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Today: January 25, 2025
Today: January 25, 2025
The Los Angeles Post

The Los Angeles Post

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Political

Federal judge nixes Donald Trump’s bid to move hush-money criminal case, keeping it in state court

A federal judge on Wednesday rejected Donald Trump’s bid to move his hush-money criminal case from New York state court to federal court, ruling that the former president had failed to meet a high legal bar for changing jurisdiction. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein’s decision sets the stage for Trump to stand trial in state court in Manhattan as early as next spring, overlapping with the 2024 presidential primary season in what could be a frenetic stretch of legal action as the twice-indicted Republican seeks a return to the White House. Separately, Trump is charged in

Federal judge nixes Donald Trump’s bid to move hush-money criminal case, keeping it in state court
World

Police cast doubt on Carlee Russell's kidnapping claim after reporting toddler on an Alabama highway

Authorities in Alabama cast doubt Wednesday on the story of a woman who set off a frantic search when she disappeared for two days after calling 911 to report a toddler wandering on the highway. Carlee Russell told investigators she was abducted and forced into a car Thursday, but they have been unable to verify her account, police said. The 25-year-old’s return home Saturday prompted intense speculation about where she had been and what had happened to her. Carlee Russell’s mother, Talitha Russell, told NBC’s “Today” show on Tuesday that her daughter was abducted and fought for her life when

Police cast doubt on Carlee Russell's kidnapping claim after reporting toddler on an Alabama highway
World

How the death penalty phase of the Pittsburgh synagogue gunman's trial might play out

The federal trial of a 50-year-old truck driver convicted of killing 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history is in its third and final phase, in which jurors must decide whether to sentence him to death. The jury convicted Robert Bowers in June after three weeks of testimony about how he stormed the Tree of Life synagogue in October 2018 and shot anyone he saw. He killed members of three congregations that were sharing the building, and wounded two worshippers and five police officers. During the second phase of the

How the death penalty phase of the Pittsburgh synagogue gunman's trial might play out
Arts

What residuals are — and why Hollywood actors and writers are striking over them

“The residuals are out there,” read a picket sign held by actor David Duchovny, echoing the tagline of his TV series, “The X Files.” Residuals are a central issue of the current simultaneous strikes of Hollywood actors and screenwriters, and a subject of constant comment on picket lines. While they once handsomely rewarded stars with rewatchable hits like Duchovny, union members say they’ve since diminished to a trickle as the industry has shifted to streaming. Here’s a look at how the system works and the experience of those who receive them — or don’t. WHAT ARE

What residuals are — and why Hollywood actors and writers are striking over them
World

Ex-officer Derek Chauvin to ask US Supreme Court to review his conviction in murder of George Floyd

Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review his conviction for second-degree murder in the killing of George Floyd, now that the Minnesota Supreme Court has declined to hear the case, his attorney said Wednesday. The state’s highest court without comment denied Chauvin’s petition in a one-page order dated Tuesday, letting Chauvin’s conviction and 22 1/2-year sentence stand. Chauvin faces long odds at the U.S. Supreme Court, which hears only about 100 to 150 appeals of the more than 7,000 cases it is asked to review every year. Floyd, who was

Ex-officer Derek Chauvin to ask US Supreme Court to review his conviction in murder of George Floyd
Political

US approves $1.3 billion package of long-term military aid for Ukraine

The Pentagon announced a new $1.3 billion package of long-term military aid to Ukraine on Wednesday, including four air defense systems and an undisclosed number of drones. The new assistance comes on the heels of a meeting Tuesday by defense and military leaders from around the globe to discuss ongoing efforts to give Ukraine the weapons it needs in its battle to retake territory seized by Russian forces. Included in the aid, which is being provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, will be funding for four National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS, and munitions for

US approves $1.3 billion package of long-term military aid for Ukraine
World

Little relief in sight from onslaught of searing heat and rising floodwaters in parts of US, 2 dead

