U.S. birth rate drops to record low, ending pandemic uptick

By Alexander Tin Edited By Paula Cohen April 25, 2024 / 12:01 AM EDT / CBS News Why U.S. births are decreasing Why U.S. births are decreasing 04:36 The pace of babies born each year in the U.S. has slowed to a new record low, according to an analysis of 2023 birth certificate data published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Last year’s slowdown marks an official end to the uptick in new babies that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. At least 3,591,328 babies were born in the U.S. in 2023, down 2% from the 3,667,758 born in 2022.  This is on par with annual declines seen before the pandemic, the report said, which averaged around 2% fewer babies each year. There were already signs in the year before that a pandemic surge in births was coming to an end. There were slightly fewer babies born in 2022 compared to 2021, though agency officials said at the time that this drop was not large enough to be considered a statistically significant decline. “Last year, the difference was very small. This year, it’s something

Experience the Modern Twist of “Love’s Labour’s Lost” Coming to SBVC Theatre Arts

By Andrea Lozano, IECN/SBVC Student Intern The San Bernardino Theatre Department is proud to present “Love’s Labour’s Lost”, a modern interpretation of William Shakespeare’s beloved comedic play. Directed by Melinda Fogle, this performance of Shakespeare’s classic promises an evening filled with laughter, love, and surprises. See the show from April 25th through April 27th at 7 pm and April 28th at 2 pm which includes ASL interpreters at the SBVC Auditorium for an amazing theatrical experience. Set in the modern-day fictional University of Loveland, Colorado, “Love’s Labour’s Lost” follows the story of Ferdinand, King of Navarre, and his three scholars who embark on a three-year journey of study, with a twist – they’ve sworn off love. However, their plans take an unexpected turn when the Princess of France and her posse arrive, leading to a hilarious series of events as the men find themselves falling head over heels despite their oath. Fogle and her team have blended the play with a contemporary flair that draws inspiration from TV shows like “The Big Bang Theory.” With a modern setting, creative costumes reminiscent of college life, and

Colton City Council Honors So Cal Locksmith with “Business Focus” Recognition Award

At the Colton City Council meeting on April 16, Council Member Dr. Luis S. González honored Kathy Dunsmore, owner of So Cal Locksmith, with the “Business Focus” Recognition Award. The award highlights her remarkable achievements in operating a successful local business that has been a cornerstone in the Colton community and a regional leader in locksmith services. Originally founded in 1975 as Any Hour Lock & Safe Company on Mt Vernon Avenue, the business evolved into a family-owned venture in 1989 under the name So Cal Locksmith. Since relocating to its current address at 1646 E Washington Street, So Cal Locksmith has been a key business partner in Canyon Bluffs Plaza. Under Dunsmore’s sole ownership since 2011, the company has flourished over the past 23 years, building a strong reputation for exceptional customer service and technical expertise. Their team of skilled technicians offers comprehensive locksmith services not just in Colton, but across the surrounding areas and neighboring counties. The company’s commitment to reliability and professionalism is reflected in their service pledge. “We will respond to your situation with reliable, honest, and professional service,” their website

Pro-Palestine Protesters `Occupy’ USC Campus Park; Dispersal Orders Issued

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters held an “occupation” of USC’s Alumni Park Wednesday, issuing demands for the university to end ties with Israel and Israeli-tied investments, and the gathering devolved into chaos late in the day when police began working to disperse the crowd. By early evening, 93 people who refused to leave the park after multiple dispersal orders were arrested peacefully, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The occupation action added USC to a growing list of college campuses across the nation that have seen encampments and protests over the Israel-Hamas war, most notably Columbia University. USC’s Alumni Park is scheduled to host the university’s already headline-making commencement ceremony on May 10. Organizers of the USC occupation — identifying themselves as the USC Divest from Death Coalition — issued a statement saying the action is “in solidarity with the people of Palestine as they resist genocide and continue in their struggle for liberation.” “The occupation is also in resistance to attempts by USC and other universities to suppress the student movement for Palestine on its campuses, in resistance to the silencing of students that

