It involves a patient the NBC4 I-Team interviewed in December 2022 about her surgery.

“It was the scariest experience of my life,” said the patient, who asked to be called Bobbi to protect her identity.

She saw plastic surgeon Arian Mowlavi, also known as Dr. Laguna, in 2019 for liposuction around her bra line. She said he convinced her she needed even more VASER liposuction on other parts of her body.

“Two weeks later, I woke up at UCI in their burn center,” said Bobbi.

On Jan. 25, the Medical Board of California filed a new accusation against Mowlavi. “Bobbi” is Patient A in the accusation. It details her condition 10 days after her plastic surgery as paramedics brought her to the hospital ”…in septic shock, with incipient respiratory, renal and liver failure…” where she needed “surgery to debride the necrotic skin.“

“They had to take everything from my stomach area, from like where a bikini top would start, all the way down to the bikini bottom area, wrapped around my back,” Bobbi explained. “So that whole area was open, and all the flesh had to be removed.”

Bobbi eventually joined more than two dozen other patients of Mowlavi in a civil lawsuit against him for battery, medical malpractice and more.

plastic surgery Jan 12, 2023

Laguna Beach Police Serve Search Warrant at Orange County Plastic Surgeon's Office

Laguna Beach Sep 7, 2023

Popular plastic surgeon accused by patients of botching procedures faces new legal troubles

According to court documents, a confidential settlement was just reached in that case. Bankruptcy documents reveal Mowlavi’s insurance company is agreeing to pay $6 million to the 36 plaintiffs.

A different court filing reveals the patients and their attorneys are not allowed to comment on the settlement, and also had to agree to “refrain from posting any negative reviews or comments about the care rendered… in any public forum, social media or website” and “…to withdraw, take down or delete any prior disparaging comments.”

In 2021, the I-Team first interviewed the most vocal of Mowlavi’s former patients, social media influencer Chalene Johnson.

“Every time I look in the mirror, I see his work. I see what he subjected me to and it’s devastating,” Johnson said. “As a woman, it’s devastating.”

It wasn’t until three weeks after her surgery that she learned of a Medical Board accusation against Mowlavi involving the death of one of his patients in 2018.  It took the board three years to investigate and file their initial accusation.

“The surgeon whose life you’re placing your hands in, you have a right to know their history, their track record. You have a right to know if your decision is a safe one,” said Johnson. “Right now, surgeons are fully protected in the state of California, they know that they are above the law.”

Her frustration with the Medical Board is echoed by one of its members, TJ Watkins, who sat down with the I-Team at the end of 2022.

“We preach public protection, but everything we do is doctor protection,” said Watkins.

Former Mowlavi patient Millie Martini agrees.

“I think the medical board needs to change,” said Martini. ” I’m a hairdresser and the state Board of Cosmetology is so on you for hair. Why isn’t it like that for doctors?”

After Martini’s surgery with Mowlavi in August 2022, she also developed life-threatening sepsis. 

“I’m noticing my incisions are splitting, they’re black, they’re oozing black. In fact, I thought what I saw was a bruise, but it was actually the necrosis.”

It was an infection so severe, it required additional surgery to remove the dead tissue. Martini says she had no idea that would result in a double mastectomy.  

And perhaps most disturbing, her initial surgery with Mowlavi came just seven weeks before a decision by the Medical Board that led to a 90-day suspension of his license to practice medicine.

That stipulated settlement and disciplinary order was actually agreed to by Mowlavi on May 13, 2022, three months before her surgery which changed her life forever. 

“it was just like shocking that as a patient and you know a client, I’m not informed,” said Martini.

Martini’s lawsuit against Mowlavi is on hold because he’s declared bankruptcy. But a civil suit filed by the Orange County district attorney last June accuses Mowlavi of “unlawful transactions made with the purpose of avoiding financial liability… transferring $13 million of real estate and personal property assets to his spouse” in September 2021 and “… concealing the transfer from the court and his creditors.” 

That suit also alleges unlawful medical practice, mayhem, and battery. But in December, the district attorney’s office asked the judge to put the civil case on hold pending the outcome of its criminal investigation into Mowlavi.

Meanwhile, Bobbi—or patient A— is still paying off her medical bills. 

“Yeah, it’s close to $2 million,” said Bobbi.

Last month’s accusation by the Medical Board detailing her case cites 8 causes for discipline, including “Gross Negligence,” “Dishonesty or Corruption” and “General Unprofessional Conduct.” The next step is a hearing by the Medical Board to once again consider revoking or suspending Mowlavi’s license. 

The I-Team has confirmed dozens of other women have also filed complaints with the Medical Board about Mowlavi. The Board cannot confirm or deny if other investigations into the doctor are underway, citing privacy issues.

The I-Team reached out to Dr. Mowlavi’s attorney, but he did not respond to our request for an interview.

While we don’t know much about Mrs. Ohtani, the Dodgers pitcher shared a couple of details about his bride.

“She’s a normal Japanese woman,” Ohtani said through his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. “I don’t feel comfortable talking about when I got married.”

Ohtani added that he has known his wife for about three to four years.

While Ohtani said his wife had nothing to do with his decision to join the Dodgers, she understands his profession, and she will be moving to the United States.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shohei Ohtani | 大谷翔平 (@shoheiohtani)

Although he said he decided to break the news now so that it doesn’t become a distraction to the team during the regular season, many hearts are broken around the world with social media users responding to his Instagram post in several different languages to express their mixed feelings.

While one Instagram user, se0hyun, responded to Ohtani’s announcement post with a rhetorical question, “Is this April Fools’ Day?” in Korean, another fan, jessie_barbie noted in Spanish, “You should’ve married me.”

Shock and sadness felt by people who wished to become Mrs. Ohtani

just heard shohei got married don’t talk to me rn pic.twitter.com/KAgw2PzBQ3

— ANIME Impulse™ | アニメ インパルス (@animeimpulse) February 29, 2024

nobody talk to me Shohei Ohtani just got married pic.twitter.com/RID2aavcFm

— Dei (@ethelcainbooba) March 1, 2024

I’m not crying. You’re crying.

Shohei is married? 😭 pic.twitter.com/bVIrmfc4T2

— Nat (@Natalie613_) February 29, 2024

Tell me it’s not real.

Found out Shohei Ohtani got married and fell to my knees like it actually could have been me

— HEAVEN HOREA (@Duretpur) March 1, 2024

Shohei Ohtani 14 hours ago

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani announces he is married

Dodgers Feb 28

Yoshinobu Yamamoto to make first spring training start for Dodgers

The short-term extension is the fourth in recent months, and many lawmakers expect it to be the last for the current fiscal year. House Speaker Mike Johnson said negotiators had completed six of the annual spending bills that fund federal agencies and had “almost final agreement on the others.”

“We’ll get the job done,” Johnson said as he exited a closed-door meeting with Republican colleagues.

The House acted first Thursday. The vote to approve the extension was 320-99. It easily cleared the two-thirds majority needed for passage. Democrats overwhelmingly voted to avert a partial shutdown. But the vote was much more divided with Republicans, 113 in support and 97 against.

The Senate then took up the bill and approved it during an evening vote of 77-13.

“When we pass this bill, we will have, thank God, avoided a shutdown with all its harmful effects on the American people,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said moments before the vote.

Biden called Thursday night’s vote “good news for the American people” but added, “I want to be clear: this is a short-term fix — not a long-term solution.”

Next week, the House and Senate are expected to take up a package of six spending bills and get them to the president before March 8. Then, lawmakers would work to fund the rest of the government by the new March 22 deadline.

At the end of the process, Congress is expected to have approved more than $1.6 trillion in spending for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1. That amount is roughly in line with the previous fiscal year and is what former Speaker Kevin McCarthy negotiated with the White House last year before eight disgruntled Republican lawmakers joined with Democrats a few months later and voted to oust him from the position.

Some of the House’s most conservative members wanted deeper cuts for non-defense programs than that agreement allowed through its spending caps. They also sought an array of policy changes that Democrats opposed. They were hoping the prospect of a shutdown could leverage more concessions.

“Last I checked, the Republicans actually have a majority in the House of Representatives, but you wouldn’t know it if you looked at our checkbook because we are all too willing to continue the policy choices of Joe Biden and the spending levels of Nancy Pelosi,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.

But Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., countered before the vote that shutdowns are damaging and encouraged lawmakers to vote for the short-term extension.

“I want the American people to know, Mr. Speaker, that this negotiation has been difficult, but to close the government down at a time like this would hurt people who should not be hurt,” Fleischmann said.

The split within the GOP conference on spending and their tiny House majority bogged down the efforts to get the bills passed on a timely basis. With the Senate also struggling to complete work on all 12 appropriations bills, lawmakers have resorted to a series of short-term measures to keep the government funded.

Republican leadership said that the broader funding legislation being teed up for votes in March would lead to spending cuts for many nondefense agencies. By dividing the spending bill up into chunks, they are hoping to avoid an omnibus bill — a massive, all-encompassing bill that lawmakers generally had little time to digest or understand before voting on it. Republicans vowed there would be no omnibus this time.

“When you take away Defense and Veterans Affairs, the rest of the agencies are going to be seeing spending cuts in many cases,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. “There are also some policy changes that we pushed through the House that will be in the final product. Of course, some of those are still being negotiated.”

The temporary extension funds the departments of Agriculture, Transportation, Interior and others through March 8. It funds the Pentagon, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services and the State Department through March 22.

While congressional leaders have said they’ve reached final agreement on what will be in the first package of spending bills voted on next week, there’s still room for an impasse on the second package to be voted on later in the month.

“We are working in a divided government. That means to get anything done, we have to work together, in good faith to reach reasonable outcomes,” said Sen. Patty Murray, the Democratic chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The renewed focus on this year’s spending bills doesn’t include the separate, $95.3 billion aid package that the Senate approved for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan earlier this month, with much of that money being spent in the U.S. to replenish America’s military arsenal. The bill also contained about $9 billion in humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, Ukraine and other war zones.

Biden summoned congressional leaders to the White House on Tuesday, during which he and others urged Johnson to also move forward with the aid package. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the U.S. can’t afford to wait months to provide more military assistance to Ukraine, which is running short of the arms and ammunition necessary to repel Russia’s military invasion.

“We’ve got a lot of priorities before us, but we have to get the government funded and secure our border and then we’ll address everything else,” Johnson told reporters upon exiting his meeting with GOP colleagues.

Democrats urged quicker action on Ukraine as the temporary spending bill was debated.

“Without swift action, the legacy of this Congress will be the destruction of Ukraine, the appeasement of a dictator, and the abandonment of starving children and ailing families,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.

The California primary election takes place March 5, and in Riverside County, three top governing offices are included on the ballot. According to the Riverside County Registrar of Voters Office, 1,374,664 vote-by-mail ballots have been issued as Feb. 28.

Nearly 124,030 ballots have been returned.

The following offices are up for election: 

• Board of Supervisors
• County Board of Education
• Judicial offices

Candidates who receive the majority of votes can outright win their respective seats. Top two candidates may also head to the general election on Nov. 5, 2024 in lieu of insufficient votes, as stated in the Candidate’s Handbook.

Board of Supervisors

The Board of Supervisors is made up of five members, each assigned to a special district. The board has a variety of responsibilities, which include:

• Enacting ordinances and resolutions
• Adopting an annual budget 
• Approving contracts
• Appropriating funds 
• Determining land use zoning 
• Appointments to boards and commissions

Supervisors’ seats are up for election in two districts:

District 1 candidates include: Jose Medina, Richard Roth, Gracie Torres and Debbie Walsh.

Incumbent Kevin Jeffries will not be running for reelection. The district has about 485,000 residents and encompasses Wildomar, Perris, and Riverside, as well as the unincorporated communities of DeLuz, Good Hope, Highgrove, LaCresta, Mead Valley, Meadowbrook, Tenaja.

District 3 candidates include: Chuck Washington, Jack Guerrero, Jonathan Ingram and Mike Juarez.

Incumbent Washington is running for reelection, having won the seat in 2020. The district includes the cities of Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula, and Wildomar, as well as the unincorporated communities of Aguanga, Anza Valley, East Hemet, French Valley, Green Acres, Homeland, Lake Riverside, Sage and Winchester, as well as parts of Valle Vista.

County Board of Education

The County Board of Education is made up of seven members, each representing a trustee area in Riverside County. The board provides educational, financial, legislative and leadership services to all K-12 school districts.

At least two board districts are up for election:

• District 4 candidates include: Incumbent Bruce Dennis and Sergei Vinkov.

• District 7 candidates include: Jennifer Mejares Pham and Maliah Williamson.

The Riverside Unified School District approximately educates 42,000 students in more than 50 schools. The school district also serves the unincorporated areas of Highgrove and Woodcrest.

Judicial Offices

The Superior Court of Riverside County is one of 58 in California. Referred to as trial courts, superior courts handle a variety cases:

• All civil cases (family law, probate, juvenile, and other civil cases)
• All criminal cases (felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions, like traffic tickets)
• Small claims cases and appeals of small claims cases
• Appeals of civil cases involving $25,000 or less 
• Appeals of infraction (like traffic) and misdemeanor cases

Each county has one superior court. Riverside County homes the 4th District Court of Appeal. The following candidates are running for judge: Jeffrey Kirk, Gerald Pfohl and Elizabeth Tucker.

Superior court judges, and occasionally a jury, hears witnesses’ testimony and other evidence and decides cases by applying facts to the state law. The California courts serve more than 39 million people in the state.

What else is on the ballot?

The county will be voting for the offices of Mayor and City Councilmembers Wards 1, 3, 5, and 7. A measure to tax up to 10% of gross receipts on all cannabis businesses was approved by city council in 2023, and it will be on the ballot as well.

For more electoral information, contact the City Clerk’s Office or call 951-826-5557.

The restaurant has been serving its guests Italian food since 1994 and that came to a sudden halt on Nov.14, minutes before opening. No one, including the driver, was hurt in the crash.

“There would have been people in the path of the crash so we’re fortunate that we weren’t open because it could have been a lot worse,” said General Manager Keith McCarthy.

McCarthy was working that night and was just about to address a suspected issue on the roof.

“I heard two loud noises and when I heard the second noise the building shook,” said McCarthy. “And I knew, oh man, we just got hit by a car.”

The crash damaged much of the southwest corner of the restaurant and forced it to shut down for three and a half months. The nearly 50-person staff was suddenly out of work.

That’s when a neighboring restaurant, ‘Employees Only’ stepped in to help.

“In the industry, we want to take care of each other,” said Employees Only owner and operator Tom Sopit.

Sopit and several liquor distributors teamed up to host a late November fundraiser helping out the Jones staff.

“We had a line down the block until 1 am,” Sopit said. The fundraiser was able to raise over $11,000.

“There was a lot of support for the community, people definitely wanted to help them out and we just gave them an avenue to do so,” said Sopit. “It was a fun night, the employees walked away with a good chunk of change and that was a blessing for everybody.”

With support from the community, every member of the nearly 50-person staff plans to return when the restaurant re-opens. In more good news, McCarthy said the phone’s been ringing all day, adding that they’re fully booked through Thursday night.

“A lot of people spend a lot of time here so I think we’re missed,” said McCarthy. “We’re lucky. A lot of restaurants aren’t as fortunate as we are.”

Jones is now open daily from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Formosa Avenue in West Hollywood.

The newly released Asian Resource Hub provides data on anti-Asian discrimination, information on resources for those who have been subjected to racism and tips on how to intervene if you see someone victimized by hate. In addition to English, the new website is also available in Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.