The onslaught of searing temperatures and rising floodwaters struck parts of the United States again on Wednesday with Phoenix breaking an all-time temperature record and rescuers pulling people from deluged homes and vehicles in Kentucky. Forecasters said there was little relief in sight from days of extreme weather for some areas of the country. Miami has endured a heat index of at 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or more for weeks, with temperatures expected to rise this weekend. In Kentucky, meteorologists warned of a “life-threatening situation” in two communities, Mayfield and Wingo, where more rain was

Little relief in sight from onslaught of searing heat and rising floodwaters in parts of US, 2 dead
World

MacKenzie Scott's $250 million open call for donations yields applications from 6,353 nonprofits

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s first open call for grants yielded 6,353 applications from nonprofits — meaning candidates have at least a 4% chance of being selected for a $1 million grant. Lever for Change, the nonprofit overseeing the application process, said Wednesday that the applications came from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The 250 winners will be announced in early 2024. Scott has shaken up philanthropic giving since 2019, dropping large, unrestricted and unexpected donations on nonprofits when she began giving away the fortune she came into after divorcing Amazon founder

MacKenzie Scott's $250 million open call for donations yields applications from 6,353 nonprofits
World

Suspected gas explosion in Johannesburg rips open roads and flips cars during rush hour, injuring 9

A suspected underground gas explosion during Johannesburg’s evening rush hour ripped open roads and flipped more than 20 cars in South Africa’s biggest city Wednesday, injuring at least nine people, authorities said. The nine were sent to the hospital with injuries that authorities said were not life threatening. Other people were evacuated from the area due to fears of a second explosion or that multi-story buildings in a downtown section of the city that has become rundown in places might collapse. “Buildings are in danger of collapsing,” Panyaza Lesufi, the premier of Gauteng province, where Johannesburg is

Suspected gas explosion in Johannesburg rips open roads and flips cars during rush hour, injuring 9
World

The next chapter of Lionel Messi's career begins Friday at 18,000-seat DRV PNK Stadium

The seats at DRV PNK Stadium filled up quickly with fans eager to get a glimpse at Inter Miami’s new superstar. Lionel Messi — arguably the greatest soccer player ever — stood on a runway in the middle of the field looking out at his new home. “Thank you Miami,” Messi said to the crowd. “I’m happy to be here with you all.” The next chapter of the 36-year-old’s storied career will begin here. Not at Camp Nou in Barcelona or Parc des Princes in Paris. At Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium — a cozy

The next chapter of Lionel Messi's career begins Friday at 18,000-seat DRV PNK Stadium
World

CLIMATE GLIMPSE: Here's what you need to see and know today

When intense heat hits, the elderly are often its first targets. As southern Europe bakes under a heat wave, Associated Press photographer Andrew Medichini recorded Sant’Egidio Catholic group volunteer Michela Tassani checking up on 98-year-old Armando Frajegari at his home in Rome on Wednesday. Temperatures in many Italian cities were closing in on 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Alongside the heat, firefighters in Greece continued battle Thursday with wildfires near Athens that have prompted days of evacuations. Aircraft and crews from other countries were heading to join the fight. Heat in southern Greece was expected to grow worse later this

CLIMATE GLIMPSE: Here's what you need to see and know today
World

United Airlines says it made $1 billion in the second quarter and sees strong remainder of 2023

United Airlines said Wednesday it earned more than $1 billion in the second quarter despite canceling 3,800 flights in the last two weeks of June, when it struggled to recover from storms that crippled its key operation in the New York City area. United indicated that it sees no let-up in strong demand for tickets: It raised its forecast of third-quarter and full-year profit. The report underscores how airline revenue and profits are soaring as travel bounces back after the pandemic. Big carriers like United are benefitting especially from the strong recovery in international travel after the lifting of COVID-19-related

United Airlines says it made $1 billion in the second quarter and sees strong remainder of 2023
Arts

No drug test for 'Rust' movie armorer as her trail looms in fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin

