One injured, five displaced in two-alarm Antioch fire

ANTIOCH — A fire Sunday afternoon burned two houses and sent one person to a hospital, authorities said. Five people were displaced and put in touch with the Red Cross following the blaze, which broke out about 4:30 p.m. at a residence at E. 18th Street and Crestwood Drive. In a statement on social media, the Contra Costa Fire Protection District said the injured person suffered smoke inhalation. Authorities did not have a condition for that person Monday morning. The blaze also took down a power line in the area. The fire eventually grew to two alarms to protect the other homes in the area. One house was damaged enough that inhabitants were not allowed back into it. The cause of the fire has not been determined. Originally Published: December 2, 2024 at 9:14 AM PST

California’s sunny Huntington Beach makes a great weekend getaway

SUBSCRIBER ONLY California’s sunny Huntington Beach makes a great weekend getaway The view of the Pacific Ocean from Huntington Beach stretches seemingly forever. (Getty Images) This sunny California city makes a great escape from winter’s chill, complete with endless sand, splashy waves, a rooftop lounge and a perfect waterside hotel. Originally Published: December 2, 2024 at 9:00 AM PST

TikTok sensation Queen of Afternoon Tea spills about the trend

Abandon hope, all souls who dare partake of an afternoon tea bereft of clotted cream. TikTok’s afternoon-tea critic is introducing the British-born tradition to a new generation. And the Bay Area boasts plenty of places to raise a pinky. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here. Originally Published: December 2, 2024 at 9:00 AM PST

‘One of the most difficult seasons’ ends for transgender player, San José State volleyball team

A season of protests, forfeits and lawsuits ended quietly Saturday on the volleyball court with San José State losing the Mountain West Conference women’s tournament final to Colorado State. The loss deprived San José State from claiming the conference’s automatic bid to the 64-team NCAA tournament, which could have extended the controversy centered on the team’s transgender player. Instead, top-seeded Colorado State earned the automatic bid by winning in four sets. Fewer than 200 spectators attended the match at UNLV, and the fans were respectful, cheering every player during pregame introductions and during the action. Players encouraged one another throughout the match and exchanged hugs when it was over. The only bit of political activity came when Colorado State star player Malaya Jones and teammates Kennedy Stanford and Naeemah Weathers knelt during the national anthem. Colorado State coach Emily Kohan told reporters the players have knelt before matches since 2020. “They’ve knelt since their freshman year, when the Black Lives Matter movement was going on, and, in this program, we raise critical thinkers to make decisions for what’s important to them,” Kohan said. “And, for

How one man stopped Lake Elsinore from collecting taxes for a debt that was already paid off

Hundreds of Lake Elsinore residents have a sharp-eyed former city administrator to thank for taking a close look at his latest county property tax bill. Pat Kilroy, who worked for the city for 20 years and retired in 2014 as its lake, parks and recreation director, says he was quickly drawn to a line item on his Riverside County tax bill marked “CFD 90-2 Lake Elsinore.” Kilroy recognized the charge as a recurring Mello-Roos tax that Kilroy and other Tuscany Hills residents had been paying since 2007 to cover $7.3 million in bond debt for infrastructure improvements in their neighborhood. Kilroy reviewed the city’s annual report for Tuscany Hills and noticed that the special levy, called a Community Facilities District tax, had matured on Oct. 1, was paid off and showed a principal outstanding balance of zero. “I’m a retired administrator from this city. I knew this bond was maturing and I was looking forward to NOT paying $2,000 every year,” said Kilroy, 66. Pat Kilroy, a resident of the Tuscany Hills neighborhood in Lake Elsinore, looks at his tax documents on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, showing the

Santa Clarita Closes 5 Freeway Thru Wednesday

The Golden State (5) Freeway in Santa Clarita will be closed for three days, starting Monday, for construction of overhead signs as part of the North County Enhancement Project. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and California Department of Transportation will close the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 from Calgrove Boulevard to state Route 14 beginning Monday from 10 p.m. until Tuesday at 4 a.m. Detour signs will be posted and motorists should expect delays. Construction crews will install three new signs along the southbound I-5 from Calgrove Boulevard to the state Route 14/I-5 interchange. The $679 million project will continue until Thursday morning. The southbound I-5 closures will be: Monday from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday Tuesday from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Wednesday Wednesday from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday The primary detour for southbound travelers on the I-5 are to exit at Newhall Ranch Road and continue east on Newhall Ranch Road/Golden Valley Road to the southbound SR-14/I-5 Interchange. For local drivers traveling southbound on I-5, exit at Calgrove Boulevard, continue south on The Old Road, south on San

