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  • Serbia-Kosovo conflict is at a tipping point after normalization deal – Los Angeles Weekly Times

    Serbia-Kosovo conflict is at a tipping point after normalization deal – Los Angeles Weekly Times

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    Kosovo Police continue to uphold security with search, patrol and control activities in the region after the clash which led by Kosovo Serb politician Milan Radoicic in Banjska northern town of the country, on Sept. 24 in Zvecan, Kosovo on October 3, 2023. The clash broke out in the village when a group of armed Serbs blocked a bridge with two trucks. A shootout erupted after the group opened fire on police, leaving one police officer dead and another injured. (Photo by Vudi Xhymshiti/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

    Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images

    Davos, SWITZERLAND — With Europe’s attention centered on the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, peace and stability is far from guaranteed in another of the region’s most volatile conflict zones, according to a top EU diplomat.

    Relations between Serbia and Kosovo, which have been fraught since the pair’s brutal conflict in the 1990s, remain delicate one year on from a tentative agreement on a new path to normalization.

    “The stability is fragile. We cannot take peace and stability for granted,” Miroslav Lajčák, EU special representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and Western Balkans, told CNBC in Davos, Switzerland last month.

    The Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is a series of talks facilitated by the European Union designed to ease hostilities between the neighboring southeastern European countries.

    In February 2023, a path to normalization was agreed upon by Serbia and Kosovo, marking a major step forward for the long-time adversaries, whose decades long friction centers on territorial disputes and ethnic divisions.

    But that progress was later marred by a resurgence in violence in northern Kosovo, including a deadly shootout between a heavily armed group of ethnic Serbs and Kosovo special police forces in the village of Banjska.

    ‘No way back’

    Northern Kosovo has an ethnic Serb majority and Belgrade thus claims it as its southern province. Kosovo as a whole, meanwhile, is around 93% ethnic Albanian and Pristina declared independence in 2008.

    Years of conflict between the pair have left Europe highly divided on the path forward, with several EU members — Spain, Slovakia, Cyprus, Romania, and Greece — and other non-EU neighbours disputing Kosovo’s claim to independence.

    However, Lajčák said that the normalization agreement had advanced the situation “like never before” and noted that the focus was now on implementation. Normalization measures include the development of “normal, good-neighbourly relations” and restraint from the “threat or use of force” in future disputes.

    “There is no way back,” he said. “There is no way before these agreements because these agreements are accepted by both parties.”

    Normalization will also depend on how directly and closely they are linked to Kosovo and Serbia’s EU path.

    Miroslav Lajčák

    EU special representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and Western Balkans

    Both the EU and the U.S. are heavily invested in the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, even as they contend with other rapidly evolving international conflicts between Israel and Hamas and Russia and Ukraine.

    But the clock is ticking. With elections due this summer in the European Parliament and later in the year in the U.S., progress on normalization talks will be critical before the issue is deprioritized.

    “What will start before the EU and U.S. go into elections will continue throughout the electoral process,” Lajčák said. “But what will not start before, I will have my doubts that it will start after.”

    Kosovo police officers and NATO’s Peacekeeping Force in Kosovo (KFOR) continue to ensure security with search, patrol and control activities in the region after the incidents in Banjska in the north of the country on September 24 in Zvecan, Kosovo on September 30, 2023.

    Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images

    Resistance is more likely to come from Serbia and Kosovo’s respective leaders, President Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who have nationalistic bases at home to appease.

    The stakes are high for both sides. With aspirations toward EU membership in the offing for Serbia and Kosovo, Lajčák said that this could provide the EU with a carrot to incentivize peace between the two countries.

    Serbia is currently in the midst of EU accession talks, having been granted candidate status in 2012, while Kosovo has potential candidate status, though both will require major reforms to be admitted to the bloc.

    “The success of the process of normalization will also depend on how directly and closely they are linked to Kosovo and Serbia’s EU path,” Lajčák said. “That’s the strongest leverage we have.”



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  • Oaks Christian basketball routs Canyon for first CIF-SS playoff win since 2018

    Oaks Christian basketball routs Canyon for first CIF-SS playoff win since 2018

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    THOUSAND OAKS – The Oaks Christian boys basketball team used an impressive team effort as it defeated visiting Canyon 72-47 in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3AA playoffs on Wednesday night.

    It is the first playoff victory for Oaks Christian since the 2017-2018 season.

    The Lions (19-10) were led by different scorers all four quarters.

    Oaks Christian had 11 players score in total, with six of them connecting for 3-pointers. Bench players accounted for 33 points, including all 17 in the fourth.

    “Sometimes it’s a blessing and a curse to have depth, right?” said Lions coach Mark Amaral. “Everybody wants to play, and everybody’s kind of capable of helping a little bit. But that’s been really good for us. It’s been a different guy each night.”

    Wednesday night it was sophomore Isayah Garcia’s turn. Playing in only his third game after missing nearly a month due to injury, the guard looked like he hadn’t missed a beat as poured in a team-high 18 points off the bench.

    Oaks Christian got 16 points from Nick Giarusso, who added eight rebounds and four assists, and 10 points from Stevie Prudholme, who knocked down a trio of third quarter 3-pointers that helped the Lions open up a big lead.

    As well as they played offensively, Oaks Christian may have been better on the other side of the ball. Stevie Amar (eight points, three steals, three blocks) caused multiple turnovers that led to points in the game’s opening minutes.

    “Any team loves it when your defense can create offense,” said Amaral. “And we talk about starting games, starting halves, the right way. And we’ve been doing that lately, and it starts with our defense, for sure.”

    The defense made sure that was true against the Cowboys (17-11). In both the first and third quarters, the Lions allowed just two field goals.

    Canyon’s Eric Kubel scored 21 points, hitting four 3-pointers. Amar and senior Lukas Lechau (two steals, two blocks) shared duties trying to guard Kubel.

    “That’s kind of been a little bit of a luxury we’ve had,” said Amaral. “We’ve kind of kept fresh guys on better players. (Kubel) is a good player. It worked out for us tonight.”

    Oaks Christian will play at Sage Hill in the second round Friday night.

    This is the first playoff appearance for the Lions since 2018-19. They aren’t taking it for granted.

    “It’s super important,” said Garcia. “I came here my freshman year, we’re 4-24. And it was to the point where you didn’t even wanna play basketball anymore. But then the next year we completely turn around. We were 20-4. Unfortunately we missed the playoffs but that kind of set us up for this year. It changed our minds into a winning culture.”

    Added Amaral: “We talked today about controlling the controllable. Things you can control and things you can’t. You can control your effort, right? Now, fouls and other such things, you can’t, but your effort is one thing I never want to have to coach. These guys buy into it, and you know how it is – when you see some results of that, then it makes selling a little bit easier. So I’m just proud for these guys. I’m proud for the whole Oaks community.”

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  • Watch the Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony for actor Mark Ruffalo

    Watch the Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony for actor Mark Ruffalo

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    A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame will be unveiled Thursday honoring four-time Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo.

    Laura Dern and actor Tim McNeil are set to join Ruffalo in speaking at the 11:30 a.m. ceremony in front of the Stella Adler Academy of Acting where he studied. Ruffalo and Dern portrayed a married couple in the 2004 drama, “We Don’t Live Here Anymore.”

    The ceremony will be streamed here and below.

    Hollywood Boulevard is scheduled to be closed from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from Highland Avenue to McCadden Place.

    Born Nov. 22, 1967, in Kenosha, Wis., Ruffalo spent his teen years in Virginia Beach, Va., where his father worked. After graduating from First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach in 1985, Ruffalo moved with his family to San Diego and later to Los Angeles.

    Ruffalo’s first professional role was as the son of New York newspaper columnist (James Farentino) who marries a mayoral aide (Lindsay Crouse) in the unsold 1989 CBS pilot “American Nuclear.”

    Ruffalo’s movie debut came in the 1994 horror film, “Mirror, Mirror 2: Raven Dance.”

    All of Ruffalo’s Oscar nominations have been for best supporting actor. His first came in 2011 for his role as the sperm donor of the two children of a lesbian couple in “The Kids Are All Right.”

    Ruffalo was nominated again in 2015 for his portrayal of Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler Dave Schultz in “Foxcatcher.” He was also nominated the following year for his portrayal of Boston Globe reporter Michael Rezendes in “Spotlight.”

    Ruffalo’s latest Oscar nomination came last month for his portrayal of slick and debauched lawyer Duncan Wedderburn in the Frankenstein-like tale “Poor Things.”

    “I was in hysterics reading the script, it was wicked and full of bawdy irreverent humor,” Ruffalo said.

    Ruffalo said he was nervous about being cast and letting down director Yorgos Lanthimos.

    “I’ve also never done an English accent before and it’s a time period I haven’t worked in either,” Ruffalo said. “In the end, my friend told me to always go where the discomfort is as that’s where you’ll grow.”

    Ruffalo has portrayed Bruce Banner and the Hulk in eight films — “The Avengers,” “Iron Man 3,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Captain Marvel,” “Avengers: Endgame” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” — and two Disney+ series, “What If…?” and “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.”

