Firefighters make gains against wildfire in Southern California farm region

LOS ANGELES - Firefighters began to get the upper hand on a destructive wildfire in a Southern California farming region on Saturday, taking advantage of lighter winds as authorities let some evacuated residents return home.

The Maria fire erupted on Thursday near the community of Santa Paula, about 70 miles (110 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles, and it has since charred 9,400 acres (3,800 hectares) of dry brush and chaparral, officials said.

Firefighters have scrambled to protect tens of millions of dollars worth of citrus and avocado crops in harm's way, as well as oil industry infrastructure.

The blaze, which was 20 percent contained on Saturday, is the most pressing emergency facing California firefighters, with several other blazes in the state largely contained.

More than 10,000 people were under evacuation orders at the height of the blaze.

But authorities allowed people in two residential areas to return home on Saturday and they had plans to further lift evacuation orders, said Ventura County Fire Captain Brian McGrath.

"We're taking advantage of the good weather we have right now," McGrath said by phone.

The fire has destroyed three structures but not caused any injuries, he said.

Southern California Edison has told state authorities that 13 minutes before the fire started, it began to re-energize a circuit near where flames first erupted, said a spokesman for the utility, Ron Gales.

Southern California Edison had shut off power in the area because of concerns that an electrical mishap could spark a wildfire. The utility and fire officials have said the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

On Friday evening, moist breezes from the Pacific Ocean aided firefighters battling the Maria Fire.

By Saturday morning conditions were dry again, although winds were relatively weak, said National Weather Service meteorologist Lisa Phillips.

The Maria Fire erupted after fierce Santa Ana desert gusts howled across much of Southern California. Santa Ana winds and similar gusts in Northern California have intensified a number of wildfires in the state this fall.

The state's largest blaze, the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County north of San Francisco, was 72 percent contained on Saturday after burning nearly 80,000 acres and destroying more than 370 structures since it started on Oct. 23, officials said. 

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Some damage reported after powerful 7.1 quake hits Southern California

LOS ANGELES - Some building damage was reported after the US Geological Survey (USGS) said a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Southern California on Friday, a day after the strongest quake in the region in 25 years.

The quake hit the town of Ridgecrest on the edge of Death Valley National Park 202 kilometers northeast of Los Angeles. It was also measured at 7.1 by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Agency.

The San Bernardino County Fire Department reported that the quake had caused some damage to buildings.

"Homes shifted, foundation cracks, retaining walls down," the department said on Twitter. "One injury (minor) with firefighters treating patient. No unmet needs currently."

A swarm of strong aftershocks have jolted the high desert region since a 6.4 quake on Thursday. Only a few injuries were reported in Thursday's quake but two houses caught fire from broken gas pipes, officials said.

The Los Angeles commuter rail service Metrolink said on Twitter it has stopped service in the city of 4 million people for the time being.

Pools in Los Angeles sloshed wildly and TV cameras at baseball's Dodger Stadium were shaking as they filmed the night game with the San Diego Padres.

Thursday's quake during America's Independence Day celebrations was the largest in Southern California since the 1994 magnitude 6.6 Northridge earthquake, USGS geophysicist Paul Caruso said.

That quake, which was centered in a heavily populated area of Los Angeles, killed 57 people and caused billions of dollars of damage. 

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Strong quake shakes Southern California; no immediate reports of damage

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck Southern California near the city of Ridgecrest, some 200 miles (320 km) northeast of Los Angeles, the U.S. Geological Survey said on Thursday.

The USGS said the quake, initially reported as a magnitude 6.6, was very shallow - only 5.4 miles (8.7 km) - which would have amplified its effect.

The temblor, which was felt as far as Los Angeles, was quickly followed by several smaller aftershocks in the area.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

California, is on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, and is prone to earthquakes.

Authorities in the Ridgecrest area could not be reached immediately for comment. 

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Hundreds line up to donate blood after California bar shooting

THOUSAND OAKS, California - The fatal shooting of a dozen people at a Western-themed bar in Thousand Oaks, California, inspired hundreds of area residents to line up for hours on Thursday to donate blood for the wounded.

The blood drive drew at least 300 people to a trailer parked outside a Catholic high school. The line snaked down the driveway and along the street.

The blood drive has been scheduled before the massacre late on Wednesday at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, which had a reputation as one of the country's safest cities.

The big turnout followed a call for donations after the shooting. On a normal day, fewer than 60 people might be expected to turn out, school officials said.

“It just shows great community spirit, it shows people helping people, it doesn’t matter the color of their skin, where they’re from, it doesn’t matter,” said Steven Peisner, 56.

