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The county Board of Supervisors gave preliminary approval on Tuesday to an ordinance that would ban law-enforcement officers from concealing or disguising their identities while on duty in unincorporated areas — a response to federal immigration agents who generally wear masks during their operations. The proposal introduced by Supervisors Janice Hahn and Hilda Solis follows similar efforts at the state and federal levels. If the board gives the measure final approval next week, it would likely face a legal challenge from the U.S. government questioning whether the county has the authority to restrict the activities of federal immigration agents. The federal government is already suing the state of California over a similar law approved earlier this year. “This is about defending the constitutional rights of the people we represent,” Hahn said in a statement after the vote. “We cannot stand down now and allow this type of policing to be acceptable in America. So, if this means a fight in the courts with the federal government, I think it is a fight worth having.” The proposed ordinance would apply to all law-enforcement agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel — pending any legal challenge. Hahn noted that the county’s ordinance differs slightly from the state law, incorporating exceptions for officers wearing medical masks, breathing apparatuses, motorcycle helmets when riding a motorcycle, SWAT teams, and active undercover operations. The law would prohibit law enforcement from wearing masks or disguises while interacting with the public, and require all law enforcement to wear visible identification and agency affiliation while on duty. Federal authorities have defended the use of masks by ICE agents, contending there has been a massive increase in assaults on agents, and that concealing their identities helps protect them and their families from retaliation. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said agents’ faces and home addresses have been circulated by gang members and activist groups who oppose the mass deportations being undertaken by the Trump administration. “We will prosecute those who dox ICE agents to the fullest extent of the law,” Noem said in a statement over the summer. “These criminals are taking the side of vicious cartels and human traffickers. We won’t allow it in America.” After the state passed its law, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement, “California’s anti-law enforcement policies discriminate against the federal government and are designed to create risk for our agents. These laws cannot stand.” Critics have assailed the actions of masked agents, contending those agents generally travel in unmarked vehicles and refuse to present badges or identification when specifically asked, raising the chance of impostors carrying out kidnappings under the guise of being legitimate law-enforcement officers. “No law enforcement officer should ever be allowed to hide behind a mask or conceal their identity while operating in our neighborhoods — not ICE, not anyone,” Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said in a statement. “If their actions are truly in the public’s interest, they should be willing to stand openly behind them. As part of our declared local emergency, we are shutting down this dangerous loophole and sending a clear message: in Los Angeles County, transparency is not optional, and no agency gets to operate in the shadows to terrorize our residents.” The Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 in favor of the ordinance, with Supervisor Kathryn Barger abstaining. Barger questioned the county’s ability to enforce such a law against federal agents. “I abstained from voting on the proposed ordinance because it is not implementable, not enforceable, and ultimately creates a false sense of security for the very individuals it aims to protect,” Barger said in a statement. “I fully recognize the real fear and anxiety immigrant communities are experiencing in light of…

The gunman behind the killings of a Simi Valley doctor and his wife turned out to be the victims’ son, Simi Valley and San Bernardino County officials confirmed Tuesday. After gunshots were heard on Hawks Bill Place near Sycamore Ridge Street at around 12 noon Sunday, neighbors said they saw a black sedan with out-of-state license plates as well as a man in his 30s in dark clothing and a hat, the Simi Valley Police Department said in a statement. Police said Dr. Eric Cordes and his wife, Vicki, were found in the garage of their home with gunshot wounds. They were taken to a hospital but died from their injuries. Based on witness accounts, detectives then tracked down the black car, using a camera system that reads license plates, and learned the vehicle, a Honda Civic, was registered to 37-year-old Keith Cordes, the son of victim Eric Cordes. Vicki Cordes, another victim, was the stepmother, police said. Police were also able to follow the car’s movement and determined that it ended up at a parking lot in Chino. As authorities in Chino and Simi Valley began to collaborate, they learned of a vehicle fire and possible suicide at the same Chino parking lot, involving the black sedan registered to Keith Cordes. Investigators concluded, more than two hours after the shooting deaths of the Simi Valley couple, the son set the car on fire before fatally shooting himself. The San Bernardino County Medical Examiner’s Office also confirmed the deceased person found at the Chino parking lot was indeed Keith Cordes, ruling that he died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. “While additional forensic testing is pending, Detectives believe the firearm recovered from Keith’s suicide is the same weapon used in the homicides of Eric and Vicki Cordes,” Simi Valley police said. Detectives said they are continuing to investigate the motive behind the double murder. Simi Valley Dec 1 Possible suicide in Chino ‘likely' linked to Simi Valley double murder Simi Valley Nov 30 Couple killed in double shooting at Simi Valley home A Simi valley hospital also identified the married couple as Dr. Eric Cordes and his wife, Vicki. “The Adventist Health Simi Valley community is heartbroken by the tragic deaths of our longtime colleague, Dr. Eric Cordes, and his wife, Vicki. Dr. Cordes was a highly respected, board-certified radiologist and beloved physician who served this community with compassion and excellence for nearly 30 years. Our hearts are with his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of working alongside him as we grieve this shocking loss,” wrote Adventist Health Simi Valley in a statement to NBCLA. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

An investigation is underway after a student was stabbed during a fight in Anaheim, according to police. Two students got into a fight down the street from Savanah High School at about 2:40 p.m., according to the Anaheim Police Department. During the confrontation, one of the students stabbed the other; authorities did not specify what tool was used during the violence. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. The student accused of the stabbing was taken into custody, according to Anaheim police Sgt. Matt Sutter. It’s unclear what charges that individual may face.

