California Dolphin

Since the opening of the Donald Trump’s New York trial — when the former president’s counsel told the jury that the prosecution’s star witness “cannot be trusted” — the defense has telegraphed its principal strategy: Eviscerate Michael Cohen. As Trump’s fixer and attack dog at the time of the alleged crimes, Cohen was more central to the events spelled out in the indictment than anyone in the defendant’s orbit. He even fronted his personal funds to quiet Stormy Daniels, who was shopping a story of a 2006 sexual liaison with Trump. And having pleaded guilty to tax evasion, false statements and campaign finance violations related to the Daniels affair, along with a separate plea to making false statements to Congress, he seems tailor-made to be accused of lying to settle scores with his former boss. For the loyalty-obsessed Trump, moreover, the prospect of savaging a traitor promises additional psychological rewards. But before the jury has even heard from Trump’s bête noire, the prosecution has made great strides to neutralize any plan to undermine Cohen’s testimony. They have done so first and foremost by presenting a

BEIRUT —  People across Gaza on Wednesday sent messages of appreciation to demonstrators on U.S. campuses, thanking them for their protests against the Gaza war. Children, parents and medical staff assembled in the courtyard before Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital in central Gaza, with many of them unfurling banners carrying university insignias with “Thank you for supporting our cause.” Others brandished signs with the words “Your voices pierce the wall of silence and reach the victims in Gaza!,” “The killing of children in Gaza must stop” and “Palestine is everywhere.” In recent days, as protests and encampments have bloomed in dozens of campuses across the U.S., people in Gaza have taken note of the outpouring of solidarity, both in America and abroad. They in turn have responded — on social media, in rallies, in videos, by words scribbled on tents — with messages of support of their own. Many view the protests as a positive omen in a time of unrelenting bleakness in Gaza. At another event also in Deir al Balah, others hoped for similar protests to spread in European and Arab countries. “This was a

Free-market enthusiasts and mutual admirers Elon Musk and Javier Milei, Argentina’s new president, will headline next week’s Milken Institute Global Conference, the annual Beverly Hills confab that tackles the world’s most pressing problems with a dash of celebrity and Hollywood. The Beverly Hilton event draws several thousand people from around the world and will kick off with remarks Monday by International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. Also packed into a busy program will be Milei, a libertarian populist elected in November amid soaring inflation in his country, who will speak at lunch. Musk will close out the day talking with Michael Milken, founder of the conference and its sponsor, Santa Monica’s Milken Institute think tank. The theme of this 27th annual gathering is “Shaping a Shared Future,” a reference to finding common ground amid the complex issues that have arisen in the post-pandemic world, including war, the emergence of artificial intelligence and the need to create a sustainable economy amid climate change — employing the tools of capitalism. All public panels can be watched on the institute’s website. “The world is in transition again,”

The families of three people killed in a fiery three-vehicle collision in Burbank in 2021 that allegedly occurred during an illegal street race can proceed with their part of the case against the city, a judge has ruled. Along with 20-year-old Jaiden Kishon Johnson of Burbank, those also killed in the Aug. 3, 2021, crash on North Glenoaks Boulevard at Andover Drive were Cerain Anthony Raekwon Baker, 21, of Pasadena, and Natalee Asal Moghaddam, 19, of Calabasas. The lawsuits were later consolidated into a single case that names multiple other defendants. On Wednesday, Alhambra Superior Court Judge Joel L. Lofton denied a motion by attorneys for the city to dismiss the part of the case against the city wholly or in part. Among other things, the plaintiff’s attorneys claimed a dangerous condition existed at the intersection of North Glenoaks Boulevard at Andover Drive, including the traffic signal timing strategy. Those arguments were challenged in the defense motion, which laid blame for the wreck on the drivers of two other cars allegedly engaged in a street race. “The court finds that there are triable issues of

A person was killed by a Metrolink train in the Glendale area Thursday, and an investigation was underway. The person was fatally injured about 10:30 a.m. Thursday between the Burbank-Downtown Station and the Glendale Station by southbound train number 112 on the Ventura County Line, according to Scott Johnson of Metrolink. Information was not immediately available regarding the age or gender of the fatally injured person, who was at the Doran Street crossing when struck by the train, Johnson said. Tracks were closed between the Burbank-Downtown and Glendale stations, and the closure affected Metrolink trains on the Ventura County Line and the Antelope Valley Line, as well as the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner. The circumstances of the death were under investigation.