Law enforcement officials said 10 to 15 people went to hospitals with injuries, including at least one with gunshot wounds. The suspected shooter was found inside the bar with a fatal gunshot wound.

Peisner, a regular blood donor from nearby Calabasas, wore a leather vest festooned with metal pins commemorating the dozens of gallons of blood platelets he has donated over the years.

A number of young people in line said they had some connection to the victims or survivors of the shooting.

Delaney Kenney, 17, who was in line, said her brother was a friend of a woman who died in the shooting.

“He’s pretty devastated,” said Kenney, who attends a local high school.

Aaron Lacombe, 23, of Thousand Oaks, said he thought he might have known one of the victims from his days at California Lutheran University. He also has been to the bar, which he described as an “upbeat” place.

“I grew up in this community, went to school in this community, so I kind of felt the obligation to get out here and do what I could,” Lacombe said.

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Relatives mourn death of Fil-Am teen killed in Southern California shooting

THOUSAND OAKS, California - Shock and sadness loomed over the Housley family as their kin, Alaina, was identified among the 12 victims in the Borderline Bar and Grill massacre earlier this week.

The 18-year-old Filipino American recently moved to the area to study in Pepperdine University, the same school where her parents met.

"Words can’t describe our grief over losing our daughter, Alaina," Alaina's father, Arick Housley, said in a statement.

"She was everything we could hope for in a child: kind, smart, beautiful and respectful," he said.

Housley also described his daughter as "a mock trial lover" who enjoyed public debates.

"She would have enjoyed the public debate that is certain to happen after this tragedy, but she would have insisted that it be respectful with an eye toward solving these senseless shootings," Housley said.

"It’s time for leadership in our country to step up," he said.

The family found out about the teen's death in the middle of the night, after a day of searching and hoping, Alaina's maternal grandfather, Ernesto Punzalan, told ABS-CBN News.

"We were hoping she just went somewhere because of the incident but unfortunately it turns out she was one of the victims," Punzalan said.

"Her dad and her mom were there for 4 years and we never had any case like this. This is really a shocking incident," he said.

Punzalan said he last saw his granddaughter in April at her high school graduation and was supposed to meet her during her recital before Christmas.

"It's very unfortunate. She played piano and violin," he said.

"She’s a nice girl, she’s academically extraordinary, she’s involved in all school activities, and athletics also academic and class activities extra curricular activities," he said.

"She has been a very good girl and I hope she will rest in peace," he said.

Pepperdine University held a prayer service for Alaina, Thursday afternoon.

The 18-year old and 11 others were killed by a lone gunman who stormed a crowded bar, Wednesday evening.

Authorities are still looking into the motive of the mass shooting incident.

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Thousands in California flee homes ahead of possible mudslides

Thousands of Southern Californians fled their homes on Monday as a powerful rain storm that could cause flash floods and trigger mudslides soaked steep slopes where a series of intense wildfires burned off vegetation last month.

Heavy downpours that could produce more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) of rain per hour were expected through Tuesday evening, forcing officials to order or advise Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles county residents who live near where wildfires burned to evacuated their homes.

"Recent burn areas will be especially vulnerable where dangerous mud and debris flows are possible," the National Weather Service said in a statement.

Several December wildfires, included a blaze known as the Thomas Fire which was the largest in the state's history, burned away vegetation that holds the soil in place and baked a waxy layer into the earth that prevents water from sinking deeply into the ground.

About 30,000 residents were under evacuation orders or advisories on Monday, ABC news reported.

"I’m just tired. I can’t seem to get my life kick-started," Teri Lebow, whose Montecito, California was damaged by the wildfires, told the Los Angeles Times.

The storm system was expected to produce 4 inches to 7 inches (10 to 18 cm) in the foothills and mountains with 9 inches (23 cm) in isolated areas. Three inches (7 cm) to two feet (61 cm) of snow was also forecast for higher elevations, the National Weather Service said.

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California wildfire becomes state's 3rd-largest, more evacuate

VENTURA - A raging California wildfire became the state's third-largest on record on Saturday as fresh evacuations were ordered amid a resurgence of the harsh winds that have fueled the deadly blaze threatening to scorch 18,000 structures.

The so-called Thomas Fire has already destroyed more than 1,000 structures, including about 750 homes, in Southern California communities since erupting on Dec. 4, state fire officials said.

More than 8,000 personnel using nearly 1,000 engines and 32 helicopters were fighting the blaze that has become the seventh most destructive in the state's history, they said.

