Britney Spears' father was removed from his role as his daughter's guardian by a Los Angeles judge, ending a long legal battle by the pop singer.

Britney Spears' father Jamie Spears suspended as a conservator

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) employees have sued over mandatory Covid vaccination directions. They have alleged that the department has created 'hostile work environment' for unvaccinated members of the staff. The employees also argued that the vaccine mandate violated their privacy and civil rights.

The lawsuit has thrown up an aggressive challenge to the vaccine mandate and some police unions across California have threatened mass resignations.&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden has taken a strong stance recently with respect to vaccination. It has been made mandatory for government workers to get vaccinated failing which even their jobs would be on the line.&nbsp;

The mandate however is attracting legal challenges.&nbsp;

"Have at it," a defiant Biden told reporters on Friday when asked about legal challenges to the strict vaccination rules that would affect tens of millions of American workers.

After months of seeking to boost vaccination rates through gentle persuasion and incentives, the Democratic president made it clear on Thursday that he was fed up as the Delta variant sends Covid cases surging across the country.

Biden directly addressed the estimated 80 million eligible Americans who have not yet gotten the shot against a disease that has left 650,000 people dead in the United States.

"We've been patient, but our patience is wearing thin," the 78-year-old president said. "And your refusal has cost all of us. So, please, do the right thing."

Biden's plan mandates vaccinations for all federal employees and contractors and businesses with more than 100 employees. Companies could face fines if they do not comply.

Most of the Americans who have not yet been vaccinated tend to be younger, less educated, and more likely to be Republican, according to studies.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said Friday that while he supports the vaccine, getting the shot should be the individual choice of every American.

"The federal government has no authority to force businesses in Texas and across the country to mandate their employees get vaccinated," Cruz said. "It is cruel and burdensome to impose this authoritarian mandate.

"While I support the vaccine and have received it, Americans have the right to exercise personal choice when it comes to their health."

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) employees have sued over mandatory Covid vaccination directions. They have alleged that the department has created 'hostile work environment' for unvaccinated members of the staff.

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) employees have sued over mandatory Covid vaccination directions. They have alleged that the department has created 'hostile work environment' for unvaccinated members of the staff. The employees also argued that the vaccine mandate violated their privacy and civil rights. The lawsuit has thrown up an aggressive challenge to the vaccine mandate and some police unions across California have threatened mass resignations. US President Joe Biden has taken a strong stance recently with respect to vaccination. It has been made mandatory for government workers to get vaccinated failing which even their jobs would be on the line. The mandate however is attracting legal challenges. "Have at it," a defiant Biden told reporters on Friday when asked about legal challenges to the strict vaccination rules that would affect tens of millions of American workers. After months of seeking to boost vaccination rates through gentle persuasion and incentives, the Democratic president made it clear on Thursday that he was fed up as the Delta variant sends Covid cases surging across the country. Biden directly addressed the estimated 80 million eligible Americans who have not yet gotten the shot against a disease that has left 650,000 people dead in the United States. "We've been patient, but our patience is wearing thin," the 78-year-old president said. "And your refusal has cost all of us. So, please, do the right thing." Biden's plan mandates vaccinations for all federal employees and contractors and businesses with more than 100 employees. Companies could face fines if they do not comply. Most of the Americans who have not yet been vaccinated tend to be younger, less educated, and more likely to be Republican, according to studies. Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said Friday that while he supports the vaccine, getting the shot should be the individual choice of every American. "The federal government has no authority to force businesses in Texas and across the country to mandate their employees get vaccinated," Cruz said. "It is cruel and burdensome to impose this authoritarian mandate. "While I support the vaccine and have received it, Americans have the right to exercise personal choice when it comes to their health." (With inputs from agencies)

LAPD officials file lawsuit against compulsory Covid vaccination

In a bid to make sure students can come back to schools in a safe environment, Los Angeles board of education has decided that all students above the age of 12 will have to be vaccinated.

All students who wish to attend in-person classes will have to get fully vaccinated if they are aged 12 and above.

As of now, school authorities have been regularly testing students and faculty members for Covid. Masks are compulsory indoors and outdoors for all students and employees. In addition to this, all faculty members have been asked to compulsorily get fully vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus.

All students who participate in sports and other extracurricular activities will have to get fully vaccinated by the end of October. Other students have been given a deadline of December 19.

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"It is easy to wait for someone to tell us what to do. LA Unified is leading because we must. Our communities cannot wait," Mónica García, a board member, said before the vote. "This action is not about violating anybody’s rights. This action is about doing our job to be able to offer public schools that children can come to school and be safe."

The Los Angeles Unified School District is the second largest in the whole country as it trains more than 600,000 students.

As the country was fighting another surge due to Delta variant, LA Unified raised their voices to keep schools closed and continue with virtual classroom, citing health concerns as a major reason.

"It is our moral, ethical, religious, political- pick a word- it’s our responsibility to protect the children under 12 who cannot get protected any other way," Board member Jackie Goldberg said.

However, some parents have opposed the move by saying it should be up to the parents to decide whether or not they would like their child to be vaccinated against coronavirus.

As of now, vaccines for children under the age of 12 have not been authorised yet.

In a bid to make sure students can come back to schools in a safe environment, Los Angeles board of education has decided that all students above the age of 12 will have to be vaccinated.

In a bid to make sure students can come back to schools in a safe environment, Los Angeles board of education has decided that all students above the age of 12 will have to be vaccinated. All students who wish to attend in-person classes will have to get fully vaccinated if they are aged 12 and above. As of now, school authorities have been regularly testing students and faculty members for Covid. Masks are compulsory indoors and outdoors for all students and employees. In addition to this, all faculty members have been asked to compulsorily get fully vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus. All students who participate in sports and other extracurricular activities will have to get fully vaccinated by the end of October. Other students have been given a deadline of December 19. WATCH | "It is easy to wait for someone to tell us what to do. LA Unified is leading because we must. Our communities cannot wait," Mónica García, a board member, said before the vote. "This action is not about violating anybody’s rights. This action is about doing our job to be able to offer public schools that children can come to school and be safe." The Los Angeles Unified School District is the second largest in the whole country as it trains more than 600,000 students. As the country was fighting another surge due to Delta variant, LA Unified raised their voices to keep schools closed and continue with virtual classroom, citing health concerns as a major reason. "It is our moral, ethical, religious, political- pick a word- it’s our responsibility to protect the children under 12 who cannot get protected any other way," Board member Jackie Goldberg said. However, some parents have opposed the move by saying it should be up to the parents to decide whether or not they would like their child to be vaccinated against coronavirus. As of now, vaccines for children under the age of 12 have not been authorised yet.

Los Angeles students instructed to get fully vaccinated to attend schools

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges of rape and sexual assault involving five women in Los Angeles ahead of a second trial. 
 
Weinstein, 69, arrived at Los Angeles Superior Court for his first appearance there in a wheelchair, wearing a brown jail uniform, after being extradited from New York on Tuesday where he was serving 23 years in prison for rape and other sexual offenses. 
 
Weinstein has denied having nonconsensual sex with anyone and is appealing his 2020 New York conviction and sentence. 
 
In Los Angeles, he faces 11 charges of attacking five women between 2004 to 2013. They include forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual battery by restraint, and sexual penetration by use of force. If convicted, Weinstein could spend the rest of his life in prison. 
 
Weinstein`s lawyer said there was no forensic evidence or credible witnesses to the allegations. 
 
"They are baseless, they are from long, long ago, they are uncorroborated," Mark Werksman told reporters outside the courthouse. 
"We are confident that if we can have a fair trial in this case that Mr Weinstein will be acquitted," Werksman said. 
 
After entering his not guilty plea through his attorney on Wednesday, Weinstein was ordered to remain in jail until the next hearing on July 29. 
 
Werksman said he was seeking dismissal of three charges relating to 2004 and 2005 on the grounds that the 10 year statute of limitations in California has expired. 
 
Weinstein, once one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, is accused of raping two women at hotels in Beverly Hills on separate occasions, and with sexually assaulting three other women in the Beverly Hills or Los Angeles areas, according to the charges. 
 
He had been fighting extradition on medical grounds. Werksman said he was going blind in one eye and that he was unable to walk because of back problems. 
 
More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct going back decades but only a handful of the allegations have resulted in criminal charges. 
 
He co-founded the Miramax film studio, whose hit movies included "Shakespeare in Love" and "Pulp Fiction." His film studio filed for bankruptcy in March 2018.

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges of rape and sexual assault involving five women in Los Angeles ahead of a second trial.

