Chico man accused of starting Park Fire pleads not guilty to arson

By Richard Ramos Updated on: August 23, 2024 / 4:38 AM EDT / CBS Sacramento CBS News Live CBS News Sacramento Live CHICO — The man accused of igniting the Park Fire, which has grown to be California’s fourth-largest wildfire ever, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of arson, prosecutors said Thursday. Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, of Chico, also denied all special circumstances relating to the arson charge and prior convictions, court records show. Stout was arrested on July 25 , the day after the fire started near Chico in Upper Bidwell Park. Prosecutors said a man was seen pushing a burning car into a gully near Alligator Hole. Cal Fire arson investigators and the Butte County District Attorney’s Office later identified that suspect as Stout. Stout has maintained that he did not purposely start the fire and previously did not enter a plea in an August 1 arraignment hearing that was continued to Thursday’s hearing. Stout is next scheduled to appear in court on September 19 to set a future preliminary hearing. Stout has two previous strike felony convictions in 2001 and

Suspect Sought in Bermuda Dunes Sexual Assault

A man sexually assaulted a woman in Bermuda Dunes shortly after trying to assault another woman, the Thermal Sheriff’s Station reported Thursday. Deputies from the station responded at 2:56 a.m. Wednesday to the 78000 block of Avenue 42 regarding a report of a suspicious person. When they arrived, the caller told them an unknown masked man followed her to her apartment and was scared off when the woman screamed as he approached her, deputies said. Deputies checked the area and did not locate the suspect, but were able to obtain video surveillance footage with an image of the suspect. At 10:27 a.m. the same day, deputies received a report of a sexual assault near Adams Street and Dune Lake Street. The victim told deputies she was in the area between 2:30 and 3 a.m. when she was attacked by an unknown man and sexually assaulted, authorities said. The victim described the suspect as 20-30 years old, approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall with a heavy build. The suspect was wearing a black ski mask and fled in an unknown direction after the assault, authorities said.

Oakland: Eastmont Hills shooting leaves one dead

OAKLAND — One person was killed and several others were apparently injured in a shooting Thursday night in Oakland, police said. The shooting happened around 7 p.m. in the 7900 block of Ney Avenue, in the city’s Eastmont Hills neighborhood, according to the Oakland Police Department. Officers arrived to find a person suffering from at least one gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification to next of kin. During an initial investigation, officers learned several people had arrived at area hospitals, according to police. Police did not provide any details about their injuries. Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department’s homicide section at 510-238-3821 or the tip line at 510-238-7950. Videos and photos can be emailed to cidvideo@oaklandca.gov. Check back for updates.

San Leandro: 7-Eleven clerk shot during robbery Wednesday

SAN LEANDRO — Authorities on Thursday arrested a 30-year-old Oakland man in connection with a robbery and shooting at a San Leandro convenience store a day earlier. The incident happened around 5:15 a.m. Wednesday at the 7-Eleven located at 525 Williams St., according to the San Leandro Police Department. Officers arrived to find a store clerk suffering from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen, police said. The victim was taken to an area hospital, where they were listed in stable condition. Surveillance footage showed the suspect entering the store and accosting the clerk at gunpoint, according to police. “The suspect shot the victim once before fleeing from the store with stolen cash,” police said. Detectives tracked the suspect to the 1400 block of 105th Avenue in Oakland and arrested him on charges including attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon and robbery, according to police. He was also arrested on an outstanding robbery warrant. The case will be presented to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution, police said.

Harris summons Americans to reject political divisions, warns of consequences posed by a Trump win

By Zeke Miller, Will Weissert and Darlene Superville | Associated Press CHICAGO — Kamala Harris summoned Americans on Thursday to reject political division and instead chart what she called a “new way forward,” as she accepted her party’s nomination blending biography with warnings about electing Donald Trump again to the White House. Taking the stage to a thunderous standing ovation as she closed out the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the vice president argued that her personal story and background as a prosecutor made her uniquely qualified to protect Americans’ interests against a former president she cast as only having his own interests in mind. “Our nation with this election has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism, and divisive battles of the past,” Harris said. “A chance to chart a new way forward. Not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans.” The daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, Harris became the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to accept a major party’s presidential nomination and she would become the first female president if elected.

