The Woods, the West Hollywood cannabis shop co-owned by actor Woody Harrelson and comedian Bill Maher, was burglarized in the wee hours of Saturday morning, per <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14731641/woody-harrelson-bill-mahers-cannabis-dispensary-burglarized-west-hollywood.html">the Daily Mail</a>.
Catalyst Cannabis Co. CEO Elliot Lewis shared footage to Instagram of the smash-and-grab burglary taking place.
“Our heart go out to Samba and Woody and their entire crew,” Lewis wrote in the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/catalyst_ceo/reel/DJz5es4Nd1t/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post caption</a>. “Back to back robberies shots fired just another weekend in LA. Does nobody care about the people trying to build something up and they seem to only care about those trying to destroy. Make it make sense. Please bring back some common sense.”
He also added the R.E.M. song “It’s the End of the World As We Know It” in the background.
The video showed five individuals clad in hoodies and masks breaking in at 4:30 a.m. and grabbing merchandise from the store&#8217;s counters and shelves, which the outlet noted had the total retail value of around $2,000 to $3,000.
“They went in and they just randomly took stuff off the shelves,” The Woods co-owner Michael Berman told ABC 7 LA. “While there was a lot of mess from the broken glass, nobody was hurt. They got merchandise, but they didn&#8217;t actually damage too much inside.”
The co-owner <a href="https://abc7.com/post/west-hollywood-marijuana-shop-owned-bill-maher-woody-harrelson-ransacked-thieves/16475192/">said</a> the same group of thieves, who are known as “The Jack Boys,” tried to rob another dispensary in Santa Monica on Sunday, but abandoned the task when a security guard fired warning shots. Berman mentioned that he believed one of the burglars was a child.
There was a previous break-in attempt in November, the outlet noted.
The Woods is advertised as an “oasis where a lush consumption lounge and environmentally elegant design converge, creating a tranquil space to savor California&#8217;s finest organic, sun-grown cannabis offerings.”
Harrelson has long been an advocate for the legalization of marijuana. Although he quit smoking marijuana in 2016, he later returned to using it after <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/woody-harrelson-jerry-maguire-willie-nelson-back-smoking-marijuana-190721408.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHad-ke6OB-aLl4yHefMeCFEo_4IBe4TVCZ-RtSidcso0xWRLI8kL9WwYMGcuAZaBW9jBTFZGMlRRTuYD4jFWgITejZU94vbGONf6Ovf4ywOxk-uuH18Q_7eChQkgo-MHweBNX_t_hl9ob7N8Ru7H6D6tyAYvhIFfAnxoARx6-WD">playing a game of poker</a> with Willie Nelson.

‘The Woods’ Opening Day

Woody Harrelson And Bill Maher’s LA Weed Shop Hit By Burglars

Woody Harrelson And Bill Maher's LA Weed Shop Hit By Burglars

Bill Maher

burglary

Crime

Los Angeles

Marijuana

U.S.

Woody Harrelson

A Los Angeles judge has resentenced the Menendez brothers to 50 years to life on Tuesday, making them eligible for parole and opening the door for their potential release from prison.
Lyle, 57, and Erik, 54, were originally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1996 for murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in 1989 inside their Beverly Hills home. The brothers have justified the fatal shootings, claiming they endured sexual abuse from their father that went on for several years.
Both brothers read statements during the resentencing hearing.
&#8220;I committed an atrocious act. My actions were criminal, selfish and cowardly,&#8221; Erik said. &#8220;I have come a long way on this path [of redemption].” 
The case had received renewed interest after several high-profile entertainment projects were released, including a Netflix docuseries.
Judge Michael Jesic said he&#8217;d given the case &#8220;long thought.&#8221; While the judge described Lyle and Erik’s crime as &#8220;absolutely horrific,” he added that in his belief, they’ve been rehabilitated while in jail for the past three decades.
&#8220;Life without parole gives an inmate no hope, no reason to do anything good. And I give them a lot of credit. It&#8217;s remarkable what they did when they had no hope of getting out,&#8221; Jesic said.
Menendez brothers&#8217; attorney Mark Geragos said after the hearing, &#8220;I&#8217;m hopeful and glad that we&#8217;re one huge step closer to bringing the boys home.&#8221;
“This encourages people who are incarcerated to make the right decisions, to take the right path,&#8221; Geragos went on. &#8220;It&#8217;s just a win-win on so many levels.&#8221;
Former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón initiated the resentencing process before losing his re-election bid to Nathan Hochman. In March, the new DA filed a motion to withdraw the resentencing petition, saying the self-defense claims were nothing but “lies,” according to ABC News.
&#8220;The Menendez brothers have failed to come clean with the full extent of their criminal conduct, their cover-up, their lies and their deceit,&#8221; Hochman said outside the courtroom on Tuesday.
Members of the Menendez family have mostly supported the brothers&#8217; resentencing bid. Their uncle, Milton Anderson, was the only family member to publicly oppose the effort. He died in March.

