Day: October 14, 2023

France on High Alert

With an impending deadline of October 14, Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed 143 bills, accounting for approximately 30% of the bills sent to him by lawmakers. Last year, Newsom vetoed 169 bills, amounting to 14% of proposed bills. This year, Newsom cited concerns about the cost to the state, policy implications, or deemed some bills unnecessary as reasons for his vetoes.

One notable bill that Newsom rejected was the proposal to make free condoms available to all public high school students in California. The governor argued that the expense would be too burdensome for a state grappling with a budget deficit exceeding $30 billion.

Another vetoed bill was Assembly Bill 374, which sought to legalize Amsterdam-style cannabis lounges where cannabis products could be sold alongside food and drinks. Although similar businesses currently exist in California through legal loopholes, Newsom did not support this bill.

Assemblymember Phil Ting’s bill, aimed at increasing juror pay to $100 per day for low-income jurors during criminal cases, was also vetoed. The proposal, similar to a successful pilot program in San Francisco, aimed to encourage people of color and low-income residents to serve as jurors.

California was poised to become the first state to outlaw caste-based discrimination. However, Newsom vetoed the bill, stating that California already prohibits discrimination based on various characteristics and that the civil rights protections in place should be broadly interpreted.

Newsom also vetoed legislation to decriminalize psychedelics such as psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline for individuals 21 and older. The bill aimed to ensure that possession of limited amounts of plant-based hallucinogens would not lead to arrest or prosecution, but sales and possession on school grounds would remain illegal.

Additionally, three health care-related bills were vetoed. One would have required health plans to cover hearing aids for individuals under 20 years old, another aimed to cap insulin copayments at $35, and a third sought to expand perinatal care under Medi-Cal.

While the California Legislature has the power to override vetoes with a two-thirds majority in the Assembly and Senate, this is a rare occurrence and has not happened in recent decades.

It is important for the public to stay informed about the legislative process and understand the impact of these decisions on various aspects of daily life. We encourage continued engagement with the legislative process and the opportunity to voice concerns and perspectives on bills that affect our communities.

Elizabeth Chapman contributed to this report.

A Los Angeles man, Courtland Thornton, has been arrested in connection with a violent robbery that took place at a Chinatown business last month. The Los Angeles Police Department announced Thornton’s capture in Hawthorne on Friday, nearly one month after the incident occurred in the 800 block of North Broadway.

According to the police, surveillance footage captured Thornton entering the business around noon on September 14. He proceeded to assault an employee and stole property from behind the counter. When the employee attempted to intervene, Thornton continued his assault, resulting in the employee being hospitalized for her injuries.

Thornton is currently being held on $80,000 bail, although jail records indicate that an additional $1 million bail has been added to his total in relation to another case. The exact date of his next court appearance is not yet available.

Anyone with additional information about this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Huy Nguyen at 213-996-1875. For calls made during non-business hours or on weekends, individuals should direct their inquiries to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

Acts of violence like this remind us of the importance of keeping our communities safe and supporting law enforcement in their efforts to bring perpetrators to justice. We hope for a swift recovery for the victim and commend the Los Angeles Police Department for their diligent work in apprehending the alleged robber.

Elizabeth Chapman contributed to this report.

A typical Friday evening in Huntington Beach took a terrifying turn when a truck crashed through the front of the Kohl’s store at the Bella Terra Mall. The Huntington Beach Police Department received multiple calls about the incident shortly before 8 p.m.

The crash resulted in injuries to three individuals, who were promptly transported to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, their injuries were deemed non-life-threatening. Video footage captured by the Citizen App shows the aftermath of the incident, with first responders assessing the damage and sifting through debris that littered the entryway.

Following the crash, the driver of the truck fled the scene, prompting a pursuit by the police through the streets of Huntington Beach. The chase came to an end in the 16000 block of Beach Boulevard, where a PIT maneuver successfully immobilized the truck. Aerial footage from Sky5 reveals the disabled vehicle perched on the sidewalk after colliding with a street lamp.

Law enforcement authorities took the driver, who remains unidentified, into custody. While it is unclear whether the driver sustained any injuries during the pursuit, initial investigations suggest that drugs and alcohol may have played a role in the incident.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of impaired driving and the potential consequences that can result from such reckless behavior. It is crucial for individuals to prioritize their safety and the safety of others by making responsible choices behind the wheel.

Our thoughts go out to those injured in this incident, and we commend the swift response of law enforcement in apprehending the driver. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.

Elizabeth Chapman contributed to this report.

Marty York, known for his role as Alan “Yeah-Yeah” McClennan in ‘The Sandlot,’ confirmed on social media that his mother, Deanna Esmaeel, was murdered in her Crescent City home in Northern California. Initial reports from TMZ indicated that Esmaeel, who was a deputy with the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office, was found dead on Thursday. The suspect, Daniel James Walter, who was reportedly “seeing” York’s mother, was apprehended in Curry County, Oregon, on Friday night after a manhunt. Marty York expressed his deep emotions and shared the devastating news in an Instagram post. The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office expressed their condolences and shared their heartfelt sympathy for the loss of Deputy Esmaeel. Marty York has also appeared in ‘Boy Meets World’ and starred in various short films throughout his acting career.