New heat guidelines go into effect for high school student athletes

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A new law recently went into effect that says high school student athletes can’t practice or play games if it’s too hot outside. The new CIF guidelines require most schools to alter practice and games times if temperatures are 86.2 degrees or warmer. In Lakeside at El Capitan High School, practices have been changing weekly ahead of the school’s first season football game opener. “It’s not fair. We play teams that get to practice every single day,” said head coach Ron Burner. Burner says the new guidelines have forced his teams to practice later in the evening or first thing in the morning at 6:30 a.m. before school begins. In those cases, student athletes are coming to school to practice then showering in the locker rooms and changing for class at 8:30 a.m. “It doesn’t work for us here in East County, we are never going to be below the heat index that they require,” said parent Kellee Turpen. Turpen’s son has been going to sleep at midnight many nights because his football practice has been pushed back several hours.

SusieCakes opening new location in North County

CARLSBAD, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — In the mood for some homemade-style sweets? A Los Angeles-based bakery will be opening its second location at The Forum Carlsbad. SusieCakes, known for its colorful cupcakes and old-fashioned layer cakes, is set to open this weekend at 1935 Calle Barcelona, the company said in a press release. “We are thrilled to open our newest location at the Forum Carlsbad, a vibrant hub for shopping, dining, and community gatherings throughout the year,” said SusieCakes Founder and CEO, Susan Sarich. “This location is a perfect fit for our bakery, and I’m excited to bring our delicious custom cakes, cupcakes and other treats to this beautiful space. We love the Carlsbad community and are eager to provide our loyal guests with the convenience of picking up their favorite treats while enjoying all that the Forum Carlsbad has to offer.”  Video shows bluff collapse in La Jolla Sarich founded the business in 2006 in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood. Her inspiration is derived from nostalgic memories of baking with her grandmothers Mildred and Madeline. On Saturday, a grand opening celebration will be held from 12- 3 p.m. The event

2 in custody after stolen vehicle pursuit in Los Angeles; driver still at large

Two people are in custody while police continue to search for the driver of a suspected stolen vehicle who led authorities in a chase that ended in the area of East Los Angeles.   It’s unclear exactly what time officers with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollenbeck Division initiated the pursuit, but just before 11 p.m., Sky5 located the suspect in the westbound lanes of the 60 Freeway.   The driver transitioned to northbound lanes of the 710 Freeway before exiting at Ramona Boulevard and continuing the chase on surface streets.   The suspect driver ditched the car and fled on foot from police. (KTLA) The suspect driver ditched the car and fled on foot from police. (KTLA) Two passengers in a suspected stolen vehicle were arrested after leading officers on a pursuit in East Los Angeles on August 22, 2024. (KTLA) Two passengers in a suspected stolen vehicle were arrested after leading officers on a pursuit in East Los Angeles on August 22, 2024. (KTLA) L.A. police pursued stolen car suspects in East Los Angeles on August 22, 2024. (KTLA) L.A. police pursued stolen

