Don’t you ever wish you could explore one of L.A.’s most vibrant boulevards without a car? When the first phase of Metro’s extension to its D Line opens May 8, L.A.’s transit system will add what has long been a missing puzzle piece. A busy, traffic-snarled section of Wilshire Boulevard, home to world-class museums, restaurants and galleries, will at long last be significantly more accessible.
Ride and walk, for instance, to the newly reimagined Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and then stroll to the Original Farmers Market or the acclaimed République. Or take transit to a concert at the El Rey Theatre, then grab a pint at Tom Bergin’s. And do it all without stressing about valet or parking in a part of town where the latter is at a premium.
Though this initial phase of the D Line extension is only three stops, for residents and business owners in the community, it feels monumental.
“I’m so excited for Metro to open and for lots of people to hopefully come and peruse these streets,” says Christina Mullin, owner of Miracle Mile Toys & Gifts. Mullin, who also lives in the neighborhood, has seen the area disrupted by construction for the better part of a decade, and is hopeful the subway stops will bring in an influx of shoppers.
“It’s such a nice, walkable area,” Mullin says. “You can walk all of La Brea and all the way to theSycamore Kitchen. This will be very good for the city.”
And it seems to be generating much excitement, at least if Metro’s own marketing is any indication. A line of innuendo-filled “Ride the D” shirts went viral and then almostinstantaneously sold out. (Those looking for the shirts are likely out of luck, as a Metro spokesperson says the item was intended only as a limited-edition run.)
Here are some highlights of destinations along the new stations, which are located at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, Wilshire/La Cienega and will collectively serve Koreatown, Miracle Mile, Hancock Park, Carthay Circle, the Fairfax District and Beverly Hills. All should be within about a 20- or 25 minute walk.
The second section of the D Line will continue west through Beverly Hills and Century City, and the third will extend to Westwood and UCLA. The full rail line, according to Metro, is expected to be open by the end of 2027.
Another woman came forward Tuesday to describe rape allegations against Rep. Eric Swalwell, who announced his resignation from Congress on Monday amid a torrent of sexual misconduct accusations.
Lonna Drewes said at a news conference called by her attorneys that she was drugged and raped by Swalwell (D-Dublin) in 2018 while she was working as a model in Beverly Hills.
Drewes said she met Swalwell three times as she was growing her fashion software company and toying with the idea of a political career.
On the third occasion, she said, she believed he drugged her glass of wine. She said they were supposed to go to a political event and they stopped by his hotel room to retrieve some paperwork.
She said she found herself incapacitated despite having had only one drink.
“He raped me and he choked me and while he was choking me I lost consciousness and I thought I died,” she said. “I did not consent to any sexual activity.”
Swalwell’s attorney Elias Dabaie did not immediately respond to a call or email requesting comment. Swalwell has previously denied allegations against him, while acknowledging undefined “mistakes.”
Swalwell and his team threatened legal action against several individuals over the claims, Dabaie previously confirmed to The Times.
Lonna Drewes, left, says she met Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) on three occasions in Beverly Hills in 2018. She says he sexually assaulted her on the third occasion.
(Myung J Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Drewes said she didn’t undergo a rape kit test, but disclosed the assault to people close to her and described it in her calendar. She did not have contact with Swalwell again, one of her attorneys said.
Drewes said she had no interest in Swalwell romantically and was drawn to his friendship, she said, in part because he touted connections that she believed could help her grow her businesses. She was in a relationship at the time, and he had a pregnant wife, she said.
The alleged rape had a severe impact on her mental health, causing her to self-medicate, she said. She said she also went to therapy sessions at a sexual assault center.
“I did not want to live anymore,” she said. “I cried all the time for years.”
She said she’d been considering a run for Beverly Hills City Council at the time. After the incident, she said, she feared a political backlash and felt like she had no choice but to remain silent.