“We wanted to put all the data in one place so we could create a more comprehensive picture,” said June Lim of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL). “For example, the FBI hate crimes database only has data on hate crimes, which is very limited.”

AJSOCAL worked with Microsoft to create the Asian Resource Hub. Inspiration to create the website came during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Asian Americans were surveyed on whether they knew where to go for help in the face of discrimination.

“The majority of the respondents said they didn’t know that there were resources, and they didn’t know where they could go to find help,” Lim said.

The new website includes an interactive map that shows users their nearest connection to anti-racism resources.

To explore the Asian Resource Hub, click here.

There are 162 unfilled jobs for the operators, called Police Service Representatives, or PSRs, and the city hasn’t been able to hire and train new PSRs quickly enough, which has strained the network that the public depends on to send help when there’s a life-threatening emergency.

“Our PSRs are absolutely dedicated, it’s not going to fail, we have enough personnel currently to answer at a minimum standard, but it’s not where we need to be,” LAPD Captain Raymond Valois told the I-Team.

The PSRs field thousands of 911 calls and text messages each day from communications centers in Downtown LA and in Chatsworth.

Virtually every 911 call from within the City, even those later transferred to the fire department or other agencies, first pass through the LAPD’s centers.

California’s Office of Emergency Services, which sets standards for 911 operations, says agencies should answer 90% of 911 calls within 15 seconds. The LAPD met that target 54.8% of the time in 2023.

“I would prefer it to be much higher,” Valois said.

“I want to provide best service we possibly can, the goal is to reach 90%, but without adequate staffing, it’s impossible to reach that goal,” he said.

During peak times answering some 911 calls can be delayed by several minutes, but Valois said because the PSRs’ focus on life-threatening emergency calls first, the staffing shortage can lead to much longer delays for non-emergency calls, which also ring at the LAPD’s communications centers.

He said there will be dozens of new PSRs who will have begun training by March, but said it takes about a year before they’re ready to work as call-takers or radio dispatchers, so the pressure on the current staff won’t see relief for many months.

“We are not going to let the city fail, we are not going to let the 911 system fail,” Valois said. “But we also believe that we can do better.”

The city is accepting applications for new PSRs here.

Move over, Nicole Kidman. AMC has some new patron saints.

In the final three months of 2023, AMC saw revenue increase 12%, and operating profit by one measure nearly triple, compared with the same period a year before. “Literally all” that growth was tied to concert films from Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, AMC CEO Adam Aron told analysts Wednesday.

“These two movies added greatly, not only to AMC’s bottom line, but to movie theater success across our entire industry,” Aron said on the movie theater chain’s fourth-quarter earnings call. “Just these two films represented fully one-ninth of the complete fourth-quarter, domestic, industry-wide box office.”

AMC was behind “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” and “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” the first movie distributions in the company’s 103-year-old history. Those projects, both released in the final quarter of 2023, came near the end of a year culturally defined by the two pop stars’ tours.

U.S. market share for AMC, based outside Kansas City, expanded as a result of the two movies, Aron said. In the fourth quarter, AMC’s domestic box office receipts from the two releases alone beat out the distribution totals from most major studios, excluding Disney, he said.

Now, AMC’s phones are “ringing off the hook” as other artists look to the company to distribute filmed versions of their concerts in theaters in 2024 and 2025, he said.

“This is a stunning result, given that neither of these films were on anyone’s drawing board until midyear, and that they were the first movies ever distributed by AMC,” said Aron. “What a triumph for our company. To that end, it is no surprise that our praise for Taylor Swift and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has no limit.”

A cultural and economic force

It’s little surprise that the two divas boosted AMC’s financials in the fourth quarter. Swift’s venture alone grossed more than $200 million, making it the highest-grossing documentary or concert film of all time, by AMC’s count.

Fans came out in droves last year to the see the global music superpowers in stadiums across the U.S. The tours were notable for high ticket resale prices as consumers proved willing to splash out for what was dubbed the “funflation” trend, and attendees’ outfits that matched the aesthetic of each star, including friendship bracelets and black fedoras.

The economic effect of these events caught the attention of Wall Street and even the Federal Reserve. While some questioned the true influence on nationwide economic data, others cited a clear benefit to tourism in cities where the tours stopped.

AMC wasn’t the only company reporting a boost from the concerts and films this earnings season.

Competitor Cinemark said average ticket prices increased 2% and domestic concession stand revenue grew 8% compared with the same quarter a year ago. Chief Financial Officer Melissa Hayes Thomas credited that bump to Swift’s movie and related merchandise, as well as to strategic pricing initiatives.

Ride-share platform Lyft said it saw a 35% jump in rides to stadiums in 2023 compared with the year before. Lyft specifically mentioned Swift and Beyoncé concerts as key drivers, in addition to sporting events.

Disney drew attention after CEO Bob Iger announced on its earnings call earlier this month that the movie studio’s streaming platform would exclusively house an extended version of Swift’s tour. “Taylor’s Version” of the film, referring to her re-recorded albums, hits Disney+ on March 15.

“Over the past year, we’ve all witnessed the creative genius and sheer power of a true cultural phenomenon, Taylor Swift,” Iger said on the call. Audiences are eager “to relive the electrifying ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version)’ whenever they want on Disney+.”

Meme stock performance

AMC still acknowledged challenges in 2023 tied to the actors and writers strikes that brought Hollywood to a halt at midyear and pushed back movie releases.

The company reported higher revenue than analysts polled by LSEG, formerly Refinitiv, anticipated in the latest quarter. But it also posted a larger loss in earnings per share than Wall Street forecast.

Shares of AMC, once a volatile “meme” stock that captured the interest of retail traders during the pandemic in 2021, tumbled more than 14% in afternoon trading on Thursday. The stock is down more than 28% thus far in 2024.

AMC also announced it would air new, shorter advertisements with Kidman, the actress whose first campaign for the chain became a cult classic. Rather than showing the same 60-second spot before each showing, audiences will instead see one of three different 30-second commercials starring the Australian-American actor beginning in March.

— CNBC’s Robert Hum contributed to this report.

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Registered voters should have received a ballot by mail for the election on March 5.

Return ballot by mail

Voters can return their ballot by mail but must be postmarked on or before March 5. The ballot must be received by the voter’s county elections office no later than March 12, 2024.

Return ballot in person

Voters can turn in their filled-out ballot to their local county elections office or any polling drop-off location in California by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Vote early in person

For voters who want to avoid the long lines, early-voting ballot drop-off locations will be open on the days leading up to the election and can be located on the California early voting website.

Vote on Election Day

Polls on March 5 will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Locations of polling stations are provided on the ballot depending on the registered county. Voters can cast their ballot as long as they are in line before 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Moore released a statement Thursday morning, hours before he was scheduled to hand over department leadership to interim Chief Dominic Choi

“Today is my last day as chief of police of the finest police department in America,” Moore said in the statement. “It has been an honor and privilege to have served Los Angeles for more than four decades. As I look forward to my next adventure with my family, I am proud of the dedication of our people and know the future for Los Angeles and the LAPD is bright.”

LAPD Jan 18

LA Police Commission to consider interim LAPD chief at special meeting

LAPD Jan 16

LAPD Chief Michel Moore discusses why he's retiring after 42 years with department

A ceremony was scheduled for Thursday afternoon when Moore leaves department headquarters. Participants will form an Honor Cordon, cheering on Moore as he exits the facility in a ceremony considered one of the department’s highest tributes.

In a January interview with NBCLA after announcing his retirement, Moore said he is building a house in Tennessee. Moore and his wife will soon be moving there to be closer to his daughter, he said, adding that he made the decision to step down during the Christmas holidays. 

“I said 2024 is the year,” Moore said. “The two most important people in my life, my wife and my daughter, they’ve given a lot for me to do this. It’s time to say, ‘Okay, I’ve been selfish enough.’”

The Board of Police Commissioners selected Assistant Chief Choi as the interim chief of police. He is set to take on the role starting Friday.

Born in Porterville, California in 1960, Moore was the second of five children growing up in different parts of the United States, Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who chairs the council’s Public Safety Committee, said. He graduated high school in Conway, Arkansas, and moved to Southern California in 1978, joining the LAPD in 1981.

Moore earned a bachelor’s degree in business management in 1993, and completed a masters in business administration in 1999. He rose through the department ranks to become captain in 1998, first assigned to the Rampart Division. In 2002, he was promoted to commander, then deputy chief in 2004, assuming command of operations at the department’s West Bureau.

In 2014, he was assigned as director of the Office of Administrative Services, overseeing the department’s fiscal, personnel, training and other various support operations. He became first assistant chief in 2016. In 2018, he was sworn in as the chief of police, replacing Charlie Beck.

Moore told the council he was humbled by the support and proud of his time as chief.

“Nearly six years ago, I was here in front of this body with my wife Cindy, as we sought the confirmation of this council with my appointment,” Moore said. “Over the course of that confirmation, I remained committed to working with each of you to pursue a common goal of public safety and to lead with purpose, compassion and with partnerships.

“I’ll forever cherish the challenges and success enjoyed, remembering the 239 men and women of this department and their families who have sacrificed their life in the service of this great city.”

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

As it’s “very rare” to have babies on a Leap Year, new parents and hospital staffers at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach threw a special welcome-to-the-world party for seven newborns who will be celebrating their birthday every four years.

“It never gets old,” Dr. Lisa Delong, who delivered four of the seven Leap Day babies born at the hospital Friday. “It’s exciting today as it was my first delivery nearly 30 years ago.”

But not all moms are excited to give birth on Leap.

“Some of them are hoping the keep the baby in so they can avoid being born on a Leap Day,” said Dr. Kirsten Devin, who was hoping to deliver her first Leap Day baby. “I myself have three patients in labor, so I’m hoping they will be delivered today.”

The first baby born at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach was Lila Anna Herrera, who came into the world at 12:22 a.m. Friday. Her father said the family will celebrate Lila’s birthday either on Feb. 28 or March 1 on non-Leap Years and do a big birthday bash for his daughter every four years.

Kaiser Permanente Bladwin Park and Anaheim medical centers also welcomed a couple of leaplings early Friday.

Baby Daniella was delivered at Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center at 1:17 a.m. at 7 pounds, 10 ounces while the Haigh family welcomed a baby girl at 2.17 a.m. at Kaiser Permanente Anaheim Medical Center.

It’s not clear how many babies would be born on 2024 Leap day but on average, about 10,000 babies come into the world per day in the U.S.

It’s estimated that about 5 million people worldwide were born on Feb. 29, according to the Associated Press.

One of the most notable people who were born on Leap Day is Superman.

An 8-year-old girl walking to school was injured Thursday when she was attacked by a dog in a Victorville neighborhood.

Deputies responded at about 7 a.m. to the 13800 block of Mesa Linda Avenue in the San Bernardino County community after a report of a dog who bit two children. One child ran away, but the 8-year-old girl suffered multiple injuries, according to the sheriff’s department.

A neighbor ran outside to help the girl, and the dog ran off, authorities said.

Maria Hernandez said she was getting her daughter ready for school when the girl noticed the attack. Security camera video showed the dog dragging the girl in front of a home.

“I found the first thing that I found, which was my broom,” said Hernandez.

The dog and girl were on the neighbor’s front yard when Hernandez arrived on the scene, wielding her broomstick. The dog appeared to rip off some of the girl’s clothes and drag her by the hair.

“I was able to pull the little girl away from the dog, and tried to keep him away with my broom,” Hernandez said. “He just kept insisting to come after her.”

Video showed Hernandez, broomstick pointed at the dog, holding onto the girl as they walked toward her home. She told the other children to run inside her house.

The 8-year-old girl was hospitalized and received several stitches for her injuries.

“All I know is that I got attacked and my legs started hurting bad and my head,” said Genesis, who was the young girl injured by the dog.

While Genesis continues to recover from her injuries, her mother, Ronika Jones, is seeking answers.

“They always walk up and down the street and no child should be attacked by a dog,” Jones said. “Makes no sense.”

She has stitches here and on her back. Bruises all over her body. They always walk up and down the street and no child should be attacked by a dog. Makes no sense. 

The dog was captured and taken to animal control, authorities said. Hernandez said the same dog was seen overnight in the neighborhood.

The dog does not have a microchip ID. The sheriff’s department was attempting to find an owner.

Scandoval has a new development, almost exactly one year later.

Rachel “Raquel” Leviss, who was embroiled in the center of the scandal after she and Tom Sandoval had an affair, has filed a lawsuit against Sandoval and his ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix. The Feb. 29 filing, viewed by E! News, names eavesdropping, revenge porn, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress as its complaints.

In part, Leviss accuses Sandoval of recording illicit videos of her without her knowledge, and Madix of distributing the content.

“Leviss is informed and believes, and on such information and belief alleges,” the filing reads, “that the explicit videos were recorded by Sandoval without her knowledge or consent in or around February 2023. The two videos Leviss has seen depict her in a state of undress and masturbating.” The filing also alleges that Leviss has “every reason to assume there are additional illicit videos and/or photographs” she has not seen.

On Madix’s involvement, the document continues, “Leviss is informed and believes, and on such information and belief alleges, that Madix obtained at least two illicit videos of Leviss and distributed them and/or showed them to others without Leviss’s knowledge or consent.”

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“At a minimum,” the filing states, “Madix circulated the illicit videos to herself and Leviss.”

In addition to her accusations of revenge porn, the 29-year-old also details her emotional struggles following the fallout of the scandal and amid the public lashing out against her.

“‘Scandoval’ injected new life into a previously faltering series,” the filing reads. “Due to a narrative fomented by Bravo, Evolution [production company], and the cast, Leviss became an object of public scorn and ridicule.”

Leviss also alleges in the filing that she was “misled” by Bravo and Evolution “into believing that she was contractually barred from speaking out” about the events on the show.

E! News has reached out to Bravo and Evolution Production Company—both of whom are cited in the suit but not listed as defendants—as well as reps for Sandoval and Madix for comment but has not yet heard back.

“As a result, she suffered in silence,” her lawsuit continues, “as Bravo and Evolution watched their viewership explode, and the rest of the cast enjoyed unseen levels of public recognition and professional opportunity. Meanwhile, Leviss, who was humiliated and villainized for public consumption, remains a shell of her former self, with her career prospects stunted and her reputation in tatters.”

Leviss’ lawsuit comes just ahead of the one-year anniversary of Leviss and Sandoval’s affair becoming public knowledge in March 2023.

(E! News, Bravo and this NBC station are all part of NBCUniversal.)

“Three is a magic number,” or so the catchy “Schoolhouse Rock” song told us.

Fans of Jackie and Shadow, the celebrated bald eagles near Big Bear Lake, are believing in the power of three as the final day of February dawns and “Pip Watch” commences in excited earnest.

What’s the playfully named “Pip Watch” all about?

To the feathery duo’s thousands of worldwide followers, the tender term simply and sweetly and scientifically means this: We’ll be looking for tiny pips in the eagles’ three eggs, those minuscule breaks in the shells that reveal that hatching is underway, over the coming days.

Jackie laid the first of her three 2024 eggs 35 days ago at 4:55 in the afternoon. What’s so special about 35 days in the regal realm of eagledom?

That’s about the length of time that an eagle egg incubates before a hatchling may emerge, though, of course, nature is on its own schedule.

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That said, previous eggs from the duo have stayed toasty under Mom and Dad a bit longer in years gone by, with chicks beginning to emerge from viable eggs around day 38 or 39.

