This Week In The News (10/14-10/18)

CHP Motorcycle Officer Crashes as Driver Leads Authorities on High-Speed Chase Through San Fernando Valley

 

Thursday, October 17 (ABC7) – On Thursday afternoon, a California Highway Patrol motorcycle crashed while an officer was pursuing a sedan during a high-speed chase in the San Fernando Valley. The officer was injured and transported to a local hospital after the incident, which occured near Devonshire Street and Zelzah Avenue in Grenada Hills; the extent of his injuries was unknown. After stopping in an apartment complex in Northridge, the driver was apprehended by police.

 

Actress Helen Hunt Recovering After Her SUV Was T-Boned in Los Angeles

 

Thursday, October 17 (ABC7) – Actress Helen Hunt was involved in a car crash in which her SUV was T-boned and flipped over. The crash occurred just before 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, near San Vincente Boulevard and Pico Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Hunt sustained no major injuries, her representative said, and was recovering at home after being released from the hospital.

 

Uber Offering Passengers, Drivers Emergency Text-to-911 Service in LA County

 

Thursday, October 17 (CBS Los Angeles) – Uber has added the ability for passengers and drivers to text emergencies to 911 using the Uber rideshare app. The service is now available in Los Angeles County. Users can choose to call or text 911 using the 911 assistance button in Uber’s Safety Toolkit. When emergency dispatchers receive a text, they can see the vehicle type as well as its current location and destination, while users can add details about their emergency and communicate with dispatchers while emergency responders are on the way.

 

Girl, 4, Dies After Being Struck by Vehicle While Walking to Pre-School With Mom in Koreatown

 

Thursday, October 17 (Fox 11 Los Angeles) – A mother and her 4-year-old daughter were struck by a vehicle in a marked crosswalk Wednesday, killing the young girl. The mother was walking the girl to preschool in Koreatown at the time and was hospitalized with crash-related injuries. Firefighters, police officers, and medical personnel responded to a pedestrian accident, at W Olympic Boulevard and Normandie Avenue, just before 8:00 a.m. The female driver of a red Ford Explorer remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities.

 

California Senate to Investigate PG&E Power Shutoff That Impacted Millions

 

Thursday, October 17 (KTLA 5) – Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins directed California’s Senate Democratic Caucus to investigate PG&E’s recent decision to cut power to over 2 million people to prevent wildfires. Atkins said an oversight hearing would be scheduled within a few weeks. In the wake of dry conditions and high winds, the utility pre-emptively shut off power to 700,000 customers. Last year’s wildfire that devastated Paradise was caused by PG&E’s equipment. California Governor Gavin Newsom has urged the company to compensate customers and businesses following issues such as inadequate warning time and “failures in execution” as cited by the state’s top utility regulator.

 

Ex-CEO of PIMCO, a Laguna Beach Resident, to Plead Guilty in College Admissions Scam

 

Thursday, October 17 (KTLA 5) – Douglas Hodge, a former chief executive of PIMCO, is expected to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering. A resident of Laguna Beach, he is accused of being involved in a recent college admissions scandal and paying $525,000 to get his daughter and son admitted to USC. He is the first among parents involved in the scandal to indicate an intent to plead guilty.

 

Impeachment Inquiry: EU Ambassador Testifies Trump Directed Diplomats to Work With Giuliani on Ukraine

 

Thursday, October 17 (KTLA 5) – Gordon Sondland, U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, testified to Congress on Thursday that President Donald Trump directed him to work with Rudy Giuliani on Ukraine. Sondland also claims he was unaware of Trump’s intent to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and the tying of U.S. security assistance to the nation with that request, in a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. As part of the impeachment investigation, former White House Russia adviser Fiona Hill testified earlier this week while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is also part of the testimony.

 

Lakers Exercise 4th-Year Contract Option on Kyle Kuzma

 

Thursday, October 17 (ESPN) – On Thursday, The Los Angeles Lakers exercised their contract option on forward Kyle Kuzma for the 2020-21 season. The 27^th overall pick for the 2017 draft out of Utah, he will make over $3.56 million next season as part of the fourth-year option of his contract. Kuzma has been cleared for non-contract basketball activities and is expected to return soon following a foot injury.