Lonna Drewes walks behind her lawyer Arick Fudali during a news briefing in Beverly Hills on Tuesday.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
“My delay in taking action against Eric was driven by fear, not doubt,” she said. “I have never doubted what happened.”
The L.A. County Sheriffs Department said Tuesday that it is investigating the case.
“The investigation remains in its preliminary stages and is ongoing,” the department said. “Investigators are in the process of gathering information, reviewing available evidence and conducting follow-up inquiries as part of a comprehensive investigative process.“
A spokesperson for the L.A. County district attorney’s office said the Sex Crimes Division had been assigned to work with law enforcement partners in an unfolding investigation.
Arick Fudali, one of the attorneys representing Drewes, said he hoped his client’s account would encourage other women to come forward.
“This is not about Democrat versus Republican,” Fudali said. “This is about accountability versus silence.”
“Lonna deserves what all women deserve — autonomy over her own body,” said attorney Lisa Bloom.
Bloom is well-known for representing high-profile victims of sexual misconduct, including women in cases against actor Bill Cosby and commentator Bill O’Reilly. Bloom said they would be providing text messages, journal entries and photographs to the police. Those include a photo of Drewes and Swalwell at the opening of a restaurant called Avra that was displayed Tuesday for reporters.
Bloom said she wanted to assist with an investigation by the Manhattan district attorney, who has opened a case into allegations against Swalwell. She said three other women have reached out to her.
Swalwell, who has served in the House of Representatives since 2013, has said he plans to fight the “serious, false” allegations made against him.
“However, I must take responsibility and ownership of the mistakes I did make,” Swalwell wrote in a statement Monday.
Bloom called Swalwell’s recent statements about the accusations against him “blather and spin” and a “slap in the face” to victims.
“Stop it,” she said. “Own your behavior.”
Swalwell had been a Democratic front-runner in the hotly contested and crowded race to be California’s next governor. Then in two bombshell reports in the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN on Friday, women accused the congressman of sexual assault and misconduct.
Candidates in the California gubernatorial race reacted to the new allegations with horror.
“The level of my disgust and outrage just continues to grow,” former state Controller Betty Yee told The Times after a business forum in Sacramento. “The fact that this is still being uncovered, that it could be bigger than what we already know?”
Swalwell said he would resign from his congressional seat under intense pressure from lawmakers of both parties. The resignation came on the heels of the House Ethics Committee opening an investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations and bipartisan threats to expel him from the House if he did not resign as women continued to come forward.
One woman told CNN that after messaging with Swalwell about her interest in Democratic politics last year, she met him for drinks and tried to deflect his advances without jeopardizing potential job opportunities. She said she began to feel “really fuzzy” and intoxicated and later found herself in his hotel room with no memory of how she got there.
Another woman, a former staff member who accused Swalwell of rape, told CNN she met him for drinks in 2019, blacked out and awoke naked in his hotel bed and could tell she had had intercourse. She said that in a separate encounter years later, he forced himself on her while she was too intoxicated to consent and despite her protests.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday called a special election for Swalwell’s Alameda County seat on June 16, two weeks after the state’s regularly scheduled primary. If no candidate receives 50% of the vote, a second special election will be held on Aug. 18.
The June 2 regular primary and Nov. 3 general election will decide who will represent the recently reconfigured district for the next term, starting in January 2027. The special election decides who will represent the district for the remaining months of Swalwell’s term.
Times staff writers James Queally, Dakota Smith and Seema Mehta contributed to this report.
BRITNEY Spears has checked herself into rehab after gentle encouragement from her sons.
The Sun understands she resisted going to an inpatient facility for a month following her arrest for driving under the influence at the beginning of March.
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Britney Spears has checked herself into rehab after gentle encouragement from her sonsCredit: APThe singer was arrested last month for driving under the influenceCredit: InstagramBritney has finally sought help after a series of heart to hearts with her sons Preston (left) and Jayden, who have rallied around her following the incidentCredit: Instagram
But Britney has finally sought help after a series of heart to hearts with her sons Preston and Jayden, who have rallied around her following the incident.