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges of rape and sexual assault involving five women in Los Angeles ahead of a second trial. Weinstein, 69, arrived at Los Angeles Superior Court for his first appearance there in a wheelchair, wearing a brown jail uniform, after being extradited from New York on Tuesday where he was serving 23 years in prison for rape and other sexual offenses. Weinstein has denied having nonconsensual sex with anyone and is appealing his 2020 New York conviction and sentence. In Los Angeles, he faces 11 charges of attacking five women between 2004 to 2013. They include forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual battery by restraint, and sexual penetration by use of force. If convicted, Weinstein could spend the rest of his life in prison. Weinstein`s lawyer said there was no forensic evidence or credible witnesses to the allegations. "They are baseless, they are from long, long ago, they are uncorroborated," Mark Werksman told reporters outside the courthouse. "We are confident that if we can have a fair trial in this case that Mr Weinstein will be acquitted," Werksman said. After entering his not guilty plea through his attorney on Wednesday, Weinstein was ordered to remain in jail until the next hearing on July 29. Werksman said he was seeking dismissal of three charges relating to 2004 and 2005 on the grounds that the 10 year statute of limitations in California has expired. Weinstein, once one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, is accused of raping two women at hotels in Beverly Hills on separate occasions, and with sexually assaulting three other women in the Beverly Hills or Los Angeles areas, according to the charges. He had been fighting extradition on medical grounds. Werksman said he was going blind in one eye and that he was unable to walk because of back problems. More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct going back decades but only a handful of the allegations have resulted in criminal charges. He co-founded the Miramax film studio, whose hit movies included "Shakespeare in Love" and "Pulp Fiction." His film studio filed for bankruptcy in March 2018.

Harvey Weinstein pleads not guilty ahead of rape trial in Los Angeles

Hollywood actress Judy Greer will play the female lead in an independent feature film, ‘LA Bound’, claim reports.&nbsp;

 
The film is based on a small-town high school football star and how he ruins his college scholarship to shift base to Los Angeles to become an actor, and pay tribute to his late sister’s passion for creative arts.&nbsp;

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As per reports, the film’s written and directed by Chris McGowan.&nbsp;

 
Greer, who will play Carol Berry opposite Brec Bassinger in ‘LA Bound’, will soon be seen in the highly anticipated sequel to 2018 hit film ‘Halloween’—titled ‘Halloween Kills’. &nbsp;Just like the previous installment, the upcoming sequel’s been co-written and directed by David Gordon Green.&nbsp;

Hollywood actress Judy Greer will play the female lead in an independent feature film, ‘LA Bound’, claim reports. The film is based on a small-town high school football star and how he ruins his college scholarship to shift base to Los Angeles to become an actor, and pay tribute to his late sister’s passion for creative arts.

Hollywood actress Judy Greer will play the female lead in an independent feature film, ‘LA Bound’, claim reports. The film is based on a small-town high school football star and how he ruins his college scholarship to shift base to Los Angeles to become an actor, and pay tribute to his late sister’s passion for creative arts. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Judy Greer (@missjudygreer) × As per reports, the film’s written and directed by Chris McGowan. Greer, who will play Carol Berry opposite Brec Bassinger in ‘LA Bound’, will soon be seen in the highly anticipated sequel to 2018 hit film ‘Halloween’—titled ‘Halloween Kills’. Just like the previous installment, the upcoming sequel’s been co-written and directed by David Gordon Green.

‘27 Dresses’ actor Judy Greer to headline indie film ‘LA Bound’

In Los Angeles, dozens of people were arrested after a chaotic and sometimes violent demonstration by anti-transgender protesters who targeted a Koreatown spa. It has a trans-inclusive policy allowing trans women to use women’s facilities.

On Saturday, the protests completed two weekends of violent protests this month in the streets around Wi Spa. It is a neighbourhood that has found itself at the heart of a right-wing media storm over an alleged incident where a customer filmed herself complaining about a trans woman in the women’s area of the spa.

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Amber Hooper and Chloe watched the violence at the previous Wi Spa protest and were shocked. They came today from OC to represent their community. “We just want the violence to stop,” Chloe said. “Trans rights are human rights,” Amber said. <a href="https://t.co/YlWo47d1mu">pic.twitter.com/YlWo47d1mu</a>
— Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) <a href="https://twitter.com/loisbeckett/status/1416436207089700864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Just got thrown to the ground by right-wing anti-pedophile protesters as a crowd coverged on me and chased me. They threw water at me and screamed about Jesus and said to grab my phone. Police would not let me through the police line but after I got thrown on the ground they did. <a href="https://t.co/LDGqkua3fi">pic.twitter.com/LDGqkua3fi</a>
— Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) <a href="https://twitter.com/loisbeckett/status/1416467648364220418?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The protestors called for a boycott of Wi Spa and chanted baseless claims about paedophilia. Women were seen carrying a sign that read, &nbsp;“protect female spaces” and “It’s worse in women’s shelters”.

A Los Angeles police department spokesperson said that the police made several dozen arrests for failure to disperse after declaring an unlawful assembly shortly after 11 am.

LAPD also fired rubber bullets at trans rights demonstrators from a close distance. This comes despite a recent judge's rule restricting the department’s use of certain “less lethal” projectile launchers against protesters.&nbsp;

In Los Angeles, dozens of people were arrested after a chaotic and sometimes violent demonstration by anti-transgender protesters who targeted a Koreatown spa. It has a trans-inclusive policy allowing trans women to use women’s facilities.

In Los Angeles, dozens of people were arrested after a chaotic and sometimes violent demonstration by anti-transgender protesters who targeted a Koreatown spa. It has a trans-inclusive policy allowing trans women to use women’s facilities. On Saturday, the protests completed two weekends of violent protests this month in the streets around Wi Spa. It is a neighbourhood that has found itself at the heart of a right-wing media storm over an alleged incident where a customer filmed herself complaining about a trans woman in the women’s area of the spa. Amber Hooper and Chloe watched the violence at the previous Wi Spa protest and were shocked. They came today from OC to represent their community. “We just want the violence to stop,” Chloe said. “Trans rights are human rights,” Amber said. pic.twitter.com/YlWo47d1mu — Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) July 17, 2021 × Just got thrown to the ground by right-wing anti-pedophile protesters as a crowd coverged on me and chased me. They threw water at me and screamed about Jesus and said to grab my phone. Police would not let me through the police line but after I got thrown on the ground they did. pic.twitter.com/LDGqkua3fi — Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) July 17, 2021 × The protestors called for a boycott of Wi Spa and chanted baseless claims about paedophilia. Women were seen carrying a sign that read, “protect female spaces” and “It’s worse in women’s shelters”. A Los Angeles police department spokesperson said that the police made several dozen arrests for failure to disperse after declaring an unlawful assembly shortly after 11 am. LAPD also fired rubber bullets at trans rights demonstrators from a close distance. This comes despite a recent judge's rule restricting the department’s use of certain “less lethal” projectile launchers against protesters.

Protestors arrested in Los Angeles as anti-trans protest outside spa turns violent

A flight from Los Angeles to Nashville was diverted to New Mexico on Friday afternoon after a passenger tried to break into the cockpit, Delta Air Lines said.

The 'unruly'&nbsp;man made the unsuccessful attempt on the locked cockpit aboard Delta Air Lines Flight 386 but other passengers and crew managed to detain him, the airline said.

Video taken aboard the plane shows the zip-tied and shoeless man surrounded by passengers and crew members as he repeats over and over again: "Stop this plane!"

He finally was picked up and hauled to the back of the plane, which was diverted to Albuquerque International Sunport. "The plane landed safely and the passenger was removed by police and the FBI. He is in custody now," Delta said in a statement.

No one was injured, and the FBI is investigating the incident. Frank Fisher, spokesman for the FBI in Albuquerque, confirmed that the agency had responded to a report of a plane diverted to the city's airport but said there had been no threat to the public. He said no other information was immediately available.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A flight from Los Angeles to Nashville was diverted to New Mexico on Friday afternoon after a passenger tried to break into the cockpit, Delta Air Lines said. The 'unruly' man made the unsuccessful attempt on the locked cockpit aboard Delta Air Lines Flight 386 but other passengers and crew managed to detain him, the airline said.

A flight from Los Angeles to Nashville was diverted to New Mexico on Friday afternoon after a passenger tried to break into the cockpit, Delta Air Lines said. The 'unruly' man made the unsuccessful attempt on the locked cockpit aboard Delta Air Lines Flight 386 but other passengers and crew managed to detain him, the airline said. Video taken aboard the plane shows the zip-tied and shoeless man surrounded by passengers and crew members as he repeats over and over again: "Stop this plane!" He finally was picked up and hauled to the back of the plane, which was diverted to Albuquerque International Sunport. "The plane landed safely and the passenger was removed by police and the FBI. He is in custody now," Delta said in a statement. No one was injured, and the FBI is investigating the incident. Frank Fisher, spokesman for the FBI in Albuquerque, confirmed that the agency had responded to a report of a plane diverted to the city's airport but said there had been no threat to the public. He said no other information was immediately available. (With inputs from agencies)

Unruly passenger forces LA-to-Nashville flight diversion

Two stolen hand-carved artifacts, sandstone lintels dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries, were returned to the Thai government on Tuesday in a ceremony more than 50 years overdue.

