County official accuses two supervisors of preventing his promotion in filed claim

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A former Registrar of Voters filed a claim against the county of San Diego, specifically making allegations against two sitting members on the Board of Supervisors. Michael Vu was appointed to serve as the county’s Registrar of Voters in 2012 before he took on his new role as assistant chief administrative officer in 2021. In a redacted copy of the claim filed by Vu on Wednesday, he alleged that on June 4, the Board of Supervisors bypassed him for the position of chief administrative officer, a seat left vacant due to the retirement of Helen Robbins-Meyer. State Bar of California seizes woman’s unlawful practice after complaint from a relative The claim said Robbins-Meyer had promoted Vu to his current position as her assistant chief administrative officer. However, Vu said he did not receive the promotion to fill her seat due to the actions of other county officials, the claim said. In the claim, Vu accused Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Nora Vargas of not supporting him as CAO because of his racial background. The claim said, during a conversation that occurred

Helene relief efforts led to about 30 mid-air close calls over North Carolina

North Carolina under mud after Helene North Carolina towns under mud after Helene 02:27 There were approximately 30 mid-air close calls over North Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 28, as relief efforts ramped up in response to Hurricane Helene , a federal official briefed on the matter confirmed to CBS News Friday. The close calls resulted from a spike in aircraft that included planes, helicopters and drones arriving in western North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The federal official said the close calls did not involve commercial airline traffic.  The Federal Aviation Administration and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, say air traffic over Western North Carolina has increased by 300% due to relief efforts since the storm cleared.  Becca Gallas, director of the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Aviation, told CBS News by phone Friday that there has been a steep increase in government, search and rescue flights, as well as National Guard flights.  “When the images of the impact of Helene started to show up on TV screens, there was an outpouring of support and love from communities and people

Stellantis files lawsuit against UAW over threats to strike

Kamala Harris makes stops in Michigan, dockworkers return to work and more top stories Kamala Harris makes stops in Michigan, dockworkers return to work and more top stories 04:00 (CBS DETROIT) — Stellantis has filed a lawsuit against the United Auto Workers union, which is continuing to fight over its 2023 bargaining agreement and the UAW’s threat to strike. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court Central District of California, claims that the UAW “filed sham grievances designed to justify mid-contract strikes against Stellantis that otherwise would violate [the collective bargaining agreement’s] no strike clause.”  Stellantis claims that the union ignored the language in Letter 311, which allows the automaker to make plans for future investments with company approval and are subject to change based on consumer demand, changes in market conditions and plant performance. The automaker, which is the parent company of 14 brands, including Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep, is seeking a court declaration that the union “acted in bad faith” and violated the bargaining agreement. “Ignoring this negotiated-for and mutually agreed-upon language in Letter 311, the UAW and its agents, including President Shawn

Ohio woman’s viral TikTok videos lead prompt search for body in her yard

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Police in Columbus, Ohio have concluded an investigation after a woman posted on TikTok that she might have discovered a body buried in her yard.  An account for Katie Santry started her story with a video posted five days ago showing her and her family finding a rug buried in the yard of their east Columbus home.   Officers responded to the property and Santry’s social media posts caught fire on social media, attracting millions of views as people waited to find out what was buried in her yard. Comments ranged from wild speculation to greetings from Brazil and other international countries. Ultimately, no body was found Friday and Santry said on TikTok the saga was “the most absurd, insane experience of my life.” Police wrapped up their investigation — which included K-9 units and an excavation — on Friday afternoon. According to Columbus police, they collected pieces of a rug buried in the yard. “The pieces all tested negative for human or animal remains and, at this time, there are no plans for further testing,” police said. One officer said when homes

Why hasn’t Newsom taken a position on more California ballot measures?

Gov. Gavin Newsom generally appears eager to expound on ways to fix California’s housing crisis. Not to mention the importance of managing the state’s fiscal responsibilities in the face of uncertain budget projections. Yet when it comes to three November ballot measures that could have massive impacts on the state’s housing market and future spending, he’s had little to say. Asked on Friday whether he supports two bond measures that would allow the state to borrow $20 billion in total for school infrastructure upgrades and climate projects, he declined to offer a position. “To be candid with you, I haven’t even had a chance to review in detail everything that’s in front of the voters,” Newsom said at a virtual news conference announcing state grants to help cities and counties clear homeless encampments. At an earlier news conference last month, Newsom had the same explanation in response to a question about his stance on a measure that would allow local governments to significantly expand rent control. It followed a separate question about whether he would raise money to campaign against another high-profile ballot measure to

Some California homesellers are letting buyers who can’t get insured pull out of deals