Will this clutch, Jackie’s first successful three-egg clutch, change the trend?

People around the world are observing the sizable, stick-laden nest, an aerie that boasts a deep bowl of forest “fluff,” and waiting with hope.

The “fluff,” which is comprised of the organic material that the eagles have tirelessly gathered in recent weeks, makes the nest softer and more egg-ready (and chick-ready, too).

The fascinating chance to unobtrusively observe the beautiful birds is made possible by the Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit nature-focused organization that operates two eagle-focused around-the-clock cameras: One located in a tall, lake-adjacent Jeffrey pine, next to the nest frequented by Jackie and Shadow for several years, and another nearby, giving viewers a wider view of the tree and the eagles coming and going.

Supporters would love to see a feisty trio of siblings emerge, but time will soon tell us what those precious eggs hold in store.

The last baby of Jackie and Shadow was Spirit, in 2022, a charismatic youngster that grew big alongside an egg that never hatched.

What will the coming days reveal? Will there be three wobbly and wonderful babies for the busy parents to feed in a week or so? Or will there be one or two fuzzy infants eager for their next bite of fish delivered straight, and gently, from the beak of their mother or father?

It is a Leap Day, a once-every-four-years occasion that possesses a kind of magic. That Pip Watch 2024 is kicking off on Feb. 29 is giving our hopes a reason to soar, much in the way the eagles of Big Bear do so majestically, thrilling people around the planet.

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Ohtani wrote on Thursday on Instagram in Japanese: “The season is approaching but I would like to announce to everyone that I have gotten married.”

He said his new wife was a “Japanese woman” without identifying her. He said he would reveal more in an interview; presumably at the Los Angeles Dodgers spring training venue.

The 29-year-old Ohtani is Japan’s biggest celebrity, and there has always been curiosity around his personal life, which he has always kept very private. His focus, and his image, has always been 100%-baseball focused — free of scandals or tabloid news.

Ohtani moved from the Los Angeles Angels to the Dodgers in December on a record-breaking contract worth $700 million over 10 years.

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“I began a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers, but I also have started a new life with someone from my native country of Japan who is very special to me,” he wrote.

He asked the media refrain from “conducting unauthorized interviews.”

The post on Instagram included a photo of his dog “Dekopin,” which is also called “Decoy.”

He wrote: “We hope the two of us — and one animal — will work together.”

The news broke in the middle of the night in North America, and late afternoon in Japan where it was immediately the top news item on local television.

Local television reports daily on his training in the United States and, because of his unprecedented success in North America, he has become the pride of Japan, and the Dodgers have become Japan’s de facto team.

Ohtani is training in Arizona for the Major League Baseball season, preparing for the Dodgers to open in Seoul, South Korea, on March 20-21 in a two-game series against the San Diego Padres.

Ohtani just underwent surgery on his right elbow and will not pitch this season. He will be used as a designated hitter, and the possibility exists he could play in the field.

In his spring training debut this week, he hit a two-run home run against the Chicago White Sox.

Ohtani has hit 171 home runs — 44 last season — and has a career batting average of .274. His record as a pitcher is 38-19 in five seasons. He missed the 2019 season due to elbow surgery and has a career ERA of 3.01.

He was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2018, and the American League MVP in 2021 and 2023, and has often been compared to Babe Ruth for his skill as a two-way player.

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On Thursday, restaurants and businesses nationwide will be celebrating the every-four-year phenomenon that adds a 29th day to February with discounts for leap day babies and regular customers alike.

Whether you’re looking to save on your next meal or your next vacation, you won’t want to skip over these leap day deals.

Food

Applebee’s

Applebee’s in New York, New Jersey, Florida and Georgia are offering a promotion for anyone born on Leap Day — any food item today will receive kid’s meal pricing.

Anthony’s

If you have a leap day birthday, you can get 20% off your birthday meal at Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings on Feb. 29. Valid for dine-in only and guests must show ID to receive the maximum discount of $20 off.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse signature dessert — Pizookies — are just $2.29 all day long on Feb. 29 with a $10 minimum purchase while dining in.

BurgerFi

On Feb. 29, BurgerFi will give leap day babies 20% off their entire purchase.

Burger King

On Feb. 29, members of Burger King’s Royal Perks rewards program can score four times the points (aka Crowns) on up to three orders that are placed online or in-app. The offer is valid at participating Burger King restaurants.

Chuck E. Cheese

Children under 52 inches tall who visit fun centers with Chuck E. Cheese Trampoline Zones can get free All-Day Jump Passes for maximum fun.

Chipotle

No worries about guac being extra. Chipotle rewards members can get free guacamole on Feb. 29 when they place an order in the chain’s app or website and use the code EXTRA24.

Dog Haus

Dog Haus app and loyalty users can get four times the points on every purchase on Feb. 29.

Duck Donuts

Get a cinnamon sugar donut and medium hot coffee or cold brew combo for just $2.29 on Feb. 29.

Hardee’s

Hardee’s customers can get 29% off their app or online order on Feb. 29. There’s a minimum $1 purchase (before taxes, fees, etc.) and a maximum $29 discount. The offer is limited to one per registered user per order and is available at participating restaurants. It can’t be combined with other offers and isn’t available in-restaurant or with third-party vendors or delivery partners.

Hickory Tavern

Buy a $50 gift card for $29 at Hickory Tavern on Feb. 29. In-store only.

Hungry Howie’s

Between Feb. 26 and 29, Hungry Howie’s customers can get a large pizza for 29 cents with the purchase of another on takeout orders.

Insomnia Cookies

Between Feb. 26 and March 3, Insomnia Cookies customers can get one free classic cookie when they purchase any pack of six or dozen cookies.

If you have a leap day birthday, you’ll get six free classic cookies in-store on Feb. 29 when you show your ID.

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice rewards members can order small Gelati and Ices for just $0.96 on Feb. 29 at all locations.

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme customers can score an Original Glazed dozen for just $2.29 with the purchase of a regularly priced dozen for one day only on Feb. 29.

If you have a leap day birthday, you can also get a free original glazed dozen (no purchase required) when you show an ID.

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Krystal

Krystal customers who make any purchase online on Feb. 29 using the code LEAPDAY will receive a free Krystal.

La Madeleine

La Madeleine customers can take advantage of a BOGO offer on the bakery’s oatmeal raisin and chocolate chunk cookies in-store on Feb. 29.

Legal Sea Foods

Get 2 lobsters for $29 on Feb. 29. Plus, enroll with Legal Net Rewards on Feb. 29 and receive 229 bonus points worth over $10 in reward value.

Long John Silver’s

Long John Silver’s has a leap day offer valid between Feb. 26 — 29. The online exclusive gives customers a free piece of fish or chicken with an order of $5 or more.

Marco’s Pizza

Between Feb. 26 and March 3, Marco’s Pizza customers can get 29% off all menu-price pizzas at participating locations using the code LEAP29 while ordering online and in the Marco’s app.

Milk Bar

Leap Day babies can get a free full-sized birthday cake in-store on Feb. 29. Must show government ID to redeem.

McDonald’s

Check the app for a Double Cheeseburger deal at participating locations on Feb. 29.

Noodles & Company

Noodles & Company rewards members will get 29% off orders of $29 or more on Feb. 29.

Papa Murphy’s

Papa Murphy’s is offering customers 29% off with a $20 online purchase using the code LEAP24 on Feb. 29.

Perdue Farms

When you spend $99 or more on Perdue Farms’ website on Feb. 29 you can get 29% off your order. The offer is valid through Feb. 29 using the code LEAP29.

Pincho

Pincho customers can score a free order of fries with the purchase of any burger on Feb. 29.

Potbelly

Potbelly Perks members can get a free cookie with the purchase of an entrée on Feb. 29 in restaurants or on the Potbelly app/website.

Shipley Do-Nuts

Shipley Do-Nuts loyalty members will get 500 extra points when they place an order on Feb. 29.

Starbucks

Select accounts will have a BOGO leap year deal – Free handcrafted drink when you buy one, or get a handcrafted drink for $3. The offers are valid until March 3, 2024.

Taco Bell

Taco Bell Rewards Members can get a Crunchwrap for $2.29 on Feb. 29 when ordering through the app.

Taziki’s Mediterranean Café

If you have a leap day birthday, you can get a free dessert (a pack of cookies, a piece of baklava or a piece of baklava cheesecake) while dining in at Taziki’s on Feb. 29.

The Greene Turtle

The Greene Turtle is offering up 29-cent wings (any flavor) and $2.29 domestic pints all day on Feb. 29 while customers dine in at select locations. The deal can’t be combined with other offers and there’s a limit of 20 wings per customer.

Tiff’s Treats

If you were born on Feb. 29 and live in a Tiff’s Treats delivery zone, you can enter for the chance to be randomly selected for a gift card from the cookie delivery service.

Tiff’s Treats will also have a buy one, get one free double dozen deal online and on the company’s website in delivery zones for all customers on Feb. 29 using the code LEAPDAY.

Yogurtland

Yogurtland rewards members can score triple points when they make any food or beverage purchase in-store or online on Feb. 29. The offer excludes third-party delivery orders, gift cards and merchandise purchases.

Wendy’s

Wendy’s is serving up free Cinnabon Pull-Aparts on Feb. 29, during breakfast hours. To score the deal, you can order in the restaurant, online or in the Wendy’s app. Customers are limited to one offer per transaction at the drive-thru or in-restaurant and can’t take advantage of the offer via third-party apps.

Wings and Rings

On leap day, Wings and Rings customers can get five bonus wings free with the purchase of 10 wings. The offer is available for in-store and takeout orders at participating locations and is limited to two per customer.

Zaxby’s

When Zaxby’s rewards members spend $5 or more at participating locations on Feb. 29, they’ll get a free funnel cake. Customers can redeem the offer online or in the restaurant’s app while supplies last.

Travel

Circle K

During a three-hour period on Thursday, Feb. 29 — California residents can get 40 cents off per gallon of fuel from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. PT at select Circle K locations.

Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge is offering a one-day-only sale. Book a stay for $29 per person per night for groups of 3 or greater. The deal is good for standard suites on stays from Feb. 29 to June 13. 

Must book on Feb. 29 using the code LEAP.

PLAY

Icelandic airline, PLAY, announced a leap day deal with $99 flights to Iceland and $129 flights to Paris, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, London, Berlin and Dublin.

PLAY’s leap day deal includes the airline’s Basic Bundle, a budget travel option with a small personal item included in their discounted fare. The deal runs today through March 1, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Staples

If you plan on doing some international travel, you’re going to need a passport. Luckily, Staples is offering free passport photos to 29,000 people.

To redeem the offer you’ll need to join Staples’ Easy Rewards Program and download the app. Log in on Feb. 29 to see the free passport photo offer right in the app. In addition, you can also earn 29x points when you spend $29 or more in-store or online.

Entertainment

Build a Bear Workshop

Anyone at any age celebrating a Leap Day birthday can get a Build a Birthday Treat Bear for the special price of $4.

Available in-store only on Feb. 29.

The Strat Hotel

If your birthday is on leap day, the Strat Hotel in Las Vegas is offering a complimentary SkyJump on Feb. 29. Additionally, all SkyJumpers on leap day will receive a free shot of liquid courage at 108 DRINKS. 

An earlier version of this article incorrectly included The Habit Burger Grill, whose deal expired Feb. 28.

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A bizarre altercation between two women at Venice Beach had onlookers do a double take earlier this week.

Video from the Southern California beach showed two women – one of them nude – using what appeared to be spiked clubs to fight one another on the boardwalk as people curiously watched. The naked woman wildly swung her weapon while the clothed woman pulled out her own bat from behind a trashcan, leading to what looked like a duel.

Phil Bourque, who works at a nearby store, captured footage of the unusual fight.

“Like, they were fighting and then people were gathering around watching,” he said of the crowd. “I mean, entertaining, that’s all I can say.”

At some point during the fight, the clothed woman threw her weapon, giving her nude opponent the chance to scoop it up and swing both of them in the air before strutting down the boardwalk.

“It looks like she was kind of winning,” Joe Ayala said of the unclothed woman.

Ayala said he’d seen the naked woman before drinking nearby and riding a bicycle along the beach. According to Ayala, it isn’t unusual to see that woman in the nude.

“You have to remember that a lot of the people that are homeless out here, 85% of them have a mental issue or some kind of trauma that has pushed them to like where their limits get exceeded,” he said. “Somebody should have helped. Somebody should have stepped it, but a lot of people were probably freaked out by a naked woman fighting.”

Although the daytime duel caught the attention of several spectators, no one called the police. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department said the crimes seen in the video are assault with a deadly weapon and indecent exposure. However, no report was filed with the department.

Orange County Unified School District recall election

Some voters will see an option to remove two conservative school board trustees from the Orange County Unified School District, which serves Orange, Villa Park as well as parts of Anaheim, Garden Grove and Santa Ana.

Who: Rick Ledesma and Madison Miner are facing a recall attempt by a group of parents, teachers and community members

Why: Proponents accuse Ledesma and Miner of being responsible for a number of controversial decisions including 1) firing then-superintendent Gunn Marie Hansen and assistant superintendent Cathleen Corella without any explanation to the public 2) implementing a policy that requires school employees to notify parents if children wish to be identified as a new gender 3) temporarily suspending the district’s digital library over books that they deemed inappropriate 4) issuing a ban on displaying the pride flag at schools.

What opponents say:  Those behind No OSUD Recall claim the campaign is politically motivated to remove conservative members of the board. They claim those who back the recall want to “replace education with indoctrination.”

Huntington Beach Measure 2

What: The proposal seeks to have only certain types of flags displayed at government properties in the city of Huntington Beach: the American flag, the POW/MIA flag, the State of California flag, the Huntington Beach City flag, the County of Orange flag, or any of the flags of the six branches of military service.

Exceptions: During the Summer Olympic Games, the mayor is authorized to order the display of the official Olympic flags for four weeks prior to the dates of the games and up to two weeks after the international event.  Other flags can be flown if all members of the Huntington Beach City Council approve the decision.

What opponents say: Measure 2 would be culturally exclusive or discriminatory, according to critics, because the LGBTQ+ flag as well other national flags for cultural heritage months would not be allowed. Critics also point out that the POW/MIA flag is not a government flag.

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Kawhi Leonard missed a 12-footer with five seconds to play, and James threw a long pass to Cam Reddish for a dunk that punctuated a stunning victory for the Lakers in these Los Angeles rivals’ final regular-season game as co-tenants of their downtown arena.

The 39-year-old James was the center of it all, hitting five of his season-high seven 3-pointers while outscoring the Clippers by himself in the fourth quarter (19-16). He either scored or assisted on 11 of the Lakers’ 13 baskets in the final period.

Leonard scored 26 points and James Harden had 23 points and nine assists for the Clippers, who have lost back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 23. The Clippers played without All-Star Paul George, who missed his second straight game with a sore left knee, and starting center Ivica Zubac, who was ill.

The Clippers led 98-77 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, but James led a 29-8 run in just 7:34. Anthony Davis’ free throws tied it 106-106 with four minutes to play, and James found Rui Hachimura for a go-ahead 3-pointer moments later.

D’Angelo Russell’s 3-pointer put the Lakers up 114-108 with 1:12 to play, but Harden and Leonard scored on drives to the hoop while James missed a pair of shots for the Lakers. But Leonard’s last shot was off target, and James found Reddish for the capper to the delight of the thousands of Lakers fans in attendance at a “road” game.