Menendez Brothers

Menendez Bros Win Resentencing Battle, Eligible For Parole

Beverly Hills

California

Courts

Los Angeles County

Murder

Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday called on cities to ban homeless encampments from public property, using billions in state funding as leverage.
The guidance from Newsom, an early contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, would prohibit people from placing tents on public property, including sidewalks, parks, and bike paths, while also banning individuals from sleeping on streets with sleeping bags or blankets for more than three consecutive days.
&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets. Local leaders asked for resources — we delivered the largest state investment in history. They asked for legal clarity — the courts delivered,&#8221; Newsom <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/12/us-news/newsom-calls-to-ban-homeless-encampments-on-public-property/">said</a> in a statement, per the New York Post.
Enabled by last year&#8217;s Supreme Court <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/28/us/politics/supreme-court-homelessness.html">ruling</a> that upheld an Oregon law banning camping on public property, the guidance represents a notable shift in Newsom&#8217;s approach to managing homelessness.
&#8220;Now, we&#8217;re giving them a model they can put to work immediately, with urgency and with humanity, to resolve encampments and connect people to shelter, housing, and care. The time for inaction is over. There are no more excuses.&#8221;
However, Newsom&#8217;s ordinance specifies that no one &#8220;should face criminal punishment for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go,&#8221; and further requires city officials to &#8220;make every reasonable effort to identify and offer shelter&#8221; and services to encampment residents.
Newsom is unable to compel municipalities to implement the ban, but he has pledged approximately $3.3 billion in state funding to cities that adopt his guidance.
The model ordinance would allow for enforcement that officials hope could begin to reshape California&#8217;s urban landscape without running afoul of legal precedent, encouraged by California voters approving a Newsom-backed measure imposing strict requirements on counties to spend on housing and drug treatment programs to address homelessness.
A 2024 statewide audit <a href="https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2024/04/california-homelessness-spending/">found</a> that Newsom’s government had spent $24 billion to address homelessness since 2019, only for the state to have a record homeless <a href="https://www.ppic.org/blog/homelessness-hits-record-high-in-california-jumps-dramatically-in-rest-of-us/">population</a> of 187,000, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.
Newsom&#8217;s rightward shift on homelessness has faced backlash from many progressives in the lead-up to the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, with the progressive Current Affairs magazine deeming Newsom &#8220;not a progressive.&#8221;
<div class="css-175oi2r">
<div class="css-175oi2r r-1s2bzr4">
<div id="id__nyh2uch1rqd" class="css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-37j5jr r-1inkyih r-16dba41 r-bnwqim r-135wba7" dir="auto" lang="en" data-testid="tweetText">&#8220;Gavin Newsom isn’t fighting homelessness, he’s fighting homeless people. Banning encampments won’t fix the housing crisis, but it will make life more miserable for those with nowhere to go,&#8221; the magazine <a href="https://x.com/curaffairs/status/1921959173295591437">wrote</a> on X.</div>
</div>
</div>

California Governor Newsom Announces New Funding For Los Angeles Communities Affected By Wildfires