High school football: Friday’s Week 0 scores, weekend schedule

THURSDAY’S RESULTS CITY SECTION Nonleague Granada Hills 22, Franklin 7Huntington Park 34, Sylmar 14 SOUTHERN SECTION Nonleague Orange Vista 20, Apple Valley 17Ayala 28, Colony 14Big Bear 40, Riverside Prep 0San Gorgonio 31, Canyon Springs 24Castaic 45, Adelanto 7Cathedral City 42, Indian Springs 20Cerritos 38, Buena Park 0Chino Hills 20, Glendora 3Costa Mesa 35, Magnolia 0Heritage 8, Elsinore 3Glenn 12, Bassett 8Leuzinger 62, Kaiser 0Barstow 20, Hesperia 12Placentia Valencia 34, Katella 7Damien 42, La Serna 21Godinez 10, Loara 3Maranatha 34, Lakeside 26Mater Dei 42, Corona Centennial 25Nogales 42, Miller 19Perris 34, Bloomington 6Fontana 20, San Bernardino 0Los Amigos 46, Garden Grove Santiago 7St. Bonaventure 38, St. Francis 7Temple City 41, Whittier 22Bishop Amat 49, West Covina 6Central 38, Jurupa Hills 6St. Genevieve 55, Ganesha 6 Intersectional Buchanan 38, St. Pius X-St. Matthias 0 FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE CITY SECTION Nonleague Angelou at Marshall, 3 p.m.Dorsey at Banning, 7:30 p.m.Dymally at Palisades, 7:30 p.m.El Camino Real at Kennedy, 7 p.m.Fulton at Canoga Park, 7 p.m.Garfield at Narbonne , 7 p.m.Grant at Wilson, 7 p.m.Hawkins at North Hollywood, 7 p.m.Jordan at King/Drew, 7:30 p.m.Locke at Manual Arts, 7:30 p.m.Marquez

No. 1 Mater Dei pulls away in second half to beat No. 2 Corona Centennial

No. 1-ranked Mater Dei turned in a dominating defensive performance in the second half Thursday night to pull away from No. 2 Corona Centennial and give new coach Raul Lara a 42-25 victory in a football opener at Santa Ana Stadium. Junior linebacker Shaun Scott put together a sequence of plays late in the third quarter that left the Huskies unable to respond. Scott recorded a sack, then blocked a punt on the next play, enabling Tomuhimi Topui to pick up the ball and run seven yards for the touchdown and a 32-17 lead. Oregon commit Jordon Davison was Mater Dei’s workhorse, rushing for 121 yards in 20 carries and scoring on a 44-yard run in the first quarter when Mater Dei took a 15-0 lead. The Monarchs outscored Centennial 20-7 in the second half. With the best quarterback in the state, Texas A&M commit Husan Longstreet, staying on the sideline to keep healing a toe injury, Corona Centennial did what it usually does — turns to the next man up. Junior Dominick Catalano had some impressive moments running the ball and completed 17 of

As the DNC’s (wrongly) rumored ‘special guest,’ Beyoncé, and pop fandom, stole the show

Odds are, she’ll sing for Kamala Harris at some point. In January 2013, she performed the national anthem at President Obama’s second inauguration; in November 2016, she sang “Formation” at an 11th-hour rally for Hillary Clinton. And she’s already blessed Harris’ use of her song “Freedom” as a 2024 campaign anthem (and sent Donald Trump a cease-and-desist for using the same tune in a social media video). Harris even came onstage to a recording of “Freedom” at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, shortly before accepting her party’s nomination for president. But despite the increasingly fevered assurances that rippled across the internet in the lead-up — including from the expert gossip-mongers at TMZ, who are almost never wrong — the one and only Beyoncé did not show up in the flesh to perform at Chicago’s United Center. At 7:01 p.m. Pacific — two hours and change after TMZ posted an exclusive claiming the pop superstar would appear at the convention — the Hollywood Reporter quoted Beyoncé’s rep saying that the singer “was never scheduled to be there” and that the “report of a performance is

Bomb squad disarms Russian grenades found in Southern California tree

Four Russian-made hand grenades were found in a tree in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Baldwin Park Thursday, officials confirmed to KTLA.   A gardener working in the area of 13805 Los Angeles Street made the discovery at around 10:30 a.m. and called authorities, prompting the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad to respond to the scene. Details are extremely limited and it’s unknown who the munitions belong to and how they ended up on the ground near what appeared to be an apartment complex or a single-family residence behind Alberto’s Mexican Food restaurant.   Member of L.A. County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad seen disarming one of four Russian Grenades found near sidewalk in Baldwin Park on Aug. 22, 2024. (LASD) A Russian-made hand grenade found near the sidewalk in Baldwin Park on Aug. 22, 2024. (LASD) LASD Deputy Meza told KTLA that members of the department’s bomb squad rendered the grenades safe at the scene and then took them to the sheriff’s firing range for disposal.   VIDEO: High-speed pursuit suspect evades police in downtown Los Angeles It’s unclear if detectives are working to locate