The Lakers won three of four over the Clippers this season, winning the season series for the first time since 2011-12.

Davis had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, while Russell had 18 and Hachimura added 17.

The Clippers and Lakers moved into the building long known as Staples Center — along with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings — when it opened in 1999. The NBA franchises shared their home for the next 25 years, usually facing each other four times annually in a rivalry known as the Hallway Series because their locker rooms are about 100 feet apart in the same corridor.

The era ends this fall when the Clippers move into Intuit Dome, owner Steve Ballmer’s lavish new arena in Inglewood. Ballmer decided the Clippers needed their own home to complete their move out of the shadows of the Lakers’ 17 NBA championships and the accompanying banners on the walls of the shared arena, and the billionaire quickly got it done.

The balance of power in Los Angeles still tilts completely in the Lakers’ direction, but the Clippers have made progress: They’ve finished with a better record than the Lakers in 10 of the last 11 seasons, failing only in 2020 when the Lakers won their 17th title.

The teams could always meet in a playoff series, but that’s never happened.

Reddish returned from a 14-game absence due to a sprained right ankle,

The Clippers built a 17-point lead shortly after halftime while the Lakers struggled, missing 15 of their first 18 3-point attempts and shooting only two free throws in the first half. Harden torched the Lakers for 18 points in the first half, noticeably again asserting himself as a shooter when one of his high-scoring teammates is out with an injury.

UP NEXT

Lakers: Host Washington on Thursday night

Clippers: Host Washington on Friday night.

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Bunny World Foundation, an all-volunteer foster-based animal rescue that finds homes for hundreds of abandoned domestic rabbits each year, said they are struggling to single-handedly assist the L.A. Animal Services Department with re-homing the animals.

Lejla Hadzimuratovic, founder and president of BWF, called the situation a “nightmare.”

“I am extremely distraught having to witness yet another horrible backyard catastrophe,” Hadzimuratovic said in a statement. “This was your typical situation where things got out of hand due to ignorance of rabbits’ gestation period, which is 28 days.”

Hadzimuratovic added, “When will people learn that it only takes two unfixed rabbits to create a tragedy of mass proportions and impose a hefty financial burden on Los Angeles rescue organizations operating on a zero budget? It’s heartbreaking to see many painfully neglected and severely matted rabbits living in filth, exposed to hawks, owls, coyotes, raccoons, other wildlife, and harsh elements.”

On Feb. 20, an LAAS supervisor from the West Valley Animal Shelter in Chatsworth contacted BWF seeking assistance rescuing a large number of rabbits found on a private property in Granada Hills. The owner had called for assistance after the fast-breeding rabbits began to proliferate in his backyard.

Four days later, the BWF team visited the scene and reported babies, nursing mothers, juveniles and adult rabbits running across several yards.

“Once we arrived at the scene, we worked diligently to trap and sex as many rabbits as possible. The bunnies we encountered were mainly adults, with many pregnant and potentially nursing females,” said BWF adoption manager Jane Stonnington.

The organization trapped and sexed 50 rabbits that day and took them to the West Valley Animal Shelter. Most of the females were pregnant, BWF officials said.

Among other ailments, many of the rabbits were severely matted due to long-haired breeds, which can be extremely painful to rabbits. After the shelter staff processed the rabbits, BWF took the babies and placed them into temporary foster care.

The adult rabbits have been spread out between the city’s six animal shelters as animal control continues to visit the property and confiscate more rabbits.

On Tuesday, the West Valley Animal Shelter contacted the BWF again regarding further assistance with determining the gender of an additional 30 rabbits taken from the location by animal control officers.

LAAS and BWF are uncertain whether more births are on the way before female rabbits can be spayed, and any more pregnancies could threaten to increase the number of rabbits to upward of 300-plus, the said. The process may take weeks to resolve due to the mature system of underground burrows dug by the rabbits, with multiple litters quickly hiding underneath the house.

Before any hopes of adoption, each rabbit will need medical care, spaying/neutering, vaccination, deworming and professional grooming, Hadzimuratovic noted.

According to BWF, this situation comes at a challenging time when local shelters and parks will be overrun with bunnies who have nowhere to go after the spring breeding and post-Easter dumping season.

Those willing to foster or adopt rabbits are asked to email info@bunnyworldfoundation.org, with “I will foster an LAAS bunny” in the subject line.

Recent rain has exposed rotten wood at the Echo Park Methodist Church. To make matters worse, the dome on the bell tower is in jeopardy of collapsing.

“It doesn’t look safe. I don’t feel safe,” said Wulf.

On Tuesday, engineers captured the damage at the top of the tower during an inspection, which also exposed a bigger concern. 

“As we were told by engineers, it’s not going to sustain the dome for long,” Wulf said. “There is possibility of a collapse and if that happens, then it will continue to go down until where we are now.”

Rotten wood on the level below the dome was visible from the street. It was a shock to the pastor, who said the entire tower was reroofed in 2019.

The century-old church on the corner of North Alvarado and Reservoir Streets was not only used for worship; Wulf said it was also a sanctuary for immigrants, community gatherings and homeless outreach. 

“We had to stop everything,” Wulf said. 

“Right now, we are in a temporary location at the end of the street in a parking lot. It’s not ideal or long-term, but we are looking for a new home,” said Sara Reyes, SELAH’s executive director.

“My dream and goal is for this church to be able to do whatever it needs to do in order to be a church for the community,” added Wulf.

Angel, a 1-and-a-half-year-old Siberian Husky and German Shepherd mix, has been under the care of the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center since she was found abandoned at Iglesia Park in Aliso Viejo at around 9 p.m. on Jan. 28.

“[She’s] has already had a tough start to life,” Kelly Tokarski, the public information specialist for the city of Mission Viejo, said. “She was found tied to a tree at night in an Aliso Viejo park with her seven puppies in a box next to her [with] no food, water or way to protect her or her pups from danger.”

Angel did not have a microchip, Tokarski said.

Despite the harrowing experience, Angel is said to be healthy and doing well at the shelter, being described by a “love bug who deserves a loving home” by officials at the Mission Viejo Animal Services.

“She is truly one of the nicest, kindest dogs we have ever met,” Kelly Tokarski added. “She rolls over in submission when getting pets and will crawl up into your lap for attention. Simply put, Angel is a great dog.”

All of Angel’s seven puppies have been adopted.

Tokarski said anyone interested in adopting Angel can submit an application on the city website.

Mission Viejo authorities are also using video cameras in the area to track down who may be involved with the abandonment, especially during coyote mating season.

It’s a misdemeanor to willfully abandon an animal with possible punishment of a fine of $1,000 and up to six months in jail, according to California Penal Code.

Anyone with any information is encouraged to call Mission Viejo Animal Services at 949-470-3045.

For six-weeks, they’re part of a unique workshop that teaches them about robotics and coding. The program is the only one of its kind in Orange County and is offered free to parents and students at the school, where about 85% of the student body is Latino and underserved.

The families work together on critical thinking and problem-solving by using the robots they coded and built.

Obed Ortiz, 11, showed off his robot, who he named “Bob.”

“Brilliant, Outstanding Bot, that’s what it stands for,” Obed said of the robot he and his family built, which is made up of over 200 parts.

His 6-ear-old sister, Yara, is part of the program too. “It’s fun to build and it’s fun to drive too,” she said.

The program is the only one of its kind in Orange County and its offered free to families. “I’m not a fan of legos, but now I’m in this class and we’re enjoying it,” said Claudia Saurez, Yara and Obed’s mother.

“I’m learning about coding. I didn’t have a clue about coding until now.”

It’s not just about building bots here, but also about building bonds. “When they’re working on robots, they can stay for hours,” said Yusuf Adanur, who teaches the workshop.

“They don’t want to leave. Instead of playing on phones they’re working on robots.”

The students have taken their robots to competitions with other robotic teams. In March, the parents will also prepare for their own robotics competition.

A space at the corner of Vermont and Manchester Avenues, which burned down during the LA Riots 30 years ago, is getting a major upgrade to provide affordable housing.

“From neglect to the symbol or rebirth, ‘Evermont’ is rewriting the story of South Los Angeles,” said Russell Westbrook, the LA Clippers player who is also a community investor in the project called Evermont, which broke ground in 2019.

Wednesday marked the eight-month mark of when the project is slated for completion. It’s expected to provide 180 affordable housing units for seniors and low-income households, a Target store, a college prep school and smaller community businesses like South LA Cafe.

“The property was seized through eminent domain. We ended up paying the property owner north of $40 million to really create an opportunity for that block,” said LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, who said the county spearheaded the development that brought together community investors like Westbrook and private investors like Target and government. 

“It is multiple levels of government, plus private enterprise in a real partnership to bring much-needed services to the community and I’m excited about it,” said Mitchell. 

The area had been vacant since the riots.

“They burned it down, they burned all of it down,” said Tiffany Johnson, who manages the barbershop across the street. “I’m happy to see something, though. It’s been years of just nothing and they did this for the people.”

South LA native and entrepreneur Joe Ward-Wallace, who owns South LA Coffee, will be one of the local businesses taking residence at the new development. 

“I don’t know where anywhere in the world they can have an empty space in an urban community for that long. I don’t get it,” said Ward-Wallace. “I’m excited that we are going to be part of the ‘Hey, here we are again over on Manchester and Vermont.’”

Yamamoto put on quite a show.

The 25-year-old struck out three batters over two scoreless innings against the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers, giving a glimpse into why the Los Angeles Dodgers believe the right-hander can become a big league ace.

“I was just trying to do my job, trying to stay calm and focus on what I have to do,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter.

Yamamoto opened by striking out All-Star Marcus Semien on six pitches, then gave up Evan Carter’s single before Wyatt Langford grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Yamamoto started the second by striking out Nathaniel Lowe on three pitches and retiring Jonah Heim on a flyout to left. Working with a long, deliberate windup and a fastball that hovered in the mid-90s, Yamamoto ended his outing by striking out Leody Taveras on four pitches.

“I don’t think it could have gone any better,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He got to use his entire pitch mix. He was pounding the strike zone. He got a lot of swing and miss and he was efficient.”

He threw 16 of 19 pitches for strikes, showing the impeccable command he became known for in Japan. Lowe and Taveras took particularly weak swings on strike three.

Ohtani was cheering the performance but is apparently a tough critic. When Yamamoto was asked how Ohtani judged the outing, the pitcher grinned and said “so-so.”

Roberts said the two players quickly were building a close relationship.

“What a good teammate,” Roberts said. “It’s something he didn’t have to do, clearly, but he wanted to come here and support his teammate.”

Yamamoto has been the less-publicized part of a $1 billion offseason investment by the Dodgers into a pair of Japanese stars. Los Angeles signed Shohei Ohtani to a record $700 million, 10-year contract in December while Yamamoto finalized his $325 million, 12-year deal a few weeks later.

“I’ve got all support from my Dodgers teammates and they’ve helped me get acclimated,” Yamamoto said. “It’s been easy.”

Ohtani has played six seasons in Major League Baseball with the Los Angeles Angels, winning two AL MVP awards and making three All-Star teams. Yamamoto is making his debut in the U.S. this season, though his recent performances in Japan have been phenomenal.

Listed at 5-foot-10, Yamamoto has been Japan’s most dominant pitchers over the past several seasons, with a 16-6 record and a 1.21 ERA for the Orix Buffaloes in 2023. He has a career 1.72 ERA in Japan in nearly 1,000 innings. His six-pitch repertoire includes a dependable splitter, an effective four-seam fastball and a vicious curveball.

The Dodgers believe he has the talent to be a staff ace in the U.S. and his presence will be vital in 2024 while Ohtani — a rare two-way star — recovers from an elbow injury. Ohtani will hit in 2024 but isn’t expected to pitch until 2025.

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The ruling, issued by Circuit Court Judge Tracie Porter on Wednesday, agreed with arguments made by Colorado’s Supreme Court when it kicked Trump off the ballot in that state. Porter’s ruling followed a determination by Illinois’ State Board of Elections in January that Trump’s name should remain on the ballot, but also recommended that a court make the ultimate decision in the case.

That Colorado case is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, with a ruling expected before that state’s primary election. Porter said in her ruling that the order would be put on hold if the Supreme Court’s ruling was “inconsistent” with hers.

She also put the ruling on hold until at least Friday due to an anticipated appeal in Illinois court.

The Illinois Republican Party issued the following statement in reaction to the ruling:

“As we’ve stated repeatedly, the Illinois Republican Party believes the people, not activist courts or unelected bureaucrats, should choose who represents them in the White House. This decision to remove President Trump from the ballot without due process is an affront to democracy and limits the voting rights of Illinois citizens,” Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy said.

The former president’s spokesperson Steven Cheung promised a swift appeal to the ruling.

“Democrat front-groups continue to attempt to interfere in the election and deny President Trump his rightful place on the ballot,” the statement read. “Today, an activist Democrat judge in Illinois summarily overruled the state’s board of elections and contradicted earlier decisions from dozens of other state and federal jurisdictions. This is an unconstitutional ruling that we will quickly appeal. In the meantime, President Trump remains on the Illinois ballot, is dominating the polls, and will Make America Great Again!” 

The Supreme Court heard arguments in the Colorado case in early February, and according to legal experts cited by The New York Times and other publications, there was skepticism in the arguments made to keep the former president off the ballot.

The Illinois ruling repeatedly cited findings from the Colorado case, saying that Trump’s actions in the lead-up to, and on the day of Jan. 6, 2021, should be construed as insurrection, making him ineligible to hold the office of president.

Colorado’s Supreme Court concluded “that because President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of president under Section Three, it would be a wrongful act under the Election Code for the secretary to list President Trump as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot.”

Trump’s attorneys have disputed that characterization in appeals, saying that his actions fell well short of the 14^th Amendment’s definition of insurrection. They cited tweets the president had sent calling for peace in Washington amid the chaos at the Capitol, but Porter dismissed those remarks as “plausible deniability” of potential crimes.

“This tweet could not possibly have had any other intended purposes besides to fan the flames. The hearing office determines that these calls to peace via social media, coming after an inflammatory tweet are the product of trying to give himself plausible deniability,” the ruling read.

She argued that the Capitol riot’s purpose was “the furtherance of the president’s plan to disrupt the electoral count taking place before the joint meeting of Congress,” and therefore qualified as insurrection under the Constitution.

Beckham said a SoCal Edison repair tech came to his home last fall and found the problem: the company was billing him for his neighbor’s meter. 

“I said, ‘Well, when is this going to be fixed? When am I going to be charged for my actual meter?’”

Beckham never got an answer. Months went by and SoCal Edison didn’t fix the problem. Beckham said his finances are tight and he can’t afford those big bills; he lives on social security. Even worse, he’s fighting a bigger battle: brain cancer. And he said the stress of it all is too much. 

“I was pleading with Edison. I started to tell one representative, ‘I’m dealing with brain cancer.’ And she just cut me off. And said ‘Sir, I don’t know what you expect me to do,’” Beckham said.

Finally, Beckham turned to the I-Team for help. We contacted SoCal Edison and it’s refunding John what he overpaid: $608. It’s also fixing the meter.

“This is something they knew about, they could have corrected a lot sooner, and I was just being ignored, basically,” he said.

The I-Team asked SoCal Edison why it took so long to fix Beckham’s problem. 

“So what I can tell you is we take our customers’ needs very seriously and apologize that it took longer than we’d like to resolve this customer’s matter,” said spokesperson Reggie Kumar. 

We had more questions for SoCal Edison, but Kumar just repeated himself. 

