Los Angeles

Metro bus crashes into pole, injuring 7 in Studio City

A crash involving a Metro bus left seven people injured in Studio City on Friday morning. The collision was reported around 4:30 a.m. in the 3900 block of Lankershim Boulevard near Universal City. (KTLA) A Metro bus carrying several passengers crashed into a pole in Studio City on Friday morning, sending half a dozen people to the hospital, authorities said. Images of the crash showed the bus’ entire front-end frame crumpled. The crash occurred about 4:30 a.m. in the 3900 block of Lankershim Boulevard off Main Street near Universal Pictures and the Universal Studios lots, Los Angeles Fire Department officials said. Seven people were injured in the crash, with six taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and one person refusing treatment at the scene, officials said. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, police said. More to Read Sign up for Essential California The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Joseph Serna is a deputy editor on the Fast Break team at the Los Angeles Times

Inland Empire

Inland Empire races will help determine how progressive the Legislature will be

By Kenneth P. Miller and Quinten Carney | Inland Empire Economic Partnership In the November election, Democrats will surely maintain their super-majority dominance of the California Legislature, but a handful of competitive races in the Inland Empire and across the state could meaningfully affect the Legislature’s policy choices over the next two years. As part of the nation’s partisan sorting, California in the 21st century has become a  famously deep-blue state. In 2011, when Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger left office, Democrats established a “trifecta” in state government — that is, control of both houses of the legislature and the governor’s office (as well as other statewide elected offices). In the 2018 election, Democrats achieved three-fourths control of both houses of the legislature, or what former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon called a “giga-majority.” This wide margin has allowed Democrats to pursue their policy objectives with no Republican votes. Today, the partisan composition of the Assembly is 62 Democrats, 16 Republicans,  and one vacancy. In the Senate: 31 Democrats and 9 Republicans. Despite their large numerical advantage, however, Democrats sometimes disagree on policy matters. Ideological divisions within the

Inland Empire

Sterigenics in Ontario, Vernon fined $587,800 for carcinogenic gas emissions

A company specializing in medical equipment sterilization will pay a $587,800 penalty to the South Coast Air Quality Management District to settle a series of violations resulting from the emission of excessive levels of a cancer-causing gas at its facilities in Vernon and Ontario, according to the AQMD. South Coast AQMD officials designated Sterigenics facilities as “potentially high risk” two years ago after air quality monitors in the area showed high amounts of a carcinogen called ethylene oxide. Long-term exposure to the flammable and colorless gas, which is used in the sterilization process at the facilities, can lead to an increased risk of lymphoid and breast cancers. Under California law, a facility can be designated “potentially high risk” if emissions could exceed a “cancer risk threshold greater than 100 chances in a million.” The AQMD’s initial data in 2022 indicated workers at Sterigenics in Vernon and those at adjacent facilities could have a cancer risk as much as 20 times higher. The concentrations of ethylene oxide detected near Sterigenics dropped off significantly within a few hundred feet of the facility and were “within background levels”

Sacramento

Friday Morning Football: Redwood High School

Friday, August 23, 2024 2:02PM Friday Morning Football is back! We come to your campus and help bring the school spirit for high school football teams across the Valley! VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) — Friday Morning Football is back! Friday Morning Football Part 3 We come to your campus and help bring the school spirit for high school football teams across the Valley! RELATED: Friday Night Football 2024: Week 1 Friday night, the Redwood Rangers of Visalia will play host to the Golden Hawks of Centennial High School in Bakersfield. Friday Morning Football Part 2 Kick-off is set for 7:30 pm. For news updates, follow Ana Torrea on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Copyright © 2024 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Sacramento

