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L.A. Mayor Karen Bass introduces new LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell

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L.A. Mayor Karen Bass introduces new LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell

Residents of Los Angeles finally know their next chief of police.

In a news conference Friday, mayor Karen Bass introduced Jim McDonnell, former Los Angeles County Sheriff and LAPD assistant chief, as the new chief of the L.A. Police Department. The hire is thought to be one of the crucial events of Bass’ first term in office.

McDonnell was elected sheriff in 2014 before losing to Alex Villanueva in a 2018 reelection bid.

He previously served as the chief of the Long Beach Police Department.

“In ensuring that our city is prepared, I have selected Jim McDonnell to serve as the 59th chief of police of the Los Angeles Police Department,” Bass said. “Chief McDonnell is one of America’s finest police professionals.”

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Then-Sheriff elect Jim McDonnell, at podium, is sworn in as the new Los Angeles County Sheriff in Los Angeles, Monday, Dec. 1, 2014. McDonnell was named the LAPD chief on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

McDonnell graduated from LAPD’s academy at the age of 21.

“I’m appointing Chief McDonnell because he and I have aligned in our desire to change the direction of Los Angeles by preventing crime in the first place, responding urgently when crime takes place, and to hold people accountable and bring down crime,” Bass said.

During Friday’s announcement, McDonnell grasped the magnitude of his role in leading the police force of the second-largest city in the U.S.

“I love this city and I understand the modern-day challenges our officers face in trying to protect it,” he said.

In their remarks, both McDonnell and Bass acknowledged the opportunity L.A. has to rehabilitate its image as a safe city for the rest of the world, as it hosts the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

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The announcement comes after a search spanning several months. The vacancy opened after Chief Michael Moore’s surprise retirement earlier this year. Moore, who served in the role from 2018 until this February, took on challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and protests stemming from the death of George Floyd.

In March, Assistant Chief Dominic H. Choi was unanimously appointed by the civilian Board of Police Commissioners to serve as interim chief of the LAPD. From the beginning of his brief term, Choi never sought out the full-time role of chief.

Dominic Choi
Assistant Chief Dominic Choi is seen on Feb. 7, 2024. (KTLA)

“I want to thank Chief Choi,” Bass said on Friday. “I’m grateful that you will continue, you’re not going anywhere, you will continue your role as assistance chief.”

Choi, LAPD’s first-ever Asian-American chief, took on challenges such as growing concerns over theft and smash-and-grab crimes throughout L.A.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Amazon hiring thousands of workers across Southern California

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Amazon hiring thousands of workers across Southern California

Those looking for a new job can join Amazon as the company is looking to hire thousands of new workers across Southern California.

The massive e-commerce company is hiring more than 3,000 seasonal roles in the Los Angeles, Long Beach and Anaheim areas. Across the state of California, around 30,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal roles are available.

The starting pay for all seasonal employees will start at $18 per hour and includes access to benefits like health care from the first day on the job.

A variety of jobs are available and seasonal employees will have an opportunity to transition to full-time positions, the company said Thursday.

Depending on the role, additional benefits workers can expect include flexible schedules, vision and dental insurance, a 401(k) with company match, up to 20 weeks of paid pregnancy/parental leave for birth parents, mental health and financial support services and more.

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  • Employees arrive at Amazon's San Bernardino Fulfillment Center October 29, 2013. (Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
  • An Amazon employee prepares a package at a fullfillment center. (Amazon)
  • In this Dec. 20, 2017, file photo, a clerk reaches to pick an item for a customer order at the Amazon Prime warehouse in New York. Amazon is boosting its minimum wage for all U.S. workers to $15 per hour starting next month. The company said Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018, that the wage hike will benefit more than 350,000 workers, which includes full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal positions. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
  • Amazon employees load packages on carts before being put on to trucks for distribution for Amazon's annual Prime Day event at an Amazon's DAX7 delivery station on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in South Gate, Calif. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)
  • People arrive for work at the Amazon distribution center in the Staten Island borough of New York, on Oct. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle, File)
  • An Amazon worker delivers packages in Los Angeles on Oct. 1, 2020. July sales events have become a seasonal revenue driver for the retail industry since Amazon launched its first Prime Day back in 2015. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
  • The Amazon logo is seen on the exterior wall of the Amazon OXR1 fulfillment center in Oxnard, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Eligible full-time roles can access paid tuition assistance to earn college degrees or certificates.