Newsom Calls On Cities To Clear Homeless Encampments Ahead Of 2028

Gavin Newsom

Homelessness

San Francisco

Social Issues

One of President Donald Trump’s better qualities flies far under the radar. He doesn’t hold a grudge. That’s especially true when there’s a greater good in play.
Then-candidate Trump sparred aggressively with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly during the 2016 campaign. Late last year, Kelly endorsed Trump, speaking at a MAGA rally days before the Nov. 5 election.
The president once dubbed a presidential rival “Little” Marco Rubio. That politician is currently Trump’s trusted Secretary of State.
Now, Trump wants to make amends with Hollywood, an industry that loathes him with the heat of a thousand suns. This act of forgiveness dwarfs them all, but Trump sees movies as a vital part of the nation’s soft power as well as a critical industry.
<div id="attachment_877383" style="width: 873px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-877383" class="size-large wp-image-877383" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-863x576.jpg" alt="HOLLYWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 06: Donald Trump star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California on Dec. 6, 2016." width="863" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-863x576.jpg 863w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-768x513.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-2048x1368.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 863px) 100vw, 863px" />shalunts. Getty Images.</div>
It’s why Hollywood should swallow hard and play nice with President Trump. Or, at the very least, lend him its collective ear.
Trump’s shocking outreach began with, what else, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-movie-industry-is-dying-puts-plan-in-place-to-save-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a social media post</a>. He promised 100% tariffs on movies made outside of the U.S.
<blockquote>I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands,” he added. “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!&#8221;</blockquote>
All heck broke loose in La La Land, with entertainment news outlets spinning furiously against the vague proposal.
Call it Trump’s opening volley, part of the president’s knack for starting with big claims and negotiating from there. It’s similar to Trump’s earlier announcement that movie superstars Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight would form a group of “Ambassadors” to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-appoints-a-list-stars-as-ambassadors-to-hollywood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revive the flailing film industry.</a>
<blockquote>It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!</blockquote>
Except the news seemed to have caught the trio by surprise and, only recently, did one of the actors, Voight, step forward with <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/jon-voight-trump-hollywood-tariff-1236390109/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">concrete plans</a> on making Hollywood great again.
<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/07/nx-s1-5389865/trump-movie-tariffs-jon-voight-tax-incentives-hollywood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NPR described Voight’s vision</a> as “federal tax incentives, co-production treaties with other countries and subsidies for theater owners and film and TV production companies.”
<div id="attachment_861225" style="width: 987px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-861225" class="size-large wp-image-861225" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/Jon-Voight-977x576.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Actor Jon Voight speaks at Donald Trump's victory rally on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. U.S. President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will be sworn in on January 20. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)" width="977" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/Jon-Voight-977x576.jpg 977w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/Jon-Voight-300x177.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/Jon-Voight-768x453.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/Jon-Voight.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 977px) 100vw, 977px" />Scott Olson/Getty Images</div>
The “Midnight Cowboy” star acknowledged the rift between Trump and Hollywood, adding that it shouldn&#8217;t distract from the big picture.
“I think he’s been treated unfairly. I think I have too. But what’s the difference? Who cares?” Voight asks. “I mean, there’s been a battle, but now it’s time to put that aside. And I must say, in all of the interactions we’ve had [on addressing runaway production], politics has never come up. Never.”
Hollywood, Inc. would be foolish not to listen.
Yes, the box office came roaring back in recent weeks, courtesy of hits like “Sinners” and “A Minecraft Movie.” That doesn’t camouflage the sizable issues confronting movie studios, from the death of the modern movie star to escalating film budgets.
Case in point? The upcoming “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” has a <a href="https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/3/25/mission-impossible-8-has-a-400m-budget" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$400 million budget</a>, meaning it will have to dramatically out-perform the best films in the series to make a profit.
Hollywood’s problems would make a depressing feature.
Film and TV productions have been fleeing Los Angeles for some time. Streaming platforms have proven to be far less profitable than hoped, with Netflix emerging as the strongest money maker for now.
The DVD/Blu-ray gravy train slowed some time ago, removing a safety net for films that didn’t catch fire at theaters.
Dueling 2023 strikes hurt the industry more than anticipated, and the threat of A.I. to the creative community looms in the not-so-distant future. Social media, YouTube and other distractions now dominate the culture, making young consumers <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/deloitte-gen-z-creator-content-streaming-price-1236171227/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less invested in Hollywood product</a>.
Meanwhile, California Democrats are <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-05-06/newsom-called-for-a-federal-tax-incentive-to-save-hollywood-but-will-that-actually-happen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scrambling to prevent productions</a> from leaving the City of Angels for more receptive states and countries. That’s left countless Calif.-based crew members desperate for work. <a href="https://variety.com/2025/biz/news/new-york-film-subsidy-jersey-1236392167/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York just followed suit</a>.
Hollywood players hate Trump so much some wish they could erase his presence from pop culture of yore. “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/home-alone-2-director-trump-cameo-removed-1236369779/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">director said just that about Trump’s seconds-long cameo</a> in his 1992 film.
<div id="attachment_908099" style="width: 832px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-908099" class="size-large wp-image-908099" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Donald-Trump-Macauley-Culkin-822x576.jpg" alt="Macaulay Culkin" width="822" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Donald-Trump-Macauley-Culkin-822x576.jpg 822w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Donald-Trump-Macauley-Culkin-300x210.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Donald-Trump-Macauley-Culkin-768x538.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Donald-Trump-Macauley-Culkin.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 822px) 100vw, 822px" />Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images</div>
Others have alternately <a href="https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/louis-c-k-donald-trump-insane-bigot-dangerous-1201723679/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dubbed him Hitler</a> or <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/celebrities-wished-trump-dead/">wished him dead</a>. That sentiment may be hard to overcome.
The perfect storm of problems facing Hollywood may be too much for any presidential plan to solve. Gen Z’s drift away from movie watching can’t be assuaged by new policies. Stars still insist on <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/fantastic-four-rachel-zegler-problem/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">insulting potential customers</a>, from “Snow White’s” Rachel Zegler to the cast of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”
The two sides need to put aside their differences for the greater good. A healthy film market impacts more than just studio executives, theater owners and various crew members.
Hollywood movies send a message to the world. Films like “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006) showcase the power of the American capitalist system. Others promote values like individual liberty (2012’s “Still Mine”) and triumphs over adversity (2016’s “Hidden Figures”).
It’s why China invests so heavily in its movie industry. The Communist nation wants to put the nation’s best foot forward on the big screen, removing sequences from foreign films that cast the country in a negative light.
President Trump may not make Hollywood great again. He could help the industry thrive against all odds.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

TOPSHOT-US-POLITICS-TRUMP

Trump Wants To Make Hollywood Great Again — Will The Industry Listen?

