Home Care In Los Angeles, CA

A man held at California’s newest and largest immigration detention center could face “imminent death” attorneys argued in an emergency motion filed late Tuesday, asking a federal judge to order ICE to immediately provide lifesaving medical care to him and another detainee.

In a motion for a temporary restraining order, attorneys said that Yuri Alexander Roque Campos and Fernando Viera Reyes — plaintiffs in a federal class-action lawsuit alleging “inhumane” and “punitive” conditions at California City Detention Facility in the Mojave Desert — are experiencing “acute medical distress and need immediate specialized medical attention.”

“Their risk of severe illness—and in Mr. Roque Campos’s case, imminent death—is real and rising by the day,” the motion states.

At a hearing Wednesday morning, U.S. District Judge Maxine M. Chesney gave the government until 4 p.m. on Monday to resolve the issue or file an opposition, according to Tess Borden, a lawyer with the Prison Law Office, which brought the class-action lawsuit, along with the American Civil Liberties Union, the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice and Keker, Van Nest & Peters. The judge set a hearing, if needed, for next Tuesday in San Francisco.

The class-action lawsuit, filed last month in the Northern District of California against the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, alleges “decrepit” conditions inside the detention facility.

The Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the emergency motion or about the treatment that’s been provided to Roque Campos and Viera Reyes.

Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin previously told the Times that “no one is denied access to proper medical care.”

Roque Campos and Viera Reyes are among seven plaintiffs who sued the Trump administration over conditions at the detention facility. They alleged inhumane conditions, including inadequate food, water and medical care.

Ryan Gustin, a spokesman for CoreCivic, which operates the facility, previously told the Times that “the safety, health and well-being of the individuals entrusted to our care is our top priority.

“We take seriously our responsibility to adhere to all applicable federal detention standards in our ICE-contracted facilities, including the [California City facility.] Our immigration facilities are monitored very closely by our government partners at ICE, and they are required to undergo regular review and audit processes to ensure an appropriate standard of living and care for all detainees.”

Attorneys argued in the emergency motion that many class members detained at the detention facility need urgent medical care “that medical staff at the facility are unable or unwilling to provide.”

Based on a review of medical records and sworn declarations, a plaintiffs’ expert, Dr. Todd Wilcox, concluded that Roque Campos, 30, has a serious heart condition and is at “significant risk for sudden cardiac death,” according to his declaration in support of the emergency motion.

“I am very scared about what will happen to me if I cannot get the medical care that I need while I am locked up at California City,” Roque Campos said in a statement. “I am afraid that I might die here...”

Wilcox, identified in the motion as the medical director of a large county jail with 31 years of experience in correctional medicine, concluded that Viera Reyes, 50, has “a high probability of having prostate cancer.” Wilcox said Viera Reyes arrived at the facility on August 29 with “medical indications that he needed urgent specialty care for his condition.”

“If Mr. Viera Reyes does have cancer, he needs aggressive treatment quickly to minimize his risk of widespread disease and a much higher mortality rate,” Wilcox stated.

Attorneys argued that Roque Campos and Viera Reyes couldn’t wait for briefing to be complete on a preliminary injunction motion, which they filed Dec. 1, leading them to seek emergency relief. A hearing on the preliminary injunction is set for January 30.

According to the emergency motion, the men’s medical conditions “have only deteriorated since Plaintiffs filed their preliminary injunction motion, and neither man has seen a specialist or begun an appropriate course of treatment.”

Cody Harris, a partner at Keker, Van Nest & Peters, said attorneys flagged the men’s pressing medical issues when the class-action lawsuit was filed last month and have continued to do so in recent weeks.

“These are two very acute issues that we felt we had to run to court to address,” Harris said. “But there are others who are suffering from medical problems in that facility.”

The facility, Harris said, “needs a system that can deal with this, so when they get detained people there who have serious medical issues that they can get the care that they need to get. And that care does not seem to exist.”

The former prison opened in August as the Trump administration pushed to expand detention capacity nationwide, despite failing to pass a July fire inspection.

At the time, the city manager warned CoreCivic “that the building is unsafe and violates the fire code because its construction prevents radio signals from transmitting from key areas,” the lawsuit points out.

