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House Intelligence Votes to Release Russia Probe Transcripts

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The House Intelligence Committee voted Friday to release dozens of transcripts from interviews related to its year-long investigation into Russian interference, which ended in March/

A total of 53 transcripts are being made public, most but not all of what the committee has. Those thousands of pages include interviews with close associates of then-candidate Donald Trump, including Steve Bannon, Michael Cohen, Hope Hicks, Jared Kushner, Corey Lewandowski, Roger Stone and Donald Trump Jr.

Ranking Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff said interviewees will have the opportunity to review the transcripts to verify accuracy.

Committee Democrats had pushed for all transcripts to be released on several occasions. 

The transcripts will be sent to intelligence officials for declassification, and none will be released until all have been reviewed.

This is a breaking story. Refresh this page for updates. 



Photo Credit: Getty Images, File

Weekend: Celebrate LA! Mega Street Party

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Celebrate LA: Strolling or cycling from downtown to Hollywood on any day of the year would take some time, especially since there's traffic to think about. But what if you could roll or stroll from Walt Disney Concert Hall to the Hollywood Bowl, or nearly, without any vehicles slowing you down? That's happening on Sunday, Sept. 30, all to honor the LA Phil's centennial. Big concerts at several hubs along the way, special happenings, food trucks, and a bevy of amazing to-dos will fill the eight-mile route. Where to see Ozomatli, Dengue Fever, Dustbowl Revival, more? Start here.

Watts Tower Festivals: Southern California is known for its notable music-based bashes, but few have the prestige, the enduring fandom, and the longevity of the pair of parties heading for Watts Tower over the final weekend of September. On Saturday, Sept. 29 its the 37th annual Watts Tower Day of the Drum Festival, which celebrates the moving power of percussive songcraft. And on Sunday, Sept. 30? Return for the 42nd annual Simon Rodia Watts Tower Jazz Festival, a happy day of delightful aural journeys and deep sound flows. Find the full line-ups, and times, right here.

Dark Harbor: The ocean is full of delightful mystery, but some of scares of the shore-close kind grow around the Queen Mary each fall, thanks to this annual Halloween-is-near spectacle. Six mazes, lots of eerie entertainment choices, slider performers, and a special to stay on the reportedly haunted ocean-liner are all on the Dark Harbor docket. Brave up, grab your buddy, and leg it for Long Beach, where creepy characters will haunt the area surrounding the storied ship, through Nov. 2, over several select nights.

Dino Fest: If you've ever called upon the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles with a Jurassic-obsessed kid or friend in tow, you've likely encountered, at least over the last decade, the roaming Dinosaur Puppets, those large and lively critters that, spoiler alert, have talented puppeteers inside them. Those puppets are turning ten over the final weekend of September, which just happens to be when the museum will celebrate all things 'saur-related. Join a hands-on activities, hear from paleontologists, and dig into dino-tastic fun, on Sept. 29 and 30.

LA Haunted Hayride opens: Speaking of decade-big anniversaries, this ghoul fest at Griffith Park's Old Zoo is cackling its way into its 10th year, with more under-the-moon monster sightings and sizable scare zones that have both fresh air and plenty of frights. Do you dare venture into the House of Shadows, Purgatory, Trick or Treat, or the hayride that lends this seasonal scream-it-out its very name? Find your ticket and the dastardly date you'd like to attend, pronto. Everything is getting mighty freaky, on select nights, through Oct. 31.



Photo Credit: Getty Images, CicLAvia, LA Phil

New NHMLA 3D Theater Opens with 'Oceans 3D'

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When asked to consider a location that can easily move from the dinosaur-filled prehistoric era to the technological wonders of the modern day, some imaginative people might speculate that the place in question contains a time machine.

But there is no time machine, at least that we're aware of, at the Natural Museum of Los Angeles. 

And yet? The science-cool space, which is located in Exposition Park, will, in a sense, travel from dinosaurs to the technology of tomorrow, within a few hours, as September ends and October begins.

For the brand-new 3D Theater will open on Monday, Oct. 1, less than a day after the weekend-long Dino Fest concludes at the museum.