"This fire isn't letting up," the California Governor's Office for Emergency Management said on its Twitter feed. "Tough terrain, dry conditions, single-digit humidity, ripping winds make for difficult conditions this weekend."

A new evacuation order was issued for parts of Santa Barbara County on Saturday as high winds whipped the fire through bone-dry terrain. The blaze is chewing up tall grass and brush as it spreads along the scenic Pacific Coast.

Mandatory evacuations were already in place in several Santa Barbara County communities, including Carpinteria and Montecito, and parts of Ventura County. An evacuation order for the city of Ventura, which was hit hard in the first days of the fire, was lifted on Saturday morning.

The Thomas Fire is only 40 percent contained, officials said. Among the places being threatened include the wealthy enclave of Montecito just outside the coastal city of Santa Barbara.

ROAR OF FIRE

The 13 days of shifting winds and evacuations have taken their toll on a weary population.

Paul Pineda, who lives in Fillmore, about 55 miles (90 kms)northwest of Los Angeles and on the eastern flank of the fire, said he will flee if the blaze gets too close.

"It's pretty crazy. Went to sleep last night about midnight and then woke up to the roar of this fire coming through about 3 a.m." Pineda said.

The wildfires forced many schools to close for days, shut roads and drove hundreds of thousands from their homes. They were also responsible for poor air quality throughout Southern California.

The cost of fighting the blaze that was about 40 miles (65 km) wide and 20 miles long has already reached $104 million, authorities said.

For California, this year has been unprecedented in terms of structures lost and the size of the wildfires, officials said. Five of 20 most destructive fires in recorded history ravaged the state in 2017, according to Cal Fire.

The vast landscape charred by the blaze, centered fewer than 100 miles (160 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles, reached 259,000 acres (104,800 hectares) early on Saturday. That surpassed the 257,314 acres (104,131 hectares) that California's Rim Fire, which had been the state's third-largest on record, destroyed in 2013, authorities said.

The hot Santa Ana winds have propelled the fire's expansion, at times sending embers far ahead of its main flank. They were forecast to remain strong through Saturday evening in the Santa Barbara County mountains, the National Weather Service warned. Gusts of up to 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) were expected.

From Saturday night through Sunday evening, the winds could lash neighboring Ventura County, the Weather Service said.

Cal Fire engineer Cory Iverson, 32, died on Thursday while battling the flames near the Ventura County community of Fillmore. Fire officials said Iverson, the blaze's first fatality, left behind a pregnant wife and 2-year-old daughter.

The Thomas Fire was one of several major blazes that broke out in Southern California this month, although the others have been contained.

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New evacuations ordered as winds reinvigorate California wildfire

VENTURA - California's largest wildfire pushed toward prosperous coastal cities on Sunday, prompting a new wave of evacuations as firefighters struggled to curb its destructive power with the gusty winds that have fueled fires for nearly a week.

Authorities ordered residents in parts of Carpinteria and Montecito to evacuate early on Sunday as the Thomas Fire edged closer to the city of Santa Barbara, about 100 miles (160 km) northwest of Los Angeles.

The blaze, the worst of six major fires in Southern California in the last week, has already blackened 173,000 acres (62,726 hectares), consumed hundreds of structures and left nearly 90,000 homes and businesses in the area without power.

The combination of Santa Ana winds and rugged terrain in the mountains that run through Santa Barbara and Ventura counties have hampered firefighting efforts, and officials said the Thomas Fire was only 15 percent contained on Sunday.

The National Weather Service said winds of up to 55 miles (88 km) per hour were expected on Sunday, up from top speeds of 40 miles per hour on Saturday.

The fires raging across Southern California have forced the evacuation of some 200,000 people and destroyed nearly 800 structures.

Governor Jerry Brown, who surveyed the devastation in Ventura on Saturday, said the ferocious fires in December may be "the new normal" for the state, with climate change exacerbating the drought conditions that stoke such blazes.

At the Ventura County Fairgrounds, evacuees slept in makeshift beds while rescued horses were sheltered in stables. A steady stream of rescue workers streamed in and out of the entrance early on Sunday.

Peggy Scissons, 78, arrived at the shelter with her dog last Wednesday, after residents of her mobile home park were forced to leave. She has not yet found out whether her home is standing.

"I don't know what's gonna happen next or whether I'll be able to go home," she said. "It would be one thing if I were 40 or 50, but I'm 78. What the heck do I do?"

James Brown, 57, who retired from Washington State's forestry service and has lived in Ventura for a year, was forced to leave his house along with his wife last week because both have breathing problems.

"It brought back old memories, fighting forest fires," said Brown, who is in a wheelchair. "We knew a fire was coming, but we didn't know it would be this bad."

