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Big Bear third graders will make the final call on the chicks' names. But they'll use a computer-generated list of finalists from the naming contest to vote on the winners.of Jackie and Shadow's nest. One entry is $5. Three entries will cost $10. And 10 entries will set you back $25. Names also have to be gender neutral because it's not known yet whether the chicks are male or female. And this probably goes without saying, but any inappropriate, explicit or derogatory names will automatically be disqualified.
The Los Angeles County district attorney and Sheriff's Department say they have opened investigations into former Rep. Eric Swalwell over allegations he sexually assaulted a woman in West Hollywood.
Lonna Drewes, a former model who works in fashion technology, alleged at a news conference Tuesday that Swalwell offered her connections and drugged, choked and raped her in July 2018. Drewes’ attorney, Lisa Bloom, said Tuesday that they would also be filing a report with the Sheriff’s Department, which patrols West Hollywood.
Swalwell, a Democrat who represented a Bay Area district, has forcefully denied any allegations of sexual misconduct or assault. He resigned from Congress Monday and dropped out of the race for California governor a day earlier after a series of women came forward with sexual assault or sexual misconduct allegations. He had been a frontrunner in the race. His attorney has said the former Congress member'categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault that has been leveled against him.'
Nathan Hochman, the county district attorney, issued a statement saying the office’s Sex Crime Division was working with law enforcement to look into the matter. “When and if a case is presented, seasoned prosecutors will review the facts and evidence to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for charges to be filed,” Hochman said. “When a filing decision is made, we will ensure the public is made aware.”
The Sheriff’s Department said its Special Victims Bureau is investigating the case and is'in the process of gathering information, reviewing available evidence, and conducting follow up inquiries as part of a comprehensive investigative process.'
The district attorney of Manhattan also has opened a criminal investigation into Swalwell over allegations he sexually assaulted a woman in New York in 2024.
On Wednesday, a federal jury in Manhattan found that Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, operated as a monopoly that harmed consumers and overcharged ticket buyers. The decision came after four days of deliberations.
The decision is a victory for 33 states, including California and the District of Columbia, which accused Live Nation of unfairly controlling too many aspects of the live entertainment industry at the expense of venues, artists and fans after the company settled an earlier antitrust suit with the U.S. Department of Justice. The verdict has the potential to reshape the live music industry in the United States. Live Nation owns, manages or works with hundreds of venues across the United States.
The verdict could cost Live Nation and Ticketmaster hundreds of millions of dollars. After the jury reached a decision, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ordered both parties to meet with each other and'the United States' to propose a schedule for the next steps,On Wednesday, a federal jury in Manhattan found that Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, operated as a monopoly that harmed consumers and overcharged ticket buyers. The decision came after four days of deliberations. The decision is a victory for 33 states and the District of Columbia, which accused Live Nation of unfairly controlling too many aspects of the live entertainment industry at the expense of venues, artists and fans after the company settled an earlier antitrust suit with the U.S. Department of Justice. The verdict has the potential to
New York was among the states that participated in the lawsuit. Following the verdict, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a statement. 'For far too long, Live Nation and Ticketmaster have taken advantage of fans and artists by raising prices for tickets and stifling any competition that threatened their power,' the statement reads.'A jury found what we have long known to be true: Live Nation and Ticketmaster are breaking the law and costing consumers millions of dollars in the process.' Live Nation has not responded to NPR's request for comment on the verdict. In past statements to NPR, the company has denied the claim that it operates a monopoly, stating that there's more competition in the marketplace than ever. Live Nation owns, manages or works with hundreds of venues across the United States.
In 2024, the Justice Department, under the Biden administration, filed a lawsuit accusing Live Nation of unfairly wielding its power over concert promotion, artist management, venue operations and ticketing services to shut out competition in the industry. The DOJ contended that Ticketmaster controlled around 80% of concert ticketing in the primary marketplace, plus a growing share of the resale market. The District of Columbia and 39 states joined the government's case.
