Allegations of cronyism at some of the highest levels of the LA County government. At the center of it a rarely used sexual harassment hotline costing taxpayers thousands of dollars per call! A months-long FOX 11 investigation has revealed that an L.A. Metro sexual harassment hotline operated by a local charity is currently costing taxpayers more than $8,000 per call after a series of no-bid contracts to operate the hotline were awarded to the best friend and campaign donor of L.A. County Supervisor & Metro board member Sheila Kuehl after her office privately pushed for Metro to hire...…Allegations of cronyism at some of the highest levels of the LA County government. At the center of it a rarely used sexual harassment hotline costing taxpayers thousands of dollars per call! A months-long FOX 11 investigation has revealed that an L.A. Metro sexual harassment hotline operated by a local charity is currently costing taxpayers more than $8,000 per call after a series of no-bid contracts to operate the hotline were awarded to the best friend and campaign donor of L.A. County Supervisor & Metro board member Sheila Kuehl after her office privately pushed for Metro to hire...WW…

LA County's sheriff will be closing down two substations to help save money after the board of supervisors rebuked him for what they say is massive overspending in his department. UPDATE 5/12: The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has unanimously voted to direct Sheriff Alex Villanueva to immediately cease his plans to close the Altadena and Marina del Rey stations. Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and the board called for "A more transparent, collaborative" process of addressing the sheriff's budget deficit, with Supervisor Janice Hahn calling closing stations "An absolute last resort."...…LA County's sheriff will be closing down two substations to help save money after the board of supervisors rebuked him for what they say is massive overspending in his department. UPDATE 5/12: The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has unanimously voted to direct Sheriff Alex Villanueva to immediately cease his plans to close the Altadena and Marina del Rey stations. Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and the board called for "A more transparent, collaborative" process of addressing the sheriff's budget deficit, with Supervisor Janice Hahn calling closing stations "An absolute last resort."...WW…

A family is grieving and is seeking answers after a man in his 20s was found hanging from a tree in Palmdale earlier this week, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. Investigators were called to Poncitlán Square on Wednesday at 4:30 a.m. where they discovered a body hanging from a tree. Homicide detectives with the LASD Palmdale Station said that early indicators reveal that the man, later identified as Robert Fuller, died by suicide and that "there are no signs of a struggle or that he was hung up." LASD Homicide Bureau Lt. Brandon Dean added that there was no indication...…A family is grieving and is seeking answers after a man in his 20s was found hanging from a tree in Palmdale earlier this week, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. Investigators were called to Poncitlán Square on Wednesday at 4:30 a.m. where they discovered a body hanging from a tree. Homicide detectives with the LASD Palmdale Station said that early indicators reveal that the man, later identified as Robert Fuller, died by suicide and that "there are no signs of a struggle or that he was hung up." LASD Homicide Bureau Lt. Brandon Dean added that there was no indication...WW…

Deputy DA Paul Moll says Gascón's policy changes make it feel like he's working for the defense. "It’s all about the defendants, the defendants, the defendants," says Deputy District Attorney Paul Moll. LOS ANGELES - He has been a Los Angeles County prosecutor for the last 15 years but in the last two weeks under new rules by District Attorney George Gascón, Moll says it feels more like he’s working for the defense.  He says, "It’s like it’s been a hostile takeover of the DA’s office by the defense bar, the way they work together to prevent us from keeping people safe. It’s...…Deputy DA Paul Moll says Gascón's policy changes make it feel like he's working for the defense. "It’s all about the defendants, the defendants, the defendants," says Deputy District Attorney Paul Moll. LOS ANGELES - He has been a Los Angeles County prosecutor for the last 15 years but in the last two weeks under new rules by District Attorney George Gascón, Moll says it feels more like he’s working for the defense.  He says, "It’s like it’s been a hostile takeover of the DA’s office by the defense bar, the way they work together to prevent us from keeping people safe. It’s...WW…

(Getty Images) Los Angeles County's surge in COVID-19 cases is dramatically increasing hospital admissions and contributing to swamped emergency rooms, with the number of daily admissions expected to jump as high as 700 per day by next week, health officials said Wednesday. Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of the county Department of Health Services, said county hospitals are currently seeing nearly 500 new admissions each day. With the county's COVID-19 transmission rate remaining high -- and with an estimated one in 140 residents circulating in public believed to be infectious -- the numbers...…(Getty Images) Los Angeles County's surge in COVID-19 cases is dramatically increasing hospital admissions and contributing to swamped emergency rooms, with the number of daily admissions expected to jump as high as 700 per day by next week, health officials said Wednesday. Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of the county Department of Health Services, said county hospitals are currently seeing nearly 500 new admissions each day. With the county's COVID-19 transmission rate remaining high -- and with an estimated one in 140 residents circulating in public believed to be infectious -- the numbers...WW…