Entertainment

Film

Hollywood

Jon Voight

Mel Gibson

Movies

Netflix

New York City

President Trump

Sylvester Stallone

Actress and singer Mandy Moore complained that the process of rebuilding the parts of Los Angeles destroyed by wildfires in January has been a nightmare of red tape.
The “This Is Us” star expressed her frustration in an Instagram story earlier this week, according to <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/mandy-moore-slams-la-wildfire-rebuild-protocol-as-heartless/">US Weekly</a>. &#8220;Thanks, LA County for making it as frustrating and impossible to rebuild after the fires as possible,&#8221; Moore shared at the time.
&#8220;Shouldn’t be surprised but it’s mind boggling the red tape and hoops they’re putting us all through,&#8221; she added. &#8220;It’s maddening and heartless … the endless hoops and meaningless protocol LA County is asking of fire victims who want to rebuild and get their lives back. Wasn’t California going to make this as easy as possible?&#8221;
The “A Walk to Remember” star brought up the situation again on Thursday. &#8220;6 permits issued in Altadena. 10,000 structures burned down. The pace is glacial. The nonsensical red tape they have in place that prevents those of that are ready to rebuild is just mind boggling,” Moore seethed.
&#8220;And I say this as someone with privilege: we have insurance, plans, a contractor, etc… everyone deserves an advocate and a system that is streamlined and supports success. People want to get the ball rolling and start to piece their lives back together.&#8221;
&#8220;We JUST finished building one of the structures that burned down [this past] November. We have all the plans and permits ready to go and we were just told we have to resubmit everything and start over,&#8221; Moore continued. &#8220;For no reason. LA County should want success stories right now but instead, they&#8217;re focused on antiquated protocol. This is why people are leaving California in droves. They make it impossible.&#8221;
Moore’s home in Altadena was partially destroyed. She was one of many celebrities to have property damage as the uncontrolled fires devastated the area at the beginning of this year.
&#8220;Miraculously, the main part of our house is still standing. For now. It’s not livable but mostly intact,&#8221; the actress <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DEnXs-Gy2jn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=f6d90c6d-7550-4b8c-8259-a015c9cc7361&amp;img_index=1">shared on Instagram</a> in January alongside a photo carousel of the damage. 
&#8220;We lost Taylor and Griffin’s studio with every instrument and piece of equipment they’ve ever owned,&#8221; Moore said. Her husband Taylor Goldsmith and his brother Griffin are members of the band Dawes. 
&#8220;We lost our garage and back house. Everyone we know lost everything. Every house on our street is gone.&#8221;
She concluded the post, “Feeling weird survivors guilt. We love this community and will do everything we can to help rebuild and support. Thanks for everyone for checking on us and offering us help. Altadena strong.”

Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore Blasts LA County For ‘Nonsensical Red Tape’ Attempting To Rebuild Post-Wildfire

Mandy Moore Blasts LA County For 'Nonsensical Red Tape' Attempting To Rebuild Post-Wildfire

Celebrities

Wildfires

A 48-year-old Mississippi man accused of stalking actress Jennifer Aniston and crashing his PT Cruiser through the front gate of her Los Angeles home showed up to court on Thursday shirtless and wrapped in a blanket, leading the presiding judge to order a mental evaluation.
Jimmy Wayne Carwyle, who did not speak during his court appearance, pleaded not guilty to felony charges of stalking and vandalism through his public defender. Prosecutors allege that Carwyle has harassed Aniston for two years with voicemails, emails, and social media messages, referring to Aniston as his wife in some posts.
“You are not to have any contact with Jennifer Aniston under any conditions,” the judge said, per the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jennifer-aniston-stalking-case-e17d66ca3fe201400c33049d5bf4c7a8">Associated Press</a>.
Proceedings were suspended due to Carwyle’s mental health status. His next hearing is scheduled for May 22 in mental health court. He will remain in jail until that time.
The gate-crashing incident occurred on Monday. Carwyle was arrested by LAPD around 12:30 p.m. after private security guards detained him outside Aniston&#8217;s home. Prosecutors said the accused caused “substantial damage&#8221; to the property.
Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/jennifer-anistons-alleged-gate-crasher-charged-felony-stalking">reported</a> that he had been living in a Walmart parking lot in Los Angeles for several months. The outlet also noted that Carwyle was an auto mechanic and that his friends have said they’re concerned that he’s having a “mental breakdown.”
&#8220;Stalking is a crime that can quickly escalate from harassment to dangerous, violent actions, threatening the safety of victims and our communities,&#8221; Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. &#8220;My office is committed to aggressively prosecuting those who stalk and terrorize others, ensuring they are held accountable.&#8221;
Aniston&#8217;s attorney, who was at Thursday’s hearing, declined to comment on the proceedings. 
The actress bought her mid-century style mansion in L.A.&#8217;s Bel Air neighborhood for about $21 million in 2012.
Aniston shot to fame while starring on the hit sitcom “Friends,” which aired from 1994 until 2004. She currently stars in “The Morning Show” on Apple TV+.
&nbsp;

Aniston and Carwyle

Jennifer Aniston’s Alleged Stalker Shows Up To Court Shirtless, Wrapped In Blanket

Jennifer Aniston

stalker

Vandalism

Agents with the Department of Homeland Security showed up at two elementary schools in Los Angeles this week, but were refused entry amid the Trump administration&#8217;s crackdown on illegal immigration.
The two agents “identified themselves as representatives of a federal agency” and went into the main office, but school administrators refused to allow them on campus, and the agents left, the Los Angeles Unified School District <a href="https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/federal-employees-denied-entry-to-two-lausd-schools/3675573/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
The two public schools were Lillian Street Elementary and Russell Elementary.
The district <a href="https://ktla.com/news/local-news/2-l-a-schools-deny-entry-for-federal-agents-as-immigration-enforcement-fears-ramp-up/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the agents were from Homeland Security, and no Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents showed up. It is not clear exactly what the agents were hoping to do at the schools.
About one in four of the nearly 30,000 immigrant students in the Los Angeles school district, so about 7,500 students are illegal immigrants, <a href="https://utla.net/resources/immigration-resources-community/#:~:text=LAUSD%20alone%20serves%20an%20immigrant,them%20with%20safe%20spaces%2Fresources" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the local teachers&#8217; union, United Teachers Los Angeles.
“We want to reaffirm the District’s unwavering commitment to the well-being and education of all students,&#8221; the district said in a message to the community.
The district&#8217;s message included a <a href="https://www.lausd.org/weareone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">link</a> to the district&#8217;s immigration resources, which promise that the district &#8220;has protocols for responding to immigration personnel requests for information&#8221; and &#8220;will do everything in its power to protect and defend students, families, and staff.&#8221;
&#8220;Our schools are places of inspiration, protection, empathy, and knowledge. Fear and threat shall be met with courage and determination,&#8221; Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said.
The Los Angeles district also alerted other school districts about “reports of immigration enforcement activity.”
The agents&#8217; visit to the schools comes after the Trump administration <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/01/21/statement-dhs-spokesperson-directives-expanding-law-enforcement-and-ending-abuse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scrapped</a> the Biden administration&#8217;s policy barring immigration agents from &#8220;sensitive&#8221; areas.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” former acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman said in January.
“The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense,” he said.
This week&#8217;s visit by the agents is believed to be the first time immigration agents have shown up at a public school since President Donald Trump took office.
About 98,000 illegal migrant students graduate from U.S. high schools across the country every year, the Los Angeles teachers union <a href="https://utla.net/resources/immigration-resources-community/#:~:text=LAUSD%20alone%20serves%20an%20immigrant,them%20with%20safe%20spaces%2Fresources" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
For years, sanctuary cities like Los Angeles have refused to cooperate with federal authorities on immigration enforcement, not just in schools, but in criminal cases.
Oftentimes local law enforcement is directed not to hold illegal migrant crime suspects until ICE agents can get there to arrest and deport them, meaning the suspects get released back onto the streets.