One week after the trial began in early March of this year, the Justice Department and several states reached a $280 millionwith Live Nation. The company agreed to cap service fees at certain amphitheatres and allow some concert venues greater flexibility over the promoters and ticket distributors with whom they choose to do business. Stephen Parker is head of the National Independent Venue Association, a member-based trade association advocating on behalf of live music venues. After news of the settlement, he told NPR that it was'not significant enough to call a slap on the wrist.'
After the Justice Department settled its case, 33 states and the District of Columbia decided to move forward with the trial. Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino, who spent hours on the witness stand,that his company engages in anticompetitive practices. In an email, University of Notre Dame law professor Roger Alford commended the states for seeing the antitrust trial through. 'This was a massive win for the state AGs and an historic miss for the DOJ,' Alford wrote.'The DOJ had the talent, the material, and the audience. It just lacked leadership with the courage to step on stage.' After the jury reached a decision, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ordered both parties to meet with each other and'the United States' to propose a schedule for the next steps,If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.
covers Orange County and its 34 cities, watching those long meetings — boards, councils and more — so you don’t have to.
As a sanctuary in Riverside County closes down, nearly 500 ducks are now in the possession of the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, setting off a mass adoption effort that started Wednesday.
Howard Berkowitz, founder and CEO of the Duck Sanctuary in Anza, was a hometown hero. He was the person called whenafter Easter festivities died down. But now he says he's been turned on. The Riverside County Department of Animal Services announced Tuesday that Berkowitz surrendered 480 ducks because of “overcrowding at the property,” setting off a mass adoption effort that started Wednesday.
Berkowitz said he has taken care of hundreds of ducks, sometimes at his own expense, and still has around 500 ducks at the sanctuary. But the mental health problems caused by the accusations are prompting him to shut down the sanctuary and move to Northern California, taking many of his beloved ducks with him.
The county is putting the ducks in their possession up for adoption. To adopt, email shelterinfo@rivco.org, or visit the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus. Ducks will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The county also is waiving adoption fees.
Howard Berkowitz, founder and CEO of the Duck Sanctuary in Anza, was a hometown hero. He was the person called when Now, the Riverside County Department of Animal Services says Berkowitz surrendered 480 ducks because of “overcrowding at the property,” setting off a mass adoption effort that started Wednesday. In an interview with LAist on Wednesday, Berkowitz said his problems started after he received an unexpected call in 2024. It was from a supplier of the Filipino delicacy balut and her duck eggs were about to hatch. He rushed over and saved around 120 hatchlings. A social media page then began accusing him of mistreating the fowl and mismanaging donations. Berkowitz said he has taken care of hundreds of ducks, sometimes at his own expense, and still has around 500 ducks at the sanctuary. But the mental health problems caused by the accusations are prompting him to shut down the sanctuary and move to Northern California, taking many beloved ducks with him. Because he won’t be able to take them all, he said he called the county for help. But the Riverside County Department of Animal Services said officials had to remove the animals because of “improper” breeding and care.
But, the county added, the California Department of Food and Agriculture tested a sample of the fowl for infectious diseases and the results came back negative. Berkowitz said he’ll transport around 500 ducks with him to Northern California, where he’s in the process of buying a 160-acre property.
The county now is putting the ducks in their possession up for adoption. To adopt, email shelterinfo@rivco.org or visit the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus. Ducks will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The county also is waiving adoption fees.
For California’s local governments hoping to have some say over where and how large apartment buildings get packed near major transit stops, it’s crunch time.for developers to build mid-rises — some as tall as nine stories — in major metro neighborhoods near train, subway and certain dedicated bus stops. But the final version of, which goes into effect on July 1, offered local governments plenty of wiggle room over the where, when and how of the new law.
to buy itself a few more years of planning time. The move took advantage of a set of escape clauses written into the state law: Transit-adjacent areas that already allow at least half of the housing required under SB 79 can hold off on changing the rules until a year after the next
For California’s local governments hoping to have some say over where and how large apartment buildings get packed near major transit stops, it’s crunch time.for developers to build mid-rises — some as tall as nine stories — in major metro neighborhoods near train, subway and certain dedicated bus stops., which goes into effect on July 1, offered local governments plenty of wiggle room over the where, when and how of the new law.Like a statewide game of Choose Your Own Adventure, local elected officials for the San Francisco Bay Area to Los Angeles to San Diego are exploring ways to either lean into the spirit of the law, come up with their own plan tailored to the city’s whims and needs, or slow the local roll out for as long as possible while considering their options. Those that do nothing will be forced to accept the transit-oriented rezoning prescribed by state legislators.