Thus far, the fires have been blamed for a single death, after a 70-year-old woman who died Wednesday in a car accident as she attempted to flee the flames in Ventura County. Scores of horses have died, including at least 46 at a thoroughbred training facility.

Some of the other fires, in San Diego and Los Angeles counties, have been largely controlled by the thousands of firefighters on the ground this week.

Both the Creek and Rye fires in Los Angeles County were 90 percent contained by Sunday morning, officials said, while the Skirball Fire in Los Angeles' Bel Air neighborhood was 75 percent contained.

North of San Diego, the 4,100-acre Lilac Fire was 60 percent contained by Sunday.

Brown issued emergency proclamations last week for Santa Barbara, San Diego, Los Angeles and Ventura counties, freeing up additional resources to fight the infernos.

President Donald Trump issued a federal proclamation that enabled agencies to coordinate relief efforts.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Southern California fires force 200,000 people to flee

FARIA BEACH, CALIFORNIA - Wildfires roared through canyons, hillsides and residential areas in densely populated Southern California for a fourth day on Thursday as gusting winds hampered efforts to quell the flames.

Some 200,000 people have evacuated ahead of the fires, which have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced hundreds of Los Angeles-area schools to close.

Authorities feared the 4 major fires - ranging from Los Angeles up the Pacific coast to Santa Barbara County - would be whipped up by the region's notorious westward Santa Ana winds that could reach hurricane strength.

The winds, which blow in hot and dry from the California desert, could reach 75 miles per hour (120 km per hour) on Thursday and create "extreme fire danger," according to an alert sent by the countywide emergency system in Los Angeles. The National Weather Service said high winds were expected to continue at least through Saturday.

The fires, which broke out on Monday and Tuesday, have reached into the wealthy enclave of Bel-Air on Los Angeles' West Side. Some major highways in the densely populated area were intermittently closed.

North of San Diego, another blaze called the Lilac Fire grew from about 10 acres to between 100 and 150 acres in less than an hour, destroying two structures and prompting evacuations, the local CAL FIRE agency reported.

No civilian casualties or fatalities have been reported from the blazes but three firefighters were injured, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

Firefighters and helicopters sprayed and dumped bucketloads of water to try to contain the flames against a hellish backdrop of flaming mountains and walls of smoke.

About 100 firefighters fended off flames in the seaside enclave of Faria Beach, caught between burning mountains and the Pacific Ocean, northwest of Ventura. Fires spread down the smoking hills, jumping the heavily used U.S. 101 highway, and headed toward clusters of beach houses. Firefighters lined up along a railroad track, the last barrier from the flames.

Surrounded by strong winds and smoke, Songsri Kesonchampa aimed a garden hose at a large pine tree between her Feria Beach house and the fire, attempting to fend off disaster.

“If this tree catches fire, the strong wind will blow the flames towards my house. I need to protect this tree,” she said.

“In the 10 years I’ve lived here, I have never seen anything like this,” she added. As she spoke, a sheriff’s car drove by, ordering residents to evacuate. “The fire is here. You must evacuate your homes right now,” an officer said over the loudspeaker.

Nearby, Ventura resident Shana Dalton was checking on her friends’ house. “One minute the flames were on the mountains and then next thing you know, they jumped the 101 and the train tracks and were right in front of us,” she said.

Because of the heavy smoke, the South Coast Air Quality Management District warned residents, especially the elderly, children, pregnant women and people with respiratory diseases, to stay indoors. Ventura County authorities said air quality in the Ojai Valley area was hazardous with "numbers ... off the charts."

The Thomas Fire, the largest in the area, continued its westward push on Thursday, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of Santa Barbara County residents and the closing of Highway 101 north of Ventura city. The fire has destroyed more than 150 homes and threatened thousands more in Ventura.

In the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles, the Creek Fire destroyed at least 30 homes, blackened more than 12,000 acres (4,800 hectares) and forced the evacuation of 2,500 homes and a convalescent center.

Another blaze, the Rye Fire, threatened more than 5,000 homes and structures northwest of Los Angeles.

The Skirball Fire in Los Angeles has forced hundreds of residents in the wooded hills near the Bel-Air neighborhood to evacuate and charred more than 475 acres (192 hectares).

Skirball threatened media magnate Rupert Murdoch's Moraga Estate winery. The property was evacuated, with possible damage to some buildings, Murdoch said in a statement, but “We believe the winery and house are still intact."

The Los Angeles Police Department tweeted "LAPD Working to Save Every Californian, Pets Included" along with a photo of a police officer in a respirator rescuing a cat.