Woodland Hills Homeowners Challenges In-N-Out Site

A Woodland Hills homeowners group is challenging the city of Los Angeles’ approval of a site for a new In-N-Out, saying the business’ potential negative environmental impact on their neighborhood has not been properly assessed. The West Valley Alliance for Optimal Living petition asks a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to set aside the city’s approval of the project and put it on hold until the cumulative effects of traffic, noise and water quality are evaluated. A representative for the City Attorney’s Office did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the petition brought Nov. 25. The project site is within the Canoga Park-Winnetka-Woodland Hills-West Hills Community Plan, which the petition says is aimed at helping homeowners promote, preserve and rehabilitate local neighborhoods while balancing commercial interests. The construction area includes a vacant former Bank of America building and consists of just under 40,000 square feet along Ventura Boulevard near Rigoletto and Del Valle streets and Fallbrook Avenue. On Oct. 1, the City Council adopted the recommendations of the Planning and Land Use Management Committee and found that the project is exempt from

Amazon Cyber Monday deals you can’t miss

By Nishka Dhawan Monday, December 2, 2024 5:13PM As a participant in multiple affiliate marketing programs, Localish will earn a commission for certain purchases. See full disclaimer below* Amazon is known for having some of the biggest discounts during Cyber Monday and Cyber Monday, and it’s the best time of the year to get any holiday shopping done. Find the best Amazon Cyber Monday deals below, including sales on tech, beauty, kitchen appliances and more. Best Amazon Cyber Monday deals Best tech deals – Beats Studio Pro for $159.99 (54% off) – SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A9+ for $149.99 (32% off) – LG 65-Inch Class OLED evo G4 Series Smart TV for $2,296.99 (32% off) -Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M2) for $799.99 (11% off) – Tile by Life360 Starter Pack for $39.99 (20% off) Best home and kitchen deals – iRobot Roomba Combo for $209.99 (24% off) – Dyson Hot+Cool Fan for $279.99 (40% off) – CHEFMAN Multifunctional Digital Air Fryer for $79.99 (39% off) – Ninja BN401 Nutri Pro Compact Personal Blender for $59.99 (40% off) – KitchenAid Artisan Mixer for $329.95 (27% off) Best

Historic building in Merced goes up in flames

Monday, December 2, 2024 4:39PM MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) — Multiple fire crews have been called out to battle a large fire at a historic building in Merced. The building at M Street and 22nd Street once housed the Merced County High School and later the Merced County Library but had been empty for decades. The Merced Fire Department said they have asked for assistance from multiple fire agencies from Merced and Madera counties to battle the fire. If possible, people are asked to avoid the area and expect traffic delays and road closures. Stay with ABC30 for the latest details on this developing story. Copyright © 2024 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger announces immediate retirement; 2 interim co-CEOs named

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN Monday, December 2, 2024 4:34PM Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired, with David Zinsner and Michelle Johnston Holthaus named as interim Co-CEOs. SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired, with David Zinsner and Michelle Johnston Holthaus named as interim Co-CEOs. Gelsinger, whose career has spanned more than 40 years, also stepped down from the company’s board. He started at Intel in 1979 at Intel and was its first chief technology officer. He returned to Intel as chief executive in 2021. Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger speaks while holding a new chip, called Gaudi 3, during an event called AI Everywhere in New York, on Dec. 14, 2023. AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File Intel said Monday that it will conduct a search for a new CEO. Zinsner is executive vice president and chief financial officer at Intel. Holthaus was appointed to the newly created position of CEO of Intel Products, which includes the client computing group, data center and AI group and etwork and Edge Group. Frank Yeary, independent chair of Intel’s board, will become interim executive chair. “Pat spent his formative

