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New Los Angeles DA promises ‘hard middle approach' in bid to restore law following George Gascón's reign

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New Los Angeles DA promises ‘hard middle approach' in bid to restore law following George Gascón's reign

A new top prosecutor was sworn in on Tuesday in one of California’s most progressive cities, promising a “hard middle approach” as Los Angeles attempts to turn the page on rampant crime and lax prosecutorial policies.

Nathan Hochman is the new Los Angeles County District Attorney, taking office after ousting the previous district attorney, George Gascón. Hochman won against the incumbent after promising a tougher-on-crime approach, while also rejecting mass incarceration.

“District attorneys must have only two things as their North Stars: the facts and the law,” Hochman told his supporters Tuesday. “I reject blanket extreme policies on both sides of the pendulum swing – decarceration policies that predetermine that certain crimes and certain criminals are not going to be prosecuted and mass incarceration policies that also are not anchored in the facts and the law.”

Throughout his campaign, Hochman touted his “hard middle approach,” saying that “the voices of the residents of L.A. County have been heard, and they’re saying enough is enough of George Gascón’s policies, and they look forward to a safer future.”

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Nathan Hochman, and independent candidate for Los Angeles County District Attorney, talks during a news conference in Los Angeles, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.  (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

The 61-year-old former federal prosecutor – who ran as an independent after seeking the state attorney general’s office as a Republican in 2022 – was sworn in at noon local time in a ceremony outside the Hall of Justice, with former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger administering the oath.

NATHAN HOCHMAN OUSTS EMBATTLED LIBERAL PROSECUTOR GEORGE GASCON AS LA COUNTY DA AMID CRIME CONCERNS

“We are here collectively as Angelenos… who are looking to live in a county where safety is prioritized,” Hochman said prior to the ceremony.

Nathan Hochman (R) greets former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger after he swore in Hochman as Los Angeles district attorney outside the Hall of Justice on December 3, 2024.  (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

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Hochman’s victory is a promise to usher in a new era of crime policies in liberal Los Angeles. Hochman vowed to “restore the purpose of the District Attorney’s Office to fairly, effectively, and vigorously prosecute those who break laws in Los Angeles County based on the evidence and the law.”

Hochman said he would also “restore the integrity and independence of the district attorney by not making decisions based on a party affiliation or political ideology but solely on the facts and the law.”

Nathan Hochman, with his wife Vivienne Vella, is sworn in by former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as Los Angeles district attorney outside the Hall of Justice on December 3, 2024.  (Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images)

Day One Promises:

On day one, Hochman promised to hit the ground running to restore law and order.

  • He promised to restore “the ability of prosecutors to pursue sentencing enhancements for defendants who used firearms in the commission of their crimes, or whose crimes were committed for the benefit of criminal street gangs.”
  • He promised to remove “Gascón’s prohibition on prosecutors attending parole hearings to advocate on behalf of rape victims and relatives of homicide victims when their assailants are seeking an early release from prison.”
  • He also promised to rescind a prohibition against charging juveniles with misdemeanors for stealing merchandise valued at less than $950.

Hochman said that along with his overarching goals as the new district attorney, he plans on focusing on organizing task forces to handle top issues that are grievances for many residents. The task force will deal with homelessness, fentanyl poisoning, human trafficking, hate crimes, organized retail crime and residential burglaries.

LOS ANGELES OFFICIALS STILL ON ‘PROGRESSIVE WARPATH’ DESPITE OVERWHELMING VOTER REBUKE OF LEFTIST POLICIES

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“No longer is this can getting kicked down the road,” he said. “The D.A.’s Office will partner with federal, state and local law enforcement, government organizations, nonprofits and other groups to seek solutions to problems that have severely affected public safety and the quality of life of residents throughout the county.”

WATCH:

The new top prosecutor will begin his term with a bang – tasked with re-examining the high-profile case of Erik and Lyle Menendez. The brothers, who are serving life sentences without parole for the 1989 shotgun slayings of their parents, are awaiting a decision on their bid for release based on what their attorneys say is new evidence that they were sexually abused by their father.

In the run-up to the election, Gascón announced that he supported the resentencing of the brothers, but a judge last week delayed a decision on the matter until January.

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Alaska

Here’s how some Alaska lawmakers are trying to get rid of daylight saving time

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Here’s how some Alaska lawmakers are trying to get rid of daylight saving time


Morning sun reaches the peaks near Turnagain Arm as fog hovers above the water on March 20, 2024. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Alaskans, like millions of Americans in other parts of the country, will move their clocks one hour ahead on Sunday for daylight saving time.

Many see the twice-a-year clock shift as an irksome practice that should be eliminated. Research has shown that the clock changes disrupt circadian rhythm, leading to negative health effects.

So what, if anything, are Alaska lawmakers doing to change the situation?

The Senate voted in May to advance a bill that would permanently eliminate daylight saving time in Alaska — but only if the federal government agreed to move Alaska to Pacific Standard Time, the same time zone used by Washington state, Oregon, California, Nevada and parts of Idaho.

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Sen. Kelly Merrick, an Eagle River Republican who sponsored the bill, said her proposal aims to address concerns that arise from past proposals to eliminate daylight saving time while keeping Alaska in its current time zone. Effectively, that would mean Alaska is offset from Seattle by two hours for part of the year, creating challenges for Alaskans who are dependent on Lower 48 time zones — including bankers, broadcasters and tourism operators.

The House has yet to take up Merrick’s bill. There are also two dueling House bills introduced last year — neither of which has advanced — to either permanently remain in daylight saving time or permanently remain in standard time.

Federal law allows states to exempt themselves from observing daylight saving time, which generally begins in March and ends in November. However, states are not allowed to move permanently to daylight saving time without congressional authorization.