Ceremony marks return of stolen Thai antiquities

Westbrook ties Robertson for most NBA triple-doubles all-time

Washington's Russell Westbrook notched the 181st triple-double of his career on Saturday, tying Oscar Robertson for the most in NBA history.

Westbrook matched Robertson with his 10th assist of the night in the third quarter of the Wizards' 133-132 overtime victory over the Pacers in Indianapolis. 
Westbrook finished with 33 points, 19 rebounds, and 15 assists, draining the go-ahead free-throws with one second left in overtime then blocking the Pacers' last shot. 
Bradley Beal scored 50 points for the Wizards, so it was no surprise that when Westbrook secured his triple-double with his 10th assist late in the third it was with an arching pass to Beal for a floater in the lane.

Westbrook has 35 triple-doubles on the season -- including 25 in his last 32 games. 
"Man, it's unbelievable," Westbrook said of matching Robertson, who played from 1960-74. "I'm truly blessed and thankful. I'm just thankful for everybody along the way along this journey."

Grateful to Oscar 
It's not the first time Westbrook has etched his name alongside that of Robertson. 
Westbrook was playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017 when he broke Robertson's single-season record with 42 triple-doubles -- recording double digits in three major statistical categories in a feat that has become a measuring stick of all-around excellence. 
In that 2016-17 season, he joined Robertson as the only player to average a triple-double for the season -- which Westbrook has now done for the fourth time in five years.

"To be in conversation with Oscar, one, I want to just thank him because he set the stage," Westbrook said. "He sacrificed a lot of things for us to be able to go out and play, and the times he played in and the things he was able to do back in the day has allowed me to be able to do things I want to do today.

"Just grateful for him, grateful for his words and appreciative of his support, as well," added Westbrook, who can pass Robertson on Monday when the Wizards play the Hawks in Atlanta.

Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson is third on the NBA's all-time triple-double list with 138 and Jason Kidd is fourth on 107. 
Current Lakers superstar LeBron James is the only other active player in the top five, with 99 career triple-doubles. But Westbrook had his eye on a different stat, as the narrow victory in a game that featured 33 lead changes saw the Wizards inch ahead of the Pacers into ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings. 
The seventh through 10th-placed teams will compete in the play-in tournament for a berth in the playoffs proper.

"I take so much pride in going out and leaving everything I have on the floor," Westbrook said. "Tonight was another one of those nights where you've got to grind it out and figure it out."

Beal, who took a knock early but returned to the game before departing for good late in the fourth, wasn't on the floor when Westbrook blocked Caris LeVert's attempted game-winner for Indiana -- taking care not to foul him.

"I used my left hand on purpose," he said. "I tried to swipe left so I could go by him and block the shot. 
"I'm happy it worked this time. Fortunately, we got the win -- a big win for us, it moved us up in the standings a little bit." 
&nbsp;

Westbrook ties Robertson for most NBA triple-doubles all-time Washington's Russell Westbrook notched the 181st triple-double of his career on Saturday, tying Oscar Robertson for the most in NBA history.

Westbrook ties Robertson for most NBA triple-doubles all-time Washington's Russell Westbrook notched the 181st triple-double of his career on Saturday, tying Oscar Robertson for the most in NBA history. Westbrook matched Robertson with his 10th assist of the night in the third quarter of the Wizards' 133-132 overtime victory over the Pacers in Indianapolis. Westbrook finished with 33 points, 19 rebounds, and 15 assists, draining the go-ahead free-throws with one second left in overtime then blocking the Pacers' last shot. Bradley Beal scored 50 points for the Wizards, so it was no surprise that when Westbrook secured his triple-double with his 10th assist late in the third it was with an arching pass to Beal for a floater in the lane. Westbrook has 35 triple-doubles on the season -- including 25 in his last 32 games. "Man, it's unbelievable," Westbrook said of matching Robertson, who played from 1960-74. "I'm truly blessed and thankful. I'm just thankful for everybody along the way along this journey." Grateful to Oscar It's not the first time Westbrook has etched his name alongside that of Robertson. Westbrook was playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017 when he broke Robertson's single-season record with 42 triple-doubles -- recording double digits in three major statistical categories in a feat that has become a measuring stick of all-around excellence. In that 2016-17 season, he joined Robertson as the only player to average a triple-double for the season -- which Westbrook has now done for the fourth time in five years. "To be in conversation with Oscar, one, I want to just thank him because he set the stage," Westbrook said. "He sacrificed a lot of things for us to be able to go out and play, and the times he played in and the things he was able to do back in the day has allowed me to be able to do things I want to do today. "Just grateful for him, grateful for his words and appreciative of his support, as well," added Westbrook, who can pass Robertson on Monday when the Wizards play the Hawks in Atlanta. Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson is third on the NBA's all-time triple-double list with 138 and Jason Kidd is fourth on 107. Current Lakers superstar LeBron James is the only other active player in the top five, with 99 career triple-doubles. But Westbrook had his eye on a different stat, as the narrow victory in a game that featured 33 lead changes saw the Wizards inch ahead of the Pacers into ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The seventh through 10th-placed teams will compete in the play-in tournament for a berth in the playoffs proper. "I take so much pride in going out and leaving everything I have on the floor," Westbrook said. "Tonight was another one of those nights where you've got to grind it out and figure it out." Beal, who took a knock early but returned to the game before departing for good late in the fourth, wasn't on the floor when Westbrook blocked Caris LeVert's attempted game-winner for Indiana -- taking care not to foul him. "I used my left hand on purpose," he said. "I tried to swipe left so I could go by him and block the shot. "I'm happy it worked this time. Fortunately, we got the win -- a big win for us, it moved us up in the standings a little bit."

Russell Westbrook ties Oscar Robertson for most NBA triple-doubles all-time

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is in talks with the Biden administration about becoming US ambassador to India.

Garcetti was widely rumoured to be in the running for President Biden’s pick for Transportation secretary before Pete Buttigieg was nominated. He is said to be eager to land a new role after serving as mayor of Los Angeles since 2013.

Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti served as co-chair of US president Joe Biden's campaign and said in December that he turned down an unspecified position in the administration to remain in his current post. He might now be posted as Ambassador to India.

US president Joe Biden is considering naming Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti as Ambassador to India.

According to the news site Axios, which cited people close to the matter, Garcetti is one of many people being considered for the post.

Garcetti served as co-chair of Biden's campaign and said in December that he turned down an unspecified position in the administration to remain Los Angeles mayor.

The appointment as India's ambassador would come as the nation of 1.36 billion people deals with a spike in Covid-19 cases, reported Axios.

Axios reported that Biden was presented with a list of potential ambassadors in March, and a final decision on the appointment has not yet been made.&nbsp;

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is in talks with the Biden administration about becoming US ambassador to India. Garcetti was widely rumoured to be in the running for President Biden’s pick for Transportation secretary before Pete Buttigieg was nominated.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is in talks with the Biden administration about becoming US ambassador to India. Garcetti was widely rumoured to be in the running for President Biden’s pick for Transportation secretary before Pete Buttigieg was nominated. He is said to be eager to land a new role after serving as mayor of Los Angeles since 2013. Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti served as co-chair of US president Joe Biden's campaign and said in December that he turned down an unspecified position in the administration to remain in his current post. He might now be posted as Ambassador to India. US president Joe Biden is considering naming Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti as Ambassador to India. According to the news site Axios, which cited people close to the matter, Garcetti is one of many people being considered for the post. Garcetti served as co-chair of Biden's campaign and said in December that he turned down an unspecified position in the administration to remain Los Angeles mayor. The appointment as India's ambassador would come as the nation of 1.36 billion people deals with a spike in Covid-19 cases, reported Axios. Axios reported that Biden was presented with a list of potential ambassadors in March, and a final decision on the appointment has not yet been made.

US President considering naming Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as next US Ambassador to India: Report

Los Angeles police officer shot a man who was wearing body Armour after he backed his vehicle into a police car and confronted the officers. The man was then struck by gunfire and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Los Angeles police shot man wearing body Armour after confrontation

If you've been driving in California's central valley this week and spotted a bear walking on its hind legs, you're not imagining it. But don't worry, it's also not a real bear; it's just a man wearing a bear suit.

Jesse Larios says he does not know exactly what inspired him to dress up as the character he has named Bearsun and start the over 400-mile (644-km) trip, but he has been pleased with the attention the move has received.

"It was an impulsive decision for sure. I didn't plan it out. I had the basics down. I was like ok, cool, I'm going to walk," Larios said during a stop in Gilroy on Wednesday (April 21).

The impulse decision by Larios has morphed into something bigger. His journey has drawn fans from all over, including some who wanted to donate.

Larios has taken the fans up on their offers and started a GoFundMe account. Upon reaching&nbsp;San&nbsp;Francisco, Larios said he plans to hold an online vote to determine where to donate the money. As of Wednesday, he had raised $7,100.