Homeland Security

Federal Immigration Agents Denied Access To Los Angeles Public Schools

Education

Illegal Immigration

Immigration

Public Schools

The wife of Scott Shriner, bassist for the popular rock band Weezer, was shot by police and was then arrested on suspicion of attempted murder during an incident that occurred on Tuesday afternoon.
Los Angeles Police Department officers were searching the Eagle Rock neighborhood in pursuit of a person suspected of a hit-and-run when they observed Jill Shriner holding a pistol while standing in the backyard of the home next to the one they were searching.
“The officers ordered Shriner to drop the handgun numerous times; however, she refused. Shriner then pointed the handgun at the officers, and an Officer-Involved Shooting occurred,” a news release from the LAPD <a href="https://x.com/LAPDPIO/status/1910089847509066135">said</a>. “Shriner was struck by gunfire and fled into her residence. She later exited and was taken into custody.”
She was transported to a hospital to be treated for her injuries.
Shriner was released Wednesday after posting a $1 million bond, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/entertainment/weezer-scott-jillian-shriner-shot-arrested/index.html">noted</a>. She has been ordered to attend court on April 30.
Per the report, Shriner did not appear to have anything to do with the suspected hit-and-run incident, which inspired the manhunt in the first place. 
The band Weezer formed in Los Angeles in 1992. Scott Shriner joined the band as a bass player in 2001. Their 1994 debut record, “The Blue Album,” earned four Grammy nominations. Weezer won a Grammy in 2009 for Best Short Form Music Video for &#8220;Pork and Beans.&#8221; 
Some mainstream Weezer songs include “Buddy Holly,” “Say It Ain’t So,” “Beverly Hills,” and “Island in the Sun.” 
According to <a href="https://variety.com/2025/music/news/weezer-bassist-wife-shot-arrested-attempted-murder-1236365398/">Variety</a>, Weezer was just added to the Coachella lineup for this coming weekend. As of Thursday morning, neither Shriner nor the band has issued a statement on the shooting incident or given an update on whether they will appear at the music festival as planned.

Scott Shriner Jill Shriner

Weezer Bassist’s Wife Shot By Police, Arrested On Suspicion Of Attempted Murder

Weezer Bassist's Wife Shot By Police, Arrested For Attempted Murder

Murder might get you the death penalty in Los Angeles.
Lost Angeles County&#8217; new district attorney, Nathan Hochman ended his progressive predecessor&#8217;s blanket ban on capital punishment this week.
&#8220;Effective immediately, the prior administration’s extreme and categorical policy forbidding prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in any case is rescinded,&#8221; the Los Angeles County District Attorney&#8217;s Office <a href="https://da.lacounty.gov/media/news/da-hochman-announces-important-policy-changes-prosecutions-murders-special-circumstances" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> Tuesday in a news release.
Under California law, prosecutors may only seek the death penalty for murder with special circumstances, which can include multiple homicides, murder of a police officer, or murder of a witness to another crime.
Prosecutors should seek the death penalty &#8220;only after an extensive and comprehensive review and only in exceedingly rare cases,&#8221; and it should be &#8220;restricted to the most egregious sets of circumstances&#8221; the Los Angeles County District Attorney&#8217;s office said.
The only other possible sentence for murder with special circumstances is life in prison without the possibility of parole.
“I remain unwaveringly committed to the comprehensive and thorough evaluation of every special circumstance murder case prosecuted in Los Angeles County, in consultation with the murder victim’s survivors and with full input on the mitigating and aggravating factors of each case, to ensure that the punishment sought by the Office is just, fair, fitting, and appropriate,” Hochman said in a statement.
However, the new death penalty policy may not have any practical effect yet since Governor Gavin Newsom <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2019/03/13/governor-gavin-newsom-orders-a-halt-to-the-death-penalty-in-california/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">placed</a> a moratorium on all executions back in 2019 and closed the state&#8217;s main execution chamber at San Quentin State Prison.
Hochman, a former federal prosecutor campaigned on reinstating the death penalty when he ran for district attorney last year, even <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-10-22/los-angeles-district-attorney-2024-election-candidates-george-gascon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">comparing</a> Los Angeles to “Gotham City” with its “rampant crime.”
Hochman defeated his progressive predecessor, George Gascon, in a landslide in November. Gascon was previously the subject of two recall attempts, but both efforts failed to make the ballot.
Gascon was criticized as soft on crime amid rising crime in Los Angeles County. Critics <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/los-angeles-deputy-da-gascon-creating-ticking-time-bomb-releasing-murderers-back-on-streets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pointed</a> to cases where violent criminals, including murder convicts, were released onto the streets.
Los Angeles County Public Defender Ricardo Garcia criticized the new death penalty policy, calling it a &#8220;step backward&#8221; and saying the death penalty is &#8220;a cruel and irreversible punishment that is racially biased, and ineffective as a deterrent.&#8221;
California has <a href="https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/capital-punishment/condemned-inmate-list-secure-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nearly</a> 600 inmates on death row, the most of any state, but it has not executed anyone since 2006.
More than half of U.S. states still <a href="https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/state-and-federal-info/state-by-state" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allow</a> the death penalty, although 23 states have abolished it.