Judge declines to dismiss murder case against Karen Read after July mistrial

By MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press Friday, August 23, 2024 1:56PM Karen Read was back in court for the first time since her murder mistrial. She is accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend. DEDHAM, Mass. — A Massachusetts judge has declined to dismiss two charges, including murder, in the case of Karen Read, who is blamed in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend. Read is accused of ramming into John O’Keefe with her SUV and leaving him for dead in a January 2022 snowstorm. Her two-month trial ended in July when jurors declared they were hopelessly deadlocked and a judge declared a mistrial on the fifth day of deliberations. SEE ALSO | 4th juror confirms Karen Read was found not guilty on 2 counts; Officer Michael Proctor suspended Judge Beverly Cannone’s decision means the case can move forward to a new trial set to begin Jan. 27. The defense had presented evidence that four jurors said the jury unanimously reached a not guilty verdict on second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a deadly accident and were deadlocked on the remaining manslaughter

Sacramento

Kamala Harris with Beyoncé? Yes, but the star singer was only heard through loudspeakers

CHICAGO — Kamala Harris introduced herself to the country she hopes to lead in the climactic moment of the Democratic national convention on Thursday – and despite chatter about potential mystery guests, Beyoncé’s only appearance was over the loudspeakers. In the end, it was the most traditional of convention moments coming through television screens: the candidate, her running mate and their families bathed in the cheers of supporters, with balloons floating from the rafters. There had been an anticipatory mood as the night took shape, and it wasn’t just for Harris. For days, there were rumors of an appearance by mega-stars Taylor Swift or Beyoncé, whose song “Freedom” has been adopted by the vice president as a campaign theme. “If she’s not, they better come up with something,” said NBC News’ Savannah Guthrie. Looking for the big star An NBC reporter wandering the convention floor asked delegates what they would think about a Beyoncé appearance. NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, stationed to the side of the stage, noted shortly before Harris appeared that a curtain was blocking a view that she had throughout the convention of people

Sacramento

Jason Oliveira celebrating 20 years at ABC30 Action News

He was surprised on air Friday morning by Jessica Harrington and Christine Gregory with a Simba plaque to celebrate the milestone. Friday, August 23, 2024 1:29PM August 23, 2024, marks 20 years at ABC30 for anchor Jason Oliveira. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — August 23, 2024, marks 20 years at ABC30 for anchor Jason Oliveira. He started at Action News in 2004 after graduating from Tulare Union High School and Cal State Fullerton. Jason began his career at ABC30 as a sports reporter before going on to report and anchor our daily newscasts. He was surprised on air Friday morning by Jessica Harrington and Christine Gregory with a Simba plaque to celebrate the milestone. As a member of The Society of Portuguese-American Students Hall of Fame, Jason is still very active in the local Portuguese community. From all of us at ABC30, congratulations to Jason on this remarkable accomplishment, and thank you for your commitment to the Central Valley community! Copyright © 2024 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved. Top Stories

Sacramento

‘I made a big mistake’: Former Alaska Airlines pilot who tried to shut off engines shares story

Joseph Emerson, a former Alaska Airlines pilot, calls it the biggest mistake of his life. Emerson was inside an Alaska Airlines cockpit last October when he raised his arms and pulled two large red levers that could have shut down both engines, at 30,000 feet. He calls the incident the worst 30 seconds of his life. Ten months later, he is now grateful for those moments: They’ve saved his marriage, allowed him more time with his kids, and thrust him into a life of therapy, recovery, and the launch of a new non-profit designed to help other pilots struggling with mental illness. Now Emerson and his wife, Sarah, are describing that incident, and the anxious, challenging months that followed, in an interview with ABC News. “I made a big mistake.” Emerson sent his wife Sarah a text message on Oct. 22, 2023, moments after he was removed from that cockpit and just before he asked a flight attendant to handcuff him. “I made a big mistake,” the message read. Sarah Emerson replied: “What’s up? Are you ok?” “I’m not,” Joe Emerson replied. That was the

Los Angeles

7 people injured when Metro bus runs into pole in Studio City

Seven people were injured when a Metro bus struck a pole in Studio City Friday morning. The collision was reported around 4:30 a.m. in the 3900 block of Lankershim Boulevard near Universal City. Video from the scene showed heavy damage to the partially crushed front passenger side of the bus. Seven people were injured when a Metro bus crashed in Studio City on Aug. 23, 2024. (KTLA) Metro released a statement confirming the bus collided with a pole but did not say what caused the crash. Six of the seven people injured in the incident were taken to the hospital and listed as trauma patients due to the damage, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. The injuries to the patients were considered to be non-life-threatening. Metro said the bus driver was treated at the scene and released. “Metro extends well wishes for a speedy recovery to all involved,” the agency said in its statement.