By the next month, immigrants inside the 2,500-capacity facility launched a hunger strike protesting conditions. At the time the lawsuit was filed, more than 800 people were detained in the facility, lawyers said.

“Their focus is on packing people in and they’re packing people in without an adequate system in place for providing necessary medical care and that is extremely dangerous,” Harris said.

Times staff writer Rachel Uranga contributed to this report.

California Pizza Kitchen, a chain known for its unconventional pizza toppings such as BBQ chicken, is shaking up its leadership.

On Tuesday, an investor group led by Consortium Brand Partners said it plans to acquire California Pizza Kitchen.

Convive Brands, which is part of the group, will direct global operations. Convive Chief Executive Jon Weber will lead the restaurant group.

The deal is scheduled to close this month.

The new ownership, the group said, means the restaurant chain — also known as CPK — is positioning itself for “a new era of growth.”

It plans to expand the franchise, create new products and enhance the brand’s presence across restaurants and retail, according to a news release about the deal.

CPK was founded in 1985 in Beverly Hills by two former federal prosecutors, bringing a twist to pizza in casual dining restaurants.

Its menu includes flavor profiles such as Thai chicken, carne asada and a California Club — a pizza with ingredients you would normally find in a sandwich, including avocado, bacon, mayo and lettuce.

The pizza chain’s founders sold the company to private equity firm Golden Gate Capital in 2011 for $470 million.

Over time, the chain has expanded beyond restaurants.

CPK sells frozen pizzas, salad dressings and other items in more than 10,000 major grocery retailers.

The company has also piloted pizza vending machines in airports, campuses and entertainment venues.

“California Pizza Kitchen is a brand with a remarkable history and an even brighter future,” Weber said in a statement. “As we look to realize its exceptional potential, our focus remains on honoring CPK’s legacy, empowering the teams who drive its success every day, and welcoming the next generation of guests to experience the flavors and hospitality that will continue to set it apart.”

The restaurant chain struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic when people were forced to stay at home.

The company, burdened with debt, filed for bankruptcy protections in 2020 as it faced a drop in sales and restaurant closures.

Before the pandemic, CPK used to rake in 78% of its revenue through on-site dining. The company then shuttered 46 restaurants and received $30 million of emergency financing, Bloomberg reported in 2020.

Despite its financial troubles, CPK is still a well-known brand. The company bounced back from bankruptcy.

Terms of the recent deal weren’t disclosed in the news release, but Reuters reported in November that it was under $300 million.

CPK currently has more than 120 restaurants in 10 countries.

The Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency on Wednesday approved nearly $11.5 million in homeless prevention funds, the largest single allocation yet for the new agency.

The approval comes as other government entities cut back on some programs to fight homelessness, sparking concerns more people could make their way onto the streets and into shelters.

“We are in a place to deploy new dollars at a moment where dollars are scarce,” Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, who serves as chair of LACAHSA’s board, said in an interview. “Help is on the way.”

In a unanimous vote, the LACAHSA board of directors signed off on more than $7.6 million in direct rental subsidies and flexible financial assistance to people at risk of homelessness. Another $3.8 million in administrative funds was approved to run the effort.

Research has shown it is difficult to identify who is actually at risk of becoming homeless, and it is impossible to know if someone who received homeless prevention help would have lost their housing without it, but there is evidence that financial support can help keep at least some people off the streets.

The money approved Wednesday comes from Measure A, the sales tax increase voters approved last year to tackle the homelessness crisis across the county.

A portion of those dollars goes to LACAHSA to build affordable housing and fund homeless prevention efforts like rental subsidies. The county receives most of the remaining dollars to fund traditional homeless services like outreach and shelters.

Despite Measure A’s approval, the county is planning to cut some outreach programs next year, because Measure A is bringing in less revenue than expected as the economy slows and consumers spend less.

The state has also cut homeless funds to close budget gaps and there are looming federal cuts as well. In all, local officials have said the combination of state and expected federal cuts could force more than 14,500 formerly homeless households in L.A. County back onto the streets or into shelters next year.

Money from LACAHSA could keep some of those people housed.

The $11.5 million approved Wednesday will be distributed to nine nonprofits and public agencies and is expected to help 700 households pay the rent over the next 18 months.

In several previous rounds, LACAHSA had approved a total of $18.1 million in homeless prevention and renter protection programs, including eviction defense, and expects to sign off on another $75 million by the end of June.