    Ruffalo’s other film credits include, “Now You See Me,” “Zodiac,” “13 Going on 30” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.”

    Ruffalo is also a three-time Emmy nominee, winning for outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie in 2020 for his dual role as twin brothers Dominick and Thomas Birdsey in the HBO miniseries, “I Know This Much Is True.”

    Ruffalo received a best featured actor in a play Tony nomination in 2006 for his performance in the revival of the Clifford Odets’ drama originally performed in 1935, “Awake and Sing!”

    Ruffalo and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, received a best spoken word album Grammy nomination in 2017 for “Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In.”

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  • Updates of SoCal storm: Flash flood warning issued for parts of LA, Ventura counties

    Updates of SoCal storm: Flash flood warning issued for parts of LA, Ventura counties

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    LOS ANGELES (KABC) — The powerful winter storm that brought heavy rain and snow to much of Southern California left a trail of destruction in some areas, including dangerous mudslides and flood damage, and more rain is on the way.

    Flash flood warning in LA, Ventura counties

    The National Weather Service Wednesday evening issued a flash flood warning for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through 3 a.m. Thursday. The warning covers cities such as Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Malibu, San Fernando, Glendale and as far east as Arcadia. As the storm moved east, another flash flood warning was issued that covered Inglewood, down to Long Beach and stretching east into the San Gabriel Valley.

    A severe thunderstorm warning was also issued for parts of L.A. and Ventura counties that covered several cities such as Thousand Oaks, Fillmore, Castaic, Agua Dulce, Malibu, San Fernando, Montrose, Beverly Hills, Inglewood and Redondo Beach. The warning expired at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday.

    Caltrans prepares for possible Grapevine closures

    There was a bit of relief for drivers passing through the Grapevine Wednesday morning after multiple days of rain and snow made for dangerous road conditions. Caltrans, however, is preparing for up to 3 inches of snow on the 5 Freeway in Tejon Pass through Thursday morning.

    ABC7 monitored road conditions on the 5 Freeway Wednesday and captured light rain falling just past Pyramid Lake. There will be a chance of some rain by Wednesday evening, with about a three-hour period of steady rain and mountain snow, according to forecasters.

    The 5 Freeway through the Grapevine remains open but authorities urge drivers to stay alert.

    Amid a relentless storm that continued to inundate Southern California, Caltrans is preparing for up to 3 inches of snow on the 5 Freeway in Tejon Pass through Thursday morning.

    Downed trees topple power poles, electrical wires in Brentwood

    Amid a relentless storm that continued to inundate Southern California, massive trees fell over in a Brentwood neighborhood and also took down electrical poles and electrical wires. No injuries were reported.

    At the scene of one toppled tree on Bundy Drive, 11 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power vehicles were at the location on Tuesday morning as crews worked to repair the severed power lines.

    Farther up the road, near Bundy Drive and Saltair Avenue, another tree fell and blocked vehicle and pedestrian traffic. As a result, some nannies who are employed at homes in the area told ABC7 that they had some difficulty getting to work.

    Amid a relentless storm that continued to inundate Southern California, massive trees that toppled in a Brentwood neighborhood took down electrical poles and electrical wires.

    After the massive eucalyptus tree fell, “then all these helicopters came and we knew something was wrong,” said a man who lives in the neighborhood. “And it was still raining, so we really didn’t want to go out of the house because it was very severe.

    “We thought maybe the storm had finished yesterday, but it came up with a vengeance again this morning.”

    Some of the tree’s roots measured as long as 9 feet.

    The incident knocked out power to dozens of customers in the area.

    Mudslide prompts evacuation of 3 homes in rain-soaked Hacienda Heights, fire department says

    Three homes were evacuated in Hacienda Heights on Tuesday morning after a portion of a hillside gave way during an intense storm that has drenched the region. The incident was reported along Gotera Drive around 9:45 a.m. Firefighters arrived at the scene and found a mudslide in the backyard of one house.

    During that investigation, a secondary mudslide occurred and “came crashing down into the neighbor’s house,” said Los Angeles County Fire Department Engineer Christian Reynoso, a spokesman for the agency.

    Both of those affected homes were evacuated, along with a third one at the bottom of the hill that was evacuated as a precaution. No injuries were reported.

    Pothole-riddled roads delay drivers in Inland Empire

    Road closures and potholes were an issue across the Inland Empire Tuesday as the rain continued to douse the region.

    In Hesperia, Rock Springs Road – where the pavement crosses over the Mojave River – was closed due to moving water. But that didn’t stop some drivers. Some of them were spotted crossing the river anyway, despite the rushing waters.

    “On the way to take my wife to work, there’s a wash, and they have the road closed, but people drive right around it, and every time, they get stuck in it,” said one resident who spoke with Eyewitness News.

    Road closures and potholes were an issue across the Inland Empire Tuesday as the rain continued to douse the region.

    Mariposa Road was also closed alongside the 15 Freeway. Further south in Summit Valley, Highway 173 was closed for miles with mud and debris flowing across this road. After days of rain, many of the roads began to crumble, forming potholes.

    At the Cajon Summit, rain turned into snow around noon on Tuesday. The snow level dropped quickly, with fresh, heavy snow coming down in places like Crestline and Lake Arrowhead.

    The snow level dropped quickly on Tuesday, with fresh, heavy snow coming down in places like Crestline and Lake Arrowhead.

    Snow also fell in Wrightwood, where resorts are gearing up for the weekend, which they say could be a busy one.

    More snow blankets mountain communities

    Heavy snow continued to fall in Southern California mountain communities Tuesday as a winter storm warning remained in effect.

    The region could see more snow fall through at least Tuesday night, but possibly through Thursday. As much as 3 feet of snow could fall at elevations above 7,000 feet, 20 inches at 6,000 feet and 8 inches at 5,000 feet.

    The accumulation of fluffy snow is a welcome sight for resorts in Wrightwood, Running Springs and Big Bear, but driving conditions going up the mountain were precarious with icy roads and low visibility. Chains are required for drivers heading up.

    Mountain High Resort on Monday reported that up to 20 inches of fresh snow fell within 24 hours.

    The accumulation of fluffy snow is a welcome sight for resorts in Wrightwood, Running Springs and Big Bear, but driving conditions going up the mountain are precarious.

    Landslide in La Mirada damages backyard

    A major landslide in La Mirada caused a retaining wall to collapse, leaving the backyard of a home nearly destroyed.

    It happened at a home on La Mirada Boulevard, just north of Rosecrans Avenue.

    Video obtained by Eyewitness News showed debris – including bricks, dirt, mud and tree branches – scattered across the street, blocking a portion of the roadway.

    A burst of rain pounded the already-saturated ground in La Mirada Tuesday morning, causing major problems for one home.

    A backyard gazebo along with some pieces of outdoor furniture were damaged during the collapse, but crews ran into a bit of trouble with the home’s jacuzzi. After the wall collapsed, it was left sitting just on the edge of the hill. Crews spent time working to push the jacuzzi as far back away from the edge to avoid it from falling onto the street.

    Crews remained on the scene late Tuesday morning to continue their cleanup efforts.

    No injuries were reported.

    President Biden pledges federal support for California

    President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, according to ABC News. The president said he is committed to helping communities impacted by the storms with “any and all federal support requested.”

    “We’ll get any help on the way as soon as you guys request it, so just let me know,” Biden told Bass in a telephone call during her late Monday afternoon briefing.

    Stranded in the Sepulveda Basin

    Firefighters rescued a man who was left stranded in high waters in the Sepulveda Basin just north of Burbank Boulevard. AIR7 HD was flying over the basin when we found the driver, who climbed onto the hood of his vehicle to try to get help.

    Firefighters rescued a man who was left stranded in high flood waters in the Sepulveda Basin just north of Burbank.

    Dramatic rescue in Pacoima caught on video

    A dramatic rescue was captured on video after a man got stuck in the Pacoima Wash Monday while trying to save his dog.

    According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, crews responded to several bridges and access points and found the dog, who managed to swim safely to the edge. The dog owner, however, couldn’t get out.

    LAFD Air Ops lowered a rescuer into the water, who was able to grab the man.

    Fortunately, the dog managed to swim to safety, but the man couldn’t get out.

    He was hoisted into the aircraft and rushed to a local hospital. His dog was taken to a local shelter for temporary care for minor injuries. It’s unclear if the dog owner suffered any injuries.

    New flash flood warning for L.A., Ventura counties

    A new flash flood warning was issued Monday afternoon, covering a wider area of Los Angeles County and parts of Ventura County.

    This week’s storm caused some flooding and landslides in Ventura County but the damage was not as serious as feared.

    The warning will remain in effect until 6 p.m. and covers the west central area of L.A. County and southeastern Ventura County. Some areas that will experience flash flooding include Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, North Hollywood, Burbank, Van Nuys, Universal City, Northridge, Griffith Park, Encino, Santa Clarita, Chatsworth, Woodland Hills, Pasadena, Alhambra, Mount Wilson, Agoura Hills, Altadena, Pacoima, Sunland and Sylmar.

    The National Weather Service said as of 1 p.m., radars indicated moderate to heavy rainfall moving into much of the area.