The move took advantage of a set of escape clauses written into the state law: Transit-adjacent areas that already allow at least half of the housing required under SB 79 can hold off on changing the rules until a year after the next Likewise, many lower income neighborhoods, those at risk of wildfire and sea-level rise or sites listed on a historic preservation registry also qualify for that temporary delay.
Along with temporarily exempting zoning changes in poorer neighborhoods, known fire zones and historic districts, the council preemptively voted to allow modest multiplex buildings as tall as three or four stories in dozens of higher-income neighborhoods currently restricted to single family homes. That will bring those areas up above the cut-off needed for the four-year reprieve, according to the city’s planning staff. By swallowing a little more allowable density in the short term, the city was able to ward off a whole lot more — for now.
Backers of the measure said that will give the city more time to come up with a better alternative that still complies with the law. The vote “adds meaningful housing capacity now and gives us time to decide where the rest of density should go within our own communities,” Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky said When 2030 arrives, the city will either have to come up with its own plan that meets the overall density requirements of the state law — but with some allowable flexibility over where all the potential growth goes — or belatedly accept SB 79 whole cloth.
The L.A. vote came as a disappointment to many pro-development advocates, who have called upon city officials to speedily accept the state-imposed densification immediately, or barring that, to take more aggressive steps in the meantime. “We’re pretty concerned that this is not actually going to produce housing,” said Scott Epstein, policy and research director with Abundant Housing Los Angeles, a “Yes In My Backyard” oriented advocacy group. He noted that smaller apartment buildings are less likely to be financially feasible in areas where land costs are exceptionally high.
The city’s ordinance achieves its increase in allowable density by permitting modest apartment buildings in relatively affluent neighborhoods.“On the one hand, it’s disappointing because we're delaying the full potential of the law,” said Aaron Eckhouse, local policy programs director for California YIMBY, one of the sponsors of SB 79. But in Los Angeles, he noted, city officials have long been Now Los Angeles council members are effectively saying, “‘okay, we will do this on our terms rather than on the state’s terms,’” said Eckhouse. “But it is still happening, because the state forced the issue.”
The Los Angeles approach mirrors one being pursued by officials in San Francisco. There officials are considering a policy of exempting industrial areas and many of the city’s low-resource neighborhoods, while preemptively pushing up the allowable density on certain low-rise locations to get them over the 50% threshold and qualify for a delay until 2032. But unlike Los Angeles, San Francisco doesn’t plan to spend years coming up with a bespoke local alternative. Instead, the city is proposing to roll out its own version before July 1.
That task was made a bit easier given that local officials just wrapped up a citywide densification effort last year as part of Mayor Daniel Lurie’s
For cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco that decide to come up with their own local plans, they will still need to get the approval of state housing regulators. Officials from California’s Housing Department have yet to publicly weigh in on any individual city’s plans. But their boss has. In a handful of social media posts, Gov. Gavin Newsom has lambastedfor their proposed efforts to shield certain portions of their city from the requirements of the law. Newsom did not suggest that either city was violating the law itself.
Some cities may simply decide not to bother. Sacramento, for example, will soon consider an ordinance that would make modest tweaks to the way it accepts development applications subject to the state law, but otherwise leaves
If SB 79 is met with a similar array of resistance, we aren’t likely to see that until after the July 1 deadline, said Eckhouse with California YIMBY. “The reason to do something now is either to lean into it or to use the provisions of the law for flexibility and deferrals,” he said. “But if they just want to stand in the door and say ‘no,’ we might not find out about that until the zoning standards go into effect.”
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