandoval might be playing his final game for the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Tuesday, but he certainly doesn’t want it to be his last game as a professional. Sandoval, 37, reiterated before Monday’s Bay Bridge Series game between the Giants and Oakland A’s at the Coliseum that he’ll report to Triple-A Sacramento later this week if that’s what the organization wants him to do. “I’ll go,” said Sandoval, who signed a minor-league deal with the Giants in February. “It’s a blessing to be playing baseball, especially right now at this time. It’s tough for veteran guys to get a job. The way that everything is going, I’m just blessed to have the opportunity.” Whether Sandoval remains in the Giants organization past Tuesday, though, is unclear. While it would be a shock to see Sandoval open the season on the Giants’ 26-man roster, the question is whether the organization will keep him, and assign him to Triple-A, or release him. Before Monday, Sandoval went 2-for-17 at the plate (.118) this spring with 12 strikeouts, numbers perhaps not unexpected considering he

Bay Area

Tests show NYC owl Flaco exposed to pigeon virus, rat poison

By Jake Offenhartz | Associated Press New York City’s celebrity owl Flaco was suffering from a severe pigeon-borne illness and high levels of rat poison when he crashed into a building and died last month, officials at the Bronx Zoo said Monday. The Eurasian eagle-owl was found dead in a Manhattan courtyard on Feb. 23, a little over a year after he escaped a damaged enclosure at the Central Park Zoo and began a life in the urban wilds that captivated New Yorkers. While an initial autopsy showed the cause of death was trauma, further testing revealed a pair of significant medical conditions may have contributed to the collision, zoo officials said. Blood tests showed Flaco had been exposed to four different rat poisons and had a “severe” case of pigeon herpesvirus that had damaged his brain, liver, spleen, and other organs. “These factors would have been debilitating and ultimately fatal, even without a traumatic injury,” the zoo said in a statement. “Flaco’s severe illness and death are ultimately attributed to a combination of factors — infectious disease, toxin exposures, and traumatic injuries — that

Sacramento

Dodgers’ Ohtani says he never bet on sports, interpreter Mizuhara stole money and lied

By GREG BEACHAM | AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani said Monday he never bet on sports or knowingly paid any gambling debts accumulated by his longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Instead, the Los Angeles Dodgers star claims his close friend lied to him for years and stole millions from the two-time MVP. Ohtani gave his version of events during a news conference at Dodger Stadium, five days after Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well over $1 million. “I am very saddened and shocked someone whom I trusted has done this,” the Japanese star said while sitting next to Will Ireton, the team’s manager of performance operations, who translated. “Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has been telling lies,” Ohtani said. “I never bet on sports or have willfully sent money to the bookmaker.” Ohtani spoke for nearly 12 minutes in a small room packed with dozens of reporters, describing several ways in which Mizuhara deceived him. Wearing a Dodgers

Bay Area

High school teacher, students sue Arkansas over CRT ban

By Andrew DeMillo | Associated Press LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A high school teacher and two students sued Arkansas on Monday over the state’s ban on critical race theory and “indoctrination” in public schools, asking a federal judge to strike down the restrictions as unconstitutional. The lawsuit by the teacher and students from Little Rock Central High School, site of the historic 1957 racial desegregation crisis, stems from the state’s decision last year that an Advanced Placement course on African American Studies would not count toward state credit. The lawsuit argues the restrictions, which were among a number of education changes that Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law last year, violate free speech protections under the First Amendment and the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. “It absolutely chills free speech” and “discriminates on the basis of race,” the lawsuit said. “Indeed, defendants’ brazen attack on full classroom participation for all students in 2024 is reminiscent of the state’s brazen attack on full classroom participation for all students in 1957,” the lawsuit said. Arkansas and other Republican-led states in recent years have

San Diego

Avoid these San Diego streets due to repairs

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Dozens of roads are undergoing work in San Diego this week, city officials said. Crews started resurfacing streets Monday in Clairemont Mesa, Rancho Peñasquitos, Ocean Beach and the Peninsula neighborhood of Point Loma, the City of San Diego said in a news release. The effort is part of the city’s Slurry Seal program aimed to improve and prevent the deterioration of roads in San Diego. Slurry seal is a pavement preservation method consisting of asphalt emulsion, sand and rock. San Diego’s parrots have returned. How did they get here in the first place? The following roads will be resurfaced for Slurry Seal Projects 2325 and 2326: ·         Archer Street ·         Fortuna Avenue ·         Jewell Street ·         Dawes Street ·         Lamont Street ·         Hiawatha Court ·         Hiawatha Way ·         Joplin Avenue ·         Mabon Place ·         Kamloop Avenue ·         Jappa Avenue ·         Galveston Street ·         Littlefield Street ·         Voltaire Street ·         Udall Street ·         Narragansett Avenue ·         Guizot Street ·         Orma Drive ·         Temple Street ·         Conde Street ·         Conde Place ·         Pine Street ·         Ampudia Street ·         Presidio Drive ·         Arista Street ·         Whitman Street ·         Hortensia Street ·         Arista Court ·         Fort Stockton Drive ·         Arista Drive ·         Trias Street ·         Crescent Drive ·         Nashville Street ·         Bervy Street ·         Tonopah Avenue ·         Frankfort Street ·         Asher