    Destructive debris flow in Beverly Crest

    From damaging mudslides to a gas line issue, the weekend storm left quite a mess for residents in Beverly Glen, Beverly Crest and other surrounding areas.

    Fifteen people, including children, in Beverly Crest were displaced after a massive debris flow damaged multiple homes.

    Swift water rescues across Inland Empire

    Constant, heavy rain washed out roads across the Inland Empire overnight. In San Bernardino County, creeks overflowed and people had to be rescued.

    In the Cajon Pass, the driver of a SUV pulling a trailer tried to drive through a road overtaken by water just west of the 15 Freeway around 1 a.m. Monday.

    They didn’t make it and had to call 911 to be rescued.

    In the Cajon Pass, the driver of a SUV pulling a trailer tried to drive through a road overtaken by water just west of the 15 Freeway.

    “They were screaming for their life. It was by far the scariest moment they said they had ever been in,” said Chris Prater with the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

    Prater said it was one of the scariest incidents he’s ever seen.

    “It’s not just straight water coming down like you would see in a channel or a swimming pool… It was boulders, trees, lots of debris coming down the hillside that impeded our rescue efforts.”

    He added the incident checked off every common denominator for a fatal accident.

    “These three individuals that were rescued were extremely lucky to make it out of that situation alive.”

    Later in the morning, crews in Riverside worked to rescue a man in the flooded Santa Ana River under the Van Buren Boulevard overpass.

    Flash flood warning issued for Topanga Canyon area

    The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for Topanga, Lake Sherwood and Glenview. The warning is in effect until 3 p.m.

    People are asked to get to higher ground and avoid walking or driving through flooded areas.

    A creek that runs along Topanga Canyon Boulevard in the Santa Monica Mountains turned into a raging river Monday, resulting in a mud flow near Robinson Road that trapped cars. Nine people were rescued.

    Malibu schools closed

    All Malibu schools will be closed Monday due to the severe weather battering the region, according to the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.

    Officials say road closures in the area affected the ability for some staff to get to campuses.

    Meanwhile, Santa Monica school will remain open.

    Cars trapped on flooded streets in Brentwood

    Officials are urging people to stay away from flooded roads after some drivers had to be rescued from flooded streets from in areas like Brentwood.

    Several cars became trapped in deep water along San Vicente Boulevard between Montana Avenue and Bundy Drive. Tow trucks were called out to pull the cars out, but more kept trying to drive through.

    It was a similar scene over in nearby Westwood at Sunset Boulevard and Stone Canyon Road.

    At least three cars were stuck after the street became inundated with deep rainwater.

    Officials are urging people to stay away from flooded roads after some drivers had to be rescued from flooded streets from in areas like Brentwood.

    Topanga Canyon receives 9 inches of rain

    An evacuation order was issued for areas along Santa Maria Road north of Topanga Canyon due to high risk of mud and debris flows. The order will remain in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday.

    Meanwhile, evacuation warnings have been issued for several unincorporated parts of L.A. County near the Agua Fire, Bobcat Fire (specifically the north end), Lake Fire and Owen Fire burn scars. See more information on the warnings here.

    All evacuation warnings will be in effect starting 10 a.m. Sunday through 6 p.m. Tuesday.

    Downtown L.A. received 4.1 inches of rain on Sunday, passing the “daily record of 2.55 (inches) set in 1927,” the National Weather Service tweeted.

    Evacuations were ordered in the Fryman Canyon area of Studio City as a mudslide damaged two homes.

    Mudslide damages 2 homes in Studio City

    Evacuations were ordered in the Fryman Canyon area of Studio City as a mudslide damaged two homes, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. So far, no injuries have been reported but mud and debris covered the road.

    Sixteen people and a total of nine homes were evacuated.

    Just after midnight, LAFD tweeted that three homes were impacted by a debris flow on Boris Drive in the Encino/Tarzana area. Residents in the immediate area were being evacuated.

    Angelenos urged to stay home

    Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for eight counties in Southern California – Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Diego and San Luis Obispo counties. The emergency proclamation includes provisions authorizing a California National Guard response if tasked, facilitating unemployment benefits for impacted residents, and making it easier for out-of-state contractors and utilities to repair storm damage.

    Due to heavy rain, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for central and western Los Angeles County that expires at 12:01 a.m. Monday.

    Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged Angelenos to stay home Sunday and Monday, and said the city has taken a range of preemptive measures, including placing the city’s Emergency Operations Center at Level 2.

    Bass and other top city and county officials gathered at a Sunday afternoon news conference, urging the public to stay off roads and to obey all evacuation orders.

    LAUSD keeps schools open Monday

    Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the district planned to keep schools open Monday, with the exception of Vinedale Elementary School in Sun Valley. Carvalho added that district officials would continue to monitor the storm, and plans could change later Sunday night.

    On Sunday evening, the California State University system announced some local campuses would be closed on Monday. Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Northridge, Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton will be holding classes remotely on Monday.

    Areas that have seen damaging flooding during past storms are gearing up.

    Here’s a breakdown of evacuation orders and warnings currently in effect:

    Fryman Canyon area of Studio City was ordered to evacuate Sunday.

    Ventura County evacuations

    Mandatory evacuations were ordered for residents in the unincorporated Ojai area, including Matilija Canyon, North Fork and Camino Cielo.

    Evacuation warnings were issued for the following areas:

    • Ventura RV Resort
    • Community of Foster Park/Camp Chaffee
    • Old Creek Road
    • Structures on Grada Avenue and Truelo Avenue in unincorporated Camarillo

    WATCH: Evacuations issued as storm starts to pummel SoCal

    Evacuation orders and warnings are in effect for portions of Southern California due to a powerful storm.

    Santa Maria Road evacuations

    Officials issued an evacuation order for residents living on Santa Maria Road to Topanga Canyon due to the high risk of mud or debris flows in the area.

    Evacuation orders were also issued for the Owen Fire and Agua Fire burn areas.

    La Tuna Canyon evacuations

    An evacuation warning was upgraded to a mandatory order for residents along La Tuna Canyon Road in Sun Valley. The affected area encompasses Horse Haven to the north, Martindale to the east, Primrose to the south and Ledge to the west.

    Several evacuation centers have been established.

    Santa Barbara County evacuations

    Evacuation orders are in place in several parts of Santa Barbara. Officials are ordering people in those areas to leave by 2 p.m. Sunday.

    The evacuation areas include areas along waterways associated with the Thomas, Cave and Alisal burn areas and properties in the vicinity of Sycamore Creek, from Stanwood Drive down to parts of Ninos Drive, in the city of Santa Barbara. The incoming storm has the potential to produce flash flooding, debris flows and landslides.

    L.A. County burn scar area evacuations

    Evacuation warnings were issued for areas of unincorporated L.A.

    Duarte evacuations

    An evacuation warning will go into effect for some residents around the Fish Fire burn scar area in Duarte. The order will go into effect at 6 p.m. Sunday for residents on Melcanyon Road between Brookridge Road and Fish Canyon Road.

    The warning will be in place through 10 a.m. Tuesday.

    How much is it going to rain?

    The multiple-day storm could drop 3 to 6 inches of rain in coastal and valley areas, and 6 to 12 inches in the mountains, with much of that downpour occurring in a 24- to 36-hour period between Sunday into Monday, the NWS said.

    “Historically, rainfall of this magnitude creates major hydrologic problems in our area and there’s no reason to think this won’t happen with this event,” forecasters said.

    The heavy rain will be accompanied by strong winds in many areas, blowing at speeds of 30 to 50 mph in parts of L.A. County, and reaching up to 60 to 80 mph in higher mountain areas and the Golden State (5) Freeway corridor.

    A flood watch will be in effect from Sunday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon for Los Angeles County.

    “Given the sheer amounts of rainfall expected in the time period, the 3-6 hour rain rates could be problematic, exceeding USGS thresholds which could lead to mud/debris flow issues as well as swift water rescues in the local rivers and streams,” the NWS said.

    City News Service contributed to this report.

    Copyright © 2024 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.

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    Rob McMillan

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  • Nelson Peltz isn’t abandoning proxy fight – Los Angeles Weekly Times

    Nelson Peltz isn’t abandoning proxy fight – Los Angeles Weekly Times

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    Are you not entertained, Nelson Peltz?

    Disney shares jumped 6% in after-market trading Wednesday after the company posted earnings and flooded the zone with new announcements meant not only to excite its employees and shareholders, but also to put activist investor Nelson Peltz in his place.

    Peltz has launched a proxy fight against Disney, asking investors to nominate him and former Disney Chief Financial Officer Jay Rasulo to replace current board members Michael Froman and Maria Elena Lagomasino. Both Disney’s higher profits, and string of content and partnership announcements, appeared to form a direct rebuttal to Peltz’s concerns about the company.

    “The last thing we need right now is to be distracted by an activist or activists that have a different agenda and don’t understand our company,” Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger told CNBC’s Julia Boorstin in an interview Wednesday.

    During his company’s first-quarter earnings conference call, he added, “we have turned the corner and entered a new era.”

    Peltz, who first took a stake in Disney last year only to abandon and then renew his proxy fight threats, responded with a statement to CNBC that he won’t be backing down this time.