A source has provided FOX 11 investigative reporter Bill Melugin with a law enforcement bulletin that will be sent out to all California police chiefs notifying them that Gov. Newsom will announce Thursday that he is closing all beaches and state parks effective Friday, May 1st. The decision comes after Newsom sharply criticized beachgoers in Orange County for crowding beaches by the thousands this past weekend. RELATED:  "I laid out in very detailed terms yesterday, the strategy for California to make meaningful changes to our stay-at-home order,” said Governor Newsom during his daily...…A source has provided FOX 11 investigative reporter Bill Melugin with a law enforcement bulletin that will be sent out to all California police chiefs notifying them that Gov. Newsom will announce Thursday that he is closing all beaches and state parks effective Friday, May 1st. The decision comes after Newsom sharply criticized beachgoers in Orange County for crowding beaches by the thousands this past weekend. RELATED:  "I laid out in very detailed terms yesterday, the strategy for California to make meaningful changes to our stay-at-home order,” said Governor Newsom during his daily...WW…

A suspect in custody accused of ambushing two LA County Sheriff's deputies on September 12th. The suspect accused of shooting two Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies during an ambush in Compton has been arrested, Deonte Lee Murray, 36, of Compton, pleaded not guilty to two counts each of attempted murder of a peace officer and possession of a firearm by a felon inconnection with the Sept. 12 attack on the deputies, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. He had already been charged Sept. 17 with one felony count each of carjacking, second-degree robbery...…A suspect in custody accused of ambushing two LA County Sheriff's deputies on September 12th. The suspect accused of shooting two Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies during an ambush in Compton has been arrested, Deonte Lee Murray, 36, of Compton, pleaded not guilty to two counts each of attempted murder of a peace officer and possession of a firearm by a felon inconnection with the Sept. 12 attack on the deputies, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. He had already been charged Sept. 17 with one felony count each of carjacking, second-degree robbery...WW…

The LA County Sheriff's Department is investigating after an off duty LAPD officer allegedly had his drink sabotaged with a feminine hygiene product while at a Starbucks in Diamond Bar. An off-duty LAPD officer allegedly found a tampon embedded in his Frappuccino halfway through drinking it , sources told FOX 11.  Target released the following statement to FOX 11 Tuesday afternoon: "We take this allegation seriously. We have reviewed video footage and have not found any suspicious behavior. We have shared the video with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and look...…The LA County Sheriff's Department is investigating after an off duty LAPD officer allegedly had his drink sabotaged with a feminine hygiene product while at a Starbucks in Diamond Bar. An off-duty LAPD officer allegedly found a tampon embedded in his Frappuccino halfway through drinking it , sources told FOX 11.  Target released the following statement to FOX 11 Tuesday afternoon: "We take this allegation seriously. We have reviewed video footage and have not found any suspicious behavior. We have shared the video with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and look...WW…

(KTVU) A 55-year-old San Francisco man has been charged with making criminal threats with a hate crime enhancement for allegedly threatening to shoot people wearing Black Lives Matter shirts at a restaurant in Burlingame earlier this month, prosecutors said Wednesday. Steven Cibotti is accused of confronting a family of five at about on June 7 at Flights Restaurant Buron lingame Avenue. after the family had attended a march in San Francisco, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office. The family, which includes children ages 7, 5 and 2, had T-shirts on that said Black...…(KTVU) A 55-year-old San Francisco man has been charged with making criminal threats with a hate crime enhancement for allegedly threatening to shoot people wearing Black Lives Matter shirts at a restaurant in Burlingame earlier this month, prosecutors said Wednesday. Steven Cibotti is accused of confronting a family of five at about on June 7 at Flights Restaurant Buron lingame Avenue. after the family had attended a march in San Francisco, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office. The family, which includes children ages 7, 5 and 2, had T-shirts on that said Black...WW…

A 32-year-old Los Angeles EMT jumped into service after a passenger onboard a United Airlines flight suffered cardiac arrest mid-flight on Monday, December 14. The man later died and the coroner in Louisiana is now confirming the 69-year-old man died of COVID-19. RELATED: EMT Tony Aldapa is that hero. Earlier this week via Skype, he spoke to FOX 11 while quarantining at home. He was quick to deflect praise. Instead, he lauded the crew members who initiated CPR. "In my eyes, they are definitely heroes. I was just helping out." RELATED:Reports began to circulate the passenger’s wife told...…A 32-year-old Los Angeles EMT jumped into service after a passenger onboard a United Airlines flight suffered cardiac arrest mid-flight on Monday, December 14. The man later died and the coroner in Louisiana is now confirming the 69-year-old man died of COVID-19. RELATED: EMT Tony Aldapa is that hero. Earlier this week via Skype, he spoke to FOX 11 while quarantining at home. He was quick to deflect praise. Instead, he lauded the crew members who initiated CPR. "In my eyes, they are definitely heroes. I was just helping out." RELATED:Reports began to circulate the passenger’s wife told...WW…