The news broke early this morning that she had agreed to receive treatment.
Insiders said Britney decided to attend a placement only if it was away from Los Angeles, as she is so suspicious of medical experts there.
A US source explained: “Britney has had some seriously bad experiences in the past when she’s been at her lowest ebb, and is terrified of anyone taking advantage of her.
“Over the last five weeks, her management team and friends have been trying to persuade her to seek professional help but she expressed deep fears that all facilities in LA were ‘against me’.
“Her deep suspicions about LA’s medical community still stems from her time in the conservatorship controlled by her dad. She always felt that they acted against her will and made her ill.
“However her sons have had several heart to hearts with her in recent days and persuaded her to try somewhere different, out of town, with new experts to assist her.
“Britney has gone to the facility, but has not made any promises about how long her stay will be. Her stay is voluntary so she can check out or walk away whenever she wants.
“Jayden especially has become extremely close to Britney recently and has moved in with her.
“He wants to make sure she is in a good place and mentally strong enough for her court appearance next month.”
Britney was arrested on March 4 after driving erratically and was found to have drugs and alcohol in her system.
The Toxic singer will be told about the extent of charges in court on May 4.
That agreement was terminated in 2021 but it’s not been smooth sailing since then, with erratic social media posts leading many to question her wellbeing.
Britney is said to have checked herself into rehab for substance abuseCredit: InstagramA US source said: ‘Britney has gone to the facility, but has not made any promises about how long her stay will be’Credit: WireImage
THIS is the moment Justin Timberlake is put in cuffs as the body cam footage of his arrest for drink driving is released.
The pop star, 45, was arrested in Sag Harbor, New York, in June 2024 after he failed to stop at a stop sign and could not stay in his lane.
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This is the moment Justin Timberlake failed a sobriety test during a drink driving arrestCredit: Sag Harbour Police DepartmentThe pop star was arrested in June 2024 for driving while intoxicatedCredit: Sag Harbour Police DepartmentJustin Timberlake’s mugshot following his arrestCredit: Getty
Shortly after leaving The American Hotel following a night out with friends, the singer was pulled over while traveling southbound on Madison Street, a public highway in the Hamptons village.
Cops, often stationed nearby, noticed Justin swerving on the road and blowing through a stop sign.
They later smelled alcohol on his breath and noted that he was unsteady on his feet and also had slowed speech and glassy eyes.
The body cam footage of his arrest was released on Friday after the star’s legal team reportedly tried to previously prevent its release.
In the video, an officer can be seen shining a flashlight in Timberlake’s face at the roadside before the star performs poorly on sobriety tests.
He is asked to walk in a straight line but has difficulty with the instructions, appearing confused.
Timberlake tells them: “Guys, I’m just following my friends back to my house. I’m not doing anything.”
While attempting the sobriety test, he stumbles before apologising and saying ” I’m a little nervous”.
When asked to do the next test, the officers are forced to explain multiple times before Timberlake says “sorry, my heart is racing” while clutching his chest.
Looking unsteady on his feet, the singer is then heard saying: “By the way, these are like, really hard tests.”
After failing the roadside tests, an officer is then seen asking Timberlake “turn around for me please”.
Saying nothing and looking resigned, he slowly turns before he’s put in handcuffs.
A friend appears and is shocked when police tell her Justin is going with them, saying: “You’re arresting Justin Timberlake? Stop it. What?”
She pleads with the officers to speak with him and give him his phone before she takes his car home.
Timberlake was eventually put in handcuffsCredit: Sag Harbor Police DepartmentThe footage was released despite a challenge from his legal teamCredit: Sag Harbor Police Department
She begs: “Can you guys please do me a favour because you loved Bye Bye Bye or Sexy Back, do me one favour. This is insane.”
At the end of the footage, the 10-time Grammy winner can be seen in the back of a cop car behind bars.
He was taken into custody that night and arraigned in Sag Harbor Village Justice Court the following morning.