"I just want to help people out," he said.

With news of his journey spreading, some folks have taken to searching him out and stopping for photos.

Crystal Gomez, 37, loaded up the family from nearby Gilroy and brought them to see "Bearsun."

"I just think it's awesome that he's doing that. It's cool that the kids got to see this because you know that's a far walk from LA to&nbsp;San&nbsp;Francisco, so yeah. I just think it's amazing," Gomez said.

Larios has been making stops along the way to sleep and eat but not much else. He started the journey on April 12. The trip has already taken longer than anticipated but he's not in a huge rush.

Instead, he's walking, enjoying the views, which he posts on Instagram, and taking inspiration from the journey and all the folks he's met along the way.

"Everything's been pretty wild, to be honest," Larios said. "It inspires me to do new things. It brings new ideas. It fuels my creativity. It helps out a lot and it feels good too."

(With inputs from agencies)

If you've been driving in California's central valley this week and spotted a bear walking on its hind legs, you're not imagining it. But don't worry, it's also not a real bear; it's just a man wearing a bear suit.

If you've been driving in California's central valley this week and spotted a bear walking on its hind legs, you're not imagining it. But don't worry, it's also not a real bear; it's just a man wearing a bear suit. Jesse Larios says he does not know exactly what inspired him to dress up as the character he has named Bearsun and start the over 400-mile (644-km) trip, but he has been pleased with the attention the move has received. "It was an impulsive decision for sure. I didn't plan it out. I had the basics down. I was like ok, cool, I'm going to walk," Larios said during a stop in Gilroy on Wednesday (April 21). The impulse decision by Larios has morphed into something bigger. His journey has drawn fans from all over, including some who wanted to donate. Larios has taken the fans up on their offers and started a GoFundMe account. Upon reaching San Francisco, Larios said he plans to hold an online vote to determine where to donate the money. As of Wednesday, he had raised $7,100. "I just want to help people out," he said. With news of his journey spreading, some folks have taken to searching him out and stopping for photos. Crystal Gomez, 37, loaded up the family from nearby Gilroy and brought them to see "Bearsun." "I just think it's awesome that he's doing that. It's cool that the kids got to see this because you know that's a far walk from LA to San Francisco, so yeah. I just think it's amazing," Gomez said. Larios has been making stops along the way to sleep and eat but not much else. He started the journey on April 12. The trip has already taken longer than anticipated but he's not in a huge rush. Instead, he's walking, enjoying the views, which he posts on Instagram, and taking inspiration from the journey and all the folks he's met along the way. "Everything's been pretty wild, to be honest," Larios said. "It inspires me to do new things. It brings new ideas. It fuels my creativity. It helps out a lot and it feels good too." (With inputs from agencies)

Los Angeles man wearing bear suit hits highway to San Francisco

Disney`s animated adventure 'Raya and the Last Dragon'&nbsp;led the domestic box office in its third weekend, illustrating the appeal of family films as Hollywood attempts to mount a moviegoing revival. 'Raya and the Last Dragon'&nbsp;collected $5.2 million from 2,261 theatres through Sunday, representing a scant 5% decline. 
 
Disney can thank the reopening of Los Angeles movie theatres for the stellar hold in ticket sales. Cinemas in the City of Angels were given permission to resume operations on March 12, but most film exhibitors weren`t able to get up and running until now. 
 
Capacity in Los Angeles area movie theaters will be capped at 25%, or 100 people per auditorium, which is double the limit in New York, where its restricted to 50 people. Even with restrictions, Los Angeles accounted for nearly 9% of all movie tickets sold this weekend, according to Comscore. 
"This weekend showed solid results from holdovers, demonstrating the revenue-generating a horsepower of opening the biggest box-office market in North America," said Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst with Comscore. "Eager movie fans in Los Angeles showed up in solid numbers to enjoy the big screen experience once again." 
 
AMC Theatres, the cinema chain with the biggest footprint in the country, has reopened 98% of its locations, including 40 venues in California, as of March 19. The circuit expects to reopen even more locations by March 26. 
 
"It was exactly one year ago that we closed all AMC locations in the United States," said Adam Aron, the CEO of AMC. "It gives me immense joy to say that by the end of next week we expect that 99% of our U.S. locations will have reopened." 
"Raya and the Last Dragon" amassed another $8 million overseas from 29 countries. The film, which is available to Disney Plus subscribers for an additional $30, has generated $71 million globally to date 
. 
Without much in the way of competition, "Raya and the Last Dragon" was able to easily repeat No. 1 in North America. Two new movies -- "The Courier" and "City of Lies" -- opened theatrically while several awards season hopefuls got a post-Oscar nomination boost. 
"The Courier," a Cold War drama led by Benedict Cumberbatch and Rachel Brosnahan, landed in third place with $2 million from 1,433 locations. Directed by Dominic Cooke, the movie premiered at last year`s Sundance Film Festival (with the title "Ironbark") to mostly positive reviews. Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate, the film`s backers, reported strong turnout in Salt Lake City, Orlando and Dallas. 
 
Meanwhile, Johnny Depp`s "City of Lies," a crime drama about corruption in the LAPD, mostly fell flat. The poorly reviewed film cinched 11th place on box office charts, scraping together $275,049 from 501 screens. 
Focus Feature`s dark comedy "Promising Young Woman," which landed five Academy Award nominations, enjoyed a 117% increase in ticket sales, with $195,000 over the three days for a total of $5.7 million. And A24`s "Minari," a heartwarming drama about a Korean American family that scored six Oscar nods, saw receipts climb 85%. The film earned $306,000 this weekend, bringing its tally to $1.3 million. Sony Pictures Classics` "The Father," the only best picture nominee to have a traditional theatrical release, made another $275,000 following nominations, lifting its total sales to $879,000. 
 
"Raya and the Last Dragon" wasn`t the only title that witnessed a modest decline in ticket sales; none of the films in the top five dipped more than 15% from the weekend prior.Warner Bros.` live-action-animated hybrid "Tom and Jerry" remained in second place with $3.8 million from 2,508 screens, a 7% drop from last weekend. The film, which is also playing on HBO Max for 31 days, has made $33 million at the domestic box office. Internationally, "Tom and Jerry" added another $4 million, bringing its overseas tally to $43.5 million and global haul to $77.2. million. 
 
At No. 3, Lionsgate`s sci-fi thriller "Chaos Walking" took in $1.9 million from 2,132 theaters, marking a slight 14% fall. After three weeks of release, the Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland-led film has made $9.69 million. Universal`s "The Croods: A New Age" rounded out the top five with $620,000 from 1,411 screens. The animated family film has made $55 million since it was released last November. Globally, "The Croods" sequel has made $160 million.

Disney`s animated adventure 'Raya and the Last Dragon' led the domestic box office in its third weekend, illustrating the appeal of family films as Hollywood attempts to mount a moviegoing revival.

Disney`s animated adventure 'Raya and the Last Dragon' led the domestic box office in its third weekend, illustrating the appeal of family films as Hollywood attempts to mount a moviegoing revival. 'Raya and the Last Dragon' collected $5.2 million from 2,261 theatres through Sunday, representing a scant 5% decline. Disney can thank the reopening of Los Angeles movie theatres for the stellar hold in ticket sales. Cinemas in the City of Angels were given permission to resume operations on March 12, but most film exhibitors weren`t able to get up and running until now. Capacity in Los Angeles area movie theaters will be capped at 25%, or 100 people per auditorium, which is double the limit in New York, where its restricted to 50 people. Even with restrictions, Los Angeles accounted for nearly 9% of all movie tickets sold this weekend, according to Comscore. "This weekend showed solid results from holdovers, demonstrating the revenue-generating a horsepower of opening the biggest box-office market in North America," said Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst with Comscore. "Eager movie fans in Los Angeles showed up in solid numbers to enjoy the big screen experience once again." AMC Theatres, the cinema chain with the biggest footprint in the country, has reopened 98% of its locations, including 40 venues in California, as of March 19. The circuit expects to reopen even more locations by March 26. "It was exactly one year ago that we closed all AMC locations in the United States," said Adam Aron, the CEO of AMC. "It gives me immense joy to say that by the end of next week we expect that 99% of our U.S. locations will have reopened." "Raya and the Last Dragon" amassed another $8 million overseas from 29 countries. The film, which is available to Disney Plus subscribers for an additional $30, has generated $71 million globally to date . Without much in the way of competition, "Raya and the Last Dragon" was able to easily repeat No. 1 in North America. Two new movies -- "The Courier" and "City of Lies" -- opened theatrically while several awards season hopefuls got a post-Oscar nomination boost. "The Courier," a Cold War drama led by Benedict Cumberbatch and Rachel Brosnahan, landed in third place with $2 million from 1,433 locations. Directed by Dominic Cooke, the movie premiered at last year`s Sundance Film Festival (with the title "Ironbark") to mostly positive reviews. Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate, the film`s backers, reported strong turnout in Salt Lake City, Orlando and Dallas. Meanwhile, Johnny Depp`s "City of Lies," a crime drama about corruption in the LAPD, mostly fell flat. The poorly reviewed film cinched 11th place on box office charts, scraping together $275,049 from 501 screens. Focus Feature`s dark comedy "Promising Young Woman," which landed five Academy Award nominations, enjoyed a 117% increase in ticket sales, with $195,000 over the three days for a total of $5.7 million. And A24`s "Minari," a heartwarming drama about a Korean American family that scored six Oscar nods, saw receipts climb 85%. The film earned $306,000 this weekend, bringing its tally to $1.3 million. Sony Pictures Classics` "The Father," the only best picture nominee to have a traditional theatrical release, made another $275,000 following nominations, lifting its total sales to $879,000. "Raya and the Last Dragon" wasn`t the only title that witnessed a modest decline in ticket sales; none of the films in the top five dipped more than 15% from the weekend prior.Warner Bros.` live-action-animated hybrid "Tom and Jerry" remained in second place with $3.8 million from 2,508 screens, a 7% drop from last weekend. The film, which is also playing on HBO Max for 31 days, has made $33 million at the domestic box office. Internationally, "Tom and Jerry" added another $4 million, bringing its overseas tally to $43.5 million and global haul to $77.2. million. At No. 3, Lionsgate`s sci-fi thriller "Chaos Walking" took in $1.9 million from 2,132 theaters, marking a slight 14% fall. After three weeks of release, the Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland-led film has made $9.69 million. Universal`s "The Croods: A New Age" rounded out the top five with $620,000 from 1,411 screens. The animated family film has made $55 million since it was released last November. Globally, "The Croods" sequel has made $160 million.

