brian melley

In this January 18, 2019 image made from video provided by the Survival Media Agency, a teenager wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat, center left, stands in front of an elderly Native American singing and playing a drum in Washington. (Survival Media Agency via AP)

January 20, 2019, 9:28 am

US Students in ‘MAGA’ hats mock Native Americans after rally

Kentucky diocese apologizes following widespread condemnation of footage showing Catholic high school students harassing elder in Washington

By ADAM BEAM and brian melley

US Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan (r) waits to begin a discussion at the University of California, Los Angeles, with UCLA Law School Dean Jennifer Mnookin, September 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Brian Melley)

September 28, 2018, 3:58 pm

US Supreme Court Justice Kagan won’t discuss Kavanaugh after fiery hearing

Jewish judge speaks of the importance of seeking consensus on the court and having it be above politics, especially ‘in a time of acrimony and partisanship’

By brian melley

Elliott Broidy, February 27, 2008 (AP/David Karp)

September 8, 2018, 7:55 am

Playmate’s suit bares details about affair with top GOP donor

Shera Bechard alleges that Elliott Broidy became increasingly violent during their years-long affair, demanded she get an abortion

By brian melley

Samuel Woodward talks to his attorney Edward Munoz before being led out of a court hearing at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. Woodward is charged with the murder of a University of Pennsylvania student Blaze Bernstein. (Paul Bersebach/The Orange County Register via AP, Pool)

September 5, 2018, 4:08 am

Hatred, DNA link California man to gay Jewish student’s slaying

Samuel Woodward ordered to stand trial for the murder of Blaze Bernstein after prosecutors show he had troves of homophobic and Nazi material on his phone

By brian melley

Elad Dvash-Banks, left, and his partner, Andrew, pose for photos with their twin sons, Ethan, center right, and Aiden in their apartment Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

January 24, 2018, 4:34 am

Israeli-American gay couple sues US for denying citizenship to 