CLASSES CANCELED

The Los Angeles Unified School District, the country's second largest with more than 640,000 students, said it closed at least 265 of its nearly 1,100 schools. The University of California Santa Barbara canceled classes as well.

Dozens of schools also were closed in Ventura County, where the Thomas Fire has charred more than 96,000 acres (38,850 hectares). The school district, with nearly 17,000 students, hoped to reopen on Monday.

San Diego Gas & Electric said it was turning off power to customers in some mountain communities northeast of San Diego to lessen fire danger and warned the outage could last several days.

The fires are the second outbreak to ravage parts of California this autumn. The celebrated wine country in the northern part of the state was hit by wind-driven wildfires in October that killed at least 43 people, forced some 10,000 to flee their homes and consumed at least 245,000 acres (9,900 hectares) north of the San Francisco Bay area.

The California Department of Insurance said the northern California blazes caused insured losses of more than $9 billion.

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Wildfire burns homes, winery in L.A.'s posh Bel-Air neighborhood

LOS ANGELES - A wind-whipped wildfire raged on Wednesday into a wealthy Southern California neighborhood, destroying at least six homes, threatening hundreds more and scorching a building at a winery owned by billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

The so-called Skirball Fire, which erupted early on Wednesday morning as the latest in a rash of major blazes fueled by hot, dry Santa Ana winds, had burned about 150 acres near large estates in the Bel-Air neighborhood of Los Angeles by early afternoon and was only 5 percent contained.

Firefighters battled to save multimillion-dollar homes in the path of the flames, which also forced the closure of the San Diego (405) Freeway in both directions, and warned that if the winds picked up again in the evening the situation could become even more dire.

"We are expecting some extreme wind behavior this evening," Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby told reporters at an afternoon news conference.

Murdoch's winery, Moraga Vineyards, was evacuated on Wednesday morning as the fire descended on the grounds, a spokeswoman said. Later a structure on the property was seen on fire as crews worked to extinguish the flames.

The new fire also prompted the nearby Getty Center museum to close the doors at its hilltop campus to prevent damage to its world-class art collection.

The Skirball Fire in the area south of scenic Mulholland Drive and north of Sunset Boulevard is just one of several major out-of-control brush fires that have sprung up in Southern California since Monday, when Santa Ana wind conditions set in.

In Ventura, some 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Los Angeles, more than 1,000 firefighters battled the largest, the Thomas Fire, which has already destroyed more than 150 homes and threatened thousands more.

California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, freeing state funds and resources to assist firefighters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it approved grants to help cover the cost of emergency work for the Thomas Fire and two others.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday his thoughts and prayers were with everyone in the path of the wildfires.

"I encourage everyone to heed the advice and orders of local and state officials," Trump wrote on Twitter. "THANK YOU to all First Responders for your incredible work."

Although no casualties have been reported, the fires have forced mass evacuations, cancellation of classes at dozens of schools and resulted in the loss of power at more than 250,000 homes in Ventura County.

In the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles, the Creek Fire destroyed at least 30 homes, blackened more than 11,000 acres and forced the evacuation of 2,500 homes and a convalescent center north of Interstate 210 on Tuesday.

Three firefighters were injured and hospitalized in stable condition, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

The Santa Ana winds, which blow westward from the California desert, were forecast to top out at 70 miles per hour (115 km per hour) on Wednesday and remain strong through the week.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

13 dead in California tour bus crash: authorities

LOS ANGELES - Thirteen people were killed and 31 injured on Sunday when their tour bus collided with a truck on a major highway in southern California, the authorities said.

"They believe everyone was asleep on the bus," an emotional California Highway Police chief Jim Abele said, giving condolences to families of the victims, who were believed to have been visiting casinos.

The front of the bus was a mangled mass of metal after apparently plowing into the back of the large truck, news photographs showed.

"Because of the impact where the bus entered the back of the big rig, the majority of the people who were killed were in the front section of the bus," Abele said.

Although it was not known what caused the deadly crash, the bus was traveling fast -- faster than the truck it rammed, he added.

"The investigation will be ongoing," he said. The bus driver was killed; the truck driver survived. None of the victims was immediately identified.

"Unfortunately, several passengers have not been identified," Abele said. "Some IDs were not valid."

The bus belongs to USA Holiday, a Los Angeles area-based tour company that ferries customers to casinos.

The crash happened around 5:00 am (1200 GMT) in Palm Springs, some 110 miles (180 kilometers) east of Los Angeles.

