A City Council committee backed a proposal to raise wages and expand health benefits for hotel and airport workers.

Originally Published: May 6, 2025 at 6:35 PM PDT

By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ

SAN FRANCISCO — A former California Highway Patrol captain has been indicted by a federal grand jury after he was accused of slapping a male flight attendant’s buttocks during a cross-country flight to Los Angeles, federal prosecutors said.

It was the second time in recent weeks that allegations of sexual abuse during flights surfaced. The FBI warns the problem is growing, especially on long, overnight trips.

Dennis Wally Woodbury, 49, of Azusa, California, was indicted Thursday on one count of abusive sexual contact. Woodbury had been drinking heavily and slapped the flight attendant as he walked passed him while collecting meal trays during an April 13 flight on JetBlue Airways from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Los Angeles International Airport, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Prosecutors said Woodbury began acting inappropriately soon after boarding the plane and that before the plane left the gate, he showed another male flight attendant a photo of a dog that had pornographic images in the background and told him he should join him on a cruise. Later on the flight, Woodbury went to the plane’s front galley and pulled down his pants, exposing his genitals to the flight attendant, according to court documents.

Soon afterward, Woodbury asked the same flight attendant for wine and after the crew member told him he could only have a nonalcoholic drink, Woodbury again pulled down his pants and exposed himself, prosecutors said.

Woodbury, who was arrested after the plane landed in Los Angeles, made his initial federal court appearance last month and is free on $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 12.

A phone listed for Woodbury was disconnected. His attorney didn’t immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Earlier this week, lawyers for a Northern California woman announced a lawsuit against American Airlines after she said she was sexually assaulted in 2024 on an overnight flight…

The 17th edition of the Stagecoach Country Music Festival is now in the rearview mirror. Our onsite photographers Will Lester and Andy Holzman selected 50 of their favorite images over the weekend ranging from campers-to-artists-to-fans and everything in between.

Originally Published: April 29, 2025 at 10:12 AM PDT

The world’s largest gathering of Star Wars fans is set to return to Los Angeles in 2027 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original 1977 film that gave birth to the epic space opera franchise that became a pop cultural phenomenon.

Star Wars Celebration 2027 will be held April 1-4, 2027 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Lucasfilm announced.

ALSO SEE: First look inside Star Trek: Red Alert at Universal’s Fan Fest Nights

The Star Wars Celebration was last held in Los Angeles two decades ago in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the original film.

The Los Angeles dates were announced during the closing ceremonies of the Star Wars Celebration 2025 held in Japan.

The Star Wars Celebration has often been held in Anaheim or Orlando since Disney took over the franchise in 2012. Other locations for the event have included Denver, Indianapolis, Chicago, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The 2020 event planned for the Anaheim Convention Center was postponed until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland closes 10 attractions before 70th anniversary celebration

The Star Wars gathering celebrates the history of the sweeping space opera saga and looks ahead at the movies, shows, games and comics coming soon to a galaxy far, far away.

The four-day show put on by Lucasfilm includes panels, screenings, exhibits, announcements, celebrity appearances, autograph sessions and exclusive merchandise.

Star Wars Celebration is designed to appeal to young fans drawn to the newer animated television shows as well as die-hard loyalists who have been following the pop culture phenomenon since the original “Star Wars” trilogy.

Many attendees are expected to make the trip down the 5 Freeway to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland before, after or during the show at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Originally Published: April 21, 2025 at 10:45 AM PDT

The mayor could also address homelessness and the city’s response to a federal crackdown on immigration and “sanctuary cities.”

Originally Published: April 18, 2025 at 4:30 PM PDT

Cesar Hernandez, imprisoned in the killing of a man in Lynwood, escaped custody in Kern County and then fled after a botched attempt to capture him in Mexico.

Originally Published: April 18, 2025 at 10:52 AM PDT

Pink’s Hot Dogs will be selling some of its most famous creations inside the Los Angeles Zoo starting this weekend.

The 85-year-old hot dog stand on La Brea and Melrose avenues is opening an outpost at the zoo on Friday, April 11, according the zoo’s website.

A map shows the stand is toward the back of the 133-acre facilty, near the zebras, gorillas, elephants and kangaroos.

The menu will include such items as Pink’s Famous Chili Dog; the Guadalajara Dog, made with tomatoes, relish, onions and sour cream; and the Betty White Dog, which is just a beef hot dog on a bun.

In addition to the original stand, Pink’s is also at Universal CityWalk and frequently has stands at the LA County Fair and the OC Fair.

The zoo in is Griffith Park near the intersection of the 5 and 134 freeways.

Admission is $22, $17 for children age 2 to 12.

Information: lazoo.org

Originally Published: April 10, 2025 at 7:33 PM PDT

Federal prosecutors allege the suspect was part of an online extremist network that coerced underage girls into creating sexually graphic content to further extremist goals.

Originally Published: April 3, 2025 at 8:51 PM PDT

Protesters also resisted efforts to end ethnic studies courses and other diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at the Cal State University.

Originally Published: March 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM PDT