The debuting theater is set to deliver stunning, take-you-there images from around the planet via a host of globe-spanning, nature-celebrating films.

It's the "first-ever large-screen 3D theater" at the institution, and is, in fact, "the first theater experience at NHM in more than a decade."

Launching this 100-seater of a cinematic experience is "Oceans 3D: Our Blue Planet," a celebration of our world's water and its fascinating inhabitants.

Actress Kate Winslet narrates the compelling travelogue while BBC Earth and OceanX Media are behind the production.

"Viewers will swim alongside leaping dolphins, sharks, whales, and sea turtles, dive around coral reef ecosystems and journey to the depths of the ocean floor and encounter some of the most extreme and exotic animals ever discovered," is the spirit-lifting word on "Oceans 3D."

A ticket to these amazing ecosystems and stupendous sights?

It's five dollars if you buy it online, in advance, or $6 if you're there at the museum. (Tickets to the 3D theater are in addition to NHMLA museum admission.)



Photo Credit: Rachel Butler

Facebook Says 50 Million Accounts Potentially Compromised

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Facebook has discovered a security issue affecting 50 million accounts, which could have let hackers take over the accounts and access users' personal information.

"Since we’ve only just started our investigation, we have yet to determine whether these accounts were misused or any information accessed. We also don’t know who’s behind these attacks or where they’re based," Facebook vice president of product management Guy Rosen said in a blog post Friday. 

Rosen said the company discovered the issue on Tuesday and notified law enforcement. The attackers exploited a hole in Facebook's code related to the "View As" function, which lets people see what their profiles look like to other users.

A total of 90 million users will have their access tokens reset, the company said, which means they will have to log back in the next time they try to use Facebook. When they log in they will see a message at the top of their news feed explaining what happened.

Shares in Facebook fell sharply on the news. CEO Mark Zuckerberg addressed the issue in a post on his own page as well.

"While I'm glad we found this, fixed the vulnerability, and secured the accounts that may be at risk, the reality is we need to continue developing new tools to prevent this from happening in the first place," he said. (His post had more than 2,000 user comments within 20 minutes.)

The company did not specify whether users in any particular country were affected. In its most recent quarter, Facebook reported 1.47 billion daily active users worldwide.

The attorney general of North Carolina, Josh Stein, suggested in a Twitter post that his office would investigate the breach. 



Photo Credit: EFE

Portraits of Las Vegas Shooting Victims on Display

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The 58 victims who lost their lives while attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas will be publicly remembered just days before the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 1, 2017, shooting.

Through Oct. 19, Clark County and the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center will exhibit portraits created by artists from around the world of the 58 victims killed during the mass shooting, located in the Rotunda Gallery of the Clark County Government Center in downtown Las Vegas.

The selected artists for the project chose their subject based on news articles and photos published after the attack. Some of these artists live outside the United States: one from Las Vegas, two from Australia, five from Canada, and one each from Greece, Peru, and South Africa.

Some family members collaborated with the artists in the making of the portrait.

"Many of them have created quite a bond during this process. Some have become friends. Some even learned they're related, as was the case with our artist from South Africa, Kayla Beukes, and the family of Quinton Robbins," organizer Ellen Abramo said.

There's also an "Art of Healing Mural" created by students from Las Vegas Academy of the Arts and the local Guerilla Artz Foundation. Volunteers with the nonprofit Angels of Love, which is based in Orange County, crafted several stained-glass angels. 

The County Museum's 58 crosses have also been set out on tiered pedestals by the infamous "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign.

Clark County commissioners honored artists Abramo and her cousin Kortney Struempf for organizing the Las Vegas Portraits Project.

"Our goal with this project is to help build a bridge of hope and healing through art, and we appreciate Clark County's and the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center's partnership in this effort," Struempf said in a news release. 

Shortly after the attack, Abramo and Struempf organized the Las Vegas Portraits Project via Facebook, in search of volunteer artists willing to create a portrait of each victim. 

"Fifty-eight men and women lost their lives on 1 October, and they are more than a number. We want people to remember their faces, and when they do so, remember their friends and families," Abramo told NBC4. 

The portraits will be gifted to the families and on Oct.4 a special event will be held for the artists and families to meet face to face.