Burglary Suspect Taken Into Custody After Brief Chase

A burglary suspect was taken into custody Thursday evening after briefly eluding law enforcement on the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway before stopping near Princeton Avenue in Moorpark. The chase was initiated by the Los Angeles Police Department around 6:45 p.m. in Porter Ranch on the Ronald Reagan Freeway after the suspect allegedly escaped from a burglary, according to broadcast reports. Details related to the burglary were not available. The suspect traveled on the Ronald Reagan Freeway until reaching Moorpark, where he pulled over, opened his car door, and disregarded law enforcement commands by getting on his cellphone and gesturing to CHP officers to wait as he appeared to be speaking with someone. The suspect was eventually taken into custody by the officers after briefly walking away while still holding the cellphone to his face.

City’s Move of Historic Artifacts Draws Criticism

After Mayor Karen Bass and the Los Angeles City Council approved a plan to move decades-old artifacts to the Convention Center, two groups of predominantly Japanese American and Korean American activists frustrated with the decision Thursday urged them to return the displays to City Hall. The city removed the displays to make way for Olympic flags as L.A. is set to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Scott Suh, former president of the Los Angeles Wilshire Center Koreatown Neighborhood Council, and spokesman for the Turtle Ship and Mikoshi Shrine Restoration Demand Committee, told City News Service the city’s decision to move the artifacts outraged some members of the Korean and Japanese community. He further described it as “terribly disrespectful.” This is the second time this month Suh organized a news conference to share his concerns. The Korean-American Seniors Coalition, Busan & Kyeong Nam Fellowship Association, the LA Nagoya Sister City Affiliation, Little Tokyo Business Association, among other groups, on Aug. 7 joined Suh during a news conference to express their frustrations. The displays were gifts from Los Angeles’ sister cities of Nagoya, Japan in

Fact checking DNC 2024 Day 4 speeches of Harris, Sen. Bob Casey

Watch: Kamala Harris’ full DNC speech Full DNC Speech: Kamala Harris shares policy goals, slams Trump on issues as she accepts nomination 39:44 CBS News is fact checking some of the statements made by  speakers  during the 2024 Democratic National Convention this week, which is taking place in Chicago through Thursday, Aug. 22.  On Thursday, the final night of the convention, Vice President Kamala Harris is accepting her party’s nomination and delivering her acceptance speech. CBS News’ Confirmed team is conducting the fact checks this week. CBS News is covering the DNC live.  Fact checking Harris’ claim that Trump’s tariff plan will cost families almost $4,000 per year: Partially true, needs context  Vice President Kamala Harris : “[Trump] intends to enact what in effect is a national sales tax, call it a Trump tax, that would raise prices on middle-class families by almost $4,000 a year.”  Details: Harris is citing an estimate of potential costs if former President Donald Trump were to implement tariffs on imported goods. Trump has advocated for a tariff of at least 10% on most imports and a tariff of at least 60% on Chinese imports.

Watch: Kamala Harris’ full speech at the 2024 DNC

Watch: Kamala Harris’ full DNC speech Full DNC Speech: Kamala Harris shares policy goals, slams Trump on issues as she accepts nomination 39:44 Vice President Kamala Harris made history as the first woman of color to accept the presidential nomination of a major party on Thursday when she delivered a speech closing out the 2024 Democratic National Convention .  Harris, who replaced President Biden at the top of the ticket just a few weeks ago, delivered a forceful address to delegates in Chicago laying out her argument for the White House. She began by reintroducing herself to the country and reciting her biography before tying her story into her vision for the country and warning about the dangers of returning former President Donald Trump to the presidency. “With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past. A chance to chart a new way forward,” she said. “Not as members of any one party or faction. But as Americans.” Read the full transcript of Harris’ speech as delivered, and watch the speech in