    “It’s deja vu all over again,” Peltz’s firm Trian Fund Management said in a statement. “We saw this movie last year, and we didn’t like the ending.”

    It was hard to keep up with Disney’s announcements this quarter:

    • ESPN finally set a launch date for its direct-to-consumer service: August or fall of 2025.
    • Disney is buying a $1.5 billion stake in Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite. It is Disney’s “biggest foray into the gaming space ever,” Iger said to Boorstin.
    • Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour film is coming to Disney+.
    • Disney upped its dividend by 50% versus the last dividend paid in January.
    • Disney announced a sequel to “Moana” is coming to theaters in November, which will likely be the studio’s biggest box office hit of the year.
    • Disney is on track to meet or exceed its $7.5 billion targeted spending cuts by the end of fiscal 2024.
    • The company said it expects full-year fiscal 2024 earnings will increase at least 20% over 2023.

    All of these announcements came a day after Disney made more big news, revealing it’s launching a joint venture with Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox to offer ESPN in a new skinny bundle of linear networks that caters to sports fans later this year. It will be the first time cable cord-cutters and cord-nevers will have access to ESPN outside the traditional cable bundle.

    It’s only logical that the mountain of announcements came this quarter, given activist pressure from Trian and Blackwells Capital. Iger has a vested interest in beating back critics of his performance and strategy.

    Peltz has been vocal about bashing Iger’s leadership as shares have slumped in the past year, underperforming the S&P 500. Trian has launched a website, Restorethemagic.com, that claims Disney has “not performed for shareholders.”

    “It saddens me that the board didn’t welcome me,” Peltz said last month. “This company is just not being run properly.”

    Iger said he hasn’t spoken with Peltz recently and doesn’t intend to speak with him. In a filing last month, Disney said “in deciding not to recommend Mr. Peltz, the directors considered a number of factors, including that in a two year quest for a seat on the Disney Board, Mr. Peltz had not actually presented a single strategic idea for Disney.”

    WATCH: Disney CEO Bob Iger on new streaming bundle partnership: ‘I’d rather be a disruptor.’



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  • 9 people killed in California’s massive storm: Here’s how they died

    9 people killed in California’s massive storm: Here’s how they died

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    State officials have reported that nine people across California died in the biggest storm of the season, a major atmospheric river that left a trail of destruction due to dangerous winds and historic rains.

    Among the deaths, four were killed by fallen trees in Northern California and two died in car wrecks in Southern California, officials said.

    The storm initially whipped into Northern California on Saturday as a bomb cyclone — meaning it rapidly intensified — fueling dangerous winds on top of an already moisture-heavy system. Wind gusts along the Northern and Central California coast exceeded 90 and 100 mph in some areas, as the storm unleashed the beginning of a deluge of rain.

    By Sunday and Monday, the system was walloping Southern California, dumping record-breaking rainfall, causing hundreds of mudslides and debris flows and forcing evacuations and water rescues.

    The storm — fueled by El Niño, human-caused climate change and typical winter weather patterns — resulted in widespread power outages, road closures and flooding.

    Here’s what The Times has been able to confirm about the nine people who died in the storm, in the order they occurred:

    Feb. 1 in San Mateo County

    A man in San Mateo County died Thursday after his vehicle hydroplaned and struck a tree, becoming the first storm-related death, according to Brian Ferguson, a spokesperson for the governor’s Office of Emergency Services. It wasn’t immediately clear if the heavy rain in the area at the time of the accident was brought on by the storm that hit the Northern California coast two days later.

    Feb. 3 in Sacramento County

    A woman in Sacramento County was killed by a fallen tree in her backyard, Ferguson said. Additional details were not immediately available from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.

    Feb. 4 in Sutter, Sacramento, and Santa Cruz counties

    Three men were killed by downed trees in Northern California the next day.

    Chad Ensey, 41, of Carmichael suffered blunt-force trauma and died at a hospital after a tree fell on him in his backyard amid strong wind, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.

    In the rural Santa Cruz County community of Boulder Creek, Robert Brainard III, 45, was killed when a tree fell on his home, officials there said.

    And in Sutter County, 82-year-old David Gomes was found dead beneath a fallen redwood tree in his backyard, authorities said.

    Feb. 5 in San Bernardino County

    In San Bernardino County, a 69-year-old man died after losing control of his truck in Yucaipa, sending it into an embankment that submerged part of the vehicle, according to the California Highway Patrol. The San Bernardino man was taken to a hospital, where he died of his injuries. His identity wasn’t immediately available.

    Ferguson also confirmed another traffic death in Southern California on this day, but the details weren’t immediately clear.

    Feb. 5 in San Luis Obispo County

    A 90-year-old woman in Los Osos died after the power went out at her home, where she was in hospice care and dependent on oxygen, according to San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s spokesperson Tony Cipolla.

    She called 911 after losing power and medics responded, but she died soon after, Cipolla said. He did not immediately provide her name.

    Feb. 6 in San Diego County

    A person was found dead in the Tijuana River along the Mexico border, according to Mónica Muñoz, a spokesperson for the San Diego Fire Department.

    Firefighters were called to Dairy Mart Road just after 1 a.m. Tuesday after a body was reported floating in the water, Muñoz said. Teams working with U.S. Customs & Border Protection were able to recover the body, but the person was already dead, she said.

    The person has yet to be identified.

    This is a developing story and will be updated.

    Times staff writers Noah Goldberg, Priscella Vega, Hannah Fry and Hannah Wiley contributed to this report.

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  • LAPD Police Commission names Dominic Choi interim chief

    LAPD Police Commission names Dominic Choi interim chief

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    LOS ANGELES – Assistant LAPD Chief Dominic Choi will be the first Asian-American to lead the Los Angeles Police Department after the city’s Police Commission unanimously selected him to the role with a start date of March 1, 2024, as current LAPD Chief Michel Moore is set to retire effective at the end of February.

    Choi’s the first Korean American to hold the job taking over from Chief Moore, whose retirement Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced four weeks ago in a press conference. The assignment is expected to last only until mid-summer, while a nationwide search is conducted to find a more permanent replacement.

    “This appointment will continue our work to make Los Angeles safer. I look forward to working with Interim Chief Choi in the coming months as he provides steady and stable leadership for our police department,” said Mayor Bass. “Interim Chief Choi’s more than 28 years of service to this City as a member of the police department put him in a unique position to not only lead, but to grow and improve our department. I want to thank Interim Chief Choi for his willingness to accept this appointment as we work to make our city safer for all.”

    Reacting to the news, LA City Councilmember John Lee wrote on social media: “Congratulations to my good friend Dominic Choi on being named the Interim Chief of @lapdhq!”

    Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore, Assistant LAPD Chief Dominic Choi & Los Angeles Councilmember John Lee.
    (Photo Credit: Office of Councilmember Lee)

    The son of Korean immigrants, Choi began his LAPD career in 1995 after earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California, KABC 7 News reported.

    He worked patrol assignments in different divisions, rising through the ranks to detective, sergeant, and lieutenant. In 2014, he was promoted to captain, serving in both Foothill and Pacific areas. In 2017, he was promoted to Commander of Operations Central Bureau and later became the Department’s Homeless Coordinator. He remained in that position until he was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2019.

    Mayor Karen Bass: LAPD Chief Michel Moore will retire in February

    Related

    Chief Moore has been LA’s top cop since June 4, 2018 after then Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti appointed him to the post which was ratified by the Los Angeles City Council on June 27, 2018. Moore is a veteran law enforcement official having joined the LAPD in 1981.

    The Chief during his career in the LAPD, has received numerous commendations and awards for his police service including the department’s Medal of Valor, the Police Medal, the Police Star, and the Police Meritorious Service Medal.



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  • Former Gov. Nikki Haley woos Southern California voters as primary ballots go out

    Former Gov. Nikki Haley woos Southern California voters as primary ballots go out

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    Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley barnstormed Southern California on Wednesday, just as primary ballots are starting to arrive in voters’ mailboxes.

    The former governor and U.N. ambassador is courting voters — and fundraising — while in town.

    She is introducing herself to Southern California voters, highlighting her tenure as the Palmetto State’s former chief executive and her foreign policy experience as a U.N. ambassador. But Haley, 52, is also ramping up her criticisms of former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner in the GOP primary race, saying he begets “chaos” and is focused more on himself than on voters.

    “I voted for Donald Trump twice. I was proud to serve America in his administration, but chaos follows him,” Haley said at the Wild Goose Tavern in Costa Mesa on Wednesday morning. “We can’t be a country in disarray and a world on fire and go through four more years of chaos. We won’t survive it.”

    Pointing to House Republicans knocking down an Israel aid package and an appellate court’s recent ruling that Trump isn’t immune from prosecution for trying to overturn his 2020 election loss, Haley said: “Every bit of it is chaos, and he’s got his fingerprints on every bit of it.”

    “We need someone with executive experience, but we also need someone who knows national security,” Haley said.

    Her message to local voters, Haley told the Southern California News Group in an exclusive interview in Costa Mesa, is: “Let’s make America normal again.”