Emotional support will be provided at the memorial for those affected by the tragic event. There will be a resource table with trained volunteers and therapists from the American Red Cross. Therapy dogs from the non-profit Las Vegas-based Michael's Angel Paws, will also be present to provide emotional support.

The Clark County Government Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 500 S. Grand Central Parkway in Las Vegas.

Officials encourage anyone who was present the night of the shooting to sign up for the Nevada Victims of Crime Program by the Oct. 1 deadline, which will help pay for expenses that may not be covered by insurance.



Photo Credit: KSNV

Yay, It's Opening Weekend at Knott's Spooky Farm

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The family-sweet seasonal spectacular will run every weekend, starting Sept. 29, and on Halloween day, too.

Photo Credit: Knott's Spooky Farm

After GOP's Offense, Dems Bring Fury to Committee Meeting

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Democrats came full-throated to Friday's Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on Judge Brett Kavanaugh and furiously pleaded their cases for why the nominee should not be confirmed to the Supreme Court without more investigation into sexual misconduct allegations, with some even walking out of the meeting in protest.

The meeting followed a long and emotional day of testimony from Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, who accused the judge of sexually assaulting her when they were teens. On Thursday, the events turned partisan as the day dragged on, with Kavanaugh and Senate Republicans claiming in fiery statements that Democrats used Ford and her experience as political pawns. 

Kavanaugh called his confirmation process a "national disgrace" and Sen. Lindsey Graham deemed it "the most unethical sham." 

After remaining relatively measured through their questioning of Ford and Kavanaugh, Democrats displayed their outrage right off the bat on Friday.

As soon as the committee opened, Democrats offered a motion to subpoena Mark Judge, the high school friend of Kavanaugh who Ford said was the sole witness to the alleged assault. Judge has said he does not recall the incident, and the motion offered by Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut was quickly blocked by Republicans in a vote. Blumenthal and three other Democrats, Kamala Harris of California, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, then stood from their seats on the dais and walked out of the hearing room. 

"It’s bad enough that we sent one person to the Supreme Court with this kind of cloud. We should not be sending both," Hirono told reporters outside the hearing room, referencing the confirmation of Justice Clearance Thomas after Anita Hill accused him of sexual harassment. 

Harris said Republicans were "ramming" Kavanaugh's confirmation through, telling reporters, "There should not be a tyranny of the majority."

"This has been about raw power," Harris added. "You're seeing that in display in this hearing this morning. You’ve been seeing it from the process in the beginning." 

Sen. Corey Booker, of New Jersey, followed suit, leaving the meeting after delivering an impassioned speech to committee chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley. Booker said that “this is a moral moment in our nation.” 

“We do not have to have this vote today,” he told Grassley, adding, “I cannot stomach that are going to move forward.” 

Harris and Booker both refused to vote on Grassley's preferred 1:30 p.m. time for Friday's vote on advancing Kavanaugh out of the committee.

"They're refusing to vote because this is so unfair," Hirono yelled before she and the three others walked out in protest.

Some Democrats who remained in the room repeated calls for another FBI background investigation into Ford’s claims, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota. She argued that a federal probe could obtain necessary information and statements from the people alleged to be involved in or related to the incident. She claimed it’s “not the same thing” to rely on a letter from Judge’s lawyers denying the events described by Ford, which Republicans have used to chip away at Ford’s credibility. 

Whitehouse returned to the room to rebuke his committee colleagues for not supporting another investigation. He drew renewed attention to Kavanaugh’s calendars that the judge had submitted to help support his claim that the gathering Ford described didn’t happen. Whitehouse argued that an entry written by Kavanaugh on July 1, 1982, indicated there had been a gathering of the same people Ford had alleged were present at the party and that they were getting together for beers. 

“This may, may be powerful corroborating evidence that the assault happened, that it happened that day, and that it happened in that place, but with no FBI investigation, we can’t tell,” Whitehouse said. 

Rachel Mitchell, the special prosecutor hired by the Republicans to question Ford and Kavanaugh, questioned the judge briefly on the July 1 calendar date. After this line of questioning from Mitchell, the rest of the Republican senators claimed their time with Kavanaugh and Mitchell did not question Kavanaugh further.