“So again, we take our customers’ needs seriously and apologize that it took longer than we’d like to resolve this customer’s matter,” he said.

We didn’t get any answers. But we did get Beckham’s money back. 

“I’m very lucky. Because if it weren’t for you, nothing would have been done. And I mean nothing,” he said. 

Lewis, who revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2023, died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday night after suffering a heart attack, according to his publicist Jeff Abraham.

A regular performer in clubs and on late-night TV for decades, Lewis also played Marty Gold, the romantic co-lead opposite Jamie Lee Curtis, in the ABC series “Anything But Love” and the reliably neurotic Prince John in “Mel Brooks’ Robin Hood: Men In Tights.” He re-introduced himself to a new generation opposite Larry David in HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” kvetching regularly.

“I’m paranoid about everything in my life. Even at home. On my stationary bike, I have a rear-view mirror, which I’m not thrilled about,” he once joked onstage. To Jimmy Kimmel he said: “This morning, I tried to go to bed. I couldn’t sleep. I counted sheep but I only had six of them and they all had hip replacements.”

Comedy Central named Lewis one of the top 50 stand-up comedians of all time and he earned a berth in GQ magazine’s list of the “20th Century’s Most Influential Humorists.” He lent his humor for charity causes, including Comic Relief and Comedy Gives Back.

“Watching his stand-up is like sitting in on a very funny and often dark therapy session,” the Los Angeles Times said in 2014. The Philadelphia’s City Paper called him “the Jimi Hendrix of monologists.” Mel Brooks once said he “may just be the Franz Kafka of modern-day comedy.”

Following his graduation from The Ohio State University in 1969, the New York-born Lewis began a stand-up career, honing his craft on the circuit with other contemporaries also just starting out like Jay Leno, Freddie Prinze and Billy Crystal.

He recalled Rodney Dangerfield hiring him for $75 to fill in at his New York club, Dangerfield’s. “I had a lot of great friends early on who believed in me, and I met pretty iconic people who really helped me, told me to keep working on my material. And I never looked back,” he told The Gazette of Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2010.

Unlike contemporary Robin Williams, Lewis allowed audiences into his world and melancholy, pouring his torment and pain onto the stage. Fans favorably compared him to the ground-breaking comedian Lenny Bruce.

“I take great pains not to be mean-spirited,” Lewis told The Palm Beach Post in 2007. “I don’t like to take real handicaps that people have to overcome with no hope in sight. I steer clear of that. That’s not funny to me. Tragedy is funny to other humorists, but it’s not to me, unless you can make a point that’s helpful.”

Singer Billy Joel has said he was referring to Lewis when he sang in “My Life” of an old friend who “bought a ticket to the West Coast/Now he gives them a stand-up routine in L.A.”

In 1989 at Carnegie Hall, he appeared with six feet of yellow legal sheets filled with material and taped together for a 2½-hour set that led to two standing ovations. The night was “the highlight of my career,” he told The Washington Post in 2020.

Lewis told GQ his signature look came incidentally, saying his obsession with dressing in black came from watching the television Western “Have Gun – Will Travel,” with a cowboy in all-black, when he was a kid. He also popularized the term “from hell” — as in “the date from hell” or “the job from hell.”

“That just came out of my brain one day and I kept repeating it a lot for some reason. Same thing with the black clothes. I just felt really comfortable from the early ’80s on and I never wore anything else. I never looked back.”

After getting sober from drugs and alcohol in 1994, Lewis put out his 2008 memoir, “The Other Great Depression” — a collection of fearless, essay style riffs on his life — and “Reflections from Hell.”

Lewis was the youngest of three siblings — his brother was older than him by six years, and his sister by nine. His father died young and his mother had emotional problems. “She didn’t get me at all. I owe my career to my mother. I should have given her my agent’s commission,” he told The Washington Post in 2020.

“Looking back on it now, as a full-blown, middle-aged, functioning anxiety collector, I can admit without cringing that my parents had their fair share of tremendous qualities, yet, being human much of the day, had more than just a handful of flaws as well,” he wrote in his memoir.

Lewis quickly found a new family performing at New York’s Improv. “I was 23, and all sorts of people were coming in and out and watching me, like Steve Allen and Bette Midler. David Brenner certainly took me under his wing. To drive home to my little dump in New Jersey often knowing that Steve Allen said, ‘You got it,’ that validation kept me going in a big, big way.”

He had a cameo in “Leaving Las Vegas,” which led to his first major dramatic role as Jimmy Epstein, an addict fighting for his life in the indie film, “Drunks.” He played Don Rickles’ son on one season of “Daddy Dearest” and a rabbi on “7th Heaven.”

Lewis’ recurring role on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” can be credited directly to his friendship with fellow comedian, producer and series star Larry David. Both native Brooklynites — born in the same Brooklyn hospital — they first met and became friends as rivals while attending the same summer camp at age 13. He was cast from the beginning, bickering with David on unpaid bills and common courtesies.

“Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital and for most of my life he’s been like a brother to me,” David wrote in a statement Wednesday, shared by HBO. “He had that rare combination of being the funniest person and also the sweetest. But today he made me sob and for that I’ll never forgive him.”

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Lapinsky.

Jofama Coleman and Abel Soto were 20 and 15 years old, respectively, when they were arrested and charged in connection with the May 10, 2003, shooting that killed Jose “Chino” Robles, 16. Prosecutors said at the time the killing was carried out in retaliation for an earlier confrontation that allegedly involved Robles and Coleman’s teen brother.

In 2007, Soto was sentenced to 72 years to life in prison for allegedly firing the deadly shots. District Attorney George Gascón said Wednesday the conviction came “despite the fact that no one could identify the shooter at the time of the shooting.'”

Coleman was sentenced to 25 years to life after being convicted of driving the white van that was used in the drive-by shooting.

“The witness that identified Mr. Coleman as the driver recanted his trial testimony in 2023, saying he had never actually seen Mr. Coleman driving the van,” Gascón said. “From the beginning, Mr. Coleman and Mr. Soto maintained their innocence, declaring it through every stage of the litigation.”

Following a petition last year by their attorney, Ellen Eggers, the case was reviewed. In January, a judge declared Soto factually innocent of the crime. Coleman was declared factually innocent on Tuesday.

“This case is a tragedy of many proportions. Our duty is not only to correct he wrongs of the past but to ensure that fairness prevails and that we learn from our past mistakes,” Gascón said.

Coleman, speaking alongside Gascón at a downtown news conference, said that now he is free, he hopes to become a lawyer “to help other innocent people in prison.”

“My journey has been one of unimaginable hardship, but it is also a testament to the strength of the human spirit, the power of resilience and unwavering support of those who believed in justice,” Coleman said. “I found myself incarcerated for a crime I did not commit. The weight of that injustice was a burden that I carried every day but refused to let it define me.

“Behind prison walls I faced challenges that tested my resolve, but with determination and the support of remarkable individuals and organizations, I emerged victorious.”

The year is packed with unseen portals, the interesting dates that provide an additional and uplifting pivot to whatever comes next.

You might call March 1 such a doorway. It isn’t officially spring, true, but we’re ready for spring, and flowers are blooming, so the date serves as a gateway to the season. It is also just before Daylight Saving Time begins, and right around the time that winter rains of Southern California seem to slowly abate, if the winds are blowing our way.

If you already can sense the start of March and its brighter character, here’s some surplus sunshine for you: One of our region’s biggest summer spectaculars is ready to make an anticipatory appearance on March 1.

It’s the OC Fair, and while the historical hullabaloo will not yet be open, fans can secure their tickets to the 2024 spectacular.

The upcoming dates are July 19 through Aug. 18, and, as in years gone by, the Costa Mesa event will be open Wednesdays through Sundays.

But a few things have changed a bit in recent years, and if you haven’t been in a while you’ll want to keep in mind that, and this is important, you’ll need to buy your ticket in advance.

Again: Advance admission is a must now at the OC Fair. A dozen days sold out in 2023, keep in mind, so honing on the date you’d like to go well before arriving is key.

There are a couple of ways to go when considering how often you’ll attend the beloved county fair: A ticket for one day is still a popular choice while the Every Day Passport, a newer offering, “gives fairgoers access every day — and any day — of the Fair with no reservations or restrictions for one price of $60 and sales will be limited to 10,000 passports.”

Eager to enjoy a show at Pacific Amphitheatre? Keep in mind that concerts at the venue, as well as events at The Hangar and Action Sports Arena, are separately ticketed.

There is a lot to anticipate at the month-long extravaganza, including “The Art of Music” exhibit, a show filled with album covers.

And, of course, racing piglets, sparkling rides, games aplenty, quirky competitions, and other cherished traditions will play roles in the fair.

The OC Fair is, in fact, “Always a Good Time!,” which just happens to be the cheerful theme of the 2024 event.

General manager Les Snead and the Rams front office have nearly $40 million in cap space to work with after the NFL announced an unprecedented cap spike. That’s more than enough to chase a top free agent or two this spring while aiming to retain some of their contributors from 2023.

They will also be equipped with something they haven’t had since 2016: a first-round draft pick. After shelling out their last eight first-rounders in trades that netted the team Jared Goff, Brandin Cooks, Matthew Stafford and Jalen Ramsey – and, in turn, a Super Bowl title – the Rams will pick 19th at the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit on April 25.

Who can Snead and the Rams look to add before they’re on the clock? Here are five potential free agent fits:

Brian Burns, EDGE, Carolina Panthers

Part of the reason the Rams have a first-round pick this year is that a reported trade proposal to the Carolina Panthers for edge rusher Brian Burns was rejected in 2022. L.A. reportedly offered two first-rounders and a second-rounder, but Carolina opted to hold onto their two-time Pro Bowler.

Now, the Rams can potentially reel in Burns without using any draft capital. They will have to pay a premium price, though, after Burns picked up eight sacks in 2023 and is entering what should be the prime of his career at 25 years old.

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Darnell Mooney, WR, Chicago Bears

Darnell Mooney may not be the top wide receiver in this year’s free agency class, but he may be the best fit for what the Rams need on the outside.

With Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua drawing a majority of Matthew Stafford’s targets, the Rams could use a wideout to take the top off the defense. Mooney is two years removed from a 1,000-yard season with the Chicago Bears and could step in as L.A.’s top vertical threat.

Michael Onwenu, G, New England Patriots

Among players from the 2023 roster that are set to hit free agency, some of the most important decisions for the Rams’ front office will come on the offensive line. Guard Kevin Dotson could leave after proving himself once he landed in L.A. late last offseason. Head coach Sean McVay has also said he hopes to keep center Coleman Shelton, who can void the final year of his contract and become a free agent.

Should Dotson or Shelton walk, the Rams could turn to Michael Onwenu to fill the void. He’s a free agent after spending his first four NFL seasons with the New England Patriots, and he reportedly informed teams that he has fired his agents. Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf called Onwenu a “core player” in New England and said the franchise will attempt to keep him.

Kyle Dugger, S, New England Patriots

The Rams should be keeping tabs on another key Patriots free agent.

There are plenty of available safeties that could upgrade the Rams’ secondary. Darnell Savage of the Green Bay Packers, Xavier McKinney of the New York Giants and Dugger of the Patriots are among those options, with Dugger being a hard-hitting hybrid player at the second and third levels.

The Rams’ interest in Dugger – or Savage or McKinney – will come down to how much they are willing to spend on a safety.

Gerald Everett, TE, Los Angeles Chargers

The Rams already have Tyler Higbee under contract through 2025, but the team has very little else at the tight end position. Higbee caught 47 passes in 2023 compared to 15 between the rest of the team’s tight ends.

This is where a reunion with Gerald Everett could make sense. Everett started his career with the Rams and spent the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, so he wouldn’t have to move far to become a second TE option with the Rams coming off consecutive 50-plus-catch seasons.

There are more than 400 drop boxes in the county, part of a program that started in 2017 to provide voters with another option to return their election ballots.

Click here for a searchable map of ballot drop boxes in LA County

Here’s what to know about ballot drop boxes.

When are ballot drop boxes available?

Ballot drop boxes are available to voters, starting 29 days before Election Day. The drop boxes close at 8 p.m. on Election Day — that’s March 5.

How are ballot drop boxes secured?

The boxes are bolted securely into cement or chained in place and designed to meet security standards provided by the state. Ballots are picked up regularly by two county election workers. Problems or issues can be reported here.

Tampering with a drop box is a felony under California elections code.

decision 2024 Feb 23

Hundreds of vote centers open across LA County. Here's where to find the nearest one

California primary Feb 27

How to track your 2024 California Primary election ballot

How to use a ballot drop box

After finding a ballot drop box near you using this map, place your completed ballot card inside the official return envelope. Seal the envelope. Be sure to sign and date the back of the envelope. Place inside the box.

Click here to check whether your ballot was returned to the county elections office.

Voting options in Los Angeles County

Every registered and active California voter receives a vote-by-mail ballot. That ballot can be completed and mailed back to a county elections office, or dropped off in-person and a ballot drop box or vote center. Vote centers are open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through March 4 and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

McConnell, who turned 82 last week, was set to announce his decision Wednesday in the well of the Senate, a place where he looked in awe from its back benches in 1985 when he arrived and where he grew increasingly comfortable in the front row seat afforded the party leaders.

“One of life’s most underappreciated talents is to know when it’s time to move on to life’s next chapter,” he said in prepared remarks obtained by The Associated Press. “So I stand before you today … to say that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate.”

His decision punctuates a powerful ideological transition underway in the Republican Party, from Ronald Reagan’s brand of traditional conservatism and strong international alliances, to the fiery, often isolationist populism of former President Donald Trump.

McConnell said he plans to serve out his Senate term, which ends in January 2027, “albeit from a different seat in the chamber.” Aides said McConnell’s announcement about the leadership post was unrelated to his health. The Kentucky senator had a concussion from a fall last year and two public episodes where his face briefly froze while he was speaking.

“As I have been thinking about when I would deliver some news to the Senate, I always imagined a moment when I had total clarity and peace about the sunset of my work,” McConnell said in his prepared remarks. “A moment when I am certain I have helped preserve the ideals I so strongly believe. It arrived today.”

The senator had been under increasing pressure from the restive, and at times hostile wing of his party that has aligned firmly with Trump. The two have been estranged since December 2020, when McConnell refused to abide Trump’s lie that the election of Democrat Joe Biden as president was the product of fraud.

But while McConnell’s critics within the GOP conference had grown louder, their numbers had not grown appreciably larger, a marker of McConnell’s strategic and tactical skill and his ability to understand the needs of his fellow Republican senators.

McConnell gave no specific reason for the timing of his decision, which he has been contemplating for months, but he cited the recent death of his wife’s youngest sister as a moment that prompted introspection. “The end of my contributions are closer than I’d prefer,” McConnell said.

Republican Party Sep 6, 2023

Facing health questions, McConnell vows to finish his term ending in 2027

Mitch McConnell Aug 30, 2023

Sen. Mitch McConnell appears to freeze again at a Kentucky event

But his remarks were also light at times as he talked about the arc of his Senate career.

He noted that when he arrived in the Senate, “I was just happy if anybody remembered my name.” During his campaign in 1984, when Reagan was visiting Kentucky, the president called him “Mitch O’Donnell.”

McConnell endorsed Reagan’s view of America’s role in the world and the senator has persisted in face of opposition, including from Trump, that Congress should include a foreign assistance package that includes $60 billion for Ukraine.

“I am unconflicted about the good within our country and the irreplaceable role we play as the leader of the free world,” McConnell said.

