One of the country’s largest health insurers reversed a change in policy Thursday after widespread outcry, saying it would not tie payments in some states to the length of time a patient went under anesthesia. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to backpedal resulted...
Wind-Driven California Wildfire Prompts Evacuations as It Burns Near Malibu’s Pepperdine University
MALIBU — Thousands of Southern California residents were under evacuation orders Tuesday as firefighters battled a wind-driven wildfire in Malibu that burned near seaside mansions and Pepperdine University, where students sheltering at the school's library watched as the blaze intensified and the sky turned deep red. "Just seeing the flames...
Chiefs Keep Winning on Game’s Final Play. Are They Good, Lucky, or Both?
KANSAS CITY — After the Kansas City Chiefs had beaten the Raiders when Las Vegas fumbled away a chance to kick the winning field goal on the day after Thanksgiving, just about everyone wondered when the fortunes of the Super Bowl champions would take a turn for the worst. Turns...
Gabriel, Hunter, Jeanty, and Ward Are Named Heisman Finalists
NEW YORK — Oregon's Dillon Gabriel, Colorado's Travis Hunter, Boise State's Ashton Jeanty and Miami's Cam Ward were announced as the Heisman Trophy finalists on Monday night. The Heisman has been given to the nation's most outstanding college football player since 1935. This year's winner will be announced Saturday in...
Middle East Latest: Netanyahu Testifies in His Corruption Trial as Israel Bombs Sites in Syria
Israeli warplanes pounded military sites in Syria after Israeli troops seized a border buffer zone following the collapse of President Bashar Assad’s rule. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meanwhile testified in his long-running corruption trial. Israel denied its forces were advancing toward Damascus. Israeli troops on Sunday entered the buffer zone that had been established...
What to Know About the Countries Still Dropping Bombs in Syria
Great powers have fought for centuries for influence in the territory known today as Syria, each seeing a prize in its strategic position, stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River and beyond. That struggle continues today. In Syria’s 13-year civil war, Iran, Russia and the Lebanese militant group...
Trump Says He Would Let ‘Dreamers’ Stay. But He Once Tried to Gut the Program.
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump has said he would look for ways to spare immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children, known as Dreamers, from deportation. But during Trump’s first presidency, he tried to wipe out the program protecting them. He failed only because the Supreme Court...
Visalia Gang Members Sentenced to Life for 2019 Murder
Two 21-year-old gang members were sentenced to life in prison on Dec. 4 for the 2019 murder of a man in Visalia, the Tulare County District Attorney's Office announced on Monday. Kyle Carranza and Elias De La Hoz were convicted of first-degree murder with special gang allegations in Tulare County...
Jay-Z Says Lawsuit Accusing Him of Raping a Child Is Part of an Extortion Ploy
NEW YORK — Jay-Z says a rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. A woman who previously sued Sean "Diddy" Combs, alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 when she was 13, amended the lawsuit Sunday to include a new allegation that...
Central Faces Edison of Huntington Beach for D1-A State Football Title
The Central High School football team will face off against Edison of Huntington Beach on Saturday, Dec. 14, for the Division 1-A CIF State championship at Saddleback College. It'll be the Grizzlies' second state championship game in five seasons. Grizzlies' Impressive Season and Program Success Central is 12-2 ranked No....