I'm not usually wowed by celebrities, but when I learned my idol, Dick Van Dyke, was taking photos with fans, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I’m almost seven decades younger than Van Dyke, who recently turned 100, but I’ve always adored him. Growing up in Los Angeles, I loved watching "Mary Poppins" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," but my favorite was "The Dick Van Dyke Show." I guess I knew Van Dyke had been married more than once, but hearing him talk about this part of his life was surprisingly painful. Read more: Dick Van Dyke rescued by neighbors in Malibu fire, reunited with lost catI went to therapy.

And while I know I’m not the refined young lady she hoped for as a daughter, she’s been my champion. We visited the local arboretum, haunted our old town, even had a picnic on the porch of our old house. I didn’t know that these days — the early days — were the good days when she remembered where she was, who she was, who I was. And thanks to her, as the child of a person who is getting old, I’m learning to be more patient, more understanding. And every now and then, the mother I know returns for a cameo, then disappears just as quickly.

AOC hails Mayor Mamdani as leading 'new era' for NYC Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said New Yorkers "have chosen prosperity for the many over spoils for the few" in electing Zohran Mamdani.

Nations around the world, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel and Britain, regulate and acknowledge cannabis as a legitimate medicine. Cannabis smoke is dangerousThe Dec. 18 editorial “Legalize it” argued that cannabis should be legalized by the federal government. However, in the rush to legalize cannabis in many states and D.C., there has been a widespread failure to recognize that inhalation of cannabis smoke, whether active or passive, poses significant dangers to human health. The consequences of smoking tobacco, such as heart and lung disease, are well documented. Moreover, cannabis smoking shouldn’t be permitted where tobacco smoking is banned.

Consider how it has uncorked broadband investment and saved taxpayers billions by slashing the Biden team’s red tape. Congress appropriated $42 billion in the 2021 infrastructure bill for states to expand broadband to “unserved” and rural communities. But Democrats wanted the money, and the Biden team then used it in an attempt to micromanage broadband nationwide. States receiving funds had to consult with unions, native American tribes and “local community organizations” on their plans to expand broadband. States also had to submit plans for Commerce Department review, explaining how they would make broadband “affordable” for middle-class consumers.

New car tech to watch in 2026 ABC News' Danny New looks at what’s ahead for drivers, including some surprising old-school features.

Will Bryson III of St. Paul stuck it out for his senior basketball season even though the team lost pretty much everybody to graduation except for him. 68 Points, 11-11 FT’s, 9 Three Pointers, 12+ Rb’s in a triple OT win against a tough Larime HS. @SGVNSports @latsondheimer @Tarek_Fattal @pollonpreps @RonMFlores @MaxPreps @247recruiting pic.twitter.com/y0rgaUTNh5 — Will Bryson III (@WillBrysonIII) December 31, 2025Coach Patrick Roy has been raving about Bryson's contributions. AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementThis is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.

As we move into the colder months, it’s only natural to want to keep that sun-kissed glow you had from summer. What’s not natural is the spray tan or body makeup used to achieve that look — unless that is, if you know how to color-match, blend and apply self-tanner correctly. “Using concealer to spot treat like this without addressing the surrounding skin will always look fake and noticeable. If you insist on wearing hand makeup, Eibon suggests applying a transfer-proof leg makeup used to cover dark varicose veins. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS via Getty Images Trump shakes hands with Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa to the White House on July 16.

While a single burst of short exercise — in this case, a 10-minute walk — won’t meet these moderate physical activity recommendations, you could still reach the goal by taking three 10-minute walks each day. Even that quick 10-minute walk in your day will be good for your mental and physical health. So, that 10-minute walk is quickly going to perk you up. Witnessing the physical and mental health benefits of that 10-minute walk may help you feel empowered to fit a lengthier walk in your day, Shapiro added. You don’t have to follow a set rule when doing your 10-minute walk.

US President Donald Trump speaks to guests during a New Year’s Eve event at his Mar-a-Lago home on December 31, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. Joe Raedle via Getty ImagesAs Americans continue to voice concerns over the rising cost of living, US President Donald Trump rang in the new year in lavish style with a side of snark. After a partygoer offered $2.75 million, Trump welcomed him on stage while joking that the man shouldn’t make the winning bid if it would require him to file for bankruptcy in the morning. AdvertisementSOLD: President Trump leads a charity auction during the Mar-a-Lago New Year's Eve party. They often take out their anger at the ballot box.”President Donald Trump speaks beside artist Vanessa Horabuena at his Mar-a-Lago estate on New Year's Eve.

Snap plans lightweight consumer AR glasses in 2026 , broadening mainstream appeal. plans lightweight consumer AR glasses in , broadening mainstream appeal. 3 – Rokid Spatial: Best deal for hands-free spatial appsRokid’s Spatial glasses have been praised as a bargain in recent hands-on tests and roundups. 5 – Meta / Ray-Ban lineage: Comfortable, social-first AR experimentsMeta’s wearables remain focused on social AR and mixed-reality utility even as Reality Labs refocuses investments. 6 – Snap’s consumer glasses (2026): The mainstream game-changer to watchTechCrunch reports Snap’s lightweight consumer glasses arriving in 2026, aiming for broad adoption and simple AR experiences.

A rare Jan. 1 rainstorm drenched Southern California, triggering slides and major road closures across the Los Angeles area, as well as swift water rescues on San Diego roadways. In San Diego, emergency crews worked to rescue motorists who found themselves trapped on flooded roadways Thursday. Please avoid the area & never walk or drive through floodwaters.”AdvertisementA San Diego Police Department spokesman said a man and his young daughter were caught in their blue Jeep by deep, fast-moving water and rescued without incident by San Diego Fire-Rescue emergency crews. Typically, New Year’s Day is rain-free in the Los Angeles area. That was also the year Los Angeles received more than one inch of rain on the first day of the year.

Swiss officials rush to identify ski resort fire victimsAbout 40 people were killed and around 115 others injured in a fire at a New Year’s party in a ski resort bar in Switzerland. CNN's Nic Robertson reports that officials are still working to identify the people who were killed.

When that happens, Trump will have run out of excuses: This will officially become his economy, for better or worse. For example, in CNN’s most recent poll on the economy, 61% of Americans said Trump’s policies have “worsened economic conditions in this country.” That’s a higher percentage than those who blamed Biden for the direction the economy had taken. Even though Powell was Trump’s own choice to lead the Fed, Trump has said his nomination was a mistake and that the next Fed chair will lower rates quickly. Lower interest rates can reduce businesses’ borrowing costs, unlocking capital for hiring and other expenses. Lower interest rates could, however, help bring mortgage rates down.

PoliticsZohran Mamdani gives inaugural address as mayor of NYCJanuary 1, 2026 | 10:49 PM GMTZohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, was sworn in publicly as the mayor of New York City on Jan. 1. He is the first Muslim mayor and the youngest in generations to run the United States’ largest and wealthiest city. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is sworn in at public ceremony Related