'Raya and the Last Dragon' leads box office as L.A. theater revival boosts ticket sales

In a room with dimmed lights, a few brooms and a cart with heat protective gear sits a cremation chamber behind golden doors. It's where Eddie Martinez has been spending a lot of time lately.

Ashes and grief, the footprint of the pandemic in a crematorium

"rage room" just outside Los Angeles has found a steady stream of new customers looking to shed some stress by beating the heck out of things.

Novel idea to de-stress in California

The Golden Globes ceremony at the end of February will take place from both Los Angeles and New York, organizers said on Tuesday, and those nominated for their work in film and television will take part from locations around the world. 
 
The changes are prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, which has ruled out the usual glitzy seated dinner for A-list celebrities at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. 
 
Instead, comedian Tina Fey will broadcast live on NBC television from the Rainbow Room in New York, while co-host Amy Poehler will be inside the Beverly Hilton. 
 
Other details are still being worked out for the Feb. 28 ceremony, which is the first major award show in the lead-up to the Oscars. 
 
Nominations for the Golden Globes, organized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, will be announced on Wednesday. 
 
The pandemic has forced big changes to the way award shows are produced and televised in recent months. The Emmy Awards last September had dozens of nominees appearing from remote locations, while other shows have featured a mixture of pre-recorded and live performances. 
 
The pandemic also pushed the Golden Globes and the Oscars ceremonies back a couple of months. The Golden Globes were delayed from their usual early January spot, while the Academy Awards will now take place on April 25 rather than the usual late February or early March date. 
&nbsp;

The Golden Globes ceremony at the end of February will take place from both Los Angeles and New York, organizers said on Tuesday, and those nominated for their work in film and television will take part from locations around the world.

The Golden Globes ceremony at the end of February will take place from both Los Angeles and New York, organizers said on Tuesday, and those nominated for their work in film and television will take part from locations around the world. The changes are prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, which has ruled out the usual glitzy seated dinner for A-list celebrities at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Instead, comedian Tina Fey will broadcast live on NBC television from the Rainbow Room in New York, while co-host Amy Poehler will be inside the Beverly Hilton. Other details are still being worked out for the Feb. 28 ceremony, which is the first major award show in the lead-up to the Oscars. Nominations for the Golden Globes, organized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, will be announced on Wednesday. The pandemic has forced big changes to the way award shows are produced and televised in recent months. The Emmy Awards last September had dozens of nominees appearing from remote locations, while other shows have featured a mixture of pre-recorded and live performances. The pandemic also pushed the Golden Globes and the Oscars ceremonies back a couple of months. The Golden Globes were delayed from their usual early January spot, while the Academy Awards will now take place on April 25 rather than the usual late February or early March date.

Golden Globes award ceremony to be bicoastal event

Protesters briefly disrupted a coronavirus vaccination center in Los Angeles, US media reported on Saturday. The protesters converged on the vaccination center carrying signs demanding end of lockdowns and promoting anti-vaccination conspiracy theories gathered..

"There appears to be only about 30 protesters total. It's not clear why they’ve shut off the whole facility," tweeted social media user Mikel Jollet.

The vaccination center had to be shut for an hour. However, Los Angeles police department later insisted that the site had not been shut down.

More than 26 million people have been infected and 439,000 have died in the country since the start of the pandemic, a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University showed Satuday.&nbsp;

President Joe Biden has pledged to have 100 million people vaccinated within his first 100 days -- but the rollout began slowly under former President Donald Trump.&nbsp;

Los Angeles county, where Covid-19 cases have surged this winter, is currently only vaccinating frontline medical workers and people aged 65 and over.

Protesters briefly disrupted a coronavirus vaccination center in Los Angeles, US media reported on Saturday. The protesters converged on the vaccination center carrying signs demanding end of lockdowns and promoting anti-vaccination conspiracy theories gathered.

Protesters briefly disrupted a coronavirus vaccination center in Los Angeles, US media reported on Saturday. The protesters converged on the vaccination center carrying signs demanding end of lockdowns and promoting anti-vaccination conspiracy theories gathered.. "There appears to be only about 30 protesters total. It's not clear why they’ve shut off the whole facility," tweeted social media user Mikel Jollet. The vaccination center had to be shut for an hour. However, Los Angeles police department later insisted that the site had not been shut down. More than 26 million people have been infected and 439,000 have died in the country since the start of the pandemic, a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University showed Satuday. President Joe Biden has pledged to have 100 million people vaccinated within his first 100 days -- but the rollout began slowly under former President Donald Trump. Los Angeles county, where Covid-19 cases have surged this winter, is currently only vaccinating frontline medical workers and people aged 65 and over.

Protesters disrupt COVID vaccination centre in Los Angeles

Fans of basketball star Kobe Bryant, who died one year ago along with his daughter and seven others when their helicopter crashed into a hillside near Los Angeles, honored his memory on Tuesday (January 26) near the stadium where he played.

Fans mark one year anniversary of basketball star Kobe Bryant's death

The third season of 'Grown-ish' was filmed toward the end of 2019, and although social justice protests and the coronavirus disrupted much of the world, Yara Shahidi says the show's topics still hold up.

Yara Shahidi: New season of 'Grown-ish' tackles current topics despite '19 shoot

Imagine finding out that you're going to lose your hearing. What sounds would you miss and want to remember? That's what happens in the new film "The Ultimate Playlist of Noise" starring Keann Johnson and Madeline Brewer.

Teen losing his hearing who makes a bucket list of favorite sounds in new Hulu film

The Grammy Awards ceremony due to take place on Jan. 31 has been rescheduled to March 14 because of the coronavirus surge in Los Angeles, organizers said on Tuesday. 
 
The Recording Academy and broadcaster CBS said in a joint statement that the ceremony to present the highest honors in the music industry had been delayed after talks with health experts and musicians. 
 
“After thoughtful conversations with health experts, our host and artists scheduled to appear, we are rescheduling the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards® to be broadcast Sunday, March 14, 2021," the statement said. 
 
"The deteriorating COVID situation in Los Angeles, with hospital services being overwhelmed, ICUs having reached capacity, and new guidance from state and local governments have all led us to conclude that postponing our show was the right thing to do," it added. 
 
The postponement was earlier reported by Rolling Stone magazine and Variety and the Recording Academy had told its members in a memo that the new date would be March 21. 
 
Los Angeles is experiencing a spike in coronavirus deaths and hospital admissions. Gyms, hair salons and restaurants have been shut down and residents urged to stay at home as much as possible. 
 
Beyonce leads nominations for this year`s Grammys with nine nods in a November announcement that was overshadowed by a stunning snub for Canadian musician The Weeknd. 
 
The Recording Academy had not announced who would be performing at the show, which is usually a three-hour mixture of live performances by top international musicians and speeches by winners. 
 
Organizers of the annual Oscars ceremony last year moved the 2021 presentation to April from late February because of the pandemic, while this year`s Golden Globes ceremony was moved to Feb. 28 from its usual early January date. 
 
Other major awards shows, including television`s Emmys and the MTV Video Music Awards, went ahead last fall with a mix of live, pre-recorded and socially distanced appearances by celebrities but without an audience.

