SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — The California public defender who sounded the alarm about Orange County’s illegal use of jailhouse informants says the number of major criminal cases that have unraveled because of the scandal has jumped from about a dozen to 57. A new analysis by Assistant Public Defender Scott Sanders finds 35 homicide
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A 34-year-old child care service provider from Costa Mesa was convicted today of molesting 16 boys, aged 2 to 14, and showing another victim child pornography. Matthew Antonio Zakrzewski was convicted by the Orange County Superior Court jury of 34 felony sex charges related to 17 victims in crimes that prosecutors said took place from
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By MARY CLARE JALONICK and MICHAEL R. BLOOD Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Former union leader and Democratic insider Laphonza Butler was sworn in as the newest member of the Senate on Tuesday, replacing California Sen. Dianne Feinstein after her death and becoming only the third Black female senator in history. Butler was appointed by
Continue ReadingBy Kyung Lah and Kaanita Iyer, CNN (CNN) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom will appoint Laphonza Butler, the president of EMILY’s List, to fill the late Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat, his office confirmed Sunday evening. Butler will become the first out Black lesbian to join Congress, according to Newsom. She will also be
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By ADAM BEAMAssociated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A new law in California will raise the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 per hour next year, an acknowledgment from the state’s Democratic leaders that most of the often overlooked workforce are the primary earners for their low-income households. When it takes effect on
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All three months of meteorological summer (June, July and August) in 2023 fall within the top ten hottest months of all time across the globe! June 2023 was the 8th hottest month on record, with an average temperature of 16.51°C (61.72°F). August 2023 was the second hottest month on record, only being beaten by July
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Two youths were injured today when a fellow student inadvertently fired pepper spray at a Moreno Valley charter school. Â Â Riverside County sheriff’s deputies were called to The Journey School at 25560 Alessandro Blvd. at about 1 p.m. to investigate reports of “a juvenile accidentally releasing pepper spray in a classroom,” according to agency spokeswoman
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A 55-year-old man pleaded guilty today and was immediately sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for fatally stabbing a semi-retired Cal State Fullerton administrator four years ago. Chuyen Van Vo pleaded guilty to murder and grand theft by embezzlement and admitted sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a deadly weapon
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By ADAM BEAMAssociated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new law on Wednesday that aims to stop other states from prosecuting doctors and pharmacists who mail abortion pills to patients in places where the procedure is banned. California already has a law protecting doctors who provide abortions from out-of-state judgements.
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Leaders of the Writers Guild of America endorsed a proposed contract agreement with Hollywood studios today, setting the stage for a ratification vote by union members, while also agreeing to officially end the writers’ strike at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.  “This allows writers to return to work during the ratification process, but does not affect the
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The San Diego County Board of Supervisors today unanimously declared the lack of federal resources for asylum seekers a humanitarian crisis, along with making several recommendations. The vote follows recent public concern over migrants being dropped in the San Diego County area by U.S. border agents.  As proposed by Supervisors Jim Desmond and board Chairwoman
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BYÂ MICHAEL KUNZELMANUpdated 11:47 AM PDT, September 26, 2023 A California man whom prosecutors say was fixated on arresting Democratic leaders and training for combat with paintball fights after the 2020 presidential election was sentenced on Tuesday to more than four years in prison for his role in the U.S. Capitol riot. Edward Badalian planned for weeks
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A 50-year-old youth football coach suspected of striking and seriously injuring a boy from another team during a game in Murrieta was out of custody today on a $35,000 bond. The coach was arrested and booked into the Byrd Detention Center Saturday on suspicion of child abuse and battery. He posted bail Sunday and was
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Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, was joined by tribal and community leaders, elected officials, and local residents Monday to call on President Joe Biden to designate Chuckwalla National Monument and to protect lands adjacent to the Joshua Tree National Park. The Chuckwalla National Monument Establishment and Joshua Tree National Expansion Act of 2023 would allow
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BY ADAM BEAMUpdated 11:13 AM PDT, September 26, 2023 SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California will double the taxes on guns and ammunition and use the money to pay for more security at public schools and various violence prevention programs under a new law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Tuesday. The federal government already taxes the sale of
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A nearly 250-pound Buddha statue worth approximately $1.5 million was stolen from a gallery near West Hollywood, according to a report broadcast today. Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to the Barakat Gallery in the 900 block of North La Cienega Boulevard, between Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, shortly before 10:30 a.m. Monday regarding
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It’s getting painful at the gas pumps again. According to Triple AAA we’ve seen a steady rise in gas prices for almost two months now. At an ARCO in Cathedral City a gallon of unleaded gas is costing $5.59. Friday’s national average is about $3.86 and the average here in California is a bit more steep
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A San Diego federal judge today blocked California’s ban on gun magazines that hold more than 10 bullets for the second time in recent years. In a ruling stemming from a lawsuit filed by firearm advocates, U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez struck down the law in 2017, ruling it unconstitutional. Subsequent appeals resulted in
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A Lancaster man pleaded guilty today to a federal charge for his role in a drug ring that sold cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and crack cocaine hidden in stuffed animals on darknet marketplaces. Adan Sepulveda, 30, entered his plea in Los Angeles federal court to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Â Â He
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By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Thursday sued an anti-abortion group and a chain of anti-abortion counseling centers, saying the organizations misled women when they offered them unproven treatments to reverse medication abortions. Heartbeat International, a national anti-abortion group, and RealOptions Obria, which has five
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