Though expressing sympathy for Ford and belief that something happened to her, Republicans held their ground in their support for Kavanaugh. Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana called the confirmation process "an intergalactic freak show" and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said it is an example of "Washington D.C. at it's very ugliest."

"Judge Kavanaugh, he too has been dragged through the mud for the last two weeks in a way that has no precedent,"  Cruz added.

Graham, whose visible anger and shouted attacks on Thursday seemed to surprise his fellow senators, called the allegations against Kavanaugh "a bunch of garbage."

"We are in the Twilight Zone," he said, echoing a phrase used by Kavanaugh in denying one of the accusations against him.

However, Democrats did manage to get one key committee Republican on their side by the end of the meeting. In a dramatic turn after speaking with friend Sen. Chris Coons and several other Democrats, Republican Sen. Jeff Flake suggested that the full Senate vote be delayed while the FBI investigates Ford's claims. Only Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer can approve a delayed vote; the committee then decided 11-10 to proceed to a full Senate vote.

Coons had said that women have reached out to him to share their own stories of sexual assault and that "speaks to what a public service is being done here." After Flake called for a federal probe, Coons praised his close friend and said they share a deep concern about the health of the nation and closing the growing divide in the country together.

Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont defended his party’s approach and handling of Kavanaugh’s confirmation proceedings, saying Democrats aren’t trying to delay the nomination ahead of the midterms but that they are “doing our job.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Calls to Sex Assault Hotline Spiked During Kavanaugh Hearing

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Calls to a national hotline for victims of sexual assault surged Thursday, the day Christine Blasey Ford testified before the Senate, detailing allegations that she was sexually assaulted by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network announced that the number of calls to its National Sexual Assault hotline surged by 201 percent Thursday, NBC News reported.

“We often see an uptick when sexual assault is in the news," RAINN spokeswoman Sara Mcgovern said in a statement. "For example, last weekend, from Friday to Sunday we saw a 57 percent increase compared to an average Friday to Sunday. Since Dr. Ford has come forward with her allegations, we have seen a 45.6 percent uptick compared to the same time period in 2017."



Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images

4 Suspected in 'Knock, Knock' Burglary Crew Arrested

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Four men who are suspected as working as a "knock-knock" burglary crew were arrested this week in Sun Valley after they allegedly robbed a home, a deputy said Friday.

The men were spotted about 3 p.m. Monday, allegedly committing a home burglary in North Hollywood by a task force made up of the sheriff's major crimes bureau, burglary robbery task force and Simi Valley police, according to Deputy Grace Medrano.

The detectives followed the four as they drove through North Hollywood, Panorama City and into Sun Valley where they parked their car on Burton Street, Medrano said.

Detectives watched as the four men emerged from a home there carrying property. As the suspects prepared to drive off, detectives stopped the four men and arrested them. They recovered more than $7,500 worth of items that included jewelry, designer handbags, electronic equipment and cash, Medrano said.

The men arrested included 23-year-old Tyler Williams of Lancaster and 18-year-olds Jermel White, Jermain White and Antonio Houston of Los Angeles. All four men were booked on charges of residential burglary. Each of the men was being held on $50,000 bail, Medrano said.



Photo Credit: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

So There's a Pizza Apartment in Pasadena

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The Pizza Experience, a snapshot-ready series of spaces dedicated to cheesy pies, will debut on the first of October.

Photo Credit: The Pizza Experience

HavASole: Providing Quality Shoes to the Homeless

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Rikki Mendias knows what it’s like to be homeless without something as simple as a decent pair of shoes.

So now he collects shoes to donate to other people who don’t have them, or might need a new pair.

The effect shoes have had on Mendia’s life started when he was a child and owned no shoes, but one day, a nice woman saw him and bought him two pairs.

Mendias remembered the time the woman gave him his new shoes, and it’s something he will never forget.

“What I remember most about getting those pairs was the smell and then the confidence that came with it,” Mendias said.

As an adult and no longer homeless, he is also a successful photographer who loves to photographs shoes. However, hes says that wasn’t enough, so he decided to start giving them away.

He started an organization called HavASole which popular brands such as Nike are supporting. His organization provides quality footwear to homeless and at risk youth.