He was released without bail on his recognizance and was also charged with one count of DWI due to his refusal of the breathalyzer, according to Justin’s lawyer.
Timberlake’s lawyers previously sued the Village of Sag Harbor to prevent the release as it showed him “in an accutely vulnerable state”, reports CBS.
It was later agreed it would be released with redactions.
That September, Timberblake reached a plea deal to bring the case to an end.
The judge sentenced Justin to a $500 fine with a $260 surcharge, and 25 hours of community service at the nonprofit of his choosing.
After the sentencing, Justin said: “Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car.
“There are so many alternatives. You can call a friend [or] take an Uber.”
He added: “This is a mistake that I made, but I’m hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have.”
During the proceedings the star remained standing throughout and gave a statement in which he expressed remorse for his actions.
He was unsteady on his feet when he was asked to walk in a straight lineCredit: Sag Harbor Police Department
An Oscars slugfest for the ages ran its course, with “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” duking it out and tallying up wins while the low but steady hum of host Conan O’Brien’s patented brand of weirdness tied the room together. A few unnecessarily curt speech interruptions threatened the calm, but mainly, this was a smoothly run machine of a show, devoid of mishaps. Even the rare circumstance of a tie was handled expertly by live-action-short award presenter Kumail Nanjiani, never bringing to mind the immortal confusion of “Moonlight” vs. “La La Land.”
But what didn’t make it to the telecast? Here are some flavorful takeaways — small yet memorable — that stick in mind from our several reporters in the room on Sunday.
A parade of praise for Jessie Buckley
Jessie Buckley arrives on the red carpet at the 98th Annual Academy Awards.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
As she strode through the lobby of the Dolby Theatre pre-show, Jessie Buckley, nominated for lead actress for her role in “Hamnet,” was fanned with praise by other attendees. Even in the restroom, she couldn’t escape the well-wishers. On her way back to the buzzing lobby, she held the train of her red and pink Chanel gown graciously saying, “Thank you, thank you.” — Brittany Levine Beckman
The pressure’s off for stars during commercial breaks
Elle Fanning and Demi Moore hug during the 98th Academy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
During the telecast’s first commercial break, supporting actress nominee Elle Fanning of “Sentimental Value” took her loss in stride and leaned over her seat to chat with former “A Complete Unknown” costar Timothée Chalamet, nominated this year for “Marty Supreme,” and his partner, Kylie Jenner.
Across the aisle, “One Battle After Another’s” Leonardo DiCaprio stood up and reached over to lock fingers with Benicio Del Toro. — Yvonne Villarreal
The Oscars address inflation with a goodie box
A note from Conan O’Brien left for attendees in snack boxes.
(Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)
Each year, guests at the Academy Awards are given a small cardboard box of snacks left beneath their seats to get them through the always lengthy ceremony. A note from the host is generally inside. This year’s note, signed by Conan O’Brien, read, “I hope you enjoy this Conan O’Brien ‘Moderately Happy Meal’ ™. These snacks may not look like much but in any movie theater they would run you $85.” The snacks in question were a box of Junior Mints (Times reporter Josh Rottenberg got Raisinets), a small bag of Skinny Pop and a tin bottle of water. — Jessica Gelt
Jesse Plemons won’t succumb to ‘peer pressure’
Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons arrive at the 98th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
“Bugonia” star Jesse Plemons stood near the main lobby bar talking with friends and posing for pictures with fans while finishing the dregs of a drink. A server approached him and asked if he’d like another. Plemons politely declined and the server laughed, saying, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to give you any peer pressure.” — Jessica Gelt
Amy Madigan inquires about press room rules; ‘Is it like bingo?’
Amy Madigan after winning the Oscar for supporting actress for “Weapons.”
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
After taking the stage to accept her first Oscar win for “Weapons” on Sunday, Amy Madigan paused operations in the press room to ask how moderators decide who gets to ask questions of the night’s winners.