President Donald Trump’s administration said Tuesday that it will move to withhold SNAP food aid from recipients in most Democratic-controlled states starting next week unless those states provide information about those receiving the assistance. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday that the action is looming because those states are refusing to provide data the department requested such as the names and immigration status of aid recipients. She said the cooperation is needed to root out fraud in the program. Democratic states have sued to block the requirement, saying they verify eligibility for SNAP beneficiaries and that they never share large swaths of sensitive data on the program with the federal government. Marissa Saldivar, a spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, was skeptical about whether funding will really be taken away. “We no longer take the Trump Administration’s words at face value — we’ll see what they actually do in reality,” she said in a statement. “Cutting programs that feed American children is morally repugnant.” Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia previously sued over the request for information, which was initially made in February. A San Francisco-based federal judge has barred the administration, at least for now, from collecting the information from those states. The federal government last week sent the states a letter saying that it was time to comply, as other states have, but the parties all agreed to give the states until Dec. 8 to respond. Trump Administration Nov 19 What to know about expanded work requirements about to kick in for SNAP Boyle Heights Nov 5 LA communities step up to feed families in need as SNAP benefit suspension continues Administration says data is needed to spot fraud About 42 million lower-income Americans, or 1 in 8, rely on SNAP to help buy groceries. The average monthly benefit is about $190 per person, or a little over $6 a day. Rollins has cited information provided by states that have complied, saying it shows that 186,000 deceased people are receiving SNAP benefits and that 500,000 are getting benefits more than once. “We asked for all the states for the first time to turn over their data to the federal government to let the USDA partner with them to root out this fraud, to make sure that those who really need food stamps are getting them,” Rollins said, “but also to ensure that the American taxpayer is protected.” Her office has not released detailed data, including on how much in benefits obtained by error or fraud are being used. It’s also not clear which states have handed over the information. Rollins said 29 have complied and 21 have not. But 22 have sued to block the order. Additionally, Kansas, which was not part of the lawsuit, has not provided it. The USDA told the state in September that SNAP funds would be cut off. The state asked the agency to reverse the action. A spokesperson for Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, said there had not yet been a reply as of Tuesday. North Carolina appears to be the only state with a Democratic governor that has handed over the information. Experts say that while there is certainly fraud in a $100 billion-a-year program, the far bigger problems are organized crime efforts to steal the benefit cards or get them in the name of made-up people — not wrongdoing by beneficiaries. Democratic officials question administration’s motives U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, a Connecticut Democrat who is a co-sponsor of legislation to undo recent SNAP changes, said Rollins is trying to make changes without transparency — or without a role for Congress — and that she is mischaracterizing the program. “Individuals who are just trying to buy food, those aren’t the ones who are gaming the system in the way that the administration is trying to portray,” Hayes said in an interview on Tuesday before Rollins announced her intention. Democratic officials responded to Rollins’ announcement by…

This trip was Waymo dangerous than it needed to be. Passengers in a robotaxi operated by Waymo were driven just a few feet away from police stop in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday — a brief brush with danger that was caught on video by incredulous onlookers and which ended with nobody hurt. The driverless vehicle could be seen in the video making a left turn into a street and passing a white pickup truck pulled over at the corner by several police cruisers with their lights flashing. The suspected driver of the pickup was lying face down on the street at the time, the video showed. Immediately, the police officers could be heard yelling at the vehicle to get away. But instead of splitting, the Waymo appeared to slow down briefly and signal it was turning right. “Go to your left! Go to your left!” a police officer was heard yelling at the wayward Waymo. “Go through.” Meanwhile, the man on the ground looked up to see what was going on. Police are then seen in the video approaching the man with their weapons drawn. NBC News has reached out to the LAPD for further details about the standoff. Waymo said the entire encounter lasted barely 15 seconds. “Safety is our highest priority at Waymo, both for people who choose to ride with us and with whom we share the streets,” a Waymo spokesperson said. “When we encounter unusual events like this one, we learn from them as we continue improving road safety and operating in dynamic cities.” Waymo is owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet. It currently operates in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay area, and Phoenix, according to its website. In July, the company said it had passed more than 100 million miles without a human behind the wheel and not one fatality. But there have been several snafus since the since the service opened to the public in November 2024. And the company has gotten some unwanted attention. Five Waymo vehicles were torched in June by anti-ICE protesters in Los Angeles. In July, a cyber-prankster reportedly sent 50 driverless Waymo vehicles down a dead-end street in San Francisco, another incident that went viral. Then in September, police in the San Francisco suburb of San Bruno were conducting a DUI operation when a self-driving Waymo made an illegal turn in front of them. The police were unable to give anybody a ticket because, well, there was nobody to ticket. But they contacted the company which promised to fix the “glitch.” In November, Waymo announced it would begin offering rides on freeways after previously limiting its robotaxis to city streets.