To protect themselves from entering into a deal that could come back to bite them, homebuyers are advised to write contingencies into an offer, so they can pull out of a deal or renegotiate the price if an inspection or appraisal surfaces new issues. But what if a buyer can’t find insurance? This summer, the California Association of Realtors began including new language in its standard purchase agreement forms, used in most home sales around the state, to allow a buyer to back out of a deal if they can’t find an affordable insurance policy. This new standard contingency reflects a harsh reality for most homebuyers: Insurance in California is increasingly more difficult to come by as major insurers leave the state. Both Allstate and State Farm this year stopped writing new insurance policies in California, citing rising construction costs and what they say are overly burdensome regulations from the California Department of Insurance. Brokers say that even before the California Association of Realtors made the insurance contingency standard, they were advising their buyers to add it to their offers or do research on policies

What’s next for avian flu? Genetic tests of California farmworkers could reveal viral evolution

Federal scientists are closely studying H5N1 genetic sequences from California dairy workers in search of any dangerous mutations that may make the virus, called avian flu or bird flu, more skilled at jumping from animals to people — then spreading. “It can tell us how the virus is evolving,” said Stanford infectious disease expert Dr. Abraar Karan. “It is a window into what is going on.” Samples of the virus were obtained by swabbing two patients with the state’s first known human cases of avian flu, confirmed by the California Department of Public Health on Thursday. While the patients’ locations were not disclosed, their illnesses are unrelated to each other. They were sickened independently after exposure to cows, not spread from person-to-person. The risk to the public continues to be low. Both cases were mild and with little or no respiratory symptoms. The main complaint was a common eye inflammation called conjunctivitis, caused by workers not wearing adequate eye protection while working with infected cattle.  The virus latches onto cells in the membrane that lines the eye. Samples of the California virus have been sent

Oakland police officer, sergeant lauded for rescuing potentially drowning man in Estuary channel

OAKLAND — An Oakland police officer and a sergeant were recognized by the department Friday for jumping into an Oakland Estuary channel early Sunday and rescuing a man floundering in the chilly waters. Chief of Police Floyd Mitchell said the “heroic and outstanding” efforts of Officer Jessica Menezes and Sgt. Frank Negrete “is a story I love to tell about the hard work and dedication” of officers. The rescue, which was captured on another officer’s body-worn camera, happened about 12:12 a.m. Sunday in the channel that runs from Lake Merritt south to the Estuary. The rescued man remains hospitalized and police said they have not yet been able to identify him or determine how he got into the water and why. Menezes and Negrete were the first to respond to a call of a clothed man in the water and saw the man offshore holding onto an extension cord being held by another person on shore. The man had been in the water more than five minutes and was obviously having trouble holding onto the cord. The strong current and chilly waters were not helping

Berkeley’s homeless population demands attention with Old City Hall protest encampment

BERKELEY — Tents and canopies now cover the lawn of Berkeley’s Old City Hall, forming an encampment in center of the city to protest a new policy allowing encampment sweeps without offering shelter. The selection of a site near the Berkeley Police Department, City Hall and the Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Building was intentional, homeless advocates say, and the encampment has only grown since tents first started popping up on Sept. 28. Ian Cordova Morales, president of the nonprofit Where Do We Go Berkeley and a formerly unhoused Berkeley resident, said protestors did not initially expect the encampment to last more than a few days but the tents have remained in place without disruption from the city. Maceo Clardy, 67, joined the encampment Wednesday after suddenly losing his unit in a senior homeless facility where he lived for a year. Sitting on the steps of Old City Hall surrounded by his belongings, Clardy felt defeated as he watched a city employee set up a tent for Clardy to sleep. Having spent decades on and off the streets, Clardy said all he wants is a

Stipends for Ontario City Council members are increasing to $2,550 a month

Ontario City Council members will see a pay raise after a 3-1 vote at Tuesday’s meeting. Councilmember Ruben Valencia as the sole vote against a raise while Councilmember Debra Porada was absent from the meeting Tuesday. “I believe it’s outrageous that my colleagues who are career politicians would ask for a raise from our taxpayers after they were just asked to pay more out of pocket in taxes with Measure Q,” Valencia said in a later interview. Measure Q passed in the November 2022 municipal election by 53%. The 1-cent sales tax increase is expected to provide an estimated $95 million in annual revenue for the city. In April 2023, the council voted to increase monthly stipends for its members from $1,884.50 to $2,405.13, a change that was set to go into effect after the November 2024 election. Under the pay raise approved at Tuesday’s meeting, the council will see monthly stipends increase to $2,550 a month after the election. Ontario Mayor Paul S. Leon, who is currently paid $5,640.08 monthly, receives a mayor’s stipend and a council stipend, according to the state controller and