“Is it like bingo?” the actor asked. As laughter swelled across the crowd in response, she clarified hers was a “serious question.” — Malia Mendez
After a loss, Stellan Skarsgård knows the meaning of ‘Sentimental Value’
Megan Everett-Skarsgård and Stellan Skarsgård at the 98th Annual Academy Awards.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Stellan Skarsgård, of “Sentimental Value,” enjoyed a cocktail in a VIP room just off the main auditorium fresh off of losing the Oscar for supporting actor to Sean Penn for his performance in “One Battle After Another.”
Fans rushed Skarsgård anyway, shaking his hand and telling him how much his performance as a troubled alcoholic father and artist resonated with them. “We had four actor nominations on an international film,” Skarsgård told one of them. “That’s never happened before.” — Jessica Gelt
Two of this Oscar season’s tallest figures share a moment
During a commercial break, 6-foot-5 “Frankenstein” star Jacob Elordi and 6-foot-6 Oliver Laxe, director of international feature nominee “Sirāt,” greeted one another at the lobby bar. The pair, who have been impossible to miss as two of the tallest people at various events throughout awards season, shared a warm, high-altitude embrace and Elordi introduced the French-born Laxe to his date for the Oscars: his mother, Melissa. — Josh Rottenberg
‘The Singers’ and ‘Two People Exchanging Saliva’ winners are happy to share their Oscars success
From left, producer Jack Piatt and director Sam A. Davis, makers of “The Singers,” pose with Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh, co-directors of “Two People Exchanging Saliva.” All of them won Oscars for live-action short.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
Gasps erupted in the press room after presenter Kumail Nanjiani announced the seventh-ever tie in Academy Awards history Sunday evening, between live-action shorts “The Singers,” directed by Sam A. Davis and produced by Jack Piatt, and “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” directed by Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata.
Speaking to the press room after the ultra-rare event, Piatt was unbothered and even enthused by the outcome, saying he wished there could be a “five-way tie” among all the category’s nominees.
Davis agreed, confiding that he’d previously told the “Two People Exchanging Saliva” team “in confidence, that if we lost, I hope we lost to them.”
Shortly thereafter, Musteata said tying with “The Singers” folks was “such a dream.”
“Someone on Reddit asked us if we would be happy to share the award, and we were like, ‘Heck yeah, we would love to share it with another film that is equally beautiful and totally different.’ ” — Malia Mendez
Elle Fanning soothes Timothée Chalamet after lead actor Oscar goes to Michael B. Jordan
Elle Fanning talks with Stellan Skarsgård during the 98th Academy Awards. Timothée Chalamet was seated in front of Fanning during the show.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
When Michael B. Jordan walked off stage and the show went to commercial break, Timothée Chalamet, who was up against Jordan in the lead actor category, took a sip of his drink as Elle Fanning, sitting behind him, gave him a pat on the back.
Fanning talked to her “A Complete Unknown” co-star throughout the night, who barely turned around to look at her. Kylie Jenner kept rubbing and patting Chalamet’s hand while he nervously jiggled his right leg. — Yvonne Villarreal and Jessica Gelt
Autumn Durald Arkapaw receives standing ovation in press room after historic win
Autumn Durald Arkapaw accepts the Oscar for cinematography for “Sinners” — the first woman to win the award.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“Sinners” shooter Autumn Durald Arkapaw on Sunday became the first woman to win the Oscar for cinematography. As she arrived backstage following her historic win, the press room erupted into applause, with many reporters delivering a standing ovation.
Arkapaw was equally thrilled, telling the room, “A lot of little girls that look like me will sleep really well tonight.”
“I heard Karen O say once at a concert… ‘You have to see you to be you,’” she said. “Ryan gives us, the women on this film, and our heads of department, he gives us those opportunities to shine and be ourselves and work in a creative environment where we’re leading.”
Such trust is rarely extended by directors, Arkapaw said, and she is grateful. — Malia Mendez