The U.S. Senate voted in 2022 in favor of moving to permanently adopt daylight saving time. The legislation has not been voted on in the U.S. House.

Hawaii and Arizona are the two states to exempt themselves from observing daylight saving time so far.

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Alaska has long considered various proposals for eliminating the twice-a-year clock changes, with more than a dozen bills proposed in three decades. None have passed both bodies.

But there is relatively recent precedent for changing the way Alaskans set their clocks.

Until the 1980s, Alaska had four time zones. Before the change, the Southeast Panhandle, including Juneau, operated in Pacific Standard Time — the same as the West Coast of the Lower 48. Clocks in most of the state were set two hours earlier — the same time zone as Hawaii. Kotzebue, Nome and much of the Aleutian Chain were on Bering Standard Time, an hour behind Hawaii.

Moving most of the state to a single time zone was meant to create simplicity for both residents and visitors alike.

What would it mean for Alaska to permanently move to Pacific Standard Time? On the shortest days of the year, the sun would rise in Anchorage around 11 a.m. and set around 5 p.m. On the longest days of the year, the sun would rise in Anchorage shortly after 5 a.m. and set well past midnight.

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For proponents of after-work outdoor recreation, the idea may seem appealing. For longer stretches of the year, Alaskans will be able to enjoy sunlight after leaving the office or school. The price to pay? More mornings waking in the dark.





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Arizona

Arizona Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for March 6, 2026

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Arizona Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for March 6, 2026


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The Arizona Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Friday, March 6, 2026 results for each game:

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Winning Mega Millions numbers

08-19-26-38-42, Mega Ball: 24

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers

8-0-8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers

13-18-23-24-34

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Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Triple Twist numbers

05-06-15-19-21-42

Check Triple Twist payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news and results

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What time is the Powerball drawing?

Powerball drawings are at 7:59 p.m. Arizona time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

How much is a Powerball lottery ticket today?

In Arizona, Powerball tickets cost $2 per game, according to the Arizona Lottery.

How to play the Powerball

To play, select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls, then select one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball.

You can choose your lucky numbers on a play slip or let the lottery terminal randomly pick your numbers.

To win, match one of the 9 Ways to Win:

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  • 5 white balls + 1 red Powerball = Grand prize.
  • 5 white balls = $1 million.
  • 4 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $50,000.
  • 4 white balls = $100.
  • 3 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $100.
  • 3 white balls = $7.
  • 2 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $7.
  • 1 white ball + 1 red Powerball = $4.
  • 1 red Powerball = $4.

There’s a chance to have your winnings increased two, three, four, five and 10 times through the Power Play for an additional $1 per play. Players can multiply non-jackpot wins up to 10 times when the jackpot is $150 million or less.

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Arizona Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $100 and may redeem winnings up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Arizona Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket and a copy of a government-issued ID to P.O. Box 2913, Phoenix, AZ 85062.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID to any of these locations:

Phoenix Arizona Lottery Office: 4740 E. University Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85034, 480-921-4400. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Tucson Arizona Lottery Office: 2955 E. Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85716, 520-628-5107. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

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Phoenix Sky Harbor Lottery Office: Terminal 4 Baggage Claim, 3400 E. Sky Harbor Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85034, 480-921-4424. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes up to $49,999.

Kingman Arizona Lottery Office: Inside Walmart, 3396 Stockton Hill Road, Kingman, AZ 86409, 928-753-8808. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes up to $49,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://www.arizonalottery.com/.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Arizona Republic editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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California

GOP Rep. Darrell Issa of California says he will retire, months after declaring he’s “not quitting” amid redistricting

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GOP Rep. Darrell Issa of California says he will retire, months after declaring he’s “not quitting” amid redistricting


Just three months after declaring “I’m not quitting,” Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California announced Friday he is retiring instead of facing a difficult reelection campaign in a redrawn district.

“It’s the right time for a new chapter and new challenges,” Issa said in a statement. “…Serving in Congress has been the honor of my life.”

Issa, a car alarm magnate considered one of the wealthiest members of Congress, had been a chief antagonist for then-President Barack Obama and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton while he served as chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, from 2011 to early 2015.

Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California questions former Special Counsel Jack Smith during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill on Jan. 22, 2026, in Washington, D.C. 

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Al Drago / Getty Images


Issa’s abrupt reversal injects more uncertainty in the race for Southern California’s 48th District, which was drastically reshaped in November after voters approved a new U.S. House map for California to favor Democrats.

With an incumbent out of the running, it may be harder for Republicans to hold the seat and, by extension, the party’s fragile majority in the House.

After redistricting, Issa flirted with the idea of leaving California to run for Congress in Texas. But at the time he decided to stay put in his home state.

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“I can hold this seat. I’m not quitting on California and neither should anyone else,” Issa, who represents a district anchored in San Diego County, said in a statement at the time.

California’s new congressional map, which was spearheaded by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, is intended to tip as many as five Republican-held seats to Democrats this year to offset President Trump’s push in Texas to gain five seats for his party there.

A national battle to redraw U.S. House districts for partisan advantage is still raging in some states ahead of the November midterm elections.

Voters in Texas and North Carolina already have cast ballots in primary elections for U.S. House districts redrawn at Trump’s urging. But the final boundaries for voting districts remain uncertain in Missouri, even though candidates already are filing for office. They also are unclear in Virginia, where new congressional districts could hinge both on a voter referendum and court rulings.

In a video posted to social media Thursday, Obama called on Virginia voters to support the redistricting effort. Virginia currently has six Democrats and five Republicans in the House. Plans offered by elected Democratic leaders this year would try and shift those lines in a way that could result in sending 10 Democrats back to the House and just one Republican. 

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In his statement, Issa said he was endorsing San Diego County Supervisor James Desmond to succeed him.



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