It’s Willy Chavarria’s America, and we’re just living in it

Six months ago, before Willy Chavarria had even begun drafting the designs of his Spring/Summer 2025 collection, he knew exactly how he would open his show: His guests would enter a space that was largely unadorned, aside from a prominently featured American flag. As they settled into their seats, sierreño group Yahritza y Su Esencia would file down the runway, accompanied by a trio of mariachis. There, with the flag as their backdrop, they would perform a wrenching rendition of Juan Gabriel’s “Querida.” Over the years, the Mexican American designer has earned a reputation for keeping the audiences at New York Fashion Week on their toes, putting together evocative runway presentations that seamlessly blend politics, identity and fashion. His designs often draw on different eras of Chicano culture, incorporating elements of cholo street style or the exaggerated silhouettes of 1940s zoot suits to challenge ideas about what constitutes high fashion and reclaim clothing that’s historically been appropriated or stigmatized. For him, “Querida” was the perfect way to introduce a collection he titled “América.” “The song is about yearning for a loved one,” he says. “I

Donald Glover cancels Childish Gambino tour over health concerns: ‘Need time out to heal’

Donald Glover has pulled the plug on the remainder of his Childish Gambino touring commitments to focus on his health, including an upcoming surgery. The Grammy-winning “This Is America” singer and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” star tweeted Friday about the recent health concerns that have now led him to call off shows across Europe and Australia. The historic Emmy winner said he was hospitalized in Houston last month “to make sure of an ailment that had become apparent.” He continued: “After being assessed, it became clear that I would not perform that night, and after more tests, I could not perform the rest of the U.S. tour in the time asked.” In September, Glover postponed his New World tour — including several shows at Crypto.com Arena — “to focus on my physical health for a few weeks.” The “Community” actor was initially set to close out the North American leg of his tour earlier this week before heading overseas. Now, he says, “My path to recovery is something I need to confront seriously.” Glover, 41,did not disclose additional details about his health concerns in his

Seeking to woo voters, Trump puts aside his beef with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. For now

ATLANTA —  Former President Trump put aside his differences Friday with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, meeting Kemp in the hurricane-ravaged community of Evans, Ga, for their first joint appearance since Kemp refused to help Trump overturn his 2020 election loss. After shaking hands at a press briefing, Trump praised Kemp. “Your governor’s doing a fantastic job,” Trump said. It was a significant public turnaround, one calibrated to bring Georgia Republicans together ahead of a tight Nov. 5. election. Over the last four years, Trump has repeatedly tried to undermine Kemp, blaming the Georgia GOP leader for not doing enough to overturn his 2020 loss and endorsing a rival gubernatorial candidate in 2022. Just months ago, he insulted Kemp as a “bad guy.” But getting conservatives to the polls and wooing undecided voters is key for Republicans in this Southern battleground state. President Biden won Georgia in 2020 by fewer than 12,000 votes, and polling averages compiled by FiveThirtyEight.com show Trump ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris in Georgia by just 1.3 percentage points, within the margin of error. With Trump and Harris neck and neck, the

As Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz violated labor law with barb at Long Beach barista, labor board finds

In April 2022, a Starbucks barista and union organizer was invited to meet with the company’s upper management in Long Beach. During the meeting, the employee raised several concerns, including charges of unfair labor practices the company faced. Howard Schultz, who had just begun his third stint as the company’s chief executive, became irritated and shot back: “If you’re not happy at Starbucks, you can go work for another company.” Now, the National Labor Relations Board has found that Schultz acted unlawfully by inviting an employee to quit after they raised issues related to unionization. The board’s decision, issued Oct. 2, ordered Starbucks to cease and desist from implying employees could be fired for engaging in protected activities such as union organizing. The company must also post a notice of employee rights at all of the Long Beach stores from which employees attended the meeting with Schultz. In its decision, the board wrote that it has “long held unlawful employers’ statements that employees dissatisfied with working conditions should quit rather than try to improve them through union activity.” Starbucks did not immediately respond to a

Hospitals across the U.S. face IV fluid shortage after Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene’s effect on the U.S. economy Hurricane Helene’s effect on the U.S. economy 02:53 Several hospitals across the U.S. are grappling with shortages of IV fluid after flooding from Hurricane Helene forced medical fluid manufacturers to halt production.  Baxter International, the leading supplier of IV fluids to hospitals, said its facility in Marion, North Carolina, remains closed for the foreseeable future .  “Baxter’s North Cove facility affected by flooding and currently closed for production as the company assesses extent of the impact,” the company says in a statement on its website. The company, which supplies about 60% of the country’s IV fluid bags, added that it’s working with federal agencies to support recovery efforts and “mitigate supply disruption to patients.” IV fluids are administered intravenously to treat dehydration and are critical for surgery, during which patients are asleep for a long time and unable to eat and drink.  “Remediation efforts are already underway, and we will spare no resource — human or financial — to resume production and help ensure patients and providers have the products they need,” José (Joe) E. Almeida, chair, president and chief