Los Angeles

Random shooting leaves motorist dead in Panorama City: Los Angeles police

Police are searching for the gunman involved in a random shooting that left a motorist dead in the Panorama City neighborhood of Los Angeles early Friday. The incident was reported around 1:30 a.m. on Van Nuys Boulevard near Osborne Street. Police said the motorist was shot while driving, lost control of the vehicle and careened into the fence of an apartment complex. Police investigate a fatal shooting of a motorist in Panorama City on Aug. 22, 2024. (KTLA) Video showed other vehicles parked on the street were also struck by the gunfire. The unidentified driver was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital. Los Angeles Police Department Detective Christine Moselle described the shooting as random and said authorities are still searching for a suspect. No description of the suspect or any possible vehicle used in the shooting was released.

Bay Area

Unique fresh fruit from Silicon Valley’s past, modern culinary flair come together at Cosentino Family Farm pop-ups

Last Friday evening, as he put the finishing touches on hundreds of pluot puff pastry tarts and strawberry turnovers with brie and thyme, along with giant sheets of peach focaccia, Jason Cosentino finally took a minute to consider the sheer insanity of what he’s gotten himself into. He was preparing for one of his pop-ups at J&P Cosentino Family Farm in San Jose, along with his mom Janine Cosentino. The farm has been in the family since it was founded in 1945; Jason’s grandfather Phil Cosentino, who had been running it since 1970 with his wife Jean (they are the J&P in the name) handed it down to their daughter Janine and her sisters Kari Cosentino and Mary Forman a few years ago. Jason Cosentino and his mother Janine Cosentino make peach focaccia in Scotts Valley, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)  With that passing of the torch came some new ideas for how to develop the historic urban farm near Highway 85 and Camden Avenue, which sells the produce from its hundreds of fruit trees at a farm stand

Bay Area

A million-and-a-half cyclists, 67 turnouts, 10 years: How Mt. Diablo embraced safety and made history

WALNUT CREEK — There’s an inherent peril looming behind the estimated 150,000 cyclists who make the climb up Mount Diablo’s steep 3,849-feet summit each year: motorists speeding past them along the same narrow, winding roads and blind curves. A decade ago, Alan Kalin, of Danville, rallied a working group within the Mount Diablo Cyclists club to craft a solution that could help ease tensions between people traveling on both two and four wheels but, more important, to also find a safer way to alleviate traffic backups and reduce the number of dangerous collisions. Their first blueprints for bike turnouts were drafted in 2014, featuring a pioneering design that allowed bicyclists, who pedal uphill at slower speeds, to pull into their own paved lane so that vehicles can pass safely — engineered to mimic turnoff lanes that have for years aided vehicular traffic. Mount Diablo State Park’s roads are the only documented location that has implemented bike turnout infrastructure on a significant scale. “They don’t exist anywhere else in the world,” Kalin said in an interview. “Motorists love them, cyclists love them — bike turnouts keep

Bay Area

Community uproar forces delay of county’s plan to transform San Jose tiny home site into jail diversion

A Santa Clara County plan to buy San Jose-owned interim housing sites near Bernal and Monterey roads for a jail diversion program has run into intense backlash from nearby residents, prompting city officials to temporarily delay the $8 million sale. City officials have removed the purchase agreement for parcels at 6066 Monterey Road and 1072-1082 Vermont Street from next week’s City Council agenda after hundreds of residents accused them of either misleading the public or not being transparent about the county’s plans and how they could further impact safety in the South San Jose area that has struggled with issues around shelter sites. Joe Lopez, a retired Santa Clara County Sheriff’s sergeant and District 2 City Council candidate, lambasted the proposal, calling it a “direct threat to the safety and well-being of our community.” “If the county has offered any concrete information about how it would address potential security risks at the new site, that information has not been shared with residents — many of whom share my concerns about what this could mean for our community,” Lopez told The Mercury News. County officials said they