US-ENTERTAINMENT-CRIME-JUSTICE-MENENDEZ

The Death Penalty Is Back In Los Angeles

Death Penalty

A leader of a street gang turned anti-gang activist was arrested this week after the Department of Justice (DOJ) charged him in a criminal complaint alleging he led an operation that engaged in various racketeering crimes, including extortion, human trafficking, fraud, and a murder.
Eugene Henley Jr., who led Los Angeles’ Rolling ‘60’s Neighborhood Crips street gang before re-inventing himself as an anti-gang activist, turned himself in after the DOJ filed the criminal complaint.
The DOJ specifically <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/longtime-rollin-60s-crips-leader-and-show-business-entrepreneur-charged-federal">alleges</a> that “Big U Enterprises,” Henley’s criminal group, “operated as a mafia-like organization that utilized Henley’s stature and long-standing association with the Rollin’ 60s and other street gangs to intimidate businesses and individuals in Los Angeles.”
“The allegations in the complaint unsealed today reveal a criminal enterprise that engaged in murder, extortion, human trafficking, and fraud – all led by a supposed anti-gang activist and purported music entrepreneur who was nothing more than a violent street criminal,” said Joseph McNally, the Acting United States Attorney for the Central District of California.
The DOJ alleges that Henley killed an aspiring musician in 2021 after he was signed to a music label run by Henley and another alleged member of the criminal enterprise Mark Martin. When the man recorded a song disparaging Henley, the defendant allegedly shot and killed the musician, identified by the DOJ as R.W.
Henley’s criminal organization also stands accused of defrauding donors and taxpayers through non-profits it controlled, including Developing Options, an anti-gang group. That group, the DOJ says, was used to solicit donations from celebrities, companies, and even the City of Los Angeles’s Mayor’s Office, that were pocketed by Henley.
His music label, meanwhile, allegedly lied about its profitability and submitted a fraudulent COVID-19 pandemic relief loan application.
“The lead defendant and others in this case have for too long gotten away with violent acts and stealing money from taxpayers and well-intentioned donors whether they use intimidation tactics or wield influence as purportedly rehabilitated original gangsters,” said the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI&#8217;s Los Angeles Field Office, Akil Davis.
“Mr. Henley allegedly duped the County of Los Angeles by running a charitable organization that promoted anti-gang solutions while continuing criminal activity that was directly contrary to his charity,” stated Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office.
Also arrested in the case are Mark Martin and Sylvester Robinson, two men believed to be members of the criminal enterprise. Ten total alleged members were arrested on charges ranging from drug trafficking to racketeering conspiracy.

Henley

Gang Leader Turned Anti-Gang Activist Arrested By DOJ On Racketeering, Murder Charges