San Diego

Navy deploying Coronado-based sailors to Gaza coast

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — U.S. Navy sailors based out of Coronado are being deployed to build a discharge facility off the coast of Gaza in an effort to deliver humanitarian aid. This comes after President Biden called on the military to conduct the emergency operation during his State of the Union Address earlier this month. “I’m directing the U.S. Military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the coast of Gaza that can receive large shipments,” said President Biden. Biden to announce US military-led mission to build port on Gaza coast to boost aid Approximately 260 sailors from Naval Beach Group 1 — based at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado — are being deployed to Gaza to build a large floating dock known as a roll on, roll off discharge facility. This project is part of the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) Mission being led by the Army’s 7th Transportation Brigade from Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia. The dock constructed by the U.S. Navy will be about 72 feet wide, 270 feet long, and will be located about 3

San Diego

Navy sailor dies on San Diego-based USS Halsey

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A Navy sailor aboard the San Diego-based USS Halsey died earlier this month, per military officials. Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Elijah Riddle was found unresponsive on March 16 in their berthing while underway in the Indian Ocean, the Navy’s 7th Fleet in Yokosuka, Japan said in a statement on Wednesday. Riddle was pronounced dead after several attempts to revive the sailor were unsuccessful, according to the military branch. Missing 41-year-old woman found: police “A Special Psychiatric Rapid Intervention Team (SPRINT) has been deployed to the ship and grief and counseling services are being provided to our Sailors,” the Navy’s 7th Fleet said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Sailor’s family, friends, and coworkers during this time.” The sailor’s death is under investigation at this time. The USS Halsey was commissioned on July 30, 2005 in San Diego. Check back for updates on this developing story.

San Diego

Investigation into SR-125 tolling found mischarges, millions in lost revenue

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The results of an investigation into the SR-125 tolling system following incorrect charges brought to light late last year were released Monday. According to a release Monday by Courtney Ruby, the San Diego Association of Government’s independent performance auditor, the investigation found that the former tolling contractor ETAN’s Fastlane financial reporting “cannot be relied upon” and the Finance department “lacks adequate internal controls…to ensure SR-125 financial information is accurately recorded and reported.” Wrongful termination lawsuit alleges thousands of drivers may have been mischarged on San Diego toll road The investigation was launched in December following a lawsuit filed in November that alleged up to 45,000 people were incorrectly charged while driving on the SR-125 toll road in the South Bay. It found that customer transactions were not being tracked correctly in Fastlane’s general ledger, the release said. Out of $35 million in annual toll revenue, an estimated $23 million comes from FasTrak customers, according to SANDAG. Additional findings from the investigation alleged that ETAN’s new back-office tolling system was “headed for trouble from the beginning” and SANDAG management did not

Inland Empire

Workers at 34 Southern California hotels will see their pay rise by $10 an hour in new labor contracts

Workers at 34 Southern California hotels hailed new labor contracts Monday that will boost wages by $10 an hour over four years, ending months of protests and rallies for thousands of employees. The cooks, room attendants, dishwashers and others represented by Unite Here Local 11 were part of a massive labor strike that has seen more than 10,000 workers at 53 hotels stage walkouts, protests and picket lines since the labor action began on July 1, 2023. Finalized contracts include the Anaheim Hilton, Courtyard Los Angeles L.A. Live, Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel and Irvine Marriott, among others. Also see:  See the list of 34 Southern California hotels voting on contracts this week Labor disputes are ongoing at dozens of other hotels — including the Hotel Figueroa, Hotel Maya, Doubletree Downtown Los Angeles and the LA Grand. “There are still 25 to 30 contracts that have to be finished,” Unite Here co-President President Kurt Petersen said. “Many of them are very close. If any employer has a doubt, they need to know they are already defeated. It is time to sign!” Pete Hillan, a spokesperson

Los Angeles

California extends deadline for students seeking state financial aid amid FAFSA turmoil

California students will have an extra month to submit applications for state financial aid, a deadline extension to help with ongoing setbacks and delays that have plagued the roll out of new federal forms that colleges and states rely on to calculate a student’s scholarships and loans. Federal officials alerted colleges of the latest mishap on Friday — errors in the processing of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, that have resulted in schools receiving inaccurate information about student eligibility for aid. The deadline for Cal Grants and other state aid programs — that collectively dole out more than $2.3 billion — will be pushed back from April 2 to May 2 under legislation that took effect immediately Monday with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. The grants help students attending University of California, California State University or state community colleges. Students attending private California universities and some career colleges or technical schools can also be eligible. Last week, the legislation had passed in both the state Assembly and state Senate, with not a single vote in opposition. The extended deadline is one more

Los Angeles

Feds take California prison agency to court for requiring Sikh guards to shave beards

