A large homeless encampment has emerged near the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles, catching the eye of passing drivers and local residents. NTD’s Christina has more from Highland Park.

Public health agencies are warning that counterfeit Botox has been discovered in multiple states and is suspected to be connected to several individuals reporting bad reactions following the injections for cosmetic use. NTD’s Christina Corona tells us more on the counterfeit injection.

U.S. lawmakers from California introduced a bill to create a national monument in the Southern California desert and to expand the adjacent Joshua Tree National Park. Rep. Raul Ruiz and Sen. Alex Padilla have proposed a bill aiming to establish the Chuckwalla National Monument and broaden the boundaries of Joshua Tree National Park.

Paris Hilton joined California state lawmakers this week to advocate for legislation aimed at increasing transparency and oversight of youth treatment facilities. The Accountability and Children’s Treatment Act seeks to disclose how short-term residential facilities for youth struggling with substance abuse and behavioral issues employ disciplinary methods like restraints or seclusion on minors.

With the closure of 99 Cents Only Stores, many are resorting to theft of items, while others are selling these items on eBay for more than their original 99-cent price. NTD’s Christina Corona has more from the popular discount chain.

A cybersecurity company has shut down hundreds of websites selling counterfeit drugs for weight loss and diabetes. BrandShield stated that of the 279 online pharmacy websites shut down last year for selling drugs targeting metabolic conditions, over 90 percent were associated with GLP-1 medications.

ATLANTA—Powerful storms rumbled over parts of the U.S. Southeast on Thursday, prompting a number of tornado warnings, causing flash flooding, and delaying the start of one of the world’s biggest sporting events in Georgia. The storm system, which has already been blamed for at least one death in Mississippi, demolished buildings and flooded streets in […]

A specialized task force in Los Angeles and Orange counties seized hundreds of thousands of dollars-worth of stolen Legos in a series of raids this week. The California Highway Patrol’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force served the search warrants on Tuesday at four locations connected to an illegal fencing operation, and arrested four people.

A new California bill aims to address the rise of AI-generated child sexual abuse material and is now making its way through the state legislature. According to a news release, AB 1831 “would address the escalating threat posed by artificial intelligence in the creation of lifelike, illicit content involving children.”

The future of Uber and Lyft in Minneapolis is still undecided following the City Council’s resolution last month to mandate that ride-sharing companies pay drivers a higher rate within city limits. Uber and Lyft have indicated they would discontinue service to the Minneapolis metropolitan area on May 1, prompting the city to reconsider the ordinance. […]

Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation that increases penalties for retail theft and porch piracy amid growing concerns over the crimes across the country. The state will not tolerate the “lawlessness” that is allowed in “high-crime states,” he said in a press conference on Tuesday. “[HB549] is pretty much doing the opposite of what states like […]

PORTLAND, Ore.—A person with a ticket matching all six Powerball numbers in Saturday’s $1.3 billion jackpot came forward Monday to claim the prize, Oregon officials said. The lottery ticket was purchased at a Plaid Pantry convenience store in the northeast part of the city, Oregon Lottery said in a statement. Oregon Lottery is working with […]

People can now uncork a massive bottle of wine with ease in Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis visited Wine Watch in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday to sign a bill permitting Floridians to purchase large wine bottles starting later this year.

Former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan was convicted March 27 of federal racketeering conspiracy and bribery charges for his involvement in a pay-to-play scheme to monetize the real estate approval process at City Hall. A federal criminal jury in downtown Los Angeles reached a verdict just over an hour into deliberations, finding Mr. Chan […]

Lego has restricted one Southern California police department from using Lego heads to obscure suspects’ faces in shared social media images. The Murrieta Police Department has been using Lego minifigure heads and emojis to conceal suspects’ faces in social media posts since 2023. 

A spring storm persisted throughout Minnesota and sections of the upper Midwest, depositing heavy snowfall throughout the region. Light to moderate snowfall persisted in areas to the north and west of the metropolitan area Tuesday.

Over 100 cherry trees will bid farewell to Washington’s cherry blossom festivities as they’re set for removal in a restoration project for their Tidal Basin habitat. Starting in early summer, crews will replace the Tidal Basin’s deteriorating seawall, home to the highest concentration of cherry trees near the Jefferson Memorial.