The Grammy Awards ceremony due to take place on Jan. 31 has been rescheduled to March 14 because of the coronavirus surge in Los Angeles, organizers said on Tuesday.

The Grammy Awards ceremony due to take place on Jan. 31 has been rescheduled to March 14 because of the coronavirus surge in Los Angeles, organizers said on Tuesday. The Recording Academy and broadcaster CBS said in a joint statement that the ceremony to present the highest honors in the music industry had been delayed after talks with health experts and musicians. “After thoughtful conversations with health experts, our host and artists scheduled to appear, we are rescheduling the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards® to be broadcast Sunday, March 14, 2021," the statement said. "The deteriorating COVID situation in Los Angeles, with hospital services being overwhelmed, ICUs having reached capacity, and new guidance from state and local governments have all led us to conclude that postponing our show was the right thing to do," it added. The postponement was earlier reported by Rolling Stone magazine and Variety and the Recording Academy had told its members in a memo that the new date would be March 21. Los Angeles is experiencing a spike in coronavirus deaths and hospital admissions. Gyms, hair salons and restaurants have been shut down and residents urged to stay at home as much as possible. Beyonce leads nominations for this year`s Grammys with nine nods in a November announcement that was overshadowed by a stunning snub for Canadian musician The Weeknd. The Recording Academy had not announced who would be performing at the show, which is usually a three-hour mixture of live performances by top international musicians and speeches by winners. Organizers of the annual Oscars ceremony last year moved the 2021 presentation to April from late February because of the pandemic, while this year`s Golden Globes ceremony was moved to Feb. 28 from its usual early January date. Other major awards shows, including television`s Emmys and the MTV Video Music Awards, went ahead last fall with a mix of live, pre-recorded and socially distanced appearances by celebrities but without an audience.

Grammy Awards postponed amid spike in coronavirus cases in Los Angeles

With over sixty thousand people homeless in Los Angeles, homeless advocates in the city are coming up with new ideas for creating homes for those without one. VOA has more in this report.

New ideas to create homes for homeless in LA

Food banks in Los Angeles are witnessing an unprecedented surge in demand. Apart from the pandemic, the festive season & upcoming holidays season have also compounded the pressure on these food banks across America.

Los Angeles food banks witness unprecedented surge in demand

Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey may be the next celebrity to throw his hat into the political ring. The star of "Dallas Buyers Club" and "Magic Mike" appeared to be considering the idea when discussing politics with syndicated talk radio host Hugh Hewitt in an interview posted online on Wednesday.

Matthew McConaughey toys with possible Texas governor run

A helicopter carrying human organs in&nbsp;Los Angeles crashed near the helipad of the&nbsp;Keck Hospital of USC on Friday. The pilot of the helicopter has incurred some injuries, but no lives were lost in the crash.

The&nbsp;Los Angeles Fire Department was called on the spot who then attended to the medical experts onboard and the pilot. The two people onboard claimed they had not suffered any injuries and refused medical treatment from the&nbsp;paramedics who had rushed to the site of the crash,&nbsp;a spokeswoman with the Los Angeles Fire Department told the local reporters.

“The aircraft is stable on its side, on the helipad,” LAFD said in a news alert at 3:18 p.m. Friday. “There does not appear to be a significant fuel leak.”

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-cases-in-us-hit-record-for-third-day-topping-127000-341298" hreflang="en">Covid-19 cases in US hit record for third day, topping 127,000</a>

Nobody in or around the&nbsp;Keck Hospital of USC suffered any loss, and no disruption to patient care was reported&nbsp;due to the crash, the hospital reported. While no major damage has been reported, as of now&nbsp;Norfolk Street between Soto Street and San Pablo Street has been temporarily closed for investigation.

The helicopter was a private eight-seater ambulance and was registered to&nbsp;Prime Healthcare Air Transportation of Ontario. The helicopter was carrying a donated heart which was being transferred to the hospital. After the crash, the organ was found to be undamaged and was handed over to the hospital officials for the treatment of the patient, the&nbsp;Los Angeles Police Department reported.

Patients and their caretakers in the hospital assumed it to be an earthquake as they felt a slight tremor, local media reported. The pilot is being treated for light injuries.

An investigation has been launched into the matter by the Federal Aviation Administration and the&nbsp;National Transportation Safety Board

A helicopter carrying human organs in Los Angeles crashed near the helipad of the Keck Hospital of USC on Friday. The pilot of the helicopter has incurred some injuries, but no lives were lost in the crash.

A helicopter carrying human organs in Los Angeles crashed near the helipad of the Keck Hospital of USC on Friday. The pilot of the helicopter has incurred some injuries, but no lives were lost in the crash. The Los Angeles Fire Department was called on the spot who then attended to the medical experts onboard and the pilot. The two people onboard claimed they had not suffered any injuries and refused medical treatment from the paramedics who had rushed to the site of the crash, a spokeswoman with the Los Angeles Fire Department told the local reporters. “The aircraft is stable on its side, on the helipad,” LAFD said in a news alert at 3:18 p.m. Friday. “There does not appear to be a significant fuel leak.” Also read| Covid-19 cases in US hit record for third day, topping 127,000 Nobody in or around the Keck Hospital of USC suffered any loss, and no disruption to patient care was reported due to the crash, the hospital reported. While no major damage has been reported, as of now Norfolk Street between Soto Street and San Pablo Street has been temporarily closed for investigation. The helicopter was a private eight-seater ambulance and was registered to Prime Healthcare Air Transportation of Ontario. The helicopter was carrying a donated heart which was being transferred to the hospital. After the crash, the organ was found to be undamaged and was handed over to the hospital officials for the treatment of the patient, the Los Angeles Police Department reported. Patients and their caretakers in the hospital assumed it to be an earthquake as they felt a slight tremor, local media reported. The pilot is being treated for light injuries. An investigation has been launched into the matter by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board

Helicopter carrying human organs crashed in Los Angeles; pilot injured

Voters in Los Angeles were treated to a musical accompaniment by a mariachi band, as they cast their ballots at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday (November 3).

Mariachi band serenades new voter in Los Angeles

The coronavirus pandemic has affected how people celebrate holidays like Halloween. The notion that the traditional trick or treating by children will be curtailed has inspired alternatives now, including various drive-through experiences in Los Angeles, California. Watch the report to know more.

Haunted drive-through Halloween in California

A few days after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, David Letterman sat behind his desk at CBS’s “Late Show” and shared the story of a rally in Choteau, Montana, to raise money for New York. Getting choked up, he told his viewers, “If that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about the spirit of the United States, then I can’t help you.”

Nineteen years later, with the country in the midst of a monthslong pandemic, Letterman found it difficult to conjure up any similarly inspiring anecdotes. One morning last week, this veteran late-night host, broadcaster and comedian, now 73, was sitting in a park here, contemplating the Hudson River and cracking wise about the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.

“It looks kind of unfinished,” he said through a fabric mask that barely held back his unruly beard. “Doesn’t it look like the new kid got to design it?”

But truth be told, Letterman was in a more melancholy than mirthful frame of mind. Though he, his wife, Regina, and their son, Harry, have remained safe, he knows several people who were stricken by the coronavirus, some of whom died from it. And he is deeply frustrated by what he feels have been inconsistent, nationwide efforts to inform people about the pandemic and mitigate its spread.

While hardly its most devastating casualty, Letterman’s Netflix interview show, “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction,” returns Wednesday but nearly came to a halt. He had recorded two episodes, with Kim Kardashian West and with Robert Downey Jr., before the pandemic, and believed the season — if not the series — was finished.

Instead, he was able to produce two more episodes over the summer, under substantially different circumstances: one with Dave Chappelle, which was recorded at an outdoor pavilion in Yellow Springs, Ohio; and one with Lizzo, at her home studio in Los Angeles, which had no audience at all.

For Letterman, each of these episodes offered him a further education in the evolution of entertainment and deeper insights as an interviewer and observer of human nature. Even so, he found himself yearning for what he called “the carefree days of nonsense” when he could “bring people into a theater and talk to them for an hour, and when we were done I would go out into the crowd and shake hands, and everybody would want to tongue-kiss me.”

“We don’t do that anymore,” he added.

Letterman spoke further about his pandemic experience, the making of his Netflix series and what he hopes the future might hold for him. These are edited excerpts from that conversation.

Q: How has the pandemic been for you? What is it like for you now?

A: Like everybody else, you forget about it. Six, eight months into it, you go on talking as though things are normal, and then it’s, oh, no, we can’t do that because of the pandemic. In the beginning, it was more than ghastly. The husband of a woman that worked at (“Late Show”), he died. A teacher at Harry’s school died. Paul Shaffer and his wife both had it. Cathy, his wife, was hospitalized. Barbara Gaines, who was a producer on the show, she and her wife both had it. And on and on and on.

Q: How do you feel when you come into contact with people elsewhere in the country who don’t seem to be taking the pandemic as seriously?