Most of the passengers on the bus that initially left Los Angeles were Hispanic, the CHP chief said.

bur-acb-mdl/grf

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Los Angeles pays tribute to Kobe Bryant

LOS ANGELES -- Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant will be honored Wednesday with a ceremony in Los Angeles, the city where he played his entire 20-year professional career.

As part of the tribute ceremony, to be held at city hall, officials in the southern California city have declared Wednesday as Kobe Bryant Day.

"It is Los Angeles' way of thanking him for his single-minded dedication to excellence, the fans and the entire city and region of Los Angeles," said councilman Jose Huizar. "For 20 years, we were all the beneficiaries of Kobe's incredible talent and legendary work ethic."


Bryant helped the Los Angeles Lakers win five NBA championships, and was chosen as the finals MVP for the two most recent titles.

He scored 33,643 points -- the third most in league history -- behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) and Karl Malone (36,928).

Bryant was the league's MVP in the 2007-2008 season and was chosen to play in the league's All-Star Game 18 times.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Trump has a history of questionable behavior with women: NY Times

Interviews with dozens of women who have worked for Donald Trump or interacted with him socially reveal a pattern of often unsettling personal behavior by the Republican presidential candidate, The New York Times reported on Saturday.

The Times, which said it based the article on more than 50 interviews, quoted women who recounted episodes in which he treated women as sexual objects and made comments about their bodies. But some women said Trump had encouraged them in their careers and promoted them within his businesses, often in positions in which women tended to be excluded.

When asked about the unflattering incidents described in the article, Trump either denied that they took place or disputed the details, the newspaper said.

“A lot of things get made up over the years,” Trump told the Times. “I have always treated women with great respect.”

A Trump representative did not immediately respond to a request by Reuters for comment.

Barbara Res, who oversaw construction of Trump's Manhattan business headquarters, said he would sometimes interrupt meetings with comments about women's figures.

During a job interview for a Los Angeles project, for example, Trump made a random aside about Southern California women. "They take care of their asses," Res recalled Trump saying.

Years later, when Res says she had gained weight, she said Trump told her: "You like your candy."

Even so, Res, who worked for Trump for 12 years before quitting and then came back as a consultant for six more, said she was grateful to Trump for her professional opportunities, though she said he frequently called her "Honey Bunch," the Times reported.

Trump also earned a reputation for being seen with beautiful women dating back to his days at a New York military-style boarding school where he was named "ladies' man" in the yearbook, the Times reported.

Barbara Fife, a deputy New York mayor in the 1990s, recalls Trump telling her at her City Hall office that he was in a hurry because he had "a great date tonight with a model for Victoria’s Secret," she told the Times.

“I saw it as immature, quite honestly,” Fife was quoted as saying.

As a candidate, Trump has made frequent references to his record in business as evidence of how American women would benefit if he is elected. He has often said that no one “cherishes” or “respects” women more than him.

Some of those interviewed praised Trump for giving women positions of power.

“I think there are mischaracterizations about him,” Jill Martin, assistant counsel at the Trump Organization, told the Times. “For me, he’s made it a situation where I can really excel at my job and still devote the time necessary for my family.”

The story comes less than two weeks after the last of Trump's Republican rivals dropped out, all but assuring him the party's presidential nomination this summer.

Throughout his improbable campaign, Trump has managed to deflect criticism about his attitude to women, fueled by verbal insults he lobbed at Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly and former Republican candidate Carly Fiorina.

(Reporting by Frank McGurty; Editing by Leslie Adler)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Apple Music boasts 6.5 mil subscribers

Apple chief executive Tim Cook said Monday the technology giant's new music service has some 6.5 million subscribers.

"It is going really well," Cook during an on-stage chat on the opening evening of a Wall Street Journal technology forum on the Southern California coast.

"Lots of people are liking it."

People have begun ending free trials of the music service, which launched at the end of June in more than 100 countries.

More than eight million people are still in the free trial of Apple Music, pushing the total number of users above 15 million, according to Cook.

He credited a human curation element -- actual people who fashion playlists -- for creating listening experiences superior to that delivered by "zeroes and ones" of computer algorithms.

"We have music experts just like the DJs when we were growing up," Cook said, setting the service apart from entrenched rivals such as Spotify and Pandora which use software to tailor tunes to people's tastes.

Apple Music, the tech giant's new streaming service, went live at the end of June as the company behind iTunes looks to dominate the fast-growing sector.

Apple Service began with the launch of Beats 1, an international radio station that will feature shows by high-profile artists, and offered streaming -- for the first time -- of Taylor Swift's blockbuster "1989" album.