Against long odds he managed to secure 22 Republican votes for the package now being considered by the House.

“Believe me, I know the politics within my party at this particular moment in time. I have many faults. Misunderstanding politics is not one of them,” McConnell said. “That said, I believe more strongly than ever that America’s global leadership is essential to preserving the shining city on a hill that Ronald Reagan discussed. For as long as I am drawing breath on this earth I will defend American exceptionalism.”

Trump has pulled the party hard to the ideological right, questioning longtime military alliances such as NATO, international trade agreements and pushing for a severe crackdown on immigration, all the while clinging to the falsehood that the election was stolen from him in 2020.

McConnell and Trump had worked together in Trump’s first term, remaking the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary in a far more conservative image, and on tax legislation. But there was also friction from the start, with Trump frequently sniping at the senator.

Their relationship has essentially been over since Trump refused to accept the results of the Electoral College. But the rupture deepened dramatically after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. McConnell assigned blame and responsibility to Trump and said that he should be held to account through the criminal justice system for his actions.

McConnell’s critics insist he could have done more, including voting to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial. McConnell did not, arguing that since Trump was no longer in office, he could not be subject to impeachment.

Rather than fade from prominence after the Capitol riot, Trump continued to assert his control over the party, and finds himself on a clear glidepath to the Republican nomination. Other members of the Republican Senate leadership have endorsed Trump. McConnell has not, and that has drawn criticism from other Republican senators.

McConnell’s path to power was hardly linear, but from the day he walked onto the Senate floor in 1985 and took his seat as the most junior Republican senator, he set his sights on being the party leader. What set him apart was that so many other Senate leaders wanted to run for president. McConnell wanted to run the Senate. He lost races for lower party positions before steadily ascending, and finally became party leader in 2006 and has won nine straight elections.

He most recently beat back a challenge led by Sen. Rick Scott of Florida last November.

McConnell built his power base by a combination of care and nurturing of his members, including understanding their political imperatives. After seeing the potential peril of a rising Tea Party, he also established a super political action committee, The Senate Leadership Fund, which has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in support of Republican candidates.

Despite the concerns about his health, colleagues have said in recent months that they believe he has recovered. McConnell was not impaired cognitively, but did have some additional physical limitations.

“I love the Senate,” he said in his prepared remarks. “It has been my life. There may be more distinguished members of this body throughout our history, but I doubt there are any with more admiration for it.”

But, he added, “Father Time remains undefeated. I am no longer the young man sitting in the back, hoping colleagues would remember my name. It is time for the next generation of leadership.”

There would be a time to reminisce, he said, but not today.

“I still have enough gas in the tank to thoroughly disappoint my critics and I intend to do so with all the enthusiasm which they have become accustomed.”

A day after Shoehi Ohtani played in his first Cactus League game for the Dodgers, smacking a two-run home run in his third at-bat, Japanese pitching star Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to make his first start on the mound for LA.

Los Angeles Dodgers Feb 21

Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto learn Spanish from teammate in wholesome video

Los Angeles Dodgers Dec 21, 2023

MLB world reacts as Dodgers commit more than $1 billion to land Yamamoto and Ohtani

Yamamoto will face the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers in Surprise, Arizona. First pitch from Surprise Stadium is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. PST. The game will be televised by SportsNet LA.

The Dodgers signed the 25-year-old right-hander to a 12-year, $325 million contract in December. The deal is the largest for a pitcher in terms of years and value in Major League Baseball history. They also paid a $50.6 million posting fee to Yamamoto’s previous team, the Orix Buffaloes, ESPN reported.

Yamamoto was the MVP of Japan’s Pacific League and winner of the league’s Eiji Sawamura Award as its best starting pitcher each of the past three seasons.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said last week the team hopes to have Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow start the two regular-season games in South Korea against the San Diego Padres on March 20-21.

On Tuesday, two-time MPV Ohtani played in his first spring training game since signing a record $700 million, 10-year contract. The 9-6 win over the White Sox marked the first game for Ohtani since right elbow surgery in September that will keep him from pitching this year.

He was the designated hitter on Tuesday, a role he’s expected to fill all season. Ohtani batted second in the lineup, sandwiched between former MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.

City News Service contributed to this report.

A fast-moving wildfire burning through the Texas Panhandle has now become the largest blaze in state history after churning through a total of 1,075,000 acres across Texas and Oklahoma, forcing evacuations and triggering power outages as firefighters struggled to contain the widening swath of flames growing with alarming speed.

The Texas A&M Forest Service said Wednesday morning the sprawling blaze known as the Smokehouse Creek fire remained uncontained and had doubled in size overnight to nearly 800 square miles, or roughly 500,000 acres. By Wednesday afternoon, the fire was estimated to have spread to more than 1 million acres with 3% containment.

Texas A&M Forest Service said officials have responded to 56 wildfires burning more than 1,256,328 acres since Sunday.

As of Thursday morning, there are three additional active wildfires in the Texas panhandle: the Grape Vine Creek Fire in Gray County at 30,000 acres and 60% contained; the Windy Deuce Fire in Moore County at 142,000 acres and 30% contained; and the Magenta Fire in Oldham County at 2,500 acres and 65% contained.

“Strong winds and warm temperatures have resulted in grasses drying across many portions of Texas,” said Wes Moorehead, Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief. “As firefighters continue to suppress active fires, we urge Texans to be cautious with any outdoor activity that may cause a spark.”

Authorities warned that the damage to communities on the high plains could be extensive as flames blackened the landscape across a vast stretch of small towns and cattle ranches.

City of Borger Public Information Officer Brandon Strope confirms there has been one fatality from the Texas wildfires. No other information including the county was given.

With huge plumes of smoke billowing hundreds of feet in the air, officials warned residents of potentially large property losses.

Hemphill County Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Kendall described the charred terrain as being “like a moonscape. … It’s just all gone.”

Kendall said about 40 homes were burned around the perimeter of the town of Canadian, but no buildings were lost inside the community.

“We started getting those losses in the dark, so we didn’t really know what we had until this morning until we could see,” he said.

The town of Fritch, with a population of less than 2,000, lost hundreds of homes in a 2014 fire and appeared to be hit hard again.

The people in that area are probably not “prepared for what they’re going to see if they pull into town,” Hutchinson County Emergency Management spokesperson Deidra Thomas said in a social media livestream. She compared the damage to a tornado.

The town remained unsafe for people to return, she said.

Tresea Rankin videotaped her own home in the town of Canadian as it burned.

“Thirty-eight years of memories, that’s what you were thinking,” Rankin said of watching the flames destroy her house. “Two of my kids were married there … But you know, it’s OK, the memories won’t go away.”

Authorities have not said what ignited the fires, but strong winds, dry grass and unseasonably warm temperatures fed the blazes. Near Borger, a community of about 13,000 people, emergency officials at one point late Tuesday answered questions from panicked residents on Facebook and told them to get ready to leave if they had not already.

“It was like a ring of fire around Borger. There was no way out … all four main roads were closed,” said Adrianna Hill, 28, whose home was within about a mile of the fire. She said a northern wind that blew the fire in the opposite direction “saved our butts.”

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties. The encroaching flames caused the main facility that disassembles America’s nuclear arsenal to pause operations Tuesday night, but it was open for normal work on Wednesday.

The blazes tore through sparsely populated counties on the vast, high plains that are punctuated by cattle ranches and oil rigs. The main fire, known as the Smoke House Creek Fire, had grown to more than half the size of the state of Rhode Island. It is five times larger than on Monday when it began.

The weather forecast provided some hope for firefighters — cooler temperatures, less wind and possibly rain on Thursday. But for now, the situation was dire in some areas.

Sustained winds of up to 45 mph (72 kph), with gusts of up to 70 mph (113 kph), caused the fires that were spreading east to turn south, threatening new areas, forecasters said. But winds calmed down after a cold front came through Tuesday evening, said Peter Vanden Bosch, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Amarillo.

“Fortunately, the winds have weakened quite significantly,” Vanden Bosch said Wednesday. Breezy conditions were expected again Friday, and fire-friendly weather could return by the weekend, he said.

As the evacuation orders mounted Tuesday, county and city officials implored residents to turn on emergency alert services on their cellphones and be ready to evacuate immediately.

The Pantex plant, northeast of Amarillo, evacuated nonessential staff Tuesday night out of an “abundance of caution,” said Laef Pendergraft, a spokesperson for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s production office at Pantex. Firefighters remained in case of an emergency.

The plant has long been the main U.S. site for both assembling and disassembling atomic bombs. It completed its last new bomb in 1991 and has dismantled thousands since.

Pantex tweeted early Wednesday that the facility “is open for normal day shift operations” and that all personnel were to report for duty according to their assigned schedule.

As the fires raged Tuesday, evacuations were ordered in several towns in a swath northeast of Amarillo.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire spread from Texas into neighboring Roger Mills County in western Oklahoma, where officials encouraged people in the Durham area to flee. Officials did not know yet how large the fire was in Oklahoma.

An unrelated fire in Ellis County, Oklahoma, on the Oklahoma-Texas state line, led Tuesday to the evacuations of the towns of Shattuck and Gage. The evacuation order was lifted hours later, according to county Emergency Management Director Riley Latta. The fire had unknown origins and burned an estimated 47 square miles, according to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

The weather service issued red-flag warnings and fire-danger alerts for several other states through the midsection of the country, as winds of over 40 mph (64 kph) combined with warm temperatures, low humidity and dry winter vegetation to make conditions ripe for wildfires.

In central Nebraska, a mower sparked a prairie fire that burned a huge swath of grassland roughly the size of the state’s largest city of Omaha, state officials said Tuesday.

TEXAS WILDFIRES

Wildfires Feb 28

Wildfires in Texas Panhandle continues to grow

LARGEST WILDFIRES IN TEXAS HISTORY

• Smokehouse Creek of 2024, burning 1,000,000+ acres (active fire)
• East Amarillo Complex of 2006, burning 907,245 acres
• Big Country of 1998, burning 366,000 acres
• Perryton of 2017, burning 318,156 acres

2011 TEXAS WILDFIRES

In April 2011, during an extreme drought, four out-of-control wildfires burning in close proximity to each other were dubbed The Possum Kingdom Complex Fire. The fires scorched 126,000 acres of parched Texas ranch land and destroyed 168 homes and two churches.

Senior Meteorologist David Finfrock said in the NBC 5 docu-series Inside the Storm: Texas Burning, that at that time the period from August 2010 to July 2011 was the driest 12 consecutive months on record.

Later that summer, in August, a second fire erupted near the lake called the PK 101 Ranch fire. That fire burned more than 6,000 additional acres on the south side of the lake and destroyed nearly 40 more homes.

On Sept. 4, 2011, a massive wildfire erupted in Central Texas. The Bastrop County Complex Fire, east of Austin, became the most destructive wildfire in Texas history. More than 1,600 homes and structures were destroyed when 32,000 acres were scorched, including 96% of the 6,565-acre Bastrop State Park. Two people died in the fires.

During that 2011 fire season, the Texas A&M Forest Service said more than 31,000 fires burned more than four million acres across the state and destroyed 2,947 homes.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Officers said the trespassers, many in their teens, were seen running into one of the buildings in what has become a common sight at the troubled property. At least 25 people have been arrested on suspicion of trespassing at the towers over the past few weeks, police said.

One person was stopped Wednesday morning when they tried to enter the building, police said. Two people in their 20s were later walked out of the building by a security guard and More arrests were expected Wednesday afternoon.

It appears most of the trespassers entered through a corner of the building that was not yet fenced off.

Downtown LA Feb 16

Contractor says owners of LA's ‘Graffiti Towers' owe them, sub-contractors around $200 million

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Work began Friday to place fencing around the vacant high-rise development known as Oceanwide Plaza. The fencing along 12th Street between Figueroa and Flower streets is intended to deter people from entering the site of the graffiti-covered towers.

An initial $1.1 million was approved by the Los Angeles City Council to address the development, where work stopped in 2019 after the Chinese Developer ran out of money. The towers were supposed to house condos, a hotel and mall.

City officials officially began an abatement process on Feb. 17, after the building’s developer, Oceanwide Holdings, did not respond to demands from the city to address ongoing issues. Ultimately, the city hopes Oceanwide gets the land cleaned up and a group of investors comes forward to take over the project.

When LA city residents head to the polls on Super Tuesday, they will have an option to vote on Measure HLA, an initiative that would require the city to redesign streets to be safer for pedestrian and bicyclists while holding city officials accountable.

What would Measure HLA do?

Measure HLA, also referred to as Healthy Streets LA, would require the city of LA to implement Mobility Plan 2035, which was adopted a decade ago to encourage the creation of more bike lanes and wider sidewalks but hasn’t yielded a lot of results.

The ballot measure would mandate the city to implement Mobility Plan projects, such as adding protected bike lanes whenever the city improves roadways.

If approved, Measure HLA would require the city to implement a street modification as laid out in the Mobility Plan whenever there’s an improvement to at least one-eight mile stretch of a road or sidewalk,

Proponents of the initiative say ballot measure would force city officials to make sure streets are repaved for buses, pedestrians and bicyclists.

“Today in Los Angeles, in general, most people only feel safe driving a car, and even that isn’t that safe because car crashes have a huge toll,” said Michael Schneider, the founder of advocacy group Streets for All. “It’s about giving Angelinos options.”

Proponents also argue that Measure HLA would keep pedestrians and public transit users safe as the city of LA had more traffic deaths than homicides in 2023.

Why opponents want voters to say “no” to Measure HLA

Opposition to the ballot measure is being led by the Los Angeles City Firefighters union, which argues reconfigured streets with fewer traffic lanes will hamper 911 responses.

“There is an issue with public safety it will delay the response time for the members that I represent,” Freddy Escobar, President, United Firefighters of Los Angeles

The union also cites a report by Matt Szabo, the City Administrative Officer to argue Measure HLA would be costly to the city, requiring $3.1 billion unfunded liability.

“You would be adding a mandate without the funds to achieve that,” Szabo said during a city council meeting on Feb. 16.

Proponents of Measure HLA say Szabo’s estimations are overblown.

The driver of a dark colored SUV was seen driving around the USC area.

At least one passenger was seen exiting the pursuit vehicle near the 110 Freeway and Exposition Boulevard.

The SUV continued with the headlights off until the pursuit came to an end at 39th Street and Broadway where the driver was arrested.

No further details were immediately available.

On Jan. 6, vandals targeted Woodlawn Celestial Gardens cemetery in Compton, “one of the oldest operating cemeteries in Los Angeles County,” dating back to the 1880s, according to a motion by Supervisor Holly Mitchell requesting the reward.

“The cemetery includes numerous prominent figures and many local military veterans going as far back as the Civil War and the Spanish-American War,” according to the motion. “The property owner estimates the financial loss to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

On Jan. 12, Lincoln Memorial Park in Carson was hit by vandals who ripped bronze markers and plaques from headstones and walls of a mausoleum. According to Mitchell, damage from that heist was estimated to be more than $2 million.

“A prominent bronze statue of President Abraham Lincoln that was dedicated in 1934 was damaged in an attempt to remove a plaque from the facade of the statue,” according to Mitchell’s motion. “Additionally, a large bronze plaque that was gifted and dedicated to the cemetery in 1949 by former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Joe Louis to commemorate and honor local veterans who died in combat had also been removed and stolen.”

No suspects have been identified in either theft.

Anyone with information on the crimes was urged to call the sheriff’s Compton Station at 310-605-6500 or the Carson Station at 310-830-1123.