Bay Area

Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech: The full text

Kamala Harris‘ campaign released this text as remarks prepared for delivery Aug. 22 at the Democratic National Convention: Good evening. To my husband, Doug, thank you for being an incredible partner to me and father to Cole and Ella. And happy anniversary. I love you so very much. To Joe Biden—Mr. President. When I think about the path we have traveled together, I am filled with gratitude. Your record is extraordinary, as history will show. And your character is inspiring. Doug and I love you and Jill. And I am forever thankful to you both. And to Coach Tim Walz, you are going to be an incredible Vice President. And to the delegates and everyone who has put your faith in our campaign — your support is humbling. America, the path that led me here in recent weeks, was no doubt … unexpected. But I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys. My mother Shyamala Harris had one of her own. I miss her every day. Especially now. And I know she’s looking down tonight. And smiling. My mother was 19 when she crossed the world alone, traveling from

Sacramento

49ers at Raiders: Four things to watch in preseason finale in Vegas

It has been 194 days since the 49ers let one get away in Las Vegas, another Lombardi Trophy that instead went to the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. Returning to Allegiant Stadium is sure to stoke painful memories tonight. It also offers the 49ers closure, both to last season’s overtime trauma in Super Bowl LVIII and to officially finish off this preseason against the host Raiders. Coach Kyle Shanahan said he’ll play some regular-season starters, perhaps even more than the six who suited up for Sunday’s 16-10 preseason home win over New Orleans. The Raiders, however, plan to rest their starters, meaning Maxx Crosby won’t be the one chasing Brock Purdy out of the 49ers’ pocket. Here are four things to watch: 1. LAST-DITCH EFFORTS The 49ers’ championship-caliber roster didn’t have many vacancies entering training camp, so one last preseason game likely won’t dictate many if any roster spots. That said, the preseason finale gives hopefuls one last chance to impress. The roster must be shaved from 90 to 53 players by Tuesday afternoon. Some players will move onto Injured Reserve, with up to two

San Diego

5 takeaways from Kamala Harris’s DNC speech

CHICAGO — Vice President Harris accepted the Democratic nomination here Thursday with a speech wrapped in an intense tone of patriotism.  But she also took the fight to former President Trump in pugnacious style. Harris has arrived at this point after an extraordinary sequence of events ignited by President Biden’s disastrous June 27 debate with Trump. Since Biden announced on July 21 that he would abandon his bid for a second term, Harris has been transformed from a vice president with tepid approval ratings and an uncertain future to the narrow front-runner in a race that could make her the first female president. The vice president delivered a speech just short of 40 minutes’ duration to a United Center packed to the rafters with cheering Democrats. Here are the main takeaways: A fervent embrace of patriotism It’s no surprise that a nominee’s acceptance speech would sound some ritualized patriotic notes. But Harris went far further than that. She cast her bid for the presidency as an effort to spark new hope and unity within the nation, and to bring increased respect for the U.S. in

Los Angeles

Man charged with concealing body weeks after wife’s disappearance

By Kerry Breen Updated on: August 23, 2024 / 9:13 AM EDT / CBS News Calls to reauthorize Violence Against Women Act Calls grow to reauthorize Violence Against Women Act 02:21 Virginia police investigating the disappearance of a 28-year-old mother who went missing last month said Thursday they have arrested her husband on charges of concealing a body.  Mamta Kafte Bhatt was last seen on July 27, the Manassas Park Police Department said on Thursday, and spoke to a friend over the phone on July 28, according to CBS affiliate WUSA. Her husband Naresh Bhatt reported last seeing her on July 31, according to WUSA, but he did not report her missing until August 5.  Before his arrest, Bhatt told WUSA that his wife had disappeared three other times, but never for this long.  Earlier this month, police said the woman had been “involuntarily” missing. A search warrant for the couple’s home was executed on Wednesday, police said. During the search, police obtained “additional evidence” that led to the charges. Bhatt was marched out of his home in handcuffs on Thursday, WUSA reported.  Mamta Kafte Bhatt GoFundMe