A: That makes me very sad. Because we learned a lesson that these other people are dismissing. I was talking to a friend of mine, and he was furious at the mayor of his city for keeping it closed, and he said, “Well, that guy will never be reelected.” And I just thought, do I tell him what this really can be? We’re looking at a quarter of a million people dead soon. But I just didn’t want to have that fight. 
 
Q: After the 9/11 attacks, you gave several “Late Show” monologues where you tried to rally your viewers’ spirits and bring them together. Do you ever feel like saying anything similar now?

A: Something applicable to these times? I wish I had the wherewithal to say something meaningful. But all of these people who are resisting the idea of prevention, I just keep thinking: What about the families of the 220,000 people who are dead? I wonder how they’re feeling. I don’t get it. I have no solution other than to do what is told: Take care of yourself and your family.

Q: How did the pandemic affect your work on your Netflix series?

A: I thought we were done for good. Really. In the beginning, it really seemed like, holy God, they’re coming over the wall, we’re all going to die. People keep reminding me that, at my age, I’m particularly vulnerable. Which I don’t appreciate at all. “Dad, you know you’re close to 100, you’d better not go out.”

Q: How did you decide to continue with your season?

A: We had two more episodes (with Lizzo and Dave Chappelle) in preproduction, and we were eager to do something. We did them within a very short period of time, and then we came home. By that point, there were protocols in place from the production company and from Netflix that we had to observe, gladly, and we got through it OK.

Q: Kim Kardashian West, who is now a prized guest on your Netflix series, was a frequent target of mockery in your “Late Show” days.

A: Oh, I was at the head of that list. I can remember when she would be booked on the show, it was like, I don’t know anything about her, and I’ve never seen her show. And then when we went to talk to Kanye, I thought, oh, I’ve misjudged this woman.

Q: What changed your mind about her?

A: After we met with Kanye West (for the previous season of the Netflix series), I had a long talk with her at their home, and I started to think about how I had used her as a joke and regarded her as someone not to be taken seriously. I found that that impression was not the end of the story. She had a family. She has her prison reform program. I won’t comment on the ease of being married to Kanye West. And if she can keep a show like that on the air for all those years, that’s an accomplishment. If you can stay in business on television that long, good for you.

Q: You went to Yellow Springs, Ohio, to interview Dave Chappelle. Did you perform at his outdoor comedy show there?

A: Yes. I think I did it. (To his publicist) Did I do it? (Publicist answers: “You did it.”) I’m being told I did it (laughs). It was grand. The setting is unique. It’s outdoors. Everybody’s tested, everybody social distanced. He had three or four comics on and each comic made my heart sink deeper. Because when I was doing comedy, a lot of it was (weakly) “Hey, where you from?” But these men and women, whoa — the level of it, the intellect of it, the presentation of it is so much more than it was when me and my little buddies were, “Hey, how ya doin’, I just got in from Indiana.” Really? No one cares. Get outta here.

Q: Do you ever have moments in these interviews where you feel as if you don’t have a shared frame of reference to talk to some of these guests?

A: Yes. Because the experience is barely parallel. We’re all in show business, but that’s as close a comparison as you can make, culturally. I did feel like, is this going to look stupid? An old guy here, trying to talk to people who are thriving and alive and dominating the world through social media? I felt like it was a wreck. That’s the inner dialogue.

Q: How do you get past this?

A: Like anybody else that you talk to, every human being, there are situations that helped develop into what they are. So you’re going to get a story out of anybody. It may not happen in the first five minutes, but in every one of these experiences, there’s always a conduit for mutual experience. “Oh yeah? You think that’s something? Well, one time I choked on a peanut-butter sandwich and nearly died.” You have to make everybody a good interview.

Q: Do you think that late-night television, a genre that you helped to pioneer, has been diminished in recent years — that so much of it has become political comedy that doesn’t really move the needle and crowds out everything else?

A: I know that people have been hugely successful with it. Stephen (Colbert) has done a great job with my old show — his show now. In my day, the goal was just anything to make the audience laugh. That may be part of the dynamic now. People have this hunger to see the current administration being assailed and embarrassing itself. So I think that’s what (late-night shows) worked toward. I don’t fault them for that. After a while, it wears thin, but the appetite for it has not worn thin. I think they still do enough business to keep people happy.

Q: Do you ever find yourself fearing for the future of this country?

A: I really did, until recently. And now I am confident — or more confident than I’ve been in the last four years — that we’re changing presidents in a couple of weeks. And it will be a huge victory. Not just for our culture and our government, but the simple act of voting will have been the reason that the rest of our country is put back together and, in many ways, saved from what appears to be tyranny, certainly jeopardy. I think it will be a huge victory on many fronts, not the least of which is calling attention to the valuable freedom of voting.

Q: Please don’t mistake this for a suggestion, but do you ever think about packing it in as a broadcaster entirely?

A: First of all, you can’t hurt my feelings because I’m dead inside. But the Netflix people put me back in business in a way that has been, for me, really, really fun. On the other hand, I recognize my own shelf life. I’m way overdue. When it happens, I still will enjoy little things here and there, and that’ll be enough. But there’s other people more capable. I got no problem with that. If there is any kind of schedule, it would be when my son is finished with high school. But if it’s tomorrow, that’s fine.

Q: Your son, Harry, is 16 now. Are you worried about how the pandemic is going to affect his life?

A: I think it’s every parent’s concern, regardless of the age of their kids. But for Harry and his buddies, the junior year of high school is a crucial experience. Now they’re starting to look beyond high school, and it’s not good. For guys Harry’s age and older, it might be a setback. Time takes care of everything, and one hopes that that’s the case here.

Q: How do you talk about these feelings with him?

A: I had a conversation with my son the other night that went this way. Because of the pandemic and the fact that he’s getting older, I said, Harry, your mother and I have two responsibilities. One is to keep you safe. And other than the time that your mother let you roll off the bed and land on your head, we have kept you safe. The other responsibility is your happiness. And he said, “Have you been drinking?” So that’s how that works at my house.

&nbsp;

A few days after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, David Letterman sat behind his desk at CBS’s “Late Show” and shared the story of a rally in Choteau, Montana, to raise money for New York.

