UC to Pay $243.6M in Sexual Misconduct Suits vs. Former UCLA Gynecologist
The University of California will pay $243.6 million to resolve civil cases filed by more than 200 plaintiffs who alleged sexual misconduct by former UCLA gynecologist James Heaps, it was announced Tuesday. Heaps served as a gynecologist/oncologist, affiliated with UCLA, for nearly 35 years. At various times, he saw patients at the UCLA/Ronald Reagan Medical […]
Bengals Arrive at LAX as Super Bowl Week in L.A. Ramps Up
Super Bowl week ramped up another notch Tuesday when the AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals landed at LAX to begin local preparations for their Sunday showdown with the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. The Bengals’ charter landed around noon, and team members walked to a series of waiting buses for the trip to the team’s […]
`Power of the Dog’ Leads Oscar Nominations with 12; `Dune’ Gets 10 Nods
The haunting Western psychological drama “The Power of the Dog” captured a leading 12 nominations Tuesday for the 94th Academy Awards, including nods for best picture and best director for Jane Campion, while the sci-fi epic “Dune” nabbed 10 nominations, despite Denis Villeneuve’s surprising omission from the directing category. Kenneth Branagh’s “Belfast” and Steven Spielberg’s […]
LA County Moves to Enforce COVID Vaccine Mandate in Sheriff’s Department
With Sheriff Alex Villanueva declining to enforce the county’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate among his deputies, the Board of Supervisors Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a proposal that would give the county personnel director overriding authority to discipline any employees who fail to comply with the requirement. Villanueva condemned the proposal, calling it a “death blow […]
Mask Mandate Remains in LACounty; Barger Again Pushes for Reevaluation
Los Angeles County’s COVID-19 indoor mask-wearing mandate will remain in place, despite the state lifting its requirement for vaccinated people next week, but county Supervisor Kathryn Barger Tuesday renewed her call for a re-evaluation of the local rule, saying it will create confusion among residents. Barger also said the criteria put forward by the county […]
Homeless Man Killed by Freight Train in Whittier Area
A 41-year-old homeless man was hit by a freight train and killed Tuesday in the Whittier area. Angles Ruedas died at the scene of his injury, which occurred shortly after 8 a.m. near Pioneer Boulevard and Rivera Road, according to the Whittier Police Department. The cause of the collision was under investigation.
Prosecutors Decline Charges Against Dodger Pitcher Trevor Bauer
Los Angeles County prosecutors declined Tuesday to file criminal charges against Dodger pitcher Trevor Bauer over allegations that he physically assaulted a woman during a pair of sexual encounters in Pasadena last year. According to a charge evaluation worksheet prepared by the District Attorney’s Office, “After a thorough review of all the available evidence, including […]
Sherman Oaks Woman Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud
A Sherman Oaks woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges for her leadership role in a fraud scheme in which more than $20 million in bogus claims were submitted to insurance companies. Roshanak “Roxanne” Khadem, 54, and four others — including a former fraud investigator at Anthem Blue Cross — were charged in a multiyear […]
CSU Board to Discuss Outside Probe of Chancellor’s Handling of Harassment Case
The Board of Trustees of the Long Beach-based California State University system will hold a closed-door meeting next week to discuss policies related to sexual harassment policies, following questions about how now-CSU Chancellor Joseph Castro handled complaints against an administrator while he was president of Fresno State University. Board Chair Lillian Kimbell called the meeting […]
Second Ex-DWP Executive Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case
A second former Los Angeles Department of Water and Power executive pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal criminal charge in the probe of the city’s handling of the botched launch of a DWP billing system. David Alexander, 54, of Arcadia, entered his plea in downtown Los Angeles to a felony charge of making false statements. […]
DA Wants Credit Card Companies to Stop Online Payments for `Ghost Guns’
Los Angeles County’s top prosecutor called Tuesday on three credit card companies to stop online payments for the purchase of kits to make untraceable “ghost guns.” “American Express, Mastercard and Visa have the ability to go beyond what any law enforcement agency, legislature or city council can accomplish,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a […]