    “There’s a decision that (voters in Southern California) have to make. Do we go with the same or do we go in a new direction? And more of the same is not just Joe Biden; it’s also Donald Trump,” Haley said. “Are we really going to give them two candidates in their 80s? We can do better than that.”

    Haley has called for term limits and mental competency tests for politicians over the age of 75. She said those views — and others — have fueled Trump’s and his surrogates’ attacks.

    “They don’t like that I’m not interested in being their friends,” she said. “I’m interested in serving the taxpayers of our country. … They can go and say whatever lies they want; my record stands true.”

    The ages of President Joe Biden (81) and Trump (77) should matter to voters, Haley maintains. “We will have a female president. The hard truth is, it’s either going to be me or Kamala Harris.”

    “We need someone who can do eight years of hard, strong discipline to get the job done,” Haley said.

    About 400 people crowded inside the Wild Goose Tavern in Costa Mesa during the drizzly morning — according to crowd estimates from Mario Marovic, a partner in the restaurant — sipping on drinks from the bar and eating passed appetizers like pickled deviled eggs and sweet potato goat cheese fritters. Animal heads, draped with bras, lined the walls; “Haley for President” buttons and signs adorned tables.

    The bar is named for John Wayne’s yacht, said Newport Beach Councilmember Erik Weigand, who introduced Haley at the Orange County event. “We need somebody just like John Wayne who can stand up to bullies … and that is why I like what Nikki Haley brings to the table.”

    In California, the GOP presidential election is considered “closed,” meaning only registered Republican voters will see it on their ballots.

    Stephaney Avital, an Orange County resident, said she’s been a registered Democrat but switched parties to support Haley in the primary.

    “I want to see a change in our country. I don’t want to see the same old circus that we’ve had in the last eight years,” Avital said. “We want to see moderation, we want to see logic, we want to see policies change. We want to see something different than we’ve already had.”

    Haley was met Wednesday morning by a small group of Trump supporters who gathered outside the restaurant. They waved “MAGA” flags and wore “America first” hats, calling Haley a “RINO,” a phrase that stands for “Republican in name only” and is used by the former president and his allies to malign those who are more moderate in the GOP.

    A small group of supporters of former President Donald Trump gathered outside an event for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in Costa Mesa on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (Photo by Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register/SCNG)
    A small group of supporters of former President Donald Trump gathered outside an event for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in Costa Mesa on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (Photo by Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Two demonstrators were escorted out of the bar for trying to shout down Haley during the remarks. At least one was a supporter of the former president.

    Haley briefly paused her remarks during the interruptions, using it to highlight her husband’s military experience. Maj. Michael Haley is serving in Africa with the South Carolina Army National Guard. He and other servicemembers, she said, are making sacrifices so Americans can have freedom of speech.

    How Super Tuesday would be super for Haley

    The Southern California trip came on the heels of a big loss in the symbolic presidential primary election in Nevada on Tuesday night. There, voters picked “none of these candidates” ahead of Haley. Trump didn’t participate in the Nevada primary, where no delegates are awarded, and is instead focused on Thursday’s caucus.

    But Haley brushed it off Wednesday morning, calling it a “scam that Trump already had in the bag.” Her campaign, she said, didn’t spend time or money in Nevada, instead focusing on states like South Carolina and Michigan as well as Super Tuesday spots.

    Haley is committed to staying in the race through Super Tuesday, she said.

    “I’m not going anywhere. We have a country to save,” Haley said when asked about how long she’ll stay in the race. “We are determined to outsmart, outwork, outlast until we finish this.”

    Super Tuesday — March 5 this year — is a critical time in the primary election season; it’s the day when the most states vote and candidates can rack up more delegates for the summer’s nominating convention.

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  • 24 Valentine’s Day Date Ideas in Burbank

    24 Valentine’s Day Date Ideas in Burbank

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    Valentine’s Day is fast approaching! Here are the top 24 date ideas to do on February 14th or the week of Valentine’s day in Burbank.  You’ll find something for every couple on this list and never have to leave Burbank’s city limits to do it.

    Flapper’s Comedy Club
    If you’re looking for dinner and entertainment, come see the Valentine’s Day Date Night Show at Flappers, starting at 7:00pm and 9:00pm with a special romantic menu to go along with it. The show is hosted by Haley Hoffmeister, with performances by Francis Cronin, JP Connolly, Laura Hayden, and Peter Murphy.

    Claytivity Pottery Class
    Sign up for a couples date night wheelthrowing class on February 16th at Claytivity Pottery Studio. Try pottery with your partner, even if you’re total beginners. In this class you fill follow an instructor and learn to make bowl on the pott’ers wheel. You’ll pick your colors and Claytivity will glaze your pieces and have them ready for pickup in 3 weeks. The class is $250 per couple, and includes a maximum of 4 pieces per couple.

    Castaway Dinner Special
    Voted Best Romantic Restaurant in the 2022 and 2023 myBurbank’s Best Contest, Castaway provides breathtaking views of the valley, paired with delicious food and cocktails. On Valentine’s Day they are offering a Four-Course Dinner Experience for $150 per person, with an optional wine pairing.

    Photo courtesy of Castaway Burbank.

    Phoebe Peacock Custom Perfume
    Visit the Magnolia Park perfume and gift store, Phoebe Peacock, and make a custom perfume scent with your sweetheart. In-house blends start at $95 and you’ll get to work with one of their Mixtresses to create your own signature scent that you even get to name.

    Chamber Guide
    UCLA Health

    The Colony Theatre Comedy/Improv Show
    Come see a Valentine’s Day comedy and improv show presented by Lory Tatoulian and featuring an array of hilarious comedians. You have the option to purchase a $25 delicious charcuterie cheese box prepared by the fabulous “That’s So Cheesy.” The show features: James Adomian, Sarah Cornell, Helen Kalognomos, Ludwig Manukian, Joseph Schles, Lory Tatoulian and Johnno Wilson – and more special guest appearances!

    Wine and Paint Class
    Come to their special Valentine’s wine and paint class at their Magnolia Park location that features 2 canvases, 2 glasses of wine, chocolates, and endless fun and creativity. The painting of the night is “Valentines…Picasso Date Night.” Hurry because the class fills fast. If you miss the date, there are plenty of other Valentine/Love themed wine and paint classes during the week.

    Photo Courtesy of Wine and Design Burbank.

    Smokehouse Dinner Special
    The iconic Smokehouse restaurant has a special Valentine’s Day menu going from 4:00pm until 11:00pm. Don’t worry, the “World’s Greatest Garlic Bread!” is on that menu.  Make sure to call and make a reservation.

    Barragan’s Dinner Special
    This iconic Mexican restaurant in Burbank is offering a Valentine’s Day special menu for $75/couple. It includes a beverage, entree, and dessert for each person.  They will also have live music from 5:30-8:30PM from Musica Romantica.

    Tequilas Burbank Dinner Special
    Tequilas Burbank is having a Valentine’s Day special for $95/couple that includes a drink, entree, and dessert for two.  The tables will be decorated for the holiday to set the romantic mood and there will be live performances by Anival singing love songs in both Spanish and English.

    Photo courtesy of Tequilas Burbank.

    Urban Press Winery Dinner Special
    This Downtown Burbank winery is rated best Winery in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 myBurbank’s Best Contest. Their Valentine’s Day dinner special is $120 per person and includes a 3 wine tasting, appetizer, entree, dessert and live entertainment. Sit upstairs to enjoy jazz and soul music, or sit downstairs for blues, jazz, and funk music performances.

    Sunset Hike in Burbank
    You don’t have to spend money to show your love, sometimes spending time is all you need.  Burbank has two great hiking trails at Stough Canyon and Wildwood Canyon, that offers stunning views of the city.  Take a sunset hike and have a picnic dinner at the top of the hill for a romantic but outdoorsy date night. 

    Staycation at Hotel Amarano
    Want a night out from the kids and house without leaving town? Book a staycation night at a luxury boutique hotel like Hotel Amarano, that was voted Best Hotel in the 2023 myBurbank’s Best contest. Dine at their “For Your Consideration”, FYC Bar + Kitchen so you don’t even have to leave the hotel all night long. With a nod to old Hollywood and the studio ranches of Burbank, FYC offers a modern take on California fresh contemporary cuisine and craft cocktails. 

    Photo Courtesy of Hotel Amarano.

    Round 1 Bowling & Amusement
    Want to feel like a kid again? Visit Round 1 Amusement in the Burbank Town Center.  They have an enormous arcade, bar, billiards, karaoke room and bowling.  Let loose and have fun with your sweetheart like you use to do when you were younger.

    Take a Horse Ride
    Burbank is home to the Rancho horse community and the LA Equestrian Center. It’s also home to Circle K Riding Stables where you can take guided hours tours through the Griffith Park hills. They even offer a ride up to the Hollywood Sign and back.  To make a reservation call (818) 843-9890.

    Roller Rink
    Skate Oddity is calling all Valentines and Frankensteins who want to hit the roller rink for a Rockin’ Rollerdisco event at the LA Kings Burbank Sports Center. The event is on February 10th from 4:00-8:00 PM, so come skate under eerie lights to dark 80s/new wave/goth mix music and enjoy shopping and snacks that will be set up around the rink.