Nashville country stars shared their support for a newly enacted legislation aimed at protecting songwriters, performers, and other music industry professionals against the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed the Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security Act on Thursday.  

A Florida Jewish center sustained significant fire damage, with authorities suggesting that it might have been triggered by Scott Hannaford—a mentally unstable homeless individual. The Las Olas Jewish Center in Fort Lauderdale was devastated by an act of arson causing fire damage to the synagogue, Hebrew school, and community center early Saturday morning.  

WalletHub evaluated 182 of the largest cities to find the happiest cities in the United States. They were evaluated on three dimensions: emotional & physical well-being, income & employment, and community & environment. NTD’s Christina Corona highlights some of the most joyous cities across the nation.  

The man suspected of fatally shooting a New Mexico State Police officer has been taken into custody after a police pursuit and an officer-involved shooting, according to the state police. Jaremy Smith, 33, was “captured after a pursuit and officer-involved shooting” that involved the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, the New Mexico State Police said on […]

The National Association of Realtors reached a resolution to address antitrust litigation alleging brokerages inflated sales commissions. The trade group has agreed to pay $418 million in damages and eliminate its regulations on commissions, signaling the end of the standard 6 percent commission for real estate agents in the United States.

DENVER—Thousands in Colorado were without power as authorities closed highways and schools during a winter storm that pummeled the Denver area and threatened to drop another half foot there overnight into Friday. The storm comes as other parts of the country face severe weather. Massive chunks of hail pelted parts of Kansas and Missouri on […]

HONOLULU—Honolulu police said Sunday they were investigating what appears to be the murder-suicide of a family, including three children, at a Manoa home. Police first arrived at the home at 8:30 a.m. but left after no one answered the door, Lt. Deena Thoemmes said during a news conference Sunday afternoon. She explained the initial call […]

Two safety incidents involving United Airlines flights took place this weekend, with both planes forced to avoid their destinations to ensure passenger safety. On Saturday, United Airlines Flight 2137 heading to Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah faced a potential oil warning light issue. An oil warning light is an indication of low oil […]

A new forever postage stamp bearing the portrait of former U.S. First Lady Betty Ford was unveiled this week. Susan Ford Bales and First Lady Jill Biden unveiled a new U.S. Postal Service stamp honoring former First Lady Betty Ford during a ceremony at the White House on Wednesday.

PHILADELPHIA—Police say eight Philadelphia high school students waiting to board a city bus after classes Wednesday were wounded by gunshots from suspects who jumped from a car and opened fire, the fourth shooting on the transit system in as many days. The previous three shootings each involved a fatality. Those wounded at the bus stop […]

A Texas fire chief whose small town was among the hardest hit last week by historic blazes sweeping across the Panhandle died Tuesday while fighting a house fire, authorities said. The house fire that Fritch Fire Chief Zeb Smith, 40, responded to wasn’t caused by a wildfire, but Mr. Smith had been battling the wildfires […]

Louisiana is set to become the fourth state to permit executions using nitrogen gas after a bill successfully passed a legislative hurdle. HB 6 was presented during a special legislative session dedicated to criminal justice matters that opened last week after the first nitrogen gas execution in the United States, carried out by Alabama corrections […]

TRUCKEE, Calif.—A powerful blizzard that closed highways and ski resorts had mostly moved through the Sierra Nevada by early Monday but forecasters warned that more snow was on the way for Northern California mountains. Sections of Interstate 80 to the west and north of Lake Tahoe were still shut down late Sunday, with no estimate […]

The Smokehouse Creek Fire has become the largest wildfire in Texas history. Amid hot weather warnings, the blaze has also now spread into Oklahoma.