Mendias admits that seeing the joy in people’s faces is amazing.

“You see the joy of the people. It’s instant and it’s amazing. Something you can’t purchase. Something you can’t really explain,” Mendias said.

Mendias wants to get more teams involved in his cause and organization. He would like to collaborate with the Lakers and the Clippers to continue giving out shoes.

All of the donated shoes are organized by size and value and stored in bins. They are just waiting to be fitted to someone somewhere in need.



Photo Credit: Hav-a-Sole

Raise a (Possibly Free) Cup to National Coffee Day

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Our brains have been trained, over pretty much the entirety of our lives, to separate mythical and iconic things from those oft-seen staples of life that have an everyday quality to them.

But, honest talk? Coffee qualifies in both categories.

Though we understand how the properties of the caffeinated libation work, and we strive to know about the origin of our beans, and we seek to understand how the cup we're enjoying came to be, the flavor, character, and magic of a simple pot o' joe can seem slightly spiritual, for many fans.

So, why yes, coffee has more than earned its national holiday-having status.

And that piping hot holiday arrives on Saturday, Sept. 29 in 2018.

Will various java hubs offer specials and such? That notion is as certain as a used filter is soggy.

Java jonesers, best spend part of September's final Saturday seeking out...

Don Francisco's Coffee Casa Cubana: If you know this coffee-making powerhouse, then you know there is nearly 150 years of experience built into the legendary libation, and F. Gavina & Sons, the company behind the coffee, just marked its big 50th. Want to win free coffee for a year? Stop by the DTLA flagship store on Sept. 29 and enter. Five winners will hear the good news on Oct. 2.

Other cool, we mean toasty 'n tasty, specials?

Krispy Kreme has "free coffee for all!" in honor of the flavorful occasion. Plus? Join the rewards program and score a free doughnut, too.

Dunkin' Donuts is all about the National Coffee Day "buy a cup, get a cup" vibe.

Jane Q, in Hollywood, is offering half-priced drip coffee on Sept. 29.

Verve Coffee will be going the "$1 quick cup of coffee" route, at all locations, on National Coffee Day.

The Helpful Honda Guys in Blue will be showing up at a few Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf locations on Sept. 29 to "surprise residents with a complimentary drink of choice." Check social media for hints about the various locations.



Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Advertencia a la hora de buscar empleo

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Buscar empleo de manera segura puede resultar complicado en esta epoca moderna y se recomienda entender las consecuencias que esto puede traer dependiendo en la forma que se busque empleo.

El internet ofrece grandes facilidades a quienes buscan empleo; sobre todo a la hora de enviar y recibir información. Publicar un curriculum en línea puede parecer una buena idea, pero también hay que entender que cualquier persona podrá ver sus datos…incluyendo los estafadores.

Es muy importante conocer los sitios web a los que manda su información.

Maria fue víctima de fraude. Ella creyó haber encontrado una excelente oportunidad de empleo donde le ofrecían $700 a lasemana trabajando desde su casa. Todo lo que ella tenía que hacer eran marcos para fotografías.

Aunque parecía una buena oferta de trabajo, también le pedían que hiciera dos pagos; uno de $89 y el otro de $34.50 para los materiales que ella necesitaría. Y justamente esto es algo que las autoridades dicen es una mala señal.

Si esta buscando trabajo, no tiene que pagar un centavo; es usted quien debe estar recibiendo dinero, y no al revés.

Pero tiene que tener mucho cuidado. La forma en la que los estafadores le pedirán dinero estará disfrazada.

Si un presunto empleador le ofrece mandarle un pago excesivo, y después le pide que use el dinero que supuestamente sobro, para hacer compras o pagos, está usted frente a un fraude; tal cual fue el caso de Alex, a quien un presunto profesor la estaba contratando para ser su asistente personal.

El presunto profesor le pedía a Alex que comprara cheques personales de negocio.

“Yo los iba a imprimir en mi casa y depositarlos al banco,” dijo Alex.

Así la convenció de depositar supuestamente $1,800 dolares en su cuenta, y retirar la mitad para comprar tarjetas prepagadas que él le pidió; al paso de unas semanas, Alex descubrió que los cheques habían rebotado, y ahora tenía que devolverle el dinero al banco.