Sharks coaching search: Seven names, young and (older), to ponder in San Jose

The San Jose Sharks are starting a coaching search for the second time in three years after the organization fired David Quinn after just two seasons. While Quinn was considered the favorite to get the job in July 2022, shortly after Mike Grier was named the team’s general manager, there does not appear to be a similar obvious choice this time. Instead, it seems Grier will cast a wide net when it comes to finding the Sharks’ next coach. “We’re building a list of candidates we’d like to speak to,” Grier said Wednesday, roughly an hour after Quinn’s dismissal was announced. “I don’t really have a hard timeline. This is a tough day and a tough week. … We’ll start getting into it as the week goes on, but I don’t have any hard timelines and when it will get done.” NHL or professional coaching experience is a good thing, Grier said. But he also did not want to rule out any other candidate who could come in and impress him or owner Hasso Plattner. “I’m not going to rule out anything or anyone if

A’s lose to Yankees as balk to Judge bites Boyle; Gelof likely to hit IL

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer one pitch after Joe Boyle was called for a balk in the first inning the A’s never got within a run from there, losing to the Yankees 7-3 on Wednesday night. Anthony Rizzo and Juan Soto later homered off A’s relievers as Oakland fell to 1-11 in its last 11 games in the Bronx. Boyle (1-4) appeared to have thrown a fastball for a called third strike on the outside corner but was charged with a balk as Judge began walking to the Yankees’ dugout. Judge then hit an outside fastball to the short porch in right field for his 261st homer, passing former captain Derek Jeter for ninth on the Yankees’ all-time list. Boyle told reporters after the game that the balk gave Judge “a free pitch that he got to see,” chalking up the homer to poor pitch selection — repeating an outside fastball — after the balk was called when an umpire ruled he didn’t come set. “Pitch clock was running down, probably should have stepped off, but tried to squeeze a

Biden tries to navigate the Israel-Hamas war protests roiling college campuses

By WILL WEISSERT, MICHELLE L. PRICE and CHRIS MEGERIAN (Associated Press) NEW YORK (AP) — Student protests over the war in Gaza have created a new and unpredictable challenge for President Joe Biden as he resists calls to cut off U.S. support for Israel while trying to hold together the coalition of voters he’ll need for reelection. The protests at Columbia University in New York and other campuses have captured global media attention and resurfaced questions about Biden’s lagging support from young voters. His handling of the Middle East conflict is also being closely watched by both Jewish and Arab American voters in key swing states. At best for Biden, the protests are a passing distraction while the White House presses forward with negotiations over a cease-fire and the release of hostages held by Hamas while pushing Israel to limit casualties with more than 34,000 Palestinians dead. At worst, they build momentum toward the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August, potentially triggering scenes of violence that could recall the unrest of protests against the Vietnam War during the party’s convention there in 1968. “If

Arizona indicts 18 in election interference case, including Giuliani and Meadows

By JACQUES BILLEAUD, JONATHAN J. COOPER and JOSH KELETY (Associated Press) PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona grand jury has indicted former President Donald Trump ‘s chief of staff Mark Meadows, lawyer Rudy Giuliani and 16 others for their roles in an attempt to overturn Trump’s loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 election. The indictment released Wednesday names 11 Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring that Trump won Arizona in 2020. They include the former state party chair, a 2022 U.S. Senate candidate and two sitting state lawmakers, who are charged with nine counts each of conspiracy, fraud and forgery. The identities of seven other defendants, including Giuliani and Meadows, were not immediately released because they had not yet been served with the documents. They were readily identifiable based on descriptions of the defendants, however. Trump himself was not charged but was referred to as an unindicted co-conspirator. With the indictments, Arizona becomes the fourth state where allies of the former president have been charged with using false or unproven claims about voter fraud related to the election. Heading into a likely

Antes de la expansión en Disney llega el Pixar Fest con desfile, fuegos artificiales y más