The former weapons supervisor on the set of the movie “Rust” won’t have to take a drug test as she confronts felony charges of evidence tampering and involuntary manslaughter in the on-set shooting death of a cinematographer by actor Alec Baldwin. A New Mexico district court judge on Wednesday dismissed a request from prosecutors to test Hannah Gutierrez-Reed for illegal drugs, calling it “an ambush” against her defense lawyers. Prosecutors say Gutierrez-Reed passed narcotics to another person to avoid legal consequences in the immediate aftermath of the fatal shooting in October 2021, while contending in

No drug test for 'Rust' movie armorer as her trail looms in fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin
World

How hard is it to win the lottery? Odds to keep in mind as Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots soar

There’s no shaking it. Your chances of winning the lottery are extremely slim — even as more and more eye top prizes soaring to jaw-dropping heights. Ahead of Wednesday night’s drawing, the estimated jackpot for Powerball reached $1 billion — marking the seventh largest prize across U.S. lottery history. And Mega Millions’ jackpot grew to an estimated $720 million after there was no winner Tuesday. But don’t plan on entering a new tax bracket anytime soon. The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot — no matter the size — stand near 1 in 292.2 million. Chances

How hard is it to win the lottery? Odds to keep in mind as Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots soar
World

Netflix's 2Q subscriber growth surges in a sign that crackdown on password sharing is paying off

Netflix enjoyed its biggest springtime spurt in subscribers since the early days of the pandemic three years ago, providing the latest sign that a recent crackdown on password sharing and the rollout of a cheaper version of its video streaming service are paying off. The video streaming service added 5.9 million subscribers during the April-June period, according to numbers released Wednesday along with its latest quarterly financial results. The gains easily surpassed the roughly 2.2 million additional subscriber that analysts surveyed by FactSet Research had anticipating. Netflix ended June with 238.4 million worldwide subscriber. The performance

Netflix's 2Q subscriber growth surges in a sign that crackdown on password sharing is paying off
World

Tesla's Q2 income jumps 20%, although shares stayed flat amid concerns about profits

Elon Musk’s big bet that Tesla price cuts could boost sales and profits amid increasing competition and poor economic sentiment appears to be yielding mixed results. The company beat analyst expectations for net income in the April-June quarter, although its shares barely budged. The Austin, Texas, maker of electric vehicles, solar panels and batteries reported net income of $2.7 billion in the quarter, a 20% increase from a year ago. Earnings per share also rose 20% to 78 cents when measured via generally accepted accounting principles. Analysts, however, tend to focus on Tesla’s own measurement of

Tesla's Q2 income jumps 20%, although shares stayed flat amid concerns about profits
Political

Why Russia pulled out of its grain deal with Ukraine – and what that means for the global food system

The grain deal allowed Ukrainian corn and other products to reach ports in Lebanon and elsewhere. AP Photo/Hassan Ammar The Russia-Ukraine grain deal that has been critical to keeping global food prices stable and preventing famine is currently in tatters. On July 17, 2023, Russia said it was pulling out of the year-old deal, which allowed shipments of grains and other foodstuffs to travel past the Russian naval blockade in the Black Sea. And to make matters worse, over the next two days Russia bombed the Ukrainian grain port of Odesa, destroying over 60,000 tons of grain. As a result,

Why Russia pulled out of its grain deal with Ukraine – and what that means for the global food system
World

American soldier's dash into North Korea leaves family members wondering why

Family members of the U.S. Army private whosprinted across the border into North Korea said Wednesday that he may have felt overwhelmed as he faced legal troubles and his possible looming discharge from the military. Relatives described Pvt. Travis King, 23, as a quiet loner who did not drink or smoke and enjoyed reading the Bible. After growing up up in southeast Wisconsin, he was excited about serving his country in South Korea. Now King’s family is struggling to understand what changed before he dashed into a country with a long history of holding Americans and

American soldier's dash into North Korea leaves family members wondering why
World

American soldier's dash into North Korea leaves family members wondering why

Family members of the U.S. Army private whosprinted across the border into North Korea said Wednesday that he may have felt overwhelmed as he faced legal troubles and his possible looming discharge from the military. Relatives described Pvt. Travis King, 23, as a quiet loner who did not drink or smoke and enjoyed reading the Bible. After growing up up in southeast Wisconsin, he was excited about serving his country in South Korea. Now King’s family is struggling to understand what changed before he dashed into a country with a long history of holding Americans and

