Category: Local News

Musk Says He Can’t Get Fair Trial in California, Wants Texas

WASHINGTON—Elon Musk has urged a federal judge to shift a trial in a shareholder lawsuit out of San Francisco because he says negative local media coverage has biased potential jurors against him. Instead, in a filing submitted late Friday—less than two weeks before the trial was set to begin on Jan. 17—Musk’s lawyers argue it…


California Braces for ‘Parade of Cyclones’ After Storms Kill 12

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—California on Sunday braced for more severe weather after a week of torrential downpours and damaging winds killed at least 12 people in the past 10 days and knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses. Forecasters with the National Weather Service warned that northern and central California were still in…


Man Arrested in Westminster Crash That Killed 3-Year-Old Girl

WESTMINSTER (CNS) – A 26-year-old man turned himself in to Westminster police following a crash that killed a 3-year-old girl, police said Jan. 7. Bautista Decastilla of Westminster was booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter after he appeared at the Westminster police station and spoke with investigators, Commander Kevin MacCormick…


Man Sentenced for Card Skimming Installations at SoCal Gas Stations

SAN DIEGO—A Los Angeles County man was sentenced Jan. 6 to more than three years in federal prison for building card skimmers that were secretly installed at gas pumps throughout Southern California in order to steal financial information. Robert Fichidzhyan, 40, of North Hollywood, pleaded guilty in San Diego federal court to creating electronic card…


5 People Arrested in El Cajon in Auto Theft, Drug Possession

EL CAJON, Calif.—Five people were arrested Jan. 7 on suspicion of auto theft, identity theft, possession of counterfeit currency, catalytic converter theft, and drug possession, among other crimes. Early Saturday, deputies spotted a stolen vehicle being driven near Greenfield Drive and Winrow Road in an unincorporated area of El Cajon, said Sheriff’s Lt. Shawn Wray…


Hemet Man Killed, 2 Wounded in Hollywood Shooting

HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—One man died and two were hospitalized Jan. 7 after a shooting in Hollywood. The man who died was identified as 32-year-old Kevin Spears of Hemet, the coroner’s office said. He died in a vehicle. Officers from the Hollywood Division of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) responded at 1:20 a.m. to Hollywood Boulevard…


Man Shot Dead by Deputies at Site of Fatal Stabbing in Santa Clarita

SANTA CLARITA, Calif.—A man was shot and killed by sheriff’s deputies Jan. 8 at the same Santa Clarita intersection where a woman was found stabbed to death a few hours earlier. The shooting occurred at about 7:40 a.m. at Bouquet Canyon Road and Spunky Canyon Road, where a woman was found stabbed to death at…


Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Councilwoman Traci Park Announce Homeless Encampment Cleanup in Venice

Newly elected Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Councilwoman Traci Park announced a homeless encampment cleanup in Venice Jan. 4 amid California’s stormy weather. Bass said she and Park, who represents the Westside, conducted outreach with homeless individuals in the area that morning. Sanitation trucks could be seen in the neighborhood cleaning up trash and…


Los Angeles Mayor, Councilwoman Announce Homeless Encampment Cleanup in Venice

Newly elected Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Councilwoman Traci Park announced a homeless encampment cleanup in Venice Jan. 4 amid California’s stormy weather. Bass said she and Park, who represents the Westside, conducted outreach with homeless individuals in the area that morning. Sanitation trucks could be seen in the neighborhood cleaning up trash and…


Adam Rich, Former ‘Eight Is Enough’ Child Star, Dies at 54

LOS ANGELES—Adam Rich, the child actor with a pageboy mop-top who charmed TV audiences in the late 1970s as “America’s little brother” on “Eight is Enough,” has died. He was 54. Rich died Saturday in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles, said Lt. Aimee Earl of the Los Angeles County Medical-Examiner Coroner’s office. The cause…