“Seasonal employees who stay at the company can see an average pay increase of 15% over their first three years with Amazon,” the company said. 

Amazon is investing $2.2 billion in additional pay for fulfillment and transportation workers which, when accounting for elected benefits, will bring the average total compensation to more than $29 per hour.

“We’re also looking forward to welcoming back many familiar faces—each season we see many individuals come back year after year to be a part of the holiday season here at Amazon,” company officials said. “The holiday season is a time when we create a lot of new jobs for people who want to earn extra money for a few months or kick off a career at Amazon.”

Across the U.S., the company hopes to hire around 250,000 new full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs.

“Open roles are posted throughout the holiday season and fill up quickly, so be sure to check back for updates,” Amazon said.

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Those interested in browsing current openings and submitting an application can do so online here. Interested applicants can also text NEWJOB to 31432 to sign up for job alerts. 

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Los Angeles, Ca

Earth's 2nd moon has arrived: What you need to know

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Earth's 2nd moon has arrived: What you need to know

A second moon has officially entered Earth’s orbit—sort of.

Although it’s being called a “mini-moon,” it’s actually an asteroid named 2024 PT5. The asteroid has been temporarily captured by Earth’s gravitational pull.

The asteroid will remain in Earth’s orbit from now until Nov. 25, when it will exit and continue its journey through the solar system.

“There’s no way for small telescopes to see this mini-moon. It’s far too small—about the size of a bus. Only the world’s largest telescopes can detect it, or a very long exposure is required,” Dr. David Reitzel, an astronomical lecturer at Griffith Observatory, told KTLA.

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This type of event isn’t uncommon in the scientific community.

“We see something like this every few years. They stick around for a few weeks to months and then move on. There are typically two to three such occurrences per decade,” Reitzel said.

The last time Earth had a mini-moon was in 2022, when an asteroid known as NX1 entered Earth’s orbit.

For anyone concerned about the event, Reitzel reassured, “This disrupts nothing at all. There’s no danger to anything in the solar system.”

The asteroid was discovered by a group of scientists at the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in August. They predict that the asteroid will return in 2025.

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The Minor Planet Center will track this mini-moon and other small objects entering our solar system.

“This is a fun and somewhat rare event that isn’t visible to the naked eye, but it’s exciting to think about and can inspire people to explore the universe,” Reitzel said.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Los Angeles City Council pressured to redraw district lines by state AG: report

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Los Angeles City Council pressured to redraw district lines by state AG: report

One of California’s highest ranking officials wants the Los Angeles City Council to agree to redraw the boundaries of city’s 15 districts, according to a report.

The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta’s office drafted a legal document that, if signed by the council, would require the city to redistrict in time for the 2026 primary election.

As of Thursday, there was no word whether the council intended to sign the agreement.

The document, according to The Times, would require the members to remove personal bias as to their favorability for reelection before approving the new district lines.

The final map approved by L.A.’s redistricting commission in 2021. (City of Los Angeles)

The push for new boundaries comes just three years after the council previously approved new district lines. That agreement, signed in 2021, was a 10-year deal, but according to reporting from The Times, those lines haven’t provided sufficient representation for Latinos.

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Discussions between Bonta’s office and L.A. city officials have included a new, Latino-focused district in the San Fernando Valley.

The reported push to redraw districts comes after a 2022 scandal rocked the L.A. City Council when an audio recording leaked of council members making racist remarks.

That scandal led to the resignation of then-council president Nury Martinez. Kevin De León, who was also on the recording, remains in office.

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