American soldier's dash into North Korea leaves family members wondering why
World

Speas big relief in debut, Heim homers as Rangers win 6th in a row, 5-1 over slumping Rays

Alex Speas struck out his first three batters in his big league debut for the Texas Rangers, getting two outs with his first one when All-Star catcher Jonah Heim threw out a runner trying to steal second base. That relief from Speas, a second-round draft pick in 2016, came before Heim’s big three-run homer in the eighth inning as the AL West leaders stretched their winning streak to six games with a 5-1 victory over the slumping Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. So much for Texas manager Bruce Bochy looking for a soft landing spot for

Speas big relief in debut, Heim homers as Rangers win 6th in a row, 5-1 over slumping Rays
World

Big expectations and lots of attention greet Jets as they begin training camp with Aaron Rodgers

It all now seems officially real for the New York Jets. Aaron Rodgers strolled into the team’s facility Wednesday with the rest of his raring-to-go teammates — veterans and rookies — and reported for training camp for the first time with the franchise that made the stunning trade for him in April. The Jets tweeted a photo of Rodgers wearing his green and white jersey — instead of the red no-contact practice version he wore during offseason workouts — for the first time, adding: “This is not an AI-generated photo.” Nope, no more clever edits

Big expectations and lots of attention greet Jets as they begin training camp with Aaron Rodgers
Science

11 mustangs die in US roundup in Nevada caught on video, showing horses with broken necks

Nearly a dozen wild horses have died in the first 10 days of a big mustang roundup in Nevada, deaths that a Las Vegas congresswoman is calling tragic proof of the urgent need to outlaw helicopters to capture the animals on federal land. The 11 deaths so far include five young foals, four horses with broken necks and a stallion with a snapped rear leg that was chased by a helicopter and horseback rider as it tried to flee on three legs for 35 minutes before it was euthanized, according to witnesses. The horse that broke

11 mustangs die in US roundup in Nevada caught on video, showing horses with broken necks
World

A gunman in New Zealand has killed 2 people on eve of Women's World Cup soccer tournament

A gunman killed two people at a construction site in New Zealand’s largest city of Auckland on Thursday, as the nation prepared to host games in the FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer tournament, authorities said. Police said there were also multiple injuries during the incident, which took place near the hotel where Team Norway has been staying. New Zealand Prime Minster Chris Hipkins said the tournament would go ahead as planned. “Clearly with the FIFA World Cup kicking off this evening, there are a lot of eyes on Auckland,” Hipkins said. “The government has spoken

A gunman in New Zealand has killed 2 people on eve of Women's World Cup soccer tournament
Arts

Jason Aldean's new music video was filmed at a lynching site. A big country music network pulled it

Country music star Jason Aldean ‘s latest music video for “Try That In A Small Town,” lasted just one weekend on Country Music Television before the network pulled it in response to an outcry over historically charged references. In the video, Aldean — who has been awarded county music artist of the decade by the Academy of Country Music — performs in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee. This is the site of the 1946 Columbia race riot and the 1927 mob lynching of an 18-year-old Black teenager named Henry Choate. Aldean’s video, which was released Friday,

Jason Aldean's new music video was filmed at a lynching site. A big country music network pulled it
World

Union in Canadian province of British Columbia rescinds port strike notice after Trudeau meeting

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with top officials Wednesday after the longshore union renewed a 72-hour strike notice. The noticed was later rescinded by the union which had earlier blocked shipments in and out of ports in Canada’s west coast region of British Columbia for nearly two weeks. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada said late Wednesday in a brief note to its locals that strike notice set for July 22 at 9 a.m. “has now been removed.” With the 72-hour notice lifted, the union can’t resume strike action unless it files another notice,

Union in Canadian province of British Columbia rescinds port strike notice after Trudeau meeting

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