Some of the groups who will receive money from Wednesday’s round include the nonprofits PATH, the Watts Labor Community Action Committee and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights.

Richardson said distributing the money through multiple nonprofits with ties to different communities will help ensure “no group is left out” of assistance.

Hollywood’s biggest night is moving to YouTube.

Beginning in 2029, the Oscars will stream live and free worldwide on the video platform under a new multiyear agreement between the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and YouTube, a major shift for an awards show long synonymous with broadcast television and a clear signal of how entertainment consumption has changed.

The deal, announced Wednesday, gives YouTube exclusive global rights to the Academy Awards starting with the 101st ceremony in 2029 and running through 2033 — ending a five-decade partnership with ABC and making the Oscars the most prominent entertainment awards show to abandon a major broadcast network in favor of a digital-first platform. The show, including red carpet coverage and behind-the-scenes access, will stream live on YouTube around the world, with U.S. viewers also able to watch via YouTube TV.

For the Oscars, which have struggled with declining viewership and cultural impact since their ratings peak in the mid-1990s, the move to YouTube offers the potential to reach a far wider audience than it could on any broadcast network. The 2025 telecast, hosted by Conan O’Brien, attracted roughly 19.7 million viewers across ABC and digital platforms — an uptick from the previous year but still a fraction of the 40-plus million who watched in the 1990s and early 2000s.

This trend has been mirrored across awards shows as broadcast viewership declines and fans increasingly turn to streaming and clips on social media. YouTube counts more than 2 billion logged-in users monthly and is available in nearly every market worldwide.

In a joint statement, Academy Chief Executive Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said the partnership reflects the increasingly international focus of the organization, which has expanded and diversified its ranks in recent years in part by bringing in more members from outside the United States.

“The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible — which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community,” they said. “We will be able to celebrate cinema, inspire new generations of filmmakers and provide access to our film history on an unprecedented global scale.”

YouTube Chief Executive Neal Mohan described the Oscars as “one of our essential cultural institutions” and said the partnership would help introduce the ceremony to new audiences around the world while “staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy.”

The timing reflects a broader shift in the viewing landscape. This year, in a historic milestone, streaming surpassed broadcast and cable to account for the largest share of TV viewing. YouTube, owned by Google, has consistently ranked as the single largest destination for viewers, according to Nielsen. In October, YouTube, including its core video platform and YouTube TV, accounted for nearly 13% of all television viewing, Nielsen reported. Disney’s networks, including ESPN, ABC and Disney+, ranked second with a combined 11.4% share.

YouTube’s growing influence also extends into traditional pay television. YouTube TV is currently the nation’s third-largest pay-TV distributor, with about 10 million subscribers, trailing only Comcast and Charter Communications’ Spectrum service. Industry analysts expect YouTube TV to surpass both companies within the next few years, meaning that by the time the Oscars move in 2029, YouTube could be the dominant platform for traditional television viewing as well.

The Oscars’ move to YouTube comes amid a broader realignment in the collection of awards shows as they look for larger audiences on streaming platforms. The Golden Globes, for example, air on CBS and stream on Paramount+; the Primetime Emmys continue to rotate among broadcast networks like CBS while also streaming on Paramount+; and the Screen Actors Guild Awards — now called the Actor Awards — have streamed in recent years on Netflix, which some had considered a potential future home for the Oscars.

The shift also underscores the tech industry’s deepening influence in Hollywood’s infrastructure. In recent years, major studios and cultural institutions have become part of larger tech platforms: Amazon acquired MGM in 2022, and Netflix is currently pursuing an $82.7-billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. film and TV studios, HBO and HBO Max.

The agreement makes YouTube the exclusive worldwide home for other academy programming as well, including the Governors Awards, Oscar nominations announcements and the Student Academy Awards.

Beyond the live broadcast, the agreement establishes a long-term digital hub for cinema history. Through the Google Arts & Culture initiative, the partnership will provide digital access to select Academy Museum exhibitions and programs. Most significantly, Google will help digitize portions of the Academy Collection, the largest film-related archive in the world, which houses more than 52 million items. By making these artifacts accessible to a global audience for the first time, the academy and YouTube aim to create a permanent “hub for film fans” that extends the brand far beyond a single night of awards.