Aunque es muy tentador trabajar desde casa, rara vez encontrará una oportunidad de ganar mucho dinero sin salir del hogar, o haciendo casi nada. Recuerde, si es muy bueno para ser cierto, es porque no lo es. Así que pienselo muy bien antes de aceptar.

Chinatown's Free Mid-Autumn Moon Fest Turns 80

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The number 80? 

What a beautiful and gratifying sight, thanks to the prominent presence of that auspicious eight leading things off, followed by a zero which, at first glance, looks as round and as full as any Harvest Moon.

We're in that moment, of marvelous fall moondom, and several spots around Southern California, from The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens to The Langham Huntington, Pasadena have set the stage for meaningful and merry mid-autumn moon festivals.

Next up is on the celebration calendar is Chinatown, which will stage its 80th annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival on Saturday evening, Sept. 29.

The long-running festival is free.

Two versions of the moon will be the night's superstars, with the actual moon, as in our nearest space neighbor, presiding high over the joyful proceedings, as well as the mooncakes that serve as the sweet and symbolic sustenance of the celebration.

There shall be other vittles to buy, of course, thanks to the line-up of food trucks. Vivace Pizza, Kogi, and Love Bird, as well as several other local gotta-noshes, are set to show and sizzle.

Activities are plentiful during the seven-hour soirée, but do make time to stop by the visiting telescope on Central Plaza, as well as the one at Mandarin Plaza, should you want to get to know the party's honorary guest better.

That would be, yes, the moon. Surely the moon wants to attend any party that includes its name? We would.

Astrology-smart people will standing near the telescops to talk about planets, stars, and the ever-amazing mysteries of the universe.

Other autumn-lovely to-dos at the fest including lantern-making and kite-making workshops, a beer garden, the Craft & Vintage Market, a live music stage, and magic.

Of course, a mid-autumn gathering always has some magic woven through, so you should feel plenty of enchantment, whether you're admiring our lunar satellite, the neon signs of Chinatown, or the delicious mooncake in the palm of your hand.

Chinatown's free Mid-Autumn Moon Festival celebrates its 80th anniversary from 5 o'clock to midnight on September's final Saturday.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/KXAS

Flake Confronted in Elevator Ahead of Kavanaugh Vote

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Ana Maria Archila and Maria Gallagher, two women who said they were survivors of sexual assault, confronted Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) Friday ahead of the Senate judiciary committee's vote on Judge Brett Kavanaugh.


City Seeks Way to Keep Oil Facility From Restarting

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The search for a way to keep a closed urban oil and natural gas facility from resuming operations went behind closed doors Friday, when the Los Angeles City Council called an executive session to discuss options with City Attorney staff.

The facility, on 23rd Street in a University Park neighborhood of apartment buildings and schools, voluntarily shut down production in late 2013 after regulatory inspections found violations. Subsequently, operator Allenco Energy entered into agreements with multiple agencies to make improvements. In March, Allenco submitted a startup plan to the California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources, seeking approval to restart operations on Oct. 15.

But that plan faces strong opposition.

"There is a chorus calling for the closure of this well," said LA City Councilman Gil Cedillo, in whose district the Allenco facility is located.

Before the shutdown, neighbors complained of powerful petroleum smells and illness which included headaches, sore throats, respiratory ailments.

Cedillo likened it to what Porter Ranch experienced after the 2015 natural gas leak that continued four months before it was sealed.

"We fully expect that the residents will be poisoned all over again should they (Allenco) reopen," said Rabeya Sen, policy director for Esperanza Community Housing, which operates the Alegria apartment building across 23rd Street from the facility.

Allenco agreed to take certain steps under a 2016 Consent Judgment settling a lawsuit filed by the city of Los Angeles. Restarting will also require sign off from multiple agencies, including the California Air Resources Board, the EPA, and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Apart from its filings with regulatory agencies, Allenco has not made make public statements on its plans, and declined a request for comment again Friday.

Cedillo believes the property should be converted for another use, possibly as a park or new housing. It is adjacent to the campus of Mount St. Mary's University, and the Lanterman High School for students with moderate to severe disabilities.