RENO, Nev.—The most powerful Pacific storm of the season started barreling into the Sierra Nevada on Thursday, packing multiple feet of snow and dangerous winds that forecasters say will create blizzard conditions likely to close major highways and trigger power outages into the weekend. Much of the Sierra Nevada was under a blizzard warning stretching […]

STINNETT, Texas—A dusting of snow covered a desolate landscape of scorched prairie, dead cattle, and burned out homes in the Texas Panhandle on Thursday, giving firefighters brief relief in their desperate efforts to corral a blaze that has grown into the largest in state history. The Smokehouse Creek fire grew to nearly 1,700 square miles […]

CANADIAN, Texas—A cluster of wildfires scorched the Texas Panhandle on Wednesday, including a blaze that grew into one of the largest in state history, as flames moved with alarming speed and blackened the landscape across a vast stretch of small towns and cattle ranches. Authorities warned that the damage to communities on the high plains […]

MLB all-star Steve Garvey is actively campaigning for U.S. Senate in California. NTD’s Christina Corona has more from El Monte.

Shohei Ohtani is set to have his inaugural appearance at the Los Angeles Dodgers’ spring training this week. The Dodgers will take on the Chicago White Sox, with both teams sharing the Camelback Ranch facility in Glendale, Arizona.

WAUKESHA, Wis.—A group of teenagers believed to be from the Chicago area broke into a luxury car dealership in Wisconsin and drove off with nine vehicles worth more than a half-million dollars, police said. Sunday’s heist at a Jaguar-Land Rover dealership in Waukesha was captured on surveillance camera footage showing nine masked suspects filing into […]

The city of Compton is cracking down on street takeovers and implementing harsher consequences. A measure, passed unanimously with a 5–0 vote, proposes raising fines to a minimum of $5,000 for reckless drivers.

A county prosecutor in Arizona won’t be extraditing a murder suspect to New York City because of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s handling of violent offenders, she told local media at a news conference on Feb. 21. “I know there’s been discussion about New York wanting to extradite this individual,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel […]

The Fort Worth Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying one suspect wanted for theft from a Girl Scouts stand. The Fort Worth Police Department posted the surveillance footage of the incident on their X account Monday.

BURNSVILLE, Minn.—A man shot at police officers from inside a suburban Minneapolis home that was filled with children on Sunday, killing two officers and a firefighter who was providing medical aid to one of the wounded, authorities said. A third officer was wounded in the shooting in a tree-lined neighborhood of two-story homes in Burnsville, […]

A proposed Georgia bill aims to prevent private school teachers from discussing gender identity with students unless parents give permission. Senate Bill 88 was passed by a Republican majority on Tuesday in the Senate Education and Youth Committee.

NBC Sports California announced Tuesday that Jenny Cavnar will make history as the first female primary play-by-play voice in Major League Baseball, calling the majority of the Oakland A’s game calls. She replaces Glen Kuiper following his dismissal last year.

Kobe Bryant fans filled the streets in downtown Los Angeles to catch the first glimpse of a striking new statue of the basketball star outside the Crypto.com arena. The statue captures the Lakers legend pointing to the sky in one of his most iconic moments after scoring a career-high 81 points wearing the number 8 […]

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—An infant in Missouri died when her mother mistakenly put her down for a nap in an oven, a prosecutor said Saturday. Mariah Thomas of Kansas City was charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Court records do not yet show if Ms. Thomas has an attorney, and no phone listing for […]

The Los Angeles City Council passed a motion that would force the owners of a downtown graffiti-covered skyscraper complex to clean up and secure the property. The Oceanwide Plaza Project, left unfinished since January 2019, drew nationwide attention last month due to extensive graffiti covering over 25 floors.

A $20 million Super Lotto Plus ticket was sold at a Southern California convenience store over the weekend. The winning numbers in the drawing were 2, 12, 18, 20, 44, and 4, but the lucky winner has yet to come forward to claim the prize.

Rainfall in California has already broken records since the atmospheric river barreled into the state, causing major damages and flooding. At least three people have died from falling trees in Northern California, while Southern California crews responded to over 300 mudslides and rescued dozens of people and animals.  

LOS ANGELES—A storm of historic proportions dumped a record amount of rain over parts of Los Angeles on Monday, sending mud and boulders down hillsides dotted with multimillion-dollar homes while people living in homeless encampments in many parts of the city scrambled for safety. About 710,000 people statewide were without power Monday evening. The storm […]

South Carolina’s Senate approved in a 28–15 vote on Feb. 1 a bill that would grant free gun training and enable legal gun owners to carry weapons publicly. Described as a “compromise,” H. 3594 also seeks to implement harsher penalties for gun-related crimes committed by people without Concealed Weapons Permits.