For the broadcast networks straining to remain relevant in the digital media environment, the Oscars is the biggest TV event yet to move exclusively to a streaming platform. The move could be a harbinger of more properties that deliver mass audiences leaving the traditional venues.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said he wants to reopen the league’s 11-year media rights deal signed in 2021 that currently pays $11 billion a year. The league can opt out of the pact in 2029 (2030 for ESPN), giving deep-pocketed tech giants Netflix and Amazon the opportunity to become larger players.

Bill Hague, executive vice president for Magid, which consults TV stations, believes the NFL isn’t likely to abandon broadcasting. Television’s ability to reach every household in the U.S., with local stations building interest in individual teams, still matters to the league.

“The NFL folks are very committed to reach,” said Hague. “And nothing beats reach like over the broadcast TV.”

Hague noted that live events have become increasingly important to the traditional TV business, but he doesn’t believe the Oscars are a must-have.

“Sports, the Westminster Dog Show, the Macy’s Day Parade are the ones that are growing,” Hague said. “And these award shows haven’t. I think Disney can spend their money elsewhere.”

The loss of the Oscars can also be linked to another significant change in the media industry — the expected departure of Disney Chairman Bob Iger in 2026.

Iger joined ABC in 1974 and is certainly among the last employees at the company around when the network paid $1 million to poach the telecast from NBC. He became a staunch advocate for the Oscars over the years in his executive roles at ABC and later at Disney because of the prestige it has brought to the network since 1976.

When executives told Iger the telecast was no longer a significant moneymaker for the network, he still supported renewing the contract with the academy, according to two former ABC executives involved in negotiating previous deals.

“At one time we said this isn’t worth it for us anymore,” the former executive said. “Bob came in and said, ‘We are renewing this as long as I’m CEO.’”

When ABC could not cover the cost of the Oscars with national advertising alone — the program’s ability to draw a massive audience no longer held — ABC got its local stations more involved with red carpet shows and specials that would put the event in the black financially.

The Oscars were also once a potent tool in negotiating carriage of ABC stations on pay TV providers.

Times staff writer Meg James contributed to this report.

If you’ve noticed California looking like it’s been swallowed by clouds lately, you’re not imagining it. A massive blanket of fog, known as radiation fog, has been hanging over the Central Valley for weeks, stretching nearly 400 miles from Redding to Bakersfield.

The fog began settling in late November and has lasted into December 2025, affecting more than 20 counties. Satellite imagery from NASA and NOAA showed a sea of white filling the valley day after day, occasionally spilling through the Carquinez Strait toward San Francisco Bay.

What is radiation fog?

Despite the name, radiation fog has nothing to do with nuclear radiation. It forms when moist ground cools rapidly after sunset, causing water vapor near the surface to condense into a dense, low-lying cloud. Plus, one of California’s wettest autumns on record created perfect conditions for the fog to settle in.

This fog is also known locally as tule fog, named after the tule reeds that thrive in California’s wetlands.

Why was this year different?

Precipitation levels from September through November 2025 ranked in the top 10 percent historically, according to climate scientist Daniel Swain. Then a strong high-pressure system acted like a lid, trapping moisture in the valley and keeping storms from clearing it out.

While the rest of California saw warmer-than-normal temperatures, the Central Valley stayed cooler beneath the fog. Overall air temperatures were still warmer than average. That warmth sometimes kept the fog higher than usual, more like low stratus clouds than thick ground-hugging fog.

Silver Linings in the Fog

There is a silver lining. Radiation fog helps the Central Valley’s fruit and nut trees enter dormancy and protects buds from too much sun. While commuters may be frustrated, the fog is a vital part of the valley’s agricultural cycle.

Driving Hazards

Dense radiation fog has long been a hazard for drivers, causing major traffic accidents in years past. This year’s fog hasn’t been as severe at street level everywhere, but visibility remains limited, and some locals have reported respiratory irritation. Breaking the fog will require a strong weather system capable of mixing the atmosphere.

For now, Los Angeles is literally living under a cloud. If you’re driving home for the holidays, slow down, use low-beam headlights, and give yourself extra time. At least you can enjoy a front-row seat to one of California’s most iconic weather phenomena.