To edge its way into the streaming music market, Apple has offered a three-month trial period to new subscribers, after which subscriptions cost $9.99 per month.

- Apple TV turned on -

On another entertainment front, Apple will begin taking orders for new Apple TV hardware beginning on October 26 and shipments will start by the end of that week, according to Cook.

"I think it will be disruptive of the TV watching experience," Cook said.

"This is the foundation of the future of TV."

The new Apple TV unveiled last month has the potential to do for television what iPhone did to mobile phones, while claiming a starring role in home entertainment.

Updated Apple TV hardware was not expected to revolutionize the television industry, but it could strike a blow to cable companies that have been in a power seat when it comes to delivering shows and other content.

The new Apple TV will have a version of the App Store that has been a hit on iPhones.

Siri virtual assistant software built in Apple TV allowed for natural language searches for shows, such as asking for something funny or a certain actor by name.

People should also be able to see what they want on-demand instead of being at the mercy of cable broadcast schedules.

These options can spur a trend of "cord cutting" or ending the subscription "bundles" offered by cable and satellite TV firms.

By letting media companies keep control of their content in apps, Apple could find new money-making models while sidestepping worries studios might have about distribution rights.

"What has to happen in the TV land is it has to be brought up and modernized," Cook said.

"It is almost as though you step into a time capsule when you step into your living room."

The new Apple TV will launch with a starting price of $149.

Apple TV has lagged behind rivals such as Roku and Google Chromecast.

Cook declined to provide figures regarding Apple Watch sales, but said the California company shipped "a lot" in the first quarter they were released and that number has ramped each subsequent quarter.

He dodged questions regarding what kind of plans, if any, Apple had for making a car.

Rumors have abounded in recent months of Apple working on a self-driving car, in its own spin on work being done by Google and Tesla.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Four killed as small planes collide in California

LOS ANGELES, United States - Four people were killed Sunday when a pair of small aircraft collided in southern California near the Mexican border, US media reported.

One of the aircraft was a twin-engine Sabreliner and the other a single-engine Cessna 172.

They crashed near Brown Field Airport in San Diego, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The crash killed four and caused small brush fires, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

No cause for the crash was known but aviation authorities were investigating.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

US grandma sets record for oldest woman marathoner

A 92-year-old US grandmother has become the oldest woman to finish a marathon, when she crossed the finish line of a San Diego 26-miler on Sunday, race organizers said.

A smiling Harriette Thompson, aged 92 years and 65 days, was cheered by dozens of onlookers and supporters as she completed the Southern California event in seven hours, 24 minutes and 36 seconds.

Speaking to her hometown newspaper, the Charlotte Observer, Thompson said she felt "a little stiff" after the race.

"I was really tired at one point. Around mile 21, I was going up a hill and it was like a mountain," she told the Observer.

"I was thinking, 'This is sort of crazy at my age.' But then I felt better coming down the hill. And my son Brenny kept feeding me all this wonderful carbohydrates that kept me going."

The previous oldest woman marathon runner was another American, Gladys "Gladyator" Burrill, who was 92 years and 19 days old when she did the Honolulu event in 2010.

Thompson participated in the marathon to raise money for cancer research, a disease she has herself survived.

The grandmother to 10 grandkids also completed the race last year with a time of seven hours, seven minutes and 42 seconds.

The oldest male marathon runner is Fauja Singh, who was 101 when he retired from racing in 2013.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kobe Paras, Cathedral lose in home debut

LOS ANGELES – A rally came too little, too late for Kobe Paras and the Cathedral High School Phantoms as they dropped their first game of the season at home.

The Phantoms trailed by as much as 21 points to Bishop Montgomery High School, a Top 10 Southern California powerhouse.

The Phantoms mounted a late rally but could not pull it off, losing 76 to 80.

After a scoreless first half, Paras finished with nine points, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the third quarter.

Meanwhile, three of Paras' teammates – including Fil-Am Jameel McGill – have been nominated to the McDonalds All-American Game that showcases the top high school seniors in the country.

Centennial High School's Fil-Am senior Sedrick Barefield, who will go to Southern Methodist University in Texas next year, was also nominated. -- Report from Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN News North America.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

5 Unexpected Expenses for First Time Homebuyers

As my husband and I prepare to buy our first home, we’re coming to terms with how much money we really need to save.

The prices in the Southern California house market are staggering enough, but there are always more hidden expenses that you need to think about than just the cost of the house.

If you’re thinking about buying a house, you definitely want to increase your savings substantially. Will you have enough for 20% down payment? If not, you may have to look into an FHA loan which has lower down payment requirements.