Elton John says he lost his eyesight after eye infection

Elton John says he struggled to watch new musical after losing eyesight Elton John says he struggled to watch new musical after losing eyesight 02:09 Pop icon Elton John said on Sunday that he struggled to see his new musical, “The Devil Wears Prada” after losing his eyesight because of an eye infection.   John gave audience members an update on his condition at the conclusion of the musical’s opening night at London’s Dominion Theatre, which was also a charity gala for the Elton John AIDS foundation.  “I haven’t been able to come to many of the previews because, as you know, I’ve lost my eyesight so, it’s hard for me to see it,” he said. “But I love to hear it and it quite sounded good tonight.”   Shaina Taub, Sir Elton John and David Furnish speak on stage at “The Devil Wears Prada Musical” charity gala night in support of the Elton John Aids Foundation at The Dominion Theatre on December 1, 2024 in London. Dave Benett John, 77, revealed in September that he had been dealing with a “severe eye infection” that left

Elton John says he struggled to watch new musical after losing eyesight

Elton John says he struggled to watch new musical after losing eyesight – CBS News Watch CBS News Elton John said Sunday that he’s lost his eyesight and struggled to watch his new musical during the opening night of “The Devil Wears Prada,” for which he wrote the score. John revealed in September that he had an eye infection that left him with limited vision in one eye and it would take “some time before sight returns to the impacted eye.” Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Belgium gives sex workers the same employment rights as other workers

By Duarte Dias December 2, 2024 / 11:59 AM EST / CBS News Sex workers in Belgium have been given the right to health insurance, maternity leave, sick pay and other employment benefits under a new world-first law. The new legislation will allow sex workers to enter into employment contracts and benefit from the same rights and legal protections as any other employee, which also includes pension, unemployment benefits and annual vacation. Consensual prostitution was already decriminalized in the European country but until now it existed under a legal gray area. “I am a very proud Belgian sex worker right now,” an author and sex worker who goes by the name of Mel Meliciouss online, tells her Instagram followers in a video. “This is a very important step for us as sex workers. [Employers] cannot force you to do something you don’t want to do,” she adds.  A view of an empty chair inside of a sex worker’s booth, in Antwerp, Belgium. Virginia Mayo / AP The new law does not apply to self-employed sex workers but will prevent employers with a previous history of

Congress returns for final 2024 lame-duck sprint

By Kaia Hubbard Updated on: December 2, 2024 / 11:53 AM EST / CBS News Rep. Boyle unpacks looming shutdown deadline Unpacking the looming government shutdown deadline with Rep. Brendan Boyle 05:33 Washington — Congress returns this week from a Thanksgiving recess with a number of priorities to get through before the end of the year, while a deadline to fund the government looms over lawmakers.  With the new Congress set to be sworn in on Jan. 3, lawmakers are pushing through a list of to-dos in the coming weeks in the lame-duck session, while Republicans gear up for leadership in Washington next year.  But first, Congress must address government funding, since lawmakers only have until Dec. 20 to approve new spending. And although a shutdown remains unlikely, leaders will need to reach an agreement on a short-term funding measure in the weeks ahead.  Funding the government  In September, lawmakers approved a continuing resolution to keep the government funded through Dec. 20, setting a pre-holiday deadline to prevent a shutdown that has become commonplace for Congress. With frustration among some conservatives over the practice, House

L.A. County left a baby in the care of her 11-year-old brother. Now, she’s dead

The soft-spoken 18-year-old had run out of food for his three younger siblings. He told the Canoga Park High School counselor that his mother was disappearing for days at a time, leaving him and his siblings, ages 11, 3 and 1, with hardly anything to eat. He filled his stomach with water to stave off the hunger. The senior, Alvondo Williams Jr., was sent home May 6 with a cooler filled with bread, milk, sandwich meat and cereal. The counselor then called the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services hotline to report possible neglect in a home with “more condiments than food.” Over the next two days, an LAPD officer and then a DCFS social worker toured the family’s Canoga Park apartment. Both took the full refrigerator — stocked with food the school had just provided — as a sign the children had enough to eat, according to DCFS records obtained by The Times. Despite receiving several reports this spring about a family with an absent mother and gnawing hunger, the DCFS never opened a case — even after another school counselor