L.A. could be ‘GOING BROKE’ after blowing past yearly liability budget in just 3 months, controller says

The city of Los Angeles is paying out lawsuit settlements at a dangerous rate, according to City Controller Kenneth Mejia. Mejia posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday to announce a “CITY OF LA GOING BROKE ALERT,” pointing to problems in the liability claims budget. In spite of L.A. having a budget of $87 million for lawsuits and settlements for the fiscal year, the city has already paid out $97 million — in just three months. Of that $97 million, $59.4 million was for the Los Angeles Police Department alone. The “miscellaneous” category came in second with $21.7 million, though Mejia noted the vast majority of that amount was for two specific incidents. “There are ~400 accounting transactions for misc. that make up the $21.7 million,” Mejia responded to a commenter. “Here are the 2 largest that make up $18M (83%). $10.5M: A fixture at the top of a street lamp fell on a person’s head $7.5M: Person lost arm after attack from an adopted animal shelter dog.” As Mejia pointed out, the $10.5 million did not come out of the budget of the L.A.

Search dogs trained in Southern California deployed for Hurricane Helene rescue efforts

Dogs that have been trained in Ventura County to respond to international disasters have been deployed to the Southern U.S. to aid in Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. Eleven canine disaster search teams from all over the country have traveled to the most heavily affected areas to lend a paw. The teams are comprised of human handlers and search and rescue dogs that were trained and certified by the Search Dog Foundation located in Santa Paula. “All of these dogs who have now become specialized working canines were trained right here in Ventura County in preparation for this moment—when they can help those that need it most,” the Foundation states on its website. New York Task Force 2 Urban/Technical Search and Rescue poses before deploying for Hurricane Helene rescue efforts on Sept. 26, 2024. (Search Dog Foundation) Search Dog Foundation recruits dogs from across the country that are rescued from abuse or abandonment. Many come from shelters and were surrendered because they have high energy and other characteristics that make them unsuitable as a family pet but ideal candidates for the program. They are trained by

Watch Saving Our Seas on KTLA 5 Weekend Morning News

SAVING OUR SEAS: California’s Critical Coastline is a new KTLA series that focuses on the importance of the Golden State’s rich, diverse, expansive coast and why it’s so vital to conserve and protect it. We will dive into the wild wonders that thrive in these waters, the fascinating fight to fight overfishing and sustain our sealife, and tackle the challenges we face from both mankind and Mother Nature alike. We’ll explore why California’s coastline is critical to our state’s climate, culture, character and conservation, highlight what’s being done to protect it, and show you why biologists, climatologists, and conservationists are all sending out the SOS… Saving Our Seas before it’s too late. Saving Our Seas is sponsored by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Segments air Sundays at 9 am on the KTLA Weekend Morning News. Executive Producer: Jacob Burch Reporter: Andy Riesmeyer

Weekend Weather: Still Hot!

After a brief respite with slightly warmer temperatures Friday, high heat was expected to return for much of the weekend across the Southland, prompting more warnings for residents to take precautions to avoid illness. Forecasters said residents can anticipate “several degrees of warming in most areas Saturday,” with conditions about the same, or possibly slightly warmer, on Sunday. “As a result, it will become dangerously hot away from the coastal plain,” according to the National Weather Service. “Max temps will rise well into the 90s to around or possibly slightly above 105 degrees in the valleys, foothills and lower mountain locations both days.” An excessive heat warning will be in effect from 10 a.m. Saturday through 8 p.m. Monday in many mountain and valley areas. Forecasters said some areas could potentially reach as high as 108 degrees, while mountain and foothill areas might see overnight cooling only to the 75-to-85 degrees range. “There is a high risk for dangerous heat illness for anyone, especially for the very young, the very old, those without air conditioning, and those active outdoors,” according to the NWS. “It will

Suspect Kills Woman Fleeing from Police

A 23-year-old motorist was killed when her sedan was hit by a suspect going nearly 100 mph and fleeing from sheriff’s deputies in Cabazon, authorities said Friday. Carlie Membrino of Banning was fatally injured at 9:35 p.m. Thursday on Seminole Drive at Malki Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. According to the CHP and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, about 9:30 p.m., patrol deputies spotted a man at the wheel of a Ford Mustang, going in the wrong direction on Seminole, near Apache Trail, and suspected that he was driving under the influence. “Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver failed to yield, and a pursuit was initiated,” according to a sheriff’s statement. CHP Officer Jonathan Torres said that the roughly mile-long chase “traveled westbound on Seminole at speeds of 90 to 95 mph.” He said Membrino was in her Nissan Versa, stopped at the intersection of Seminole and Malki, preparing to turn southbound onto Malki when the Mustang approached from behind with deputies on its tail. “The driver of the Ford did not stop,” Torres said. “As a result, the driver of