When ticket holders arrived at the event over the weekend, they instead found a sparsely decorated warehouse with nothing resembling the “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” franchise the event invoked in its advertising.

“It was just ridiculous. I mean, just very amateurish. Absolutely nothing like what was described,” said Alana Lockens, who paid £35 per ticket, or $44.40, to take her two young kids to the experience. “For the sake of my children, we were trying to be happy and smiley so that they wouldn’t pick up on the disappointment, and just tried to make the best of a bad situation.”

Outraged attendees immediately began posting their experiences online, calling the event underwhelming and a “scam.” Some people quickly likened the event to the infamous Fyre Festival, a chaotic and pricey island concert that was falsely advertised as a “once-in-a-lifetime musical experience.”

By Saturday afternoon, the experience was canceled and local police confirmed to NBC News that they were called to the scene, after attendees who felt conned began demanding refunds. And further examination, along with interviews of people hired to work the event, hint that AI-generated media may have played a key role in creating its veneer.

The event website touted interactive exhibits, and images shared on the site could not be found elsewhere on the internet through reverse image searches. Some bore known hallmarks of AI creation, most notably strange and nonsensical lettering.

Two actors hired for the event who spoke to NBC News said they were promised £500 to perform in themed costumes that weekend. They each said the script they were given appeared AI-generated because of its “gibberish” wording. And when they showed up for rehearsal Friday night, more alarm bells went off.

Michael Archibald said he heard back the same day he applied to the acting gig, which was listed on the jobs site Indeed. When he showed up to rehearse the day before the event, the warehouse still looked bare-bones beyond a few props, and he said costumes weren’t delivered until rehearsal was nearly over.

Things didn’t look much better when he arrived the next morning.

“I thought, this is where dreams go to die,” he said of his reaction upon walking into the warehouse Saturday. “I already could feel the embarrassment … I knew the script was AI-generated as well. I was like, this isn’t normal human writing.”

The event was hosted by London-based event company House of Illuminati, which was incorporated just three months ago, according to U.K. government agency Companies House. It describes itself as “a realm where fantasy and reality converge to create unparalleled immersive experiences.” The company did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. 

In the hours after the event’s abrupt cancellation, House of Illuminati posted a now-deleted statement on its Facebook page promising to return attendees’ money.

“Today has been a very stressful and frustrating day for many and for that we are truly sorry. Unfortunately last minute we were let down in many areas of our event and tried our best to continue on and push through and now realise we probably should havd cancelled first thing this morning instead,” the post stated. “we fully apologise for what has happened and will be giving full refunds to each and every person that purchased tickets.”

It is not entirely clear whether the company used AI to generate its promotional images and character scripts, and the company has not addressed the topic. 

Ever since the ongoing explosion in generative AI technology made it easy for internet users to instantly create web copy and images from text prompts, many sellers and services have begun using AI-generated content in their marketing. Deepfakes of celebrities and influencers advertising certain products have also circulated in recent months, tricking some potential buyers.

Paul Connell, another actor hired for the event, said some scenes in the script were “absolute nonsense” and impossible to replicate without special effects. The actors said event organizers soon told them to scrap the scripts and just improvise as the characters they were supposed to play.

At one point, Connell said the actors began to suspect the event was a sham and that they were unlikely to receive payment for their work. But after discussing the situation among themselves, he said they decided to stay and try to entertain the children as best as they could.

“I just thought of it as, I just want the kids to have a good time. So I’m gonna be silly and take photographs with them and play little games with them,” Connell said. “There was a little girl dressed as an Oompa Loompa that was just really upset because she’d expected Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and got a dirty warehouse in Glasgow.”

Paul Connell in his Willy Wonka costume. Paul Connell

Connell said that the situation began to deteriorate soon after the event began. He said he took a lunch break as his “sanity was starting to go” — and returned to see chaos unfolding.

“There was just a mob of people outside and inside. It was carnage,” Connell said. “I joked when I walked back in, ‘I’ve been at lunch an hour, what’s happened?’ And there was people just running everywhere, shouting, threatening the organizers.”

By then, the Police Service of Scotland had been called to the scene. A spokesperson said in an email that it was not a police matter, but officers offered advice to frustrated attendees.

Lockens said she has received an email confirming her refund, but has not yet received the money in her account, which House of Illuminati’s post stated can take up to 10 working days.

The company’s director Billy Coull appears to have wiped most of his online presence since garnering backlash for the event. Coull did not respond to requests for comment through his Instagram page. 

Disgruntled attendees have also created a Facebook group called “house of Illuminati scam” to share their experiences at Willy’s Chocolate Experience and organize efforts to secure refunds.

Box Hub, the event venue that rented out its space to House of Illuminati, told NBC News in an email that it has been in contact with several parents about offering its venue as a space to host another event for the families who were dismayed by last weekend’s.

“We would love to offer our venue completely free of charge as a gesture of apology on behalf of House of Illuminati, who either have no regards for the families and young children they have disappointed or are too embarrassed to comment,” operations manager Matt Waterfield wrote. 

He reiterated that Box Hub had no involvement with House of Illuminati’s event beyond renting out the Glasgow venue, and that the company was “shocked to see the way this event had unravelled after being led to believe this event would be a ‘fully immersive showcase.’”

For Lockens, purchasing five tickets for her family made a sizable dent in her wallet. But she said she thought the experience would be worth it for her children, who are major fans of all things Willy Wonka. (The event’s website stated that it had no official affiliation with Warner Bros., which owns the rights to the Willy Wonka character.)

“It’s just not what I expected at all, and it certainly was not worth £35 per ticket,” she said. “In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis in the UK, that’s money that most families won’t be able to afford to part with for something that was just so terrible.”

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:

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Officers initially responded to a distress call near Sierra and Jurupa Avenues about a man exhibiting erratic behavior and endangering himself by running in and out of traffic.

When police arrived, the man entered the home improvement store at Santa Ana Avenue and picked up a carbon steel jab saw. Jab saws have wide teeth and are often used to cut through drywall.

Officers fired several shots after issuing multiple verbal commands and attempting to tase the man, according to police.

Witness Luis Cervantes said he was inside the store when officers shot and killed the individual.

“I didn’t know if he was stealing or not,” Cervantes explained. “Let’s say he was stealing. He didn’t deserve to die that way.”

The witness said he is upset with the way officers handled the situation and believes they acted too quickly.

“They should have pointed the gun to the legs. I mean they already tased him once,” said Cervantes. “Both of the officers — they went in. They killed this guy. He didn’t deserve it.”

Fontana Police Chief Michael Dorsey said the individual armed with the carbon steel jab saw “posed a threat to both law enforcement officers and civilians present at the scene.”

The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department is handling the lethal force investigation as Fontana Police conducts an internal review of the incident.

Thousands of people dream to hit the jackpot to become the next millionaire. However, California Lottery officials revealed that millions of dollars continue to go unclaimed each year.

“In the last 5 to 10 years it’s averaged $40 and 50 million a year,” said Carolyn Becker, the spokesperson of the California Lottery.

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Becker said the unclaimed winnings include all Scratchers games and the draw games, which include Powerball, Mega Millions and Super Lotto Plus.

So, what’s happening?

“My strong hypotheses is that when a ticket goes unclaimed, it’s because that person doesn’t even realize they’ve won, or they lost a ticket and can’t check it,” said Becker.

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The California Lottery has more than 50 options of the Scratchers tickets and three jackpot games. Powerball and Mega Millions are multistate games, and Super Lotto Plus is only available in California.

California Lottery recently announced that players who win between $600 to $1,000 can now claim their money right away at one of their nine district offices in the state, once their claim form is verified.

Winners of more than $1,000 must fill out a form and either mail or drop it off at their offices.

There are three California Lottery offices in Southern California.

Players must also remember that all claims have a deadline. For instance, the jackpot winning for the multi-state games like Powerball and Mega Millions have up to year to come forward, but California’s only millionaire game is different.

“SuperLotto Plus that’s only played in California is about six months. It’s 180 days from the day of the draw,” said Becker.

Secondary prizes which are considered tickets matching five numbers also have a six-month deadline.

How to check your ticket:

The California Lottery has 23,000 retail outlets that have a scanner where players can check their tickets.

The winning’s numbers are available on the California Lottery website. There’s also the California Lottery mobile app where you can scan your ticket instantly.

According to the California’s Lottery Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), lottery sales broke all-time sales and contributions records with more than $8.85 billion in the fiscal year 2021-2022, which included the transfer of more than $1 billion to California public schools. This money encompasses the sale of tickets and unclaimed money.

In the 37-year inception of the Lottery, the state’s public schools have received more than $41.5 billion, according to PAFR.

“The feeling is always bittersweet [for unclaimed tickets] because all the unclaimed prize money goes to public schools In California,” said Becker.

Anyone interested to see how much Lottery money went to public education in each county can click here. 

Becker said she has talked to a few million dollar winners who didn’t realize until weeks or months later that they had won.

What every California Lottery player should do with their ticket

1. Sign the back of the ticket right away and establish ownership.

2. Keep the ticket safe before or after the draw.

3. People who don’t watch the draw should check the ticket as soon as possible.

4. Don’t stash it in the glove box and forget about it. Keep it somewhere you’ll remember when the draw happens.

California Lottery District offices in the Los Angeles area

Chatsworth

9710 Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Chatsworth, CA 91311

818-722-1602

Rancho Cucamonga

11138 Elm Ave.

Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

909-803-6232

Santa Fe Springs

9807 Bell Ranch Drive

Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670

562-777-3434

For more information, click here or call 1-800-LOTTERY

The Japanese star hit a two-run homer in his first game wearing Dodger blue on Tuesday, working a full count in the fifth inning before an opposite-field shot off Dominic Leone that just cleared the left-field wall.

“Definitely felt good at the plate, felt better each time,” Ohtani said through a translator. “We’re trending in the right direction.”

Ohtani was hitless in his first two plate appearances, striking out on four pitches in the first inning and hitting a hard grounder into a double play in the third.

The two-time Most Valuable Player received a standing ovation before his first at-bat at Camelback Ranch, where dozens of fans wore his No. 17 jersey and cheered his every move. The Dodgers — already one of MLB’s premier franchises — have become even more popular after spending more than $1 billion to sign Ohtani and fellow Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

“Just seeing Shohei in the lineup makes us a lot better,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “There’s been a lot of anticipation, so we’re excited.”

Yamamoto is expected to make his spring training debut on Wednesday.

Ohtani’s first full swing on Tuesday wasn’t exactly one of the memories. He missed the ball, his helmet tumbled off his head and it took a few seconds to gather himself before returning to the batter’s box.

But he corrected that momentary awkwardness in a hurry, showing the power that’s helped him hit 124 homers over the past three seasons. The crowd roared when Ohtani connected and the cheers grew louder as the ball slowly drifted over the left-field wall.

“I thought I hit it a little too high, but maybe the Arizona weather factored in a little,” Ohtani said.

Ohtani was in the second spot of the lineup against the Chicago White Sox, sandwiched between leadoff hitter Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.

Roberts said all three stars were receptive to the Betts-Ohtani-Freeman lineup construction. The manager added that having Ohtani at the No. 2 spot wasn’t “set in stone,” but it’s something he wants to try for a while during spring training.

“I feel that having Shohei hitting in front of Freddie gives Shohei a lot of protection,” Roberts said.

It was Ohtani’s first spring training game since signing a record $700 million, 10-year contract — and first since right elbow surgery in September that will keep the two-time MVP from pitching this year. He was the designated hitter, a role he’s expected to fill all season.

The 29-year-old is further along in his recovery than Los Angeles said it anticipated, and the team hopes he will be available when the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres play a two-game series in Seoul, South Korea, on March 20 and 21 to start the regular season.

“Most importantly is his health,” Roberts told reporters this week. “So if it lines up, great. And if it doesn’t, then we’ll still move on from there.”

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So, now what?

There’s a tool available to all California voters that can help you track its location.

All of California’s 22 million registered voters — that’s about 1.6 million more than the last Presidential Primary election in 2020 — can sign up for the state’s ballot tracking service. BallotTrax will send users automated notifications about the location of vote-by-mail ballots from the time it’s on the way to a residence to the time it’s accounted for at the county elections office.

County elections officials were required to begin mailing ballots for the March 5 Primary by Feb. 5.

Completed ballots can be mailed to county elections officers, returned in-person at any vote center or at your county elections office or dropped in a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day. If you prefer, cast a ballot on Election Day at a vote center between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Here’s what to know about the BallotTrax tool.

How to sign up

• Click here to sign up and track your ballot. 
• Register with your name, date of birth, and ZIP code.
• You’ll need to provide a notification method — email, text, or phone and in what language.
• You can limit notifications to specific times of day.

What you’ll receive

• You’ll receive alerts from the county elections office about your ballot’s location.
• Alerts are sent when the office mails the ballot, receives the ballot from the voter and counts the ballot. 
• Voters also will get an alert if there’s a problem with the ballot. 
• Important updates and election deadline information.

The tracker was rolled out after a 2018 bill that require the California Secretary of State to provide a tracking service to county elections offices. It was expanded statewide after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order requiring vote-by-mail ballots be sent to all California voters to avoid large gatherings at polling places during the coronavirus pandemic. 

The tracker also can be used if you’re not sure whether you received a ballot.

When you’ll receive an update

Mailed ballots will require about five to seven business days for the USPS to deliver to the county. Ballots dropped at drop boxes will be picked up at designated pick-up times.

County elections offices received hundreds or thousands of ballots per day, so processing a ballot takes time. Once the ballot is marked as counted, you’ll receive a status update.

What happens to my election ballot?

Completed ballots can be mailed to county elections offices, returned in-person at any vote center or at your county elections office or dropped in a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Once received by a county elections office, the signature on the return envelope is checked with the one in your voter registration record. The ballot and envelope are separated before the ballot is tallied.

On Election Night, county elections offices must begin reporting those results to the California Secretary of State no more than two hours after polling places close at 8 p.m. Results are updated throughout the night — and beyond — until all vote totals are reported.

The first results are usually ballots received by election officials before Election Day. Officials can begin opening and processing those ballots up to 29 days before Election Day. The results cannot be accessed or made public until all polls close on Election Day.

A complete tally will not be finished on election night. Vote-by-mail ballots postmarked on or before Election Day and received within seven days after the election, and provisional ballots cast, must still be counted. All ballots are counted, regardless of the result or whether a race is close.

County elections official have 30 days to count every valid ballot and finish a post-election audit.

The verdict was read Tuesday afternoon against Ronald Washington, a childhood friend, and Karl Jordan Jr., the DJ’s godson. The duo was found guilty on charges of murder while engaged in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy and firearm-related murder for killing the pioneering DJ over what prosecutors characterized as revenge for a failed drug deal.

After the verdict was announced, Washington stood up and yelled at the jury “y’all just killed some innocent people. Get me out of here.”

As he was being taken out, Jordan told his family he loved them — then a bit of chaos ensued. Family members started yelling at the jury “did they listen to the facts…y’all know he didn’t do it” as there was pushing and shouting. U.S. Marshals told the family they had to leave.

“Jason himself was an amazing talent. His life ended far, far too soon. I’m just glad that justice was served,” said Carlis Thompson, a cousin of Jam Master Jay.

“There’s a message to be heard loud and clear from this verdict: No matter the length of time, be a week, a month, a year or two decades, as it was in this case, justice will be served,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace.

But not everyone believed justice had been properly served, as the mother of one of the defendants told NBC New York that she thought witnesses had been given money to lie on the stand.

