Category: Regional News

Pasadena Man Who Bought Maserati With COVID Relief Money Gets 10 Years in Prison

A Pasadena man was sentenced on April 20 to 10 years behind bars for using stolen identities to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits under the coronavirus federal relief act, which he later used to purchase a Maserati luxury SUV. Robert Mateer, 32, was also ordered to pay $937,173 in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney’s…


Skyrocketing California Insurance Premiums, Cancellations Due to Wildfire Risk Driving Some to Leave

More than 2 million homes in California are considered in high or extreme fire risks, according to industry analysts, and with insurers responding by deeming certain areas and properties uninsurable—and increasing premium costs for others—some homeowners say they are left with few options. Verisk Analytics, an organization providing risk assessment data based in New Jersey,…


Newport Coast Doctor Faces Federal Charges of Health Care Fraud

An Orange County physician and a Los Angeles County lab owner are facing federal charges in separate cases for their alleged participation in fraud schemes involving health care services that exploited the COVID-19 pandemic and allegedly resulted in false billings to federal programs and theft from federally funded pandemic programs, officials announced Thursday. Dr. Anthony…


IN-DEPTH: Transgender Teacher Spoke About Wanting to Shoot Students, Parents Accuse District of ‘Cover-Up’

It took three weeks for parents to discover that a transgender middle school teacher in Florida confessed to a guidance counselor that the teacher was having “bad thoughts” of self-harm and shooting students. Now parents are demanding answers, accusing the district of a cover-up, and petitioning Florida’s governor to remove certain members of the Hernando…


Man Arrested for Allegedly Tossing 2-Month-Old Puppy Over Tujunga Fence

LOS ANGELES—A 25-year-old man was behind bars April 20 for allegedly tossing a caged puppy over a fence and into the Tujunga Wash—an act that was caught on home security video and widely viewed. Daniel Arias of Tujunga was arrested Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). He was booked on suspicion of…


2 Dead as Severe Storms, Tornadoes Move Through Central US

COLE, Okla.—Strong storms including tornadoes, winds and hail moved through parts of the central U.S., killing at least two people, causing injuries, destroying homes and leaving thousands without power. The National Weather Service began issuing tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings Wednesday evening in Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa, with forecasters warning people to find shelter. Central…


Rowan Wilson Confirmed as New York’s Chief Judge After Hochul’s First Nominee Blocked

The New York Senate has confirmed Rowan Wilson as the next chief judge of New York State. The Democrat-controlled state Senate confirmed Wilson with a 40:19 vote. He will lead the Court of Appeals, the highest court of the Empire State, and the state’s court system. Wilson, 62, succeeds Judge Janet DiFiore who resigned in…


Orange Unified Halts Search for Permanent Superintendent

The Orange Unified School District’s Board of Education recently paused its search for a permanent superintendent, and it’s unclear when it will resume. The board was to select a consulting firm April 13 to aid its search. But at the meeting, trustees instead voted unanimously to take no action, with various reasons why. Board President…


Pence Offers Words of Hope, Encouragement to California’s Young Conservatives

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Former Vice President Mike Pence offered words of encouragement April 18 for young conservative leaders at a fundraising dinner for the Lincoln Institute at a private estate in Anaheim Hills, California. He fielded mainly softball questions during the event, which was billed as a fireside chat, but addressed his “unapologetic” stance on controversial issues…


US ‘National Divorce’ Appears to Already Be Happening

The so-called “national divorce” that was promoted earlier this year by some Republicans appears to be occurring organically, according to a new analysis of U.S. population trends. Since 2020, some 2.6 million people have moved out of U.S. counties that were won by President Joe Biden and into those that former President Donald Trump prevailed…