A few days after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, David Letterman sat behind his desk at CBS’s “Late Show” and shared the story of a rally in Choteau, Montana, to raise money for New York. Getting choked up, he told his viewers, “If that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about the spirit of the United States, then I can’t help you.” Nineteen years later, with the country in the midst of a monthslong pandemic, Letterman found it difficult to conjure up any similarly inspiring anecdotes. One morning last week, this veteran late-night host, broadcaster and comedian, now 73, was sitting in a park here, contemplating the Hudson River and cracking wise about the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. “It looks kind of unfinished,” he said through a fabric mask that barely held back his unruly beard. “Doesn’t it look like the new kid got to design it?” But truth be told, Letterman was in a more melancholy than mirthful frame of mind. Though he, his wife, Regina, and their son, Harry, have remained safe, he knows several people who were stricken by the coronavirus, some of whom died from it. And he is deeply frustrated by what he feels have been inconsistent, nationwide efforts to inform people about the pandemic and mitigate its spread. While hardly its most devastating casualty, Letterman’s Netflix interview show, “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction,” returns Wednesday but nearly came to a halt. He had recorded two episodes, with Kim Kardashian West and with Robert Downey Jr., before the pandemic, and believed the season — if not the series — was finished. Instead, he was able to produce two more episodes over the summer, under substantially different circumstances: one with Dave Chappelle, which was recorded at an outdoor pavilion in Yellow Springs, Ohio; and one with Lizzo, at her home studio in Los Angeles, which had no audience at all. For Letterman, each of these episodes offered him a further education in the evolution of entertainment and deeper insights as an interviewer and observer of human nature. Even so, he found himself yearning for what he called “the carefree days of nonsense” when he could “bring people into a theater and talk to them for an hour, and when we were done I would go out into the crowd and shake hands, and everybody would want to tongue-kiss me.” “We don’t do that anymore,” he added. Letterman spoke further about his pandemic experience, the making of his Netflix series and what he hopes the future might hold for him. These are edited excerpts from that conversation. Q: How has the pandemic been for you? What is it like for you now? A: Like everybody else, you forget about it. Six, eight months into it, you go on talking as though things are normal, and then it’s, oh, no, we can’t do that because of the pandemic. In the beginning, it was more than ghastly. The husband of a woman that worked at (“Late Show”), he died. A teacher at Harry’s school died. Paul Shaffer and his wife both had it. Cathy, his wife, was hospitalized. Barbara Gaines, who was a producer on the show, she and her wife both had it. And on and on and on. Q: How do you feel when you come into contact with people elsewhere in the country who don’t seem to be taking the pandemic as seriously? A: That makes me very sad. Because we learned a lesson that these other people are dismissing. I was talking to a friend of mine, and he was furious at the mayor of his city for keeping it closed, and he said, “Well, that guy will never be reelected.” And I just thought, do I tell him what this really can be? We’re looking at a quarter of a million people dead soon. But I just didn’t want to have that fight. Q: After the 9/11 attacks, you gave several “Late Show” monologues where you tried to rally your viewers’ spirits and bring them together. Do you ever feel like saying anything similar now? A: Something applicable to these times? I wish I had the wherewithal to say something meaningful. But all of these people who are resisting the idea of prevention, I just keep thinking: What about the families of the 220,000 people who are dead? I wonder how they’re feeling. I don’t get it. I have no solution other than to do what is told: Take care of yourself and your family. Q: How did the pandemic affect your work on your Netflix series? A: I thought we were done for good. Really. In the beginning, it really seemed like, holy God, they’re coming over the wall, we’re all going to die. People keep reminding me that, at my age, I’m particularly vulnerable. Which I don’t appreciate at all. “Dad, you know you’re close to 100, you’d better not go out.” Q: How did you decide to continue with your season? A: We had two more episodes (with Lizzo and Dave Chappelle) in preproduction, and we were eager to do something. We did them within a very short period of time, and then we came home. By that point, there were protocols in place from the production company and from Netflix that we had to observe, gladly, and we got through it OK. Q: Kim Kardashian West, who is now a prized guest on your Netflix series, was a frequent target of mockery in your “Late Show” days. A: Oh, I was at the head of that list. I can remember when she would be booked on the show, it was like, I don’t know anything about her, and I’ve never seen her show. And then when we went to talk to Kanye, I thought, oh, I’ve misjudged this woman. Q: What changed your mind about her? A: After we met with Kanye West (for the previous season of the Netflix series), I had a long talk with her at their home, and I started to think about how I had used her as a joke and regarded her as someone not to be taken seriously. I found that that impression was not the end of the story. She had a family. She has her prison reform program. I won’t comment on the ease of being married to Kanye West. And if she can keep a show like that on the air for all those years, that’s an accomplishment. If you can stay in business on television that long, good for you. Q: You went to Yellow Springs, Ohio, to interview Dave Chappelle. Did you perform at his outdoor comedy show there? A: Yes. I think I did it. (To his publicist) Did I do it? (Publicist answers: “You did it.”) I’m being told I did it (laughs). It was grand. The setting is unique. It’s outdoors. Everybody’s tested, everybody social distanced. He had three or four comics on and each comic made my heart sink deeper. Because when I was doing comedy, a lot of it was (weakly) “Hey, where you from?” But these men and women, whoa — the level of it, the intellect of it, the presentation of it is so much more than it was when me and my little buddies were, “Hey, how ya doin’, I just got in from Indiana.” Really? No one cares. Get outta here. Q: Do you ever have moments in these interviews where you feel as if you don’t have a shared frame of reference to talk to some of these guests? A: Yes. Because the experience is barely parallel. We’re all in show business, but that’s as close a comparison as you can make, culturally. I did feel like, is this going to look stupid? An old guy here, trying to talk to people who are thriving and alive and dominating the world through social media? I felt like it was a wreck. That’s the inner dialogue. Q: How do you get past this? A: Like anybody else that you talk to, every human being, there are situations that helped develop into what they are. So you’re going to get a story out of anybody. It may not happen in the first five minutes, but in every one of these experiences, there’s always a conduit for mutual experience. “Oh yeah? You think that’s something? Well, one time I choked on a peanut-butter sandwich and nearly died.” You have to make everybody a good interview. Q: Do you think that late-night television, a genre that you helped to pioneer, has been diminished in recent years — that so much of it has become political comedy that doesn’t really move the needle and crowds out everything else? A: I know that people have been hugely successful with it. Stephen (Colbert) has done a great job with my old show — his show now. In my day, the goal was just anything to make the audience laugh. That may be part of the dynamic now. People have this hunger to see the current administration being assailed and embarrassing itself. So I think that’s what (late-night shows) worked toward. I don’t fault them for that. After a while, it wears thin, but the appetite for it has not worn thin. I think they still do enough business to keep people happy. Q: Do you ever find yourself fearing for the future of this country? A: I really did, until recently. And now I am confident — or more confident than I’ve been in the last four years — that we’re changing presidents in a couple of weeks. And it will be a huge victory. Not just for our culture and our government, but the simple act of voting will have been the reason that the rest of our country is put back together and, in many ways, saved from what appears to be tyranny, certainly jeopardy. I think it will be a huge victory on many fronts, not the least of which is calling attention to the valuable freedom of voting. Q: Please don’t mistake this for a suggestion, but do you ever think about packing it in as a broadcaster entirely? A: First of all, you can’t hurt my feelings because I’m dead inside. But the Netflix people put me back in business in a way that has been, for me, really, really fun. On the other hand, I recognize my own shelf life. I’m way overdue. When it happens, I still will enjoy little things here and there, and that’ll be enough. But there’s other people more capable. I got no problem with that. If there is any kind of schedule, it would be when my son is finished with high school. But if it’s tomorrow, that’s fine. Q: Your son, Harry, is 16 now. Are you worried about how the pandemic is going to affect his life? A: I think it’s every parent’s concern, regardless of the age of their kids. But for Harry and his buddies, the junior year of high school is a crucial experience. Now they’re starting to look beyond high school, and it’s not good. For guys Harry’s age and older, it might be a setback. Time takes care of everything, and one hopes that that’s the case here. Q: How do you talk about these feelings with him? A: I had a conversation with my son the other night that went this way. Because of the pandemic and the fact that he’s getting older, I said, Harry, your mother and I have two responsibilities. One is to keep you safe. And other than the time that your mother let you roll off the bed and land on your head, we have kept you safe. The other responsibility is your happiness. And he said, “Have you been drinking?” So that’s how that works at my house.

David Letterman isn’t here to cheer you up this time

Los Angeles has one of the highest concentration of homeless people in United States, and the growing population of those living on the streets has only inflated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch the report.

Los Angeles downtown with highest concentration of homeless in US

Two Los Angeles police officers are recovering in hospital after being shot in what police are calling an ambush. Watch report.

Los Angeles cops shot: Trump calls for death penalty for shooters | World News

Christopher Nolan's fans in the greater Los Angeles area now have a reason to rejoice as they have the option of seeing 'Tenet'&nbsp;at drive-in theaters, instead of waiting for indoor cinemas to reopen. 
 
According to The news agency, the $ 200 million espionage epic began rolling out where it could in the U.S. on August 31 in advance of the long Labour Day weekend. However, Warner Bros. said `Tenet` wouldn`t play in markets where indoor moviegoing is still off-limits amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, including Los Angeles and New York City, where Nolan's films do particularly well. 
 
Earlier this week, the studio reversed course, just as indoor cinemas in nearby Orange County gained approval to reopen. 
 
The O.C. becomes only the second California market to receive the okay after San Diego. However, yet it isn't clear when Los Angeles cinemas will be able to flip on the lights, but it could be weeks away. 
 
By Friday, 'Tenet'&nbsp;will be playing in five drive-ins in the greater Los Angeles area, as well as outdoor venues in Orange County, San Diego and the Bay Area.Of late, the drive-in locations have enjoyed a renaissance since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, forcing indoor cinemas across the country and globe to go dark for months. 
 
'Tenet'&nbsp;is playing in more than 90 such locations.In the U.S., many indoor theater chains timed their reopenings to `Tenet`, which is the first Hollywood tentpole to brave debuting on the big screen amid the coronavirus crisis.

Christopher Nolan's fans in the greater Los Angeles area now have a reason to rejoice as they have the option of seeing 'Tenet' at drive-in theaters, instead of waiting for indoor cinemas to reopen.

Christopher Nolan's fans in the greater Los Angeles area now have a reason to rejoice as they have the option of seeing 'Tenet' at drive-in theaters, instead of waiting for indoor cinemas to reopen. According to The news agency, the $ 200 million espionage epic began rolling out where it could in the U.S. on August 31 in advance of the long Labour Day weekend. However, Warner Bros. said `Tenet` wouldn`t play in markets where indoor moviegoing is still off-limits amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, including Los Angeles and New York City, where Nolan's films do particularly well. Earlier this week, the studio reversed course, just as indoor cinemas in nearby Orange County gained approval to reopen. The O.C. becomes only the second California market to receive the okay after San Diego. However, yet it isn't clear when Los Angeles cinemas will be able to flip on the lights, but it could be weeks away. By Friday, 'Tenet' will be playing in five drive-ins in the greater Los Angeles area, as well as outdoor venues in Orange County, San Diego and the Bay Area.Of late, the drive-in locations have enjoyed a renaissance since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, forcing indoor cinemas across the country and globe to go dark for months. 'Tenet' is playing in more than 90 such locations.In the U.S., many indoor theater chains timed their reopenings to `Tenet`, which is the first Hollywood tentpole to brave debuting on the big screen amid the coronavirus crisis.

'Tenet' will now play at Los Angeles area drive-ins

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