“I feel like I know that the feds, the government, paid those witnesses to lie on my son. My son had nothing to do with this crime, nothing at all,” said Jacqueline Gonzalez, Jordan’s mother.

Born Jason Mizell, Jam Master Jay worked the turntables in Run-DMC as the group helped hip-hop break into the pop music mainstream in the 1980s with such hits as “It’s Tricky” and a fresh take on Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.” Mizell later started a record label, opened a studio in his old Queens neighborhood and helped bring along other talent, including rapper 50 Cent.

Mizell was gunned down in his studio in front of witnesses on Oct. 30, 2002.

Like the slayings of rap icons Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. in the late 1990s, the Mizell case remained open for years. Authorities were deluged with tips, rumors and theories but struggled to get witnesses to open up.

Jordan, 40, was the famous DJ’s godson. Washington, 59, was an old friend who was bunking at the home of the DJ’s sister. Both men were arrested in 2020 and pleaded not guilty.

“Twenty years is a long time to wait for justice,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Artie McConnell had told jurors in a closing argument, urging them: “Don’t let this go on for another minute.”

The men’s names, or at least their nicknames, have been floated for decades in connection to the case. Authorities publicly named Washington as a suspect in 2007. He, meanwhile, told Playboy magazine in 2003 he’d been outside the studio, heard the shots and saw “Little D” — one of Jordan’s monikers — racing out of the building.

Prosecutors contend that the two men turned on the rap star over a cocaine deal.

Mizell had been part of Run-DMC’s anti-drug message, delivered through a public service announcement and such lyrics as “we are not thugs / we don’t use drugs.” But according to prosecutors and trial testimony, he racked up debts after the group’s heyday and moonlighted as a cocaine middleman to cover his bills and habitual generosity to friends.

“He was a man who got involved in the drug game to take care of the people who depended on him,” McConnell said in his summation.

Prosecution witnesses testified that in Mizell’s final months, he had a plan to acquire 10 kilograms of cocaine and sell it through Jordan, Washington and a Baltimore-based dealer. But the Baltimore connection refused to work with Washington, according to testimony.

According to prosecutors, Washington and Jordan went after Mizell for the sake of vengeance, greed and jealousy.

Two eyewitnesses, former studio aide Uriel Rincon and former Mizell business manager Lydia High, testified that Washington blocked the door and ordered High to lie on the floor. She said he brandished a gun.

Rincon identified Jordan as the man who approached Mizell and exchanged a friendly greeting moments before shots rang out and one bullet wounded Rincon himself. Three other people, including a teenage singer who had just stopped by the studio to tout her demo tape, testified that they were in an adjoining room and heard but didn’t see what happened.

Other witnesses testified that Washington and Jordan made incriminating statements about the Mizell killing after it happened.

Neither Washington nor Jordan testified. Their lawyers questioned key prosecution witnesses’ credibility and their memories of the long-ago shooting, noting that some initially denied they could identify the attackers or had heard who they were.

“Virtually every witness changed their testimony 180 degrees,” one of Washington’s lawyers, Susan Kellman, told the judge during legal arguments.

The witnesses said they had been overwhelmed, loath to pass along secondhand information or scared for their lives.

Washington’s defense also tapped a retired psychology professor, who testified that people’s recollections of any event can become a blend of what they actually experienced and subsequently learned.

The trial shed limited light on a third defendant, Jay Bryant, who was charged last year after prosecutors said his DNA was found on a hat at the scene. They assert that he slipped into the studio building and let Washington and Jordan in through fire door in the back so they could avoid buzzing up.

Bryant has pleaded not guilty and is headed toward a separate trial.

Testimony suggested that he knew someone in common with his co-defendants, but there’s no indication that Bryant was close with Mizell, if indeed they ever met.

Bryant’s uncle testified that his nephew told him he shot Mizell after the DJ reached for a gun, a scenario no other witnesses described.

McConnell said Bryant was “involved, but he’s not the killer.” Prosecutors’ theory doesn’t even place Bryant in the studio, though that’s where authorities found the hat with DNA from him and other people — but not the other defendants, according to court filings.

Still, McConnell suggested that Jordan or Washington could accidentally have left the hat behind after Bryant came into contact with it. But lawyers for Washington and Jordan portrayed the garment as a key piece of evidence in their clients’ favor.

“Jay Bryant is literally reasonable doubt,” one of Jordan’s lawyers, Michael Hueston, told jurors.

While the case may complicate Mizell’s image, Syracuse University media professor J. Christopher Hamilton says it shouldn’t be blotted out.

If he was indeed involved in dealing drugs, “that doesn’t mean to say his achievements shouldn’t be lauded,” said Hamilton, a former entertainment lawyer and Brooklyn prosecutor who grew up partly in Mizell’s neighborhood. Hamilton argues that acceptance from local underworld figures was a necessity for successful rappers of the ’80s and ’90s.

“You don’t get these individuals without them walking through the gauntlet of the street,” Hamilton said.

Daniel Goen was discharged from the Los Angeles General Medical Center Monday after being treated for his injuries for more than a week.

Goen was one of the fighters who had initially responded to a car fire involving a semi-truck in the 1100 block of North Alameda Street in Wilmington before one of the truck’s two compressed natural gas tanks exploded. Two 100-gallon compressed natural gas tanks were on the truck at the time, according to the LAFD.

“I’m blessed not only to be alive but also not having any career-ending major injuries,” the firefighter said after he walked out the hospital as he was being applauded by fellow LAFD colleagues. “I’m extremely grateful for God for saving me.”

Goen said he looked forward to being home, recovering and spending quality time with his two daughters and wife.

Other firefighters who were also injured in the explosion were said to be on the mend and met with LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley.

““This incident serves as a reminder of the inherent dangers of the firefighting profession and the commitment your LAFD members have to place the safety of the public before their own,” Crowley said in a statement.

The blast was still under investigation. And the I-Team had reported that federal investigators were investigating HLT, the operator of exploded big rig.

The utility agreed to the settlement on Friday without admitting wrongdoing or fault in connection with the Thomas Fire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

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Investigations found utility equipment sparked the fire in two canyon locations on Dec. 4, 2017. The Thomas fire, which burned across 280,000 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, is the seventh largest blaze in California history, according to state fire officials.

At one point, the fire was the largest on record in California, but has since been passed by larger fires.

The settlement is a “reasonable resolution,” said Gabriela Ornelas, a spokesperson for Southern California Edison.

“We continue to protect our communities from the risk of wildfire with grid hardening, situational awareness and enhanced operational practices,” Ornelas said Monday.

Federal prosecutors sued the utility in 2020 to recover costs incurred fighting the fire and for the extensive damage caused on public lands within the Los Padres National Forest. The lawsuit alleged Edison power lines and a transformer ignited dry brush during powerful winds.

The agreement “provides significant compensation to taxpayers,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally said in a statement.

It’s the latest settlement by Edison over the Thomas fire. The utility has also settled claims related to the enormous Woolsey fire in 2018. Edison estimated in 2021 that total expected losses for both blazes would exceed $4.5 billion.

California has seen increasingly destructive wildfires in recent years, made worse by climate change and drought. Utility equipment has been blamed for sparking some the state’s worst fires.

In 2022, former executives and directors of Pacific Gas & Electric agreed to pay $117 million to settle a lawsuit over devastating Northern California wildfires sparked by that utility’s equipment in 2017 and 2018.

NBCLA’s Jonathan Lloyd contributed to this report.

Security camera video from inside Nick the Greek shows one of the burglars break a window at about 1 a.m. to enter the restaurant in the Los Angeles County seaside community. The burglar took cash from a register as another burglar targeted other businesses.

Five other burglaries were reported early Tuesday morning in the same area, including at Juice Crafters and Ulta
Beauty.

A witness said he saw a break-in in progress at the Ulta store, then caught one of the burglars. The man said he held the thief until police arrived.

Details about the arrests were not immediately available.

Officers spotted what they believed to be a stolen silver Kia Soul and the chase began when the driver refused to stop. The California Highway Patrol took over the pursuit soon after due to the high speeds.

The driver traveled onto the 405 and 105 freeways before exiting onto streets. Deputies attempted a PIT maneuver but the driver managed to get away.

During the pursuit in the southeast Los Angeles area, another Kia Soul got involved in the pursuit. The vehicle, which seemed to be the same color as the one deputies were chasing, passed a patrol car and appeared to nearly ram the rear of the stolen Kia.

It was unclear who the driver of the other Kia was or why they got involved.

The pursuit finally came to an end in Inglewood where there was a minor crash with a CHP vehicle.

The driver took off running and jumped over fences until he was taken into custody on Enterprise Avenue and West Plymouth Street. It was not immediately clear whether authorities tracked down the other Kia driver.

On Monday, detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Gang and Narcotics Division/FBI Fugitive Task Force located and arrested Trayvon Isiah Willingham in the 3300 block of Long Beach Boulevard in the LAPD’s Newton Division, police said.

Willingham was booked on suspicion of murder and was held on $2 million bail.

Earlier Monday, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner identified Darryl Winborn as the victim. Winborn’s cause of death was still listed as “deferred” pending additional tests, according to the county medical examiner.

Officers were called to the intersection of Western Avenue and Olympic Boulevard at around 10:49 p.m. Thursday regarding an assault with a deadly weapon, an LAPD spokesman told City News Service.

When officers arrived, they learned that two men had been involved in an argument and at some point the suspect began pepper spraying the victim and then ran off the bus, police said.

Paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department were called to the scene and pronounced the victim dead.

Police later released a surveillance photo of the suspect, who was described as a man in his 30s wearing black attire and rainbow-colored shoes.    

Anyone with information about the altercation was urged to call the LAPD’s West Bureau Homicide at 213-382-9470 or 877-527-3247. Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or www.lacrimestoppers.org.

Consumer Reports experts say that the cost of following certain recommendations that are sometimes passed around among friends and relatives can be very high.

A Consumer Reports laundry expert shared her knowledge.

“Always check your washing machine manual and look at the care labels on your clothes,” said Jodhaira Rodríguez, a spokesperson for Consumer Reports.

According to experts, the only thing you should put in your washing machine is detergent that is specifically for the machine you have. This means that you do not have to use, for example: vinegar, liquid soap or dish detergent.

Vinegar, as they explain, can damage the rubber gaskets and hoses of some washing machines. And if you use dishwashing soap, this only ends up in a “soapy mess in your machine,” Rodriguez added.

It is important to always add the correct amount of detergent, which is about one and a half ounces or three tablespoons. Too much detergent can leave residue on your clothes and in the machine, reducing its ability to clean.

And be careful, you should always separate light-colored clothing from dark clothing.

“Always wash white clothes together, but if you have a stained white garment, do it separately and pre-wash it,” said Rodríguez.

Rodríguez points out that heavy fabrics should always be kept separate from light ones to prevent, for example, jeans from hitting delicate clothing.

Another recommendation is to treat stains before washing.

“Whenever you have a stain, pre-treat it and wash it. Check it when it comes out of the machine. Make sure you remove the entire stain because if you put it in the dryer, the stain will set and be very difficult to remove,” she said.

Another tip: before washing your clothes, you can use the same detergent to treat stains. In Consumer Reports tests, leading liquid detergents earned excellent scores for stain pretreatment.

And one last tip: save money by ditching the fabric softener. According to experts, fabric softener can leave a layer of residue on clothes, irritate sensitive skin and reduce the absorbency of towels.

Home appliances are too expensive to experiment with, so take into account the recommendations that experts say will save you a lot of money in the long run.

DeWitt been homeless for years, addicted to methamphetamine, in large part because there are few places to help and house LA’s homeless with severe drug and mental illness problems.

While the city of LA spends a record amount of money to get the homeless off the streets and is building 4,000 units of new homeless housing, the most vulnerable on the streets are often left behind.

The I-Team has been following the plight of Caleb since we first found him, near death, lying on a sidewalk near Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in September of 2019.  

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Back then, NBC4 discovered he was from a small town in Ohio, the star of his school musicals, but came to LA where he got addicted to drugs and began a downward spiral living on the streets.

“Caleb is not capable of taking care of his basic life needs,” said Kerry Morrison, founder of Heart Forward, a group trying to improve care for the mentally ill. 

The city of LA will spend a record $250 million this fiscal year on the Inside Safe program, aimed at bringing the homeless off the streets, first putting them up in motel rooms and then into apartments.

“I don’t think Caleb would do very well in Inside Safe,” said Morrison. “He probably needs to be in a more clinical setting to be stabilized.”

“This plan doesn’t work for everyone on the streets,” said NYU Professor Alex Barnard, who wrote a major book titled “Conservatorship: Inside California’s System of Coercion and Care for Mental Illness,” detailing California’s failure to help the mentally ill, especially those on the streets.

“It’s important to have options for people [who suffer mental illness and addiction] who need to live in more structured environment… like a residential treatment center,” Barnard told the I-Team.

But there are few of those options for people like Caleb, once the star of his high school play.

After NBC4 did a story on Caleb’s plight in 2019, caseworkers found him a temporary spot in a rehab center near east LA where he started to improve.

But he eventually left that rehab, and in recent years, the I-Team has found him back on the streets of Hollywood, sometimes smoking meth.

“I’m addicted. I have an addiction,” Caleb told the I-Team.

The I-Team brought Caleb’s case to the attention of Mayor Karen Bass.

“I think it is a crime to allow him to be on the streets like that and die,” Bass told NBC4.

She admitted there aren’t enough housing and services in LA for people like Caleb suffering from severe mental illness and addiction.

“That’s why Caleb is on the streets,” Bass said.  

Of the 4,000 units of homeless housing now being built in the LA area, the Mayor’s office couldn’t name one building under construction geared specifically to house and help the severely addicted and/or mentally ill.

The I-Team reached to the LA County Department of Mental Health to talk about this, but the department never replied to our inquiries.

Mayor Bass is urging people to vote in March ballot for California’s Proposition 1, which would authorize $6.4 billion to build treatment facilities for the homeless with mental health and substance problems.

But money isn’t the only obstacle to helping the most vulnerable on the streets, NYU Professor Alex Barnard told the I-Team.

“There’s a lot of people intervening in the lives of somebody like Caleb, but no clear responsibility for actually putting together what he needs,” Barnard told NBC4.

Barnard said the system is “fragmented,” with a lot of agencies and non profits trying to help these people but not one is actually in charge.

“It’s too easy for every provider in the system to say this is really someone else’s problem,” Barnard added.

Just this fall, the I-Team found Caleb yet again, lying in a stupor on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

“We as a community have really failed him and let him down,” Kerry Morrison told NBC4.

There are a few tiny glimmers of hope for the toughest cases living on the streets like Caleb.

After spotting him on that Hollywood sidewalk, Morrison made a few calls, and Caleb has ended up in a new pilot program called the Mark Twain, which provides temporary housing and mental health services for 58 people, out of the thousands of addicted and mentally ill on the streets of LA.

The Mark Twain project is overseen by LA County Department of Mental Health and a group called Hollywood 4WRD.

“I now have a clean place to stay,” Caleb told the I-Team, about his room at the Mark Twain.

But during the day, he is allowed to wander the streets of Hollywood where he admitted to NBC4 that he still gets drugs and is still using meth.

“I’m still using. I’ve heard magic and stuff, in my head, about other worlds,” he said. 

Residents of the Mark Twain can only stay up to two years and Caleb says when his time there is up, he has no idea where he’ll go.

“I might be back on the streets.”