An Orange County jury ruled Wednesday that Buena Park police used excessive force when officers shot and killed a 19-year-old experiencing a mental breakdown, according to lawyers representing the victim’s family. David Patrick Sullivan, 19, was shot to death by police on August 19, 2019, after he stole a car from work. Buena Park officers Bobby Colon and Jennifer Tran attempted to pull Sullivan over but he tried to flee, hitting the police vehicle and a passerby in the process. Sullivan then exited the vehicle and charged the officers by foot when they opened fire. The officers fired seven shots, striking him four times. Sullivan was unarmed. According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Sullivan screamed profanities at the officers before charging them. The DA’s office said Colon told investigators that he “feared Sullivan was going to attack him, disarm him, and use his gun against him or his partner.” Colon said he saw that Sullivan didn’t have a firearm in his hands but believed he could have one in his waistband. Sullivan had an apparent suicide note written out to his family in

President Joe Biden on Thursday expanded two national monuments in California following calls from tribal nations, Indigenous community leaders and others for the permanent protection of nearly 120,000 acres (48,562 hectares) of important cultural and environmental land. The designations are part of the Democratic president’s “America the Beautiful” initiative, launched in 2021 in line with Biden’s campaign promises, and builds on the Great American Outdoors Act. They’re aimed at honoring tribal heritage, meeting federal goals to conserve 30% of public lands and waters by 2030 and addressing climate change, the White House said in a news release. Against the backdrop of Biden’s reelection campaign, the White House emphasized the role of Vice President Kamala Harris in ensuring protections in her home state. The state of California also has conservation targets. Lake Berryessa is seen with parts of California’s newest national monument in the background, July 10, 2015, near Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) “These expansions will increase access to nature, boost our outdoor economy, and honor areas of significance to Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples as we continue to safeguard our public lands for all

By Melissa Quinn May 2, 2024 / 2:54 PM EDT / CBS News How abortion access is changing in Florida How abortion access is changing in Florida 05:12 Washington — Florida health regulators issued a new rule Thursday clarifying exceptions to the state’s six-week abortion ban, detailing the treatments allowed for certain medical conditions that jeopardize the health of the pregnant woman and fetus. The rule from the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration come a day after Florida’s new abortion restrictions took effect . With the state’s new law, abortion access is sharply limited across the Southeast. The measure specifies that treatments for an ectopic pregnancy and trophoblastic tumor, a rare tumor that forms where the placenta attaches to the uterus, are not considered abortions. It also states that if a physician attempts to induce delivery to treat the premature rupture of membranes and the fetus does not survive, it is not considered an abortion. The conditions can occur after six weeks gestation and “can present an immediate danger to the health, safety and welfare of women and unborn children” in hospitals and abortion

SAG-AFTRA has tapped audience measurement company Nielsen to provide streaming data that will inform how the performers union enforces certain terms of its new contract with the top studios. Nielsen announced Thursday that it will function as the official third-party provider of streaming viewership numbers for the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The Nielsen data is expected to complement additional viewership info supplied by the streaming giants themselves. “New business models require new tools, and that’s why we’ve enlisted Nielsen,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, chief negotiator and national executive director of SAG-AFTRA. “The information they provide will give us the means to cross-check the data streamers give us and ensure employers are fulfilling their contractual obligations to our members.” The partnership comes several months after SAG-AFTRA reached a deal with the major studios and streamers to end the 118-day actors’ strike. As part of that three-year pact, the streaming companies have agreed to share viewership numbers with the guild. SAG-AFTRA intends to use the data to qualify for bonuses performers employed on hit movies and TV shows streaming on Netflix, Max, Amazon’s

Free-market enthusiasts and mutual admirers Elon Musk and Javier Milei, Argentina’s new president, will headline next week’s Milken Institute Global Conference, the annual Beverly Hills confab that tackles the world’s most pressing problems with a dash of celebrity and Hollywood. The Beverly Hilton event draws several thousand people from around the world and will kick off with remarks Monday by International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. Also packed into a busy program will be Milei, a libertarian populist elected in November amid soaring inflation in his country, who will speak at lunch. Musk will close out the day talking with Michael Milken, founder of the conference and its sponsor, Santa Monica’s Milken Institute think tank. The theme of this 24th annual gathering is “Shaping a Shared Future,” a reference to finding common ground amid the complex issues that have arisen in the post-pandemic world, including war, the emergence of artificial intelligence and the need to create a sustainable economy amid climate change — employing the tools of capitalism. All public panels can be watched on the institute’s website. “The world is in transition again,”

Sony Pictures Entertainment and Apollo Global Management have officially put in a bid for Paramount Global, as competition for the storied film and TV company continues to heat up. Sony and Apollo submitted their $26-billion all-cash offer this week, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment. Under the terms of the proposed deal, Sony would take a majority shareholder role in the company, with Apollo as a minority shareholder. The joint bid is a nonbinding expression of interest. The companies do not see regulatory approval as a hurdle to the deal, the person said, even though it would lead to the combination of two of Hollywood’s major movie studios. The bid comes as Paramount nears the end of a 30-day exclusive negotiating period on Friday with tech scion David Ellison’s Skydance Media, which recently sweetened its takeover offer. On Monday, Paramount ousted chief executive Bob Bakish, who was known to have opposed the Skydance proposal, irking controlling shareholder Shari Redstone. The company said three of its top entertainment executives would jointly run the firm: Paramount Pictures CEO Brian