    Verdigo Boulders
    Even if you are new to climbing, Verdigo Boulders is a great place to try your hand at this style of rock climbing without ropes or harnesses. The space has 15 foot high bouldering walls and over 700 square feet of climbing space.  It’s a fun and active date that will be sure to work up an appetite for a romantic dinner out.  Day passes cost $30 and show rentals are $4.

    Photo Courtesy of Verdigo Boulders.

    Go to the Movies
    Burbank has three AMC theatres wit the AMC 16 being the largest.  On Valentine’s Day you can see Poor Things, Lisa Frankenstein, and the Valentine Encore of Anyone But You. Make sure to stop into MacGuffins Bar before the movie to try one of their signature cocktails.

    Couples Massage
    Take your Valentine to one of Burbank’s many spas to enjoy a massage and facial.  Check out rA Organic Spa, Relax Spa & Beauty, or Burbank Spa and Garden, to just name a few.

    DeBell Golf
    Book some tee time with your significant other and start your golf adventure at Burbank’s DeBell Golf Club. Finish the date at the Hilltop Restaurant and Bar located on the second story of the DeBell Clubhouse with amazing food and views of the course.

    Photo Courtesy of DeBell Golf Club.

    VR Experience
    Cypher VR is the ultimate VR escape room experience. They have over 10 games to choose from that range from mystery, intense, and adventure so there is something for everyone to enjoy.  You can play with just two people and can talk to each other through the VR headsets as you work together to beat the game. 

    Escape Room
    Can you and your date master the art of escape in under 90 minutes? Test your skills at Exit Artists “Vegas Heist,” a casino themed escape room located in Burbank. Games for 2-4 players cost $200, so bring another couple for a double Valentine’s date night.

    Helicopter Tour
    Orbic Air offers helicopter rides that depart from the Hollywood Burbank Airport.  They are offering Valentine’s Day Helicopter Specials from February 10-18 that includes complimentary champagne, a guaranteed private flight, a rose for that special someone, an assortment of chocolates, desserts and berries and a souvenir photo to remember the experience!

    Photo courtesy of Orbic Air.

    Date Night At Home
    Want to enjoy a date night in for Valentine’s Day? We have the perfect Burbank businesses to help you do it. Fancy Free Liquor Store is offering a date night in a box set that includes “Love You Bunches” wine, chocolate covered dates, and CBD/THC gummies. To curve your appetite, you can pre-order a beautiful charcuterie or cheese board from CHARQUTE.

    Coffee Date at Three Sisters
    Can’t make it out at night, meet your loved one for coffee at Three Sisters Coffee and Tea and try their items from their special Valentine Menu like their Chocolate Covered Strawberry Latte, Rose Matcha Latte, Cloud Nine Latte, Chocolate Raspberry latte, Sparking Strawberry Lemonade, and more.

    BurCal Apartments8715

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  • ‘Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version)’ will stream exclusively on Disney+

    ‘Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version)’ will stream exclusively on Disney+

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    Get ready, Swifties. Disney just announced that “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version)” will stream exclusively on Disney+ starting March 15.

    The concert film will include the song “cardigan” and four additional acoustic songs.

    The history-making, cinematic experience from the 14-time Grammy-winning artist was directed by Sam Wrench. It grossed more than $260 million worldwide at the global box office, making it the top selling concert film of all-time.

    In making the announcement Disney CEO Bob Iger said, “‘The Eras Tour’ has been a true phenomenon that has and continues to thrill fans around the world, and we are very excited to bring this electrifying concert to audiences wherever they are, exclusively on Disney+.”

    Disney is the parent company of Disney+ and this station.

    Copyright © 2024 OnTheRedCarpet.com. All Rights Reserved.

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  • DOJ: 5 arrested after meth found in plates, books and dolls

    DOJ: 5 arrested after meth found in plates, books and dolls

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    The Department of Justice announced a major drug bust after narcotics were discovered in ceramic plates, hollowed-out books and dolls. 

    Law enforcement seized 91 packages of meth, carrying nearly 200 kilos of the drugs. 

    “The defendants are engaged in the mailing and shipping of methamphetamine from Los Angeles County to New Zealand and Australia,” the DOJ said. 

    If the drugs were sold in New Zealand or Australia, they were valued at more than $20 million, according to law enforcement. Search warrants were served in three locations in the San Gabriel Valley where five people were arrested. 

    The five arrested were “alleged members of an international drug trafficking ring based in the San Gabriel Valley,” the DOJ said in a statement. 

    The suspects were identified as:

    • Yangqiang Chen, 45, of Monterey Park; 
    • Jie Chen, 40, of Rosemead; 
    • MeiMei Chen, 41, of Rosemead; 
    • Guorong He, 50 of Rosemead; and
    • Yien He, 32, of Rosemead.

    While conducting the search warrants, law enforcement said they also seized about 40 pounds of methamphetamine, more than $100,000 in cash, and more than 1,000 gift cards from various retailers.

    According to the DOJ, the FBI; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; IRS Criminal Investigation; the Los Angeles Police Department; the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating this matter.

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  • More rain, more car-damaging potholes. Here’s how you can get repaid for damage

    More rain, more car-damaging potholes. Here’s how you can get repaid for damage

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    Rain breeds potholes in aging roads around Southern California. You can file a claim for damage your car incurs, but reimbursement is not guaranteed.

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    Jon Healey

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  • A Global View: GDP Growth of 2.3 Percent Forecasted for 2024 – Los Angeles Business Journal

    A Global View: GDP Growth of 2.3 Percent Forecasted for 2024 – Los Angeles Business Journal

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    Weaker annual real GDP growth rates are forecast across the largest regions in 2024 compared to 2023, according to a new S&P Global Market Intelligence report released in January. The “Top 10 Economic Predictions for 2024” forecasts global real GDP will expand at 2.3 percent in 2024, down from an estimated 2.7 percent in 2023, with relative strength in some regions, including Asia-Pacific, helping avert a global hard landing. In the report, S&P Global Market Intelligence’s economists outlined their predictions for global and regional economic performance, and central bank monetary policy and highlighted key economic market trends and risks.

    “The downward trend in inflation, which had stalled in mid-2023, has resumed and is expected to continue through 2024, consistent with rebalancing supply and demand,” said Ken Wattret, global economist, S&P Global Market Intelligence.

    As confidence builds that consumer price inflation rates will return to target, central bank policy rate cuts are forecast across advanced economies during 2024.

    “Monetary policy pivots look increasingly likely during the first half of 2024,” said Wat- tret, “although recent market expectations of around 150 basis points of rate cuts in the US and eurozone over the year as a whole look somewhat overdone.”

    Other Top 10 predictions include:

    • Central bank easing cycles are already well under way in many emerging economies and rate cuts are forecast to become more widespread during the first half of 2024.

    • Mainland China’s economy will be supported by a more accommodative policy, a gradual improvement of private-sector confidence, and an expected bottoming out of the housing market downturn.

    • The US dollar will depreciate, consistent with weaker US growth, narrowing interest rate differentials, and the persistent large current-account deficit. The yen is expected to appreciate more against the US dollar than many of its peers as tightening Japanese monetary policy bucks the global trend.

    • Some financial headwinds to growth will persist, including the adverse effect of rising non-performing loans on credit supply.

    • Prospects for real estate prices will continue to vary across countries and sectors; supply constraints will support residential prices in some markets, although declines in Western Europe are forecast to continue.

    • Geopolitical factors will remain an important source of risk and uncertainty, with approximately 80 major elections taking place across the world in 2024.

    • Progress on global energy transition will remain uneven in 2024. Policy initiatives are supportive of investment growth in North America, leaning against recessions in the region.

    S&P Global Market Intelligence’s team of experts delivers insights and leading data and technology solutions, partnering with customers to expand their perspective, operate with confidence, and make decisions with conviction.

    S&P Global Market Intelligence is a division of S&P Global. S&P Global provides credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity, and automotive markets.

    For more information, visit spglobal.com/marketintelligence.

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  • Navigating the Corporate Transparency Act and its Impact on LA Real Estate Entities – Los Angeles Business Journal

    Navigating the Corporate Transparency Act and its Impact on LA Real Estate Entities – Los Angeles Business Journal

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    The majority of commercial real estate in the Los Angeles area is acquired, owned, financed, leased and operated through the use of an entity, such as a limited liability company, corporation or limited partnership.

    There are many reasons for holding real estate assets this way, including commercial lender requirements, limitations on liability for interest owners, privacy concerns and tax advantages. However, the entity shield that may protect and obscure the beneficial owners of a real estate asset has created an opportunity for bad actors engaging in money laundering and other financial crimes.

    The response from Congress has been a set of new reporting requirements in the form of the federal Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) that went into effect on January 1, 2024. The CTA affects countless existing real estate entities with holdings in the Los Angeles area, and compliance will require the attention of all of the real estate community.