Raincross Rundown: The Best of Riverside in December 2024

December is a wild month. We did a little leg work for you so you can carve out a bit of time from juggling holiday duties and take some time to find the holiday spirit. FOX Theater Holiday Schedule The Fox Performing Arts Center has a busy Holiday entertainment schedule in December. From “Merry-Achi” to Christmas with the Beatles, you will surely find something to brighten your Yule Tide. Fox Performing Arts Center – 2024 show schedule & venue information – Live Nation Social Distortion New Year’s Eve at RMA Mike Ness founded Social Distortion in Fullerton, California, over 45 years ago. The band has endured the toughest of times and a few streaks of super success, becoming one of the most influential bands in the Southern California Punk scene.  Ring in the New Year at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium with Social Distortion tickets can be found here. La Sierra University Candlelight Concert For 77 years, La Sierra University has put on a traditional choir and orchestra Christmas Concert on the west side of town. It is a holiday showcase of the school’s incredible Performing Arts

This Week in City Hall: December 2, 2024

Welcome to our weekly digest on public meetings and agenda items worthy of your attention in the next week. This guide is part of our mission to provide everyday Riversiders like you with the information to speak up on the issues you care about. City Council City Council will meet in closed and open sessions on Tuesday, December 3, in an afternoon session at 1:00 p.m. and an evening session at 6:15 p.m. (agenda). The agenda includes: An overview of Riverside’s water rights, established by two 1969 legal judgments. (Item 6) An update on how the City plans to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into its operations and guidelines for using AI in city operations. (Item 7) Setting the City’s legislative priorities for the next two years, focusing on issues like insurance access, housing affordability, and community improvements while positioning the City to participate in the 2028 Olympics. (Item 8) Updating conflict of interest rules to ensure transparency and comply with state law requirements. (Item 20) A public hearing for a project to transform the vacant K-Mart site in the Mission Grove Plaza into a 347-unit apartment complex, which would provide

US will send Ukraine $725 million more in counter-drone systems, anti-personnel land mines

By TARA COPP and MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is preparing to send Ukraine an additional $725 million in military assistance, including counter-drone systems and munitions for its High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, which could indicate more of the longer-range missiles are headed to the battlefield. Two U.S. officials did not confirm whether the munitions for the HIMARS are the coveted ATACMS — the Army Tactical Missile System — but Ukraine has been pressing for more of the longer-range missiles to strike additional targets inside Russia. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the announcement before it was made public. The package also includes more anti-personnel landmines that Ukraine is counting on to slow Russian and North Korean ground forces in the Kursk region.

Hezbollah fires at an Israeli-held border zone, the group’s first strike since a ceasefire began

JERUSALEM (AP) — Hezbollah fired into a disputed border zone held by Israel on Monday, the militant group’s first attack since its ceasefire with Israel took hold last week, after Lebanon accused Israel of violating the truce more than 50 times in recent days. The Israeli military said two projectiles were launched toward Mount Dov, a disputed Israeli-held territory known as Shebaa Farms in Lebanon, where the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel meet. Israel said the projectiles fell in open areas and no injuries were reported. Hezbollah said in a statement that it fired on an Israeli military position in the area as a “defensive and warning response” after what it called “repeated violations” of the ceasefire deal by Israel. It said complaints to mediators tasked with monitoring the ceasefire “were futile in stopping these violations.” The U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire came into effect on Wednesday calling for a 60-day halt in fighting, aiming to end more than a year of exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel. Destroyed buildings in an area of the village of Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon, located next to the Israeli-Lebanese border, as seen from

Smoke seen from I-15 in North County as fire burns mulch

FALLBROOK, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Cal Fire crews fought a small vegetation fire that broke out in North County Monday morning, engulfing several piles of mulch. The fire was reported around 7:30 a.m. in the area of Rainbow Valley Road in the community of Rainbow. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Cal Fire said crews had contained the fire, which had the potential to grow up to 1 acre in size, at half an acre around 8:30 a.m. No structures were threatened by the fire, although a large plume of smoke could be seen from the Interstate 15. The cause of the fire has not been identified. Fire crews are anticipated to remain on scene for several hours, due to “extensive mop up.” Location of vegetation fire in Rainbow on Dec. 2, 2024. (Cal Fire) This is a developing story. Check back for updates.