Allenco does not own the property, but leases it from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

"We are working with the city and Allenco to find an alternative use for the site that is in the best interest of the community, royalty holders and all other stakeholders," Itzel Magana, media and public relations manager for the archdiocese, told the Los Angeles Times last month.

Cedillo said he has spoken about it with the Archbishop, the Most Rev. Jose H. Gomez.

"We are in agreement that we're looking for a resolution and for more compatible use," Cedillo said.

Last month, the operator of another urban oil production facility not far away on Jefferson Blvd., Sentinel Peak Resources, gave notice the facility would be closed voluntarily and prepared for another use.

Los Angeles was once dotted with thousands of wells, oil being the region's first boom industry before moviemakers discovered Hollywood. Most of the wells have long since been shut down. However, within its boundaries, the city still counts 330 oil districts, according to a city document reviewed by the NBC4 I-Team.

Last December, as city officials began exploring means to keep the 23rd Street facility from reopening, consideration was given to dissolving the designated district in which it is located. Officials concluded that would not affect existing rights, and therefore be ineffective.

After Friday's closed door session, Cedillo said the council discussed other possible strategies with legal staff.

"I've asked the city attorney to narrow the options, and just give us what they believe is the most efficient, effective way for us to immediately and permanently close the site," Cedillo said.

He was asked if taking new action to thwart Allenco's plan is akin to "moving the goal posts" after the company took what it saw as the required steps to comply with what the city's demanded two years ago.

"If we're moving the goal posts toward safety and security and good health and compatible use, then it's time to move the goal posts," Cedillo said.

Ryu and Turner Rescue Dodgers

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They have a pulse. 

Justin Turner hit a go-ahead two-run homer and Hyun-Jin Ryu tossed six strong innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers kept their postseason hopes alive and well with a 3-1 win over the rival San Francisco Giants on Friday night at AT&T Park.

Los Angeles decreased their magic number to clinch their sixth consecutive postseason berth to one, meaning any combination of a Dodgers victory or St. Louis Cardinals loss in the final two games of the season guarantees them at least a spot in the NL Wild Card game on Tuesday.

"Obviously, the goal every year is to get into the postseason," said Turner. "As long as we have a chance, we like our chances."

The victory also keeps pace with the Colorado Rockies who remain one game ahead of the Dodgers in the NL West after defeating the Washington Nationals, 5-2, earlier in the evening for their eighth consecutive win.

"They're playing well. They've run off eight in a row," said Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts of the Rockies. "They're winning baseball games and we have to keep pace. We just have to control what we control."

Ryu and Madison Bumgarner were engaged in a pitcher's duel for most of the night until Turner broke up a tie game with a two-run blast off the left-hander in the top of the fifth.

Turner hit his fourth career homer off Bumgarner on a first-pitch 90MPH fastball that just crept over the heart of the plate.

"I was trying to be ready to hit," said Turner of his home run. "I was pretty patient in my first couple at-bats off him and wanted to be ready to jump on the first pitch. He threw a fastball and was trying to go in, but he left it over the middle."

The Dodgers third baseman has now reached base safely in 48 of his last 50 games since being reinstated from the disabled list on Aug. 2nd.

Since the All-Star Break, Turner leads all of baseball with a .372 batting average and is third in OPS with a 1.090.

Bumgarner (6-7), took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits with one walk and six strikeouts.

"I'd like to have the one to (Turner) and Machado back if I could go back and take them back," said Bumgarner.

Super-utility player Kiké Hernandez continues to be Bumgarner's kryptonite, as he recorded three hits against the southpaw, improving his average to .487 against him in his career.

In his final start of the regular season, Hyun-Jin Ryu (7-3) surrendered one run on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts in six strong innings.

"Guys that pitch well in big games can command the baseball," said Roberts of Ryu. "They don't beat themselves. He really wanted to make a statement and finish in the rotation."

In 15 starts this season, Ryu is 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA with 89 strikeouts and just 15 walks. Ryu improved to 5-6 against San Francisco in his career, and is 5-0 with a 1.83 ERA against NL West opponents this season. 