    REPORTS AND DEADLINES
    Commencing on January 1, 2024, most entities formed by a filing with a secretary of state’s office (including, corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, limited liability limited partnerships, and statutory trusts) must file a report (the “CTA Report”) with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”), reporting certain information about the entity and the persons who own and control it. The initial filing deadlines are as follows:

    • Entities in existence prior to January 1, 2024, must file the CTA Report by the end of 2024
    • Entities formed during 2024 must file the CTA Report within 90 days of formation
    • Entities formed on or after January 1, 2025, must file the CTA Report within 30 days of formation

    Once filed, a CTA Report must be updated within 30 days after a change to any information on the CTA Report. There are criminal and civil penalties for not complying with the new rules.

    These reporting requirements are new and, in many cases, may be challenging to manage. Reporting companies will need to trace ownership and control in each entity to identify all “Beneficial Owners,” which include interest holders of 25% or more as well as any party exercising control over the entity, like officers, managers, directors and trustees, among others.

    WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW TO PREPARE?
    • Local real estate owners and investors should have someone in their organization whose responsibility it is to learn about and manage the CTA requirements.
    • Prepare organization charts for all existing entities.
    • Revise all agreements between, among,
    or otherwise governing, owners and senior executives of companies, to require them to (1) obtain a FinCEN identifier, and (2) timely provide the information so companies can meet their reporting obligations.
    • Identify the “Beneficial Owners.”
    • Have these “Beneficial Owners” obtain their FinCEN Identifiers now.
    • Be patient as, according to FinCen, an estimated 32 million companies are required to report this year. There will definitely be some bumps in the road.
    This article was prepared by the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) Committee at Greenberg Glusker LLP. To learn more, visit greenbergglusker.com.

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  • Economic Trends Communities of Color are Facing in 2024 and Beyond – Los Angeles Business Journal

    Economic Trends Communities of Color are Facing in 2024 and Beyond – Los Angeles Business Journal

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    If only I had a crystal ball to accurately predict the future. Unfortunately, I do not! However, I can rely on my expertise and instinct, conduct research, and read and speak to people and organizations I believe are credible and knowledgeable (thank you, Cynthia M. Ruiz and Kellie Todd Griffin).

    When I look at the economy, I always look at both the “Macro” and the “Micro.”

    Let us start with the big picture (Macro). The truth we know is uncertain! The global economy is fragile because of all the wars around the world. The lingering effects of COVID-19 will potentially devastate poor people and Communities of Color for years to come.

    So, I will talk about the Micro as it relates to people of color and women in this country. Earnings and unemployment rates are indicators of the economy.

    According to the US Department of Labor:

    • Women only earn 75 cents for every dollar a white man makes, and People of Color statistically earn less.
    • White weekly earnings: $1,046.52
    • African American: $791.02
    • Latino: $762.80
    • Native American: $801.99
    • Asian: $762.80

    The California Black Women’s Collective in partnership with CA Black Media and Black Women Organized for Political Action released a report, the State of Black Women in CA in 2022. It stated that California has the fifth largest Black population in the nation with 2.1 million people. However, based on the 2020 census results, this only represents 5.7% of the overall state population.

    Black females in California represent 51% of the Black population. According to the report, 80% of Black households in the state have Black women breadwinners, and over 70% are headed by single mothers.

    Fourth quarter 2023 unemployment rates for African American men age 16 to 19 have a 14.6% unemployment rate. Latino men ages 16 to 19 have a 13.4% unemployment rate. Sixteen to nineteen are formative years when we should be investing in our young men, not getting them ready for prison. Since 2000, private prisons increased by 32% compared to the rise of the prison population of 3%. That is big business destroying communities and families.

    According to the Washington Post, half of American renters spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing costs, which contributes to rising homelessness and loss of employment.

    According to the ACLU, systemic inequities and barriers keep people of color from achieving economic security through employment, education, and homeownership, resulting in racial disparities in wealth and income.

    These incongruities are the direct result of discrimination, structural inequality, the War on Drugs, and biases across institutions, resulting in a persistent racial wealth gap.

    Businesses are developing new forms of technology daily, decreasing opportunities for resource-poor communities. Artificial intelligence and algorithmic risk assessment tools already influence who gets a job, rents an apartment, or qualifies for loans.

    The outlook for communities of color is bleaker than the rest of the people in the United States. So, whatever you believe is the economic outlook over the next few years understand it is different for our communities.

    This is why culturally specific (Black and Brown) nonprofits are investing in the people we serve and partnering with corporate partners committed to providing access to health equity, developing creative programs, such as STEM and STEAM, Ambassadorships, job training, and leadership workshops for people with Lived Experiences, to open doors of opportunities and build generational wealth.

    What impact will you and your company make to increase equity for people and commu- nities who have been victimized by people who changed their narrative to give them an equitable piece of the pie, not just a bigger slice?

    Kandee Lewis full headshotKandee Lewis is chief executive fficer of the Positive Results Center, and is civil rights commissioner for the City of Los Angeles.

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  • Challenges and Opportunities: The Asset Management Sector in 2024 – Los Angeles Business Journal

    Challenges and Opportunities: The Asset Management Sector in 2024 – Los Angeles Business Journal

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    The last several years have brought about change at a scale and pace once seemingly unimaginable across the US economy. For asset managers specifically, 2024 begins at an inflection point. From an evolving regulatory landscape to geopolitical turmoil, to the rise of generative AI (GenAI) and ongoing questions about the direction and duration of a possible “higher-for-longer” environment, asset managers are confronted with both challenges and opportunities. While there are a multitude of areas to keep a close eye on throughout the year, here are three of note:

    POSSIBLE RATE CUTS

    After operating for years in a low-rate environment, the rapid pace of rate hikes seen in 2022 and 2023 forced asset managers to quickly adapt. In recent months, the Federal Reserve has begun to signal that they will tap the breaks in 2024 as they seek to possibly cut rates later this year. According to a recent survey KPMG conducted of asset managers at the end of 2023, a majority of respondents anticipated rate cuts in the second half of 2024 or even earlier, in line with broader market expectations. The market needed a signal that rates would not increase for transactions and deal activity to pick up, and the possibility of interest rate cuts in 2024 creates a more favorable environment for asset managers.

    The survey also revealed that a majority of respondents felt that their organization’s ability to deploy capital or grow would not be impacted if the federal funds rate remained at 5.5% or higher in 2024. What we can take from all of this is that asset managers aren’t so much concerned about the level of interest rates as they are about their varying trajectory and timing.

    REALIZING BENEFITS OF GenAI, ADDRESSING LEARNING CURVE

    Every industry is still in the opening stages of beginning to comprehend how emerging technologies such as GenAI are going to impact the ways in which we work. While there is uncertainty over the long-term implications, what is clear is that the technology is here to stay. In asset management, however, our survey revealed there is a discrepancy when it comes to expectations and comfort level with the technology. While 30 percent of asset managers anticipate GenAI being utilized for 5-20 percent of tasks by the end of 2024, only one in five feel adequately knowledgeable about its use. This divergence highlights a skill gap that needs to be addressed for asset managers to be able to utilize GenAI to its fullest potential and stay competitive in the industry.

    In fact, adopting emerging technologies was identified as the highest strategic priority by 65 percent of respondents. As 2024 progresses, how asset managers continue to invest in, deploy and upskill their professionals in the use of GenAI will be one of the key areas worth watching.

    TALENT RISK AND HYBRID HERE TO STAY

    Attracting and retaining the right talent has always been critical for asset managers, but, in a hybrid environment, it’s never been more challenging.

    Our survey revealed that asset managers are concerned about talent risk, including leadership, recruitment, retention, and cultural issues. This concern was greatest among respondents from smaller organizations, highlighting the challenges they face in attracting and retaining top talent.

    In addition to attracting and retaining talent, asset managers are continuing to reassess their strategy when it comes to their working environment. In short, it appears hybrid is here to stay, with 67 percent of respondents stating that their organization has implemented such arrangements, while only a quarter of respondents are back in office five days a week.

    THE PATH AHEAD

    If there is one lesson perhaps above all to glean from the last few years, it is just how unpredictable the road ahead can be. 2024 promises to bring about continued change across the asset management industry, notably regarding GenAI. The organizations that continue to evolve and adapt to the short-term challenges while maintaining focus on their longer-term objectives will be best positioned to succeed.

    Roger Yang is KPMG’s Asset Management Practice leader for Pacific Southwest markets. Learn more at kpmg.us.

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  • George Lucas Buys Cold Storage Facility in LA’s Chinatown

    George Lucas Buys Cold Storage Facility in LA’s Chinatown

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    The man behind “Star Wars” now owns a cold storage and industrial facility in L.A.’s Chinatown. 

    Filmmaker George Lucas’ family office, Skywalker Holdings, has bought a roughly 155,000-square-foot site at 1600 Naud Street for $45.5 million, according to property records filed with L.A. County. The limited liability company on the deed was signed by Michael Rider, the treasurer of the Lucas family’s foundation.

    The deal came out to around $293 a square foot. CoStar first reported the deal.

    Santa Monica-based Redcar Properties, which sold the property, had planned to raze the cold storage warehouse and other ancillary structures and build a 147,000-square-foot office development, with restaurant and retail space, L.A. city planning documents show. 