Department of Justice

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.wmJVV7EIOKgMqWuqPA8IcXakfZGbJqyH6YrxY7zl6VQtxSgY2CGvil4c4yQrFSv-2B2C185iB3Y-2F5QpgrbYA61oh3jxHb-2FtkEi8IfdJfixNzg-3DCWgM_03HZEuPE3hkcx2fMUSyQ63zYk0dEzg0x5dq45YpE12w9VZ7X5-2BCSHojkEG5GhTxSEBpdsKU-2F3K1QrAcJyEWsgtRkDwcU40iQUik8SMvQV9G6UPoh3vgWW7vvd0gOy-2FqxxEg55K6GjyaJMwCFIB1PTF-2BmSgf3aK-2BYwd9t5CBYPYSVEBuoCLwD8l1looT4XBMAZfTVXjHxwznBv5Y8yrid4Jd2NuMW83KoOLOCm1Xm4DkIxzZZKoDVLTyJIAbMDLN7VrSZf9jDpQ0bJYqxCh-2BwdS2Er5h2wutDtiSFOdG7sJIoWJmCytsuFaB-2FoWX-2FSmYrmKjNrc3CpiAcfphB5beFy4iCm8z6NLoD9ddyF5WHL4RT6J5C9munGjaxbqYWBXgd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn%3Du001.wmJVV7EIOKgMqWuqPA8IcXakfZGbJqyH6YrxY7zl6VQtxSgY2CGvil4c4yQrFSv-2B2C185iB3Y-2F5QpgrbYA61oh3jxHb-2FtkEi8IfdJfixNzg-3DCWgM_03HZEuPE3hkcx2fMUSyQ63zYk0dEzg0x5dq45YpE12w9VZ7X5-2BCSHojkEG5GhTxSEBpdsKU-2F3K1QrAcJyEWsgtRkDwcU40iQUik8SMvQV9G6UPoh3vgWW7vvd0gOy-2FqxxEg55K6GjyaJMwCFIB1PTF-2BmSgf3aK-2BYwd9t5CBYPYSVEBuoCLwD8l1looT4XBMAZfTVXjHxwznBv5Y8yrid4Jd2NuMW83KoOLOCm1Xm4DkIxzZZKoDVLTyJIAbMDLN7VrSZf9jDpQ0bJYqxCh-2BwdS2Er5h2wutDtiSFOdG7sJIoWJmCytsuFaB-2FoWX-2FSmYrmKjNrc3CpiAcfphB5beFy4iCm8z6NLoD9ddyF5WHL4RT6J5C9munGjaxbqYWBXgd&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1742396223728000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1jcU1d9_V5j1M_-nVE4NEq">filed</a> a brief supporting Jewish students and a professor in their lawsuit against UCLA for helping anti-Semitic activist agitators block Jews from the campus.
“In <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.wmJVV7EIOKgMqWuqPA8IcUmvkedBiJLqOK2A3uOlENB6xKgBHeVB-2Bi9A-2BrP0CFn7TAisU-2FJ30qxdPDqvSLhIUB9IH9j20zy9lL8YxdjIeqt2I3t0YoS-2BrPUnGo-2BdUS-2F7uMEt_03HZEuPE3hkcx2fMUSyQ63zYk0dEzg0x5dq45YpE12w9VZ7X5-2BCSHojkEG5GhTxSEBpdsKU-2F3K1QrAcJyEWsgtRkDwcU40iQUik8SMvQV9G6UPoh3vgWW7vvd0gOy-2FqxxEg55K6GjyaJMwCFIB1PTF-2BmSgf3aK-2BYwd9t5CBYPYSVEBuoCLwD8l1looT4XBMAZfTVXjHxwznBv5Y8yrid4Cy-2FPnyURB0K03D8qZmb3NPXZ9Ls1IlF5POfIkKESnbHLie615V2hmN5TdGD40EQyCJjas-2F7nN2PdcbTdbsW8GD6P5BzFjQu3xEzj-2BqndjBTOvkSuyUFA160h8TOAzqtLZju4aHQXripEvkXtzOCtqTbuuf8ak0iJgc88bZVwqhc" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn%3Du001.wmJVV7EIOKgMqWuqPA8IcUmvkedBiJLqOK2A3uOlENB6xKgBHeVB-2Bi9A-2BrP0CFn7TAisU-2FJ30qxdPDqvSLhIUB9IH9j20zy9lL8YxdjIeqt2I3t0YoS-2BrPUnGo-2BdUS-2F7uMEt_03HZEuPE3hkcx2fMUSyQ63zYk0dEzg0x5dq45YpE12w9VZ7X5-2BCSHojkEG5GhTxSEBpdsKU-2F3K1QrAcJyEWsgtRkDwcU40iQUik8SMvQV9G6UPoh3vgWW7vvd0gOy-2FqxxEg55K6GjyaJMwCFIB1PTF-2BmSgf3aK-2BYwd9t5CBYPYSVEBuoCLwD8l1looT4XBMAZfTVXjHxwznBv5Y8yrid4Cy-2FPnyURB0K03D8qZmb3NPXZ9Ls1IlF5POfIkKESnbHLie615V2hmN5TdGD40EQyCJjas-2F7nN2PdcbTdbsW8GD6P5BzFjQu3xEzj-2BqndjBTOvkSuyUFA160h8TOAzqtLZju4aHQXripEvkXtzOCtqTbuuf8ak0iJgc88bZVwqhc&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1742396223728000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0wJziPLmnl0BO_tB4Soe6i">Frankel v. Regents of the University of California</a>, a federal judge ordered UCLA last year to stop assisting the agitators, calling the exclusion of Jews from campus ‘abhorrent’ and ‘unimaginable,’” The Becket Fund <a href="https://becketfund.org/media/breaking-justice-department-condemns-ucla-for-jew-exclusion-in-groundbreaking-court-filing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. “The students and professor recently asked the court to make its ruling permanent so that Jews will never again face antisemitic exclusion.”
The DOJ brief states, “Even though UCLA may not dispute that the antisemitic campus environment at UCLA last year was ‘unimaginable’ and ‘abhorrent,’ the Individual Defendants moved to dismiss this action to evade liability for what happened on the campus that they are supposed to lead and protect. The United States has a significant interest in the proper application of federal laws that ensure equal access to educational opportunities and facilities.”
“The United States, therefore, has a strong interest in ensuring the proper application of Title VI, particularly when the Court has already found that in 2024 on UCLA’s campus ‘Jewish students were excluded from portions of the UCLA campus because they refused to denounce their faith,’” the brief continues. “Additionally, as described in the White House’s Executive Order on Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism, it is the policy of the United States to combat antisemitism vigorously, using all available and appropriate legal tools to prosecute.”
“UCLA helped the agitators by providing metal barriers, stationing security to shoo Jews away, and catering to the wishes of the agitators instead of ensuring safe passage for Jewish students, faculty, and staff,” Becket noted. “These actions were documented in a <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.wmJVV7EIOKgMqWuqPA8IcXgIOUgk5dAHBtrCiP6Bq6PY5FpeSynPKQXka4awOsdMLtOF_03HZEuPE3hkcx2fMUSyQ63zYk0dEzg0x5dq45YpE12w9VZ7X5-2BCSHojkEG5GhTxSEBpdsKU-2F3K1QrAcJyEWsgtRkDwcU40iQUik8SMvQV9G6UPoh3vgWW7vvd0gOy-2FqxxEg55K6GjyaJMwCFIB1PTF-2BmSgf3aK-2BYwd9t5CBYPYSVEBuoCLwD8l1looT4XBMAZfTVXjHxwznBv5Y8yrid4MW6LsfxpK1BkctV40wd3KtttA1RVRzs8HGUXu8nKDMm5PBHKLRGQzULSwqXRI2w5D-2FwwFjUhPH6ToNzQCZQACxDdxYgW9yCHFhdQcjEwkepNUl9rPjEtniGVMLx1FHnuLzkrm9700pSOXJtxF8b2S02LeeSyHb5x9dNfbK6OP19" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn%3Du001.wmJVV7EIOKgMqWuqPA8IcXgIOUgk5dAHBtrCiP6Bq6PY5FpeSynPKQXka4awOsdMLtOF_03HZEuPE3hkcx2fMUSyQ63zYk0dEzg0x5dq45YpE12w9VZ7X5-2BCSHojkEG5GhTxSEBpdsKU-2F3K1QrAcJyEWsgtRkDwcU40iQUik8SMvQV9G6UPoh3vgWW7vvd0gOy-2FqxxEg55K6GjyaJMwCFIB1PTF-2BmSgf3aK-2BYwd9t5CBYPYSVEBuoCLwD8l1looT4XBMAZfTVXjHxwznBv5Y8yrid4MW6LsfxpK1BkctV40wd3KtttA1RVRzs8HGUXu8nKDMm5PBHKLRGQzULSwqXRI2w5D-2FwwFjUhPH6ToNzQCZQACxDdxYgW9yCHFhdQcjEwkepNUl9rPjEtniGVMLx1FHnuLzkrm9700pSOXJtxF8b2S02LeeSyHb5x9dNfbK6OP19&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1742396223729000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2P_D9cFNiCvDS6mu3qy5mn">report</a> filed by UCLA’s own Task Force to Combat Antisemitism and Anti-Israel Bias, which admitted the University had fostered an antisemitic environment.”
“Jews should never have to fear for their safety when they step foot on a college campus,” said Yitzchok Frankel, the father of four and third-year law student at UCLA who filed the initial lawsuit. “I’m grateful that the federal government has condemned UCLA for kowtowing to antisemites, and I hope this sends a clear message to other universities that think they can do the same.”
“DOJ has thrown down the gauntlet: if university administrators aid and abet mistreatment of Jews, they will pay the price,” Mark Rienzi, president of Becket, stated. “This is a wake-up call for every university that allows antisemitic hatred to fester unchecked. No Jewish student or professor should ever again face this kind of terror on their own campus.”