If you haven’t already done so, you may also want to think about lowering your debt as much as possible. Lowering your debt makes you look like a more stable client when a lender is thinking about lending you money.

The bottom line is: if you’re thinking about buying your first home, get prepared to shell out lots of cash. You need cash for your down payment, you need cash to pay down your debt, and you need cash for a lot more things too.

Here are five unexpected expenses for first time homebuyers.

Closing Costs: Most homebuyers are aware that closing costs exist, but these days, closing costs can easily run five figures. And some lenders won’t let you roll that into your loan, meaning you need to have the cash on hand.

Two months’ Rent: Other lenders require that even after you’ve paid your down payment and closing costs, that you still have two months’ rent in cash reserves immediately available. This is to ensure that you won’t be flat broke the minute you move into your house. Depending on the size of your mortgage, this can easily be a few thousand dollars, especially if you live n the southern California area or another high-real estate city.

Property Taxes: In California, property taxes amount to 1% of the home’s sale value annually. However, there are additional taxes that can tack on cost to your annual property taxes. If you live in an area where property taxes are variable, your taxes can easily go up , costing you more over the life of the loan.

Home Insurance: You just bought a  new house, you want to protect it don’t you? Well, that’s going to cost you. Some lenders will roll in the cost of property taxes and home insurance into the loan, but it may be a better bet to purchase home insurance separately. Make sure you get several opinions and read the fine print on what your home insurance will actually protect you against.

HOA/Mello Roos: If you live in a newer California community, you may be charged mello roos, which are an additional tax in certain neighborhoods to help build up public spaces, like parks, schools, and libraries. You may also live in a Homeowner’s association, which helps maintain public spaces within the neighborhood like pools, and grassy medians. Some HOA’s even cover the outside of the home, like roofs. HOAs and Mello roos can easily add on several hundred to your monthly mortgage payment.

If you’re thinking about buying a home, make sure to look into all the additional charges of what it will actually cost to buy a home.

source: everythingfinanceblog.com

TFC flagship store now open for business

GLENDALE, California - ABS-CBN now has a home among the most Filipino populated region, as The Filipino Channel celebrates its 20th year in the US.

The ABS-CBN Southern California Office-TFC Flagship Store Is now open for business in downtown Glendale.

"It's a sign that TFC will continue to be here to serve the Filipinos all over the United States. Our headquarters is in the Bay Area, but we do know that more than half of our market and audience is here in Southern California. We do a lot of business here so it does make sense to be here," said Managing Director Olivia De Jesus.

Surprising the first batch of visitors from the press is vacationing actor, Piolo Pascual. The star of "Starting Over Again" is enjoying the movie premier's success and has family in the area.

"I'm excited, of course. I want to welcome all my friends in Southern California. We have an office finally and it's nice to be home. It's my second home," Pascual said.

Census statistics show that over half a million Filipinos live in Southern California.

Community leaders, the Philippine consulate, and Glendale Mayor Dave Weaver, whose wife of 46 years, Linda, is Filipino, joined the opening ceremonies, presenting the company with a certificate of commendation.

"I'm happy to have the Filipino cable flagship station here in Glendale. We have about 12, 13,000 Filipinos living in Glendale," Weaver said.

The office, located at 225 West Broadway, is open to the public from Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm.

The TFC flagship store serves as a retail center for TFC My Remit.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

How PH experience helped Cher Calvin's career in US

HOLLYWOOD - For eight years now, Cher Calvin has been delivering the news to southern California. She anchors the nightly newscast of the KTLA, one of the area's top stations.

The Fil-Am former beauty queen-turned journalist started out as a news desk assistant editor at Time Magazine. She said she appreciates technology but practices traditional journalism methods which requires sourcing beyond Twitter.

"What we're trying to do is be accuurate and that is the most important part of our job--the accuracy of the information that we're giving out. That's something that our team at KTLA they're really good at," said Calvin.

She added, "You need to vet every source and Twitter is useful for many things but at the same time it can be dangerous for news organizations who might want to jump and be the first with the information".

Calvin had an active media career in the Philippines as a journalist and television host. She hopes to join her former "F Girls" co-hosts in a reunion next year.

She said working in Manila from 1998 to 2003 gave her valuable career training.

"Most of all I learned more about the business and learning how to be on television, how to host events, to be a part of a talk show, you name it, I did it all there and I'm very grateful," she said.

Calvin won an Emmy in 2005 when she was part of KTLA's morning show where she had the opportunity to interview many newsmakers.

Her future projects include some personal plans.

"Now is the time for me to have a family. I would like that very much," she said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com