High-speed pursuit suspect evades police in downtown Los Angeles

A high-speed pursuit suspect wanted for allegedly stealing a vehicle evaded capture, at least temporarily, when he drove into an underground parking garage, abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot Thursday night in downtown Los Angeles. The pursuit was initiated by officers with LAPD’s North Hollywood Division at around 8:45 p.m. when the suspect, described by police as an Armenian male with facial hair, was on the southbound 101 Freeway.   The suspect, reportedly behind the wheel of a black Alfa Romeo, was seen hitting high speeds while weaving through moderate traffic on the 101 and 110 Freeways, at times exiting the freeways only to get back on in the opposite direction.   A high-speed pursuit suspect wanted for car theft escaped capture by driving into an underground parking garage in downtown Los Angeles on Aug. 22, 2024. (KTLA) A high-speed pursuit suspect wanted for car theft escaped capture by driving into an underground parking garage in downtown Los Angeles on Aug. 22, 2024. (KTLA) A high-speed pursuit suspect wanted for car theft escaped capture by driving into an underground parking garage in downtown Los

Teaching assistant arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting students at California School for the Deaf

FREMONT — A teaching assistant at the California School for the Deaf was arrested Thursday on suspicion of sexually assaulting multiple students, according to authorities. Detectives opened an investigation after the students came forward to report the assaults, the Fremont Police Department said in a news release. The suspect — identified as Brandon Duran, 25, of Fremont — was linked to “at least three separate incidents,” according to police. The assaults happened on July 4 and July 19 in Fremont and Livermore, police said. Duran was booked into Santa Rita Jail on charges of annoying or molesting a child, oral copulation with a minor, oral copulation with a victim too intoxicated to resist, contacting a minor with the intent to commit a sexual offense and unlawful sexual penetration, according to police. Detectives are looking for other victims, police said. Anyone with information related to the case can contact Detective Ana Santana at 510-513-1091. Check back for updates.

Despite rumors, no surprise performance from Beyoncé or Taylor Swift at DNC

Rumors of a surprise performance from a top tier pop star swirled in the days leading up to the Democratic National Convention and reached a fever pitch in the hours before Vice President Kamala Harris’ ceremonial nomination. The rumors turned out to be just that. Some said Taylor Swift. Even more said Beyoncé, including the celebrity website TMZ, which cited “multiple” unnamed sources, on Thursday afternoon in stating unequivocally that she was performing. Other signs appeared to back up the rumors. Those wandering in the United Center in the afternoon heard a sound check (albeit from another singer) using her song “Cuff It.” Plus, Harris had been cleared to use Beyoncé’s 2016 song, “Freedom,” in campaign videos on social media (who rarely licenses her music). A friend of Barack and Michelle Obama, the singer’s 2022 album “Renaissance” also featured an allusion to her disdain for former President Donald Trump: “Votin’ out 45, don’t get outta line.” Trump was the nation’s 45th president. Taken together, hopes were high. Some delegates were spotted earlier in the day wearing rhinestone or mirrored cowboy hats, a popular accessory on the

Man suspected in series of retail thefts at North County outlet mall arrested

CARLSBAD, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — A Lake Elsinore man suspected of organizing a retail theft crew that stole over $30,000 in stolen goods from the Carlsbad Premium Outlets was arrested last week, authorities said. Jose Miguel Gonzalez, 38, was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on seven counts of organized retail theft and criminal conspiracy, Denise Ramirez with the Carlsbad Police Department said in a news release Thursday. Police initially investigated two cases, finding the suspects had used a particular “booster bag” to hide stolen goods. That same booster bag was seen in multiple surveillance videos being used in other thefts as well, authorities said. Man suspected of wounding mother, killing two others in Point Loma shooting identified  A suspect vehicle, which was linked to several unsolved grand theft cases in Carlsbad and Orange County, was identified with the License Plate Reader data. “The vehicle’s frequent presence near the crime scenes, coupled with its use in additional thefts at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, provided critical evidence linking the cases together. The investigation further revealed that the suspect vehicle had a travel history consistent with individuals