Anaheim, CA — Desde 1955 cuando Walt Disney abrió su primer parque temático, el turísmo local e internacional fue cambiando año tras año, pero siempre fue en crecimiento hasta convertirse en sinónimo de las “vacaciones soñadas” para visitantes del mundo entero con visitas a parques temáticos en puntos estratégicos del planeta como lo son sus dos locaciones en los Estados Unidos (Anaheim y Orlando), uno en Europa (Paris) y tres en el continente asiático (Shanghai, Hong Kong y Tokio). Y ahora, tal y como lo publicó Los Angeles Times “hoy el gigante del entretenimiento de Burbank está redoblando su apuesta una vez más” con el planeamiento de hacer una inversión de 60 mil millones de dólares al término de 10 años tanto en parques temáticos, complejos turísticos, líneas de cruceros y mercancías temáticas. Para comenzar, aquí el Disneyland Resort de Anaheim, el primero que se creó en el mundo, acaba de recibir del ayuntamiento la aprobación para su plan de expansión que podría generar casi $1.9 mil millones para el desarrollo de nuevas atracciones, espacios para hoteles, más tiendas y más espacios para restaurantes. Pero

15 arrested in multi-million dollar cartel drug bust in Southern California

Fifteen people were arrested and $16 million worth of illegal drugs were seized during a massive cartel bust in Southern California. The operation, nicknamed “Hotline Bling,” was a multi-agency investigation targeting a Sinaloa drug trafficking network operating in the Inland Empire. The investigation began in March 2023 and ended in April 2024. It involved the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Riverside District Office, the Riverside Police Department, and assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service. During the large-scale operation, agents seized around 376 pounds of methamphetamine, 600,000 fentanyl tablets, 37.4 pounds of fentanyl, 1.4 kilograms of cocaine, and seven firearms. The estimated street value for the narcotics is around $16 million, Riverside police said. The amount of narcotics seized during the bust prevented the distribution of more than 10 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl within the Inland Empire and throughout the United States, officials said. Fifteen people were arrested and $16 million worth of illegal drugs were seized during a massive cartel bust in Southern California in April 2024. (Riverside Police Department) Fifteen people were arrested and $16 million worth of illegal drugs were seized

Teacher at Southern California school arrested for ‘lewd’ conduct with teen girl

A 43-year-old teacher in San Bernardino County has been arrested after allegations of inappropriate conduct with a 16-year-old girl and it’s believed he may have additional victims, authorities announced Wednesday.   Investigators with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Specialized Investigations Division – Crimes Against Children Detail – responded to reports of the incident at Excelsior Charter Schools on April 24, according to a department news release.   Authorities say that Victorville resident Brett David Dahl, a teacher at the charter schools, was identified as the suspect.   Brett David Dahl, 43, of Victorville. (SBSD) “At the conclusion of the investigation, Dahl was arrested and booked into the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto,” the release stated.   The 45-year-old teacher is facing charges of contacting a minor to commit a felony, meeting with a minor for lewd purposes, child endangerment and child abduction.   Twerking vandals cause $25K in damage to Southern California business Dahl’s bail was set at $60,000.  The suspect’s photograph was released because detectives believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Det.

Dozens arrested on California campus after students in Texas detained as Gaza war protests persist

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Police peacefully arrested student protesters at the University of Southern California on Wednesday, hours after police at a Texas university aggressively detained dozens in the latest clashes between law enforcement and those protesting the Israel-Hamas war on campuses nationwide. While tensions rose between police and protesters at USC earlier in the day, in the evening a few dozen demonstrators standing in a circle with locked arms were detained one by one without incident. Police officers encircled the dwindling group, which sat in defiance of an earlier warning to disperse or be arrested. Beyond the police line, hundreds of onlookers watched as helicopters buzzed overhead. The school closed the campus. While universities struggling to defuse unrest have quickly turned to law enforcement, the arrests in California were in sharp contrast to the chaos that ensued just hours earlier at the University of Texas at Austin. Hundreds of local and state police — including some on horseback and holding batons — pushed into protesters, at one point sending some tumbling into the street. Officers made 34 arrests at the behest of the university