US-ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-CONFLICT-GAZA-PROTEST

DOJ Joins Lawsuit Targeting UCLA For Anti-Semitism

Anti-Semitism

UCLA

Matt Richtman won the 40th annual Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, becoming the first American to come in first place in the event in 31 years.
The long-distance runner, an Illinois native, had a personal-best time of 2 hours, 7 minutes, 56 seconds, per <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/17/us/matt-richtman-los-angeles-marathon-hnk/index.html">CNN</a>. The Los Angeles Marathon started at Dodger Stadium and continued through downtown LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Brentwood before ending in the Century City neighborhood, the outlet noted.
“I didn’t really have a super big plan coming into this. It’s always so tough, the marathon, just because so much can happen,” Richtman said. “I just told myself to stay in that pack until about the halfway mark and then if I felt good I could make a move. Ended up going a little bit to the lead and no one really came with me.”
Athanas Kioko from Kenya came in second with a time of 2 hours, 10 minutes, 55 seconds. Moses Kurgat, also from Kenya, rounded out the top three with a time of 2 hours, 13 minutes, 13 seconds.
&#8220;It’s definitely a surprise,&#8221; Richtman said, per <a href="https://abc7.com/post/matt-richtman-illinois-becomes-1st-american-man-win-los-angeles-marathon-31-years/16033566/">ABC7</a>. &#8220;You know, I came in feeling really good; it’s really hard to judge where you stack up against competition, but it was a really good group out there today, and I was really happy to run with those guys and then ultimately win it.&#8221;
&#8220;It’s such a great day, you know, the 40th anniversary (of the race), there’s so many legacy runners out here, and the crowd out here was amazing,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;There were people throughout the whole course and it really helps. It&#8217;s amazing how much a crowd can change the course of what you’re doing.&#8221; 

Richtman, 25, finished fourth at the Twin Cities Marathon last fall with a time of 2:10:47. He was a cross-country runner while attending Montana State University, earning All-America honors as a junior in 2022-23.
The last time an American won the L.A. Marathon was when Paul Pilkington came in first place in 1994 with a time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 13 seconds.

Menu