Federal civil rights attorneys asked a judge on Monday to require California’s prison agency to respect its guards’ religious rights and stop enforcing a new policy that bans Sikhs, Muslims and others from wearing beards. Since 2022, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has banned most guards from having facial hair, saying they need to be clean-shaven to wear the tight-fitting respirators that could protect them from diseases and chemical agents. Though state regulations require employers to have a plan for protecting employees from those sorts of exposures, attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justice argued in a 22-page court filing that the prison agency hadn’t done enough to explore alternative accommodations that would satisfy those regulations without requiring guards to violate the tenets of their faiths. “Sikhs, Muslims and employees of other minority faiths should not be forced to choose between the practice of their faith and their jobs,” Assistant Atty. Gen. Kristen Clarke said in a news release. “Religious freedom and religious accommodation are bedrock principles of our democracy. We are taking action to ensure that the rights of employees of minority

Los Angeles

Shohei Ohtani dijo que su exintérprete Ippei Mizuhara le robó para pagar sus deudas de apuestas

La era de Shohei Ohtani con los Dodgers había empezado en diciembre de 2023 con un gran anuncio, en medio de bombos y platillos y con un interés de talla mundial en el béisbol. La atención nuevamente ha recaído sobre él, pero esta vez en medio de la polémica y posibles acusaciones de apuestas ilícitas que el nuevo jugador angelino rechazó en frente de la masiva presencia de los medios de comunicación enfrascados en una abarrotada y pequeña sala de prensa del Dodger Stadium el lunes. El lanzador no respondió preguntas y por medio de un texto preparado dio su versión de los hechos, con la ayuda de su nuevo traductor, Will Ireton, señaló de “mentiroso” a Ippei Mizuhara, quien fuera su amigo de muchos años y era su intérprete oficial. Ireton será por ahora el reemplazo de Mizuhara y ha sido parte de la organización angelina desde el 2016 para ser el traductor del lanzador, Kenta Maeda. Ohtani dio su versión de los hechos en los que aseguró que nunca ha estado involucrado en apuestas deportivas y que Mizuhara aparentemente había usado dinero de

Los Angeles

Southland top 20 high school softball rankings

The top 20 high school softball rankings for The Times by CalHiSports.com. (with previous rank) 1. (1) Norco 18-3 2. (2) Murrieta Mesa 20-2 3. (3) Riverside Poly 23-1-1 4. (4) Orange Lutheran 15-3 5. (5) Garden Grove Pacifica 18-2 6. (7) Oaks Christian 17-2 7. (8) Anaheim Canyon 19-4 8. (9) El Modena 17-6 9. (10) Los Alamitos 17-5 10. (11) Granada Hills 18-1 11. (13) Rio Mesa 18-3 12. (16) California 22-3 13. (12) La Mirada 17-4-2 14. (15) Long Beach Millikan 15-8 15. (6) Mission Viejo 16-5-1 16. (17) West Torrance 18-4 17. (NR) Valencia 16-4 18. (18) Esperanza 11-9 19. (14) Huntington Beach 14-6 20. (20) Marina 14-7-1 More to Read

Los Angeles

Los Angeles Unified helps open permanent supportive housing complex in Sun Valley

The Los Angeles Unified School District is celebrating the grand opening of a new housing complex that aims to help individuals and families transition from homelessness into permanent housing. Sun Kings Apartments opened Monday in an area where, the school district says, a large percentage of families with school-age children have faced homelessness in their lives. The “affordable, permanent supportive housing project” was built with the cooperation and coordination of the school district and Many Mansions, a nonprofit developer of affordable housing and services. LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said the school district is “committed” to addressing the housing crisis for its families and help students have safe, reliable places to call home. “Students experiencing homelessness face a much steeper challenge in pursuing academic achievement because of the additional barriers they must overcome,” Carvalho said. “We are steadfast in our resolve to mitigate those challenges, leverage our partnerships and resources to create opportunities like Sun King Apartments and provide critical services to support our students and families.” Sun King Apartments in Sun Valley are shown in this photo provided by the Los Angeles Unified School

Los Angeles

3 felons busted for armed robbery in Southern California

Three felons have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery in Riverside County, authorities announced Monday.   Deputies with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Perris Station responded to the 2000 block of North Perris Boulevard on reports of the Mar. 24 robbery at around 10:30 a.m., a department news release stated.   Details are limited and it’s unclear exactly how the incident unfolded, but authorities located the victim at the scene who had allegedly been robbed at gunpoint by the three suspects who fled the area before deputies arrived.   Members of the RCSD’s Robbery Burglary Suppression Team assumed the investigation and apprehended the three men, later identified as 44-year-old Ontario resident Deandre Owens, 22-year-old Riverside resident Damar Thedford and 39-year-old Riverside resident Treyvon Williams.   Deandre Owens, 44, a resident of Ontario. (RCSD) Officials did not provide any information on whether the victim knew the suspects or if anyone was injured during the alleged robbery.   Owens was booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Center on charges of robbery, a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a loaded firearm in a public