4/24: America Decides

4/24: America Decides – CBS News Watch CBS News President Biden signs foreign aid package into law; House Speaker Mike Johnson visits Columbia University amid protests Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Here are the 25 best places to raise a family in the San Diego area: study

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The quality of life in the San Diego area makes it an attractive destination for those looking to settle down and find a home. Niche, a ranking and review website, conducted a study of nearly 100 of the best places to raise a family in the San Diego area. The company used a number of factors to determine the ranking such as the quality of local schools, safety, affordability and access to family amenities. Carmel Valley, a neighborhood with a population of 33,422, topped the list at the No. 1 spot with an overall grade of an A+. Categories like public schools, good for families, weather, health & fitness, diversity and outdoor activities all either received A+, A- or A grades. These public high schools are the best in San Diego: U.S. News and World Report Here are the other neighborhoods to make the list: No. 2: Pacific Highlands Ranch No. 3: Solana Beach No. 4: Torrey Hills No. 5: Del Mar Mesa No. 6: Black Mountain Ranch No. 7: Rancho Peñasquitos No. 8: Sabre Srpings No. 9: Encinitas No.

Man sentenced for taking 2 girls to San Diego for prostitution

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A Long Beach man was sentenced in federal court Monday to nine years in prison for taking two teenage girls, ages 15 and 16, to San Diego to engage in prostitution, prosecutors said. According to a release Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, one of the girls had been reported missing from Arizona before 26-year-old Deonathan Gaston of Long Beach transported her to Los Angeles and then to San Diego. Missing Camp Pendleton Marine contacted, NCIS says, but family still searching The release said Gaston had known one of the victims since she was 14. On August 13, 2023, the victims were found by the National City Police Department during a traffic stop. Authorities said they encountered Gaston in an area known for prostitution. At the time, he had no driver’s license and was not allowed to drive the car. Gaston called someone he referred to as his “girlfriend” to come pick up the car, who turned out to be the missing girl from Arizona, the release said. The other victim was later found

Fresno Grizzles faced with discrimination lawsuit over Ladies Night promotion

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) (KFSN) — The lawsuit, filed in March, stems from a Ladies Night promotional event, that happened when the Grizzlies were taking on the Stockton Ports on May 25 last year. The 23-page complaint claims that the Grizzlies violated the Unruh Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination regardless of age, race, religion, disability, sex or sexual orientation. Legal Analyst Kevin Little said that type of promotion can be a gamble when it comes to legal challenges. “But if it’s a ladies night, and it clearly entitles women,” said Little. “Just by virtue of being women, to get in at a free, either free or at a reduced price relative to men. You run the risk of these sorts of lawsuits.” The plaintiffs on the case are Christine Johnson and Harry Crouch. The complaint said that Crouch paid $18 dollars to get into the stadium, while Johnson got into the game for free. They’re now seeking $5 million in damages. “But if as the complaint indicates, it was an event that was promoted as providing a differential entry fee for men versus women, it

Xavier Worthy gifts childhood coach with 98″ TV

WEATHER ALERT High Wind Warning WATCH LIVE Welcome, Manage MyDisney Account Log Out Thursday, April 25, 2024 2:06AM FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Xavier Worthy is one of the top prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft with some mock drafts projecting the former Central Grizzly to be a first round draft pick. Ahead of draft night, he had a special surprise for a former coach in the Central Valley. In partnership with TCL, Worthy surprised his childhood coach Chris Maxey with a 98″ TV. Worthy calls Maxey a father figure who convinced him to run track, something that set Worthy on his way to breaking the record for the 40 yard dash at the 2024 NFL Combine. “Just having the opportunity to be in his life and help him and he chose me,” Maxey said of the donation. “I think that that’s very, very special.” As a junior at Central HS, Worthy helped the Grizzlies win the 2019 D-1AA state title before COVID-19 took away his senior season. “I was a football player before track,” Worthy said of Maxey. “Him giving me that aspect to get