Nick Hundley knocked in the only run of the game for the Giants with a solo shot off Ryu in the bottom of the second inning that just cleared the orange Chevron car in left field to give San Francisco an early 1-0 lead.

"The pitch to Hundley, I didn't want to command it there, but it just happened that way," said Ryu through a translator.

Pedro Baez entered the game in relief in the seventh inning and struck out two batters before leaving the game for left-hander Alex Wood. Baez has tossed 17 games of scoreless relief in his last 18 appearances since Aug. 13.

Kenely Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth for his 38th save of the season, recoding the Dodgers season-high fifth double-play of the game to end it.

The Dodgers are vying for their sixth consecutive postseason, a feat that has only been accomplished by the Braves and Yankees.

Up Next:

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw heads to the mound on Saturday with a chance to clinch a postseason berth for Los Angeles. 

Rookie Dereck Rodriguez will pitch for the Giants. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10PM PST.

If you can't view the embedded videos, click "VIEW THE FULL MOBILE SITE"  at the bottom of this page.



Photo Credit: Jason O. Watson/Getty Images
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14-Year-Old Girl Fatally Struck in Hit and Run

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The family of a 14-year-old girl pleaded Friday for the driver who killed her to turn herself in.

Jade Maldonado, a freshman at Pacific High School, was killed early Friday as she was crossing at Pacific Street and Glasglow Avenue in a crosswalk on her way to school.

A woman in a gold or silver sport utility vehicle struck her and then ran her over, officials said.

Jade died at a hospital.

Surveillance video shows the collision. The SUV was described as a gold or silver GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Tahoe. Investigators say it will have extensive front end damage.

Family members are demanding that the driver come forward so Jade can get the justice she deserves. She had dreams of going to college and was an honor student.

"She saved her brothers life from leukemia by giving him a bone-marrow transplant," said Gino Alarid, her uncle. "We were already setting her up for college."

Delia Pena, a cousin, pleaded for the driver to come forward.

"I want the person that did this to know what she did," she said.

Spooky-Chic: Disney Home Decor Store is Ready for Halloween

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The Disney Home Decor store at the Disneyland Resort now has spine-chillingly fashionable interior design options for Halloween time.

Photo Credit: Heather Navarro

Underwood's Pumpkin-Cute Fall Festival Begins

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Do we usually seek to quickly jump-start springtime? Or summer?

That depends on the individual, but as spring arrives in such a soft and unassuming way, and summer's main parties rev up in July, we're content with letting the seasonal celebrations roll out as they will. (Yes, winter's holidays have a way of grandly sweeping in with the solstice.)

But fall?

We want to get it going, pronto, and as leaves have a way of staying green around Southern California, at least through much if not all of October, and Halloween is a ways out from the equinox, we have to look for other larks that say "It Is Now Autumn, Please Enjoy" to us.

A main merriment from that category, in the Southern California sector?

The Underwood Fall Harvest Festival at Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark.

Here's why: Families, first-date couples, 798th-date couples, and groups of autumn-obsessed pals have made for the agra-awesome destination for over two decades now, all to choose a pumpkin, get lost in the corn stalk maze, join a tractor-drawn wagon ride, and visit the beautiful and barn-y animals that keep a home on the expansive property.

The Underwood Fall Harvest Festival opens for the 2018 season on Saturday, Sept. 29, and it'll clip-clop right through to Halloween.

And, yes: It's a daily thing, not just weekends, and if you do call upon all of this charming cuteness on a weekday, you'll pay less to enter.

Parking? Totally free.

Weekends bustle, true true true, so arrive earlier than later to get your gourd-fun on.

And if you do make it to Moorpark on a Saturday or Sunday? Prepare for a theme weekend, which is one of the hallmarks of this harvest-flavored festivity.

Farm Country Weekend, Antique Tractor Weekend, and more thematic overlays are all ahead on the Underwood calendar.

Get your prices, your information, and the many autumn-esque activities that have become as standard to this celebration as seeds are to a squash.

Happy Underwooding, longtime Underwoodians, and happy jump-starting that sweet fall feeling, fast, now that October is nearly here.



Photo Credit: Underwood Family Farms
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