    However, Redcar notified the city last month that it would pull its plans. 

    The sale to Lucas triggered a $2.77 million transfer tax, under the city’s new 5.5 percent tax on all sales above $10 million, the deed shows. 

    It’s unclear whether Skywalker Holdings will file new development plans, or keep the property as a cold storage and industrial facility. However, Lucas is planning to open the $1 billion Lucas Museum of Narrative Art next year in L.A.’s Exposition Park.

    Skywalker Holdings’ most prominent real estate is the 4,700-acre Skywalker Ranch in Marin County, about 40 minutes north of San Francisco, home to a working farm with Wagyu cattle, a winery and a movie studio. The family office also owns vineyards in France. 

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  • Decision on True Life Project in LA May Set CEQA Precedent

    Decision on True Life Project in LA May Set CEQA Precedent

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    True Life Companies has beat back a legal challenge to a housing project in El Sereno, giving it the go-ahead to build 42 homes, and the court victory could limit future environmental challenges to development.

    An affiliate of the Denver-based developer triumphed when a state appellate court dismissed an environmental lawsuit by an unidentified open space-advocacy group trying to block the project at North Eastern Avenue and Lombardy Boulevard, the Los Angeles Business Journal reported.

    The unidentified appellate panel reversed a lower court decision against the project, saying the lawsuit was filed beyond the statute of limitations.

    The court decision, while not preventing future legal challenges, sets a precedent limiting the timeframe for such challenges during a project’s planning stages.

    The project by TTLC Los Angeles – El Sereno, an affiliate of True Life, includes 42 homes on a hillside lot in L.A.’s El Sereno neighborhood.

    Aidan Barry, an executive vice president at TTLC, expressed relief the firm could proceed with the project after obtaining an approved vesting tentative map. However, the journey has been fraught with legal hurdles and delays.

    The project, launched in 2017, faced initial challenges requiring a mitigated negative declaration and zoning change.

    After a settlement of an initial lawsuit filed by the open space advocacy group led to an agreement by TTLC to plant another 225 black walnut trees, the project won approval from Los Angeles planning authorities, including its compliance under the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA. 

    The group then filed a second lawsuit contesting the negative declaration, while demanding a time-consuming Environmental Impact Report. A lower court judge agreed in favor of the group.

    The appellate court ruling is expected to streamline future development processes, reducing prolonged legal battles and associated costs, according to Brooke Miller, a special counsel with Downtown-based Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, who represented TTLC in the suit.

    “That’s almost four years that this project has been in limbo from when it was first approved,” Miller said. “Things like this should not be taking four years.”

    Developers hope it will encourage opponents to file challenges at earlier stages, minimizing project delays. Mark Weinstein of MJW Investments praised the decision, emphasizing the importance of timely project approvals in mitigating costs and uncertainties.

    Despite the challenges, TTLC remains committed to completing the El Sereno project, their first venture in Los Angeles.

    Barry, in charge of the El Sereno project, estimated that after $3 million per acre of horizontal grading and $150 per square foot of construction, the homes, if listed today, would sell for $1.2 million each.

    “I have to add all of those legal costs to the price of the home,” Barry told the Business Journal. “The more time that goes on, it’s not just the legal fees. It’s the cost of that effort, plus the rising cost of materials.”

    — Dana Bartholomew

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  • Douglas Emmett Takes Out Construction Debt on Barrington Plaza

    Douglas Emmett Takes Out Construction Debt on Barrington Plaza

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    Douglas Emmett, a publicly listed real estate investment trust that owns office and apartment buildings in Southern California and Hawaii, took out a $550 million loan package backed by a portfolio of four residential properties, according to the company’s fourth-quarter filing with the SEC.

    Notably, one of the four buildings is the embattled Barrington Plaza, one of the biggest multifamily complexes in West Los Angeles that has been the center of a tenant lawsuit against Douglas Emmett over mass evictions. 

    Last year, Douglas Emmett evicted tenants from the 60-year-old tower, located at 11740 Wilshire Boulevard in Satelle, which impacted more than 700 affordable units and took all units off the market. The company cited the need to install $300 million fire sprinkling systems. 

    The floating-rate loan will mature in 2027, according to the filing, and has an interest rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate plus 1.48 percent. As of Feb. 5, SOFR was at 5.31 percent. Douglas Emmett did not disclose the lender, and did not disclose which other buildings the loan backs. 

    “For the portion [of the loan] secured by Barrington Plaza, in connection with the removal of that property from the rental market, we deposited $13.3 million of cash into an interest-bearing collateral account with the lender,” according to the filing. 

    “The lender is treating the loan as a construction loan and we signed a construction completion guarantee,” Douglas Emmett added. 

    The filing noted that the lender will return the deposit in August 2026 or when the loan is paid in full, whichever comes earlier. 

    The loan commitment comes at a time when the fate of the building’s tenants is still uncertain, with some pledging to fight the eviction notice last year and others — particularly residents over 62 or disabled — having up to one year to leave, as TRD reported earlier.  

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  • Frumpy Mom: This is a real trashy column

    Frumpy Mom: This is a real trashy column

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    Can someone please explain something to me? Because I’m obviously too dense to understand it.

    First, here’s some background: We’ve lived in our nondescript little tract house now for 17 years of leafy suburban bliss. Lawnmowers and leaf blowers are the only sounds on the street, except for the barking of our dog, Lil Wayne, who’s determined to kill or at least maim every delivery man who approaches our doorstep.

    My handsome young adult son, Cheetah Boy, has lived with me most of this time. We moved here when he was 10 years old, onto the kind of street where the neighbors sit in lawn chairs in their front yards and wave to people walking their dogs. (Dog walking is a major competitive sport here.)

    It was quite a contrast from our former life in a 100-year-old shingle bungalow, in what writer Joan Didion would have called a “senseless killing neighborhood.”

    See, after years of being a cop reporter, sent out at all hours of the night to rough neighborhoods to cover the latest crime spree, I had developed a skin like elephant hide to all sorts of mayhem. Gang shooting at midnight? No problem. Knock on doors and interview the neighbors while hoping no one breaks into your car. Move into a dense, tough neighborhood? Piece of cake.

    When my kids were little and commented that they’d just heard a gunshot, I’d insist that it was just a car backfiring. Although I did find it a bit worrisome that my small children recognized the sound of gunshots. That probably wasn’t good, right?

    We lived there because that was the only place I could afford to buy a house, plus I love historic homes. We had a huge front porch where I enjoyed sitting every night, usually with a glass of wine. And there wasn’t a single drive-by shooting during the first seven years I lived there.

    But then, in 2006, a man was shot to death directly across the street from my house shortly after the kids had come in from playing in the front yard. Now, try as I might, even I couldn’t ignore something like that. Or pretend it didn’t happen.

    I panicked and immediately began searching for a safer place to live. I went back to all the neighborhoods I’d first looked at before I adopted my kids. In those early childless days, I couldn’t imagine living in boring suburbia, where the only redeeming feature I could see was that there were grocery stores nearby.

    “I’m just getting kids. I’m not getting a lobotomy,” I told myself back then, as I drove and drove, acquainting myself with every square inch of the city. I mean, there weren’t any cool coffee shops or bars to walk to. No Thai restaurants or vintage stores. Who could possibly stand to live in such a place?

    But this time, I had a different attitude. Now that I actually had the kids, the idea of convenient grocery stores loomed much larger in my imagination than a cool hipster coffee shop I never had time to visit anyway, because I was too busy going to Scout meetings and Little League games.

    After a long-yet-frantic search, I finally found a fixer-upper I could afford on a quiet, tree-lined street. There was a National Blue Ribbon school two blocks away and a high school nearby. No more driving anyone to school. Hooray. I think I would have moved to Dante’s Inferno for that.

    And, weirdly, no one ever seemed to shoot off guns there, not even on New Year’s Eve.

    Cheetah Boy and his sister have always had chores to do because kids must learn to take care of themselves. His most important chore was putting the trash cans on the curb each Monday night for pickup early Tuesday.

    It’s really not hard to be reminded to do this when you see all the neighbors’ cans out front, awaiting their fate.

    By my calculations, we have now lived in this house for some 884 weeks (assuming there actually are 52 weeks a year, which I really can’t be sure now due to my pesky chemo brain).

    That means that on 884 Mondays in a row, my otherwise clever and talented son has failed to remember to put the trash cans onto the curb. I have to remind him every week, at which point he grumbles and (usually) does it. Yes. Every week.

    So here’s my question (and, yes, I know some of you never thought I would get around to it.): Why can’t my son remember to put out the trash cans? Pretty sure if there were a video game about trash cans, he’d remember to play that. Or a TikTok with trash cans. He’d watch it. It’s just the actual real-life things he fails to recall.

    Just for reference, he also forgets to unload the dishwasher and put a new roll on the toilet paper holder.

    I’m just not sure what to do about this situation, which is why I’m turning to you, total strangers. You’ve helped me out in the past.

    How do I get my son to remember the trash cans? Do I hide money under the lids? That occurred to me. I’m waiting to hear from you. My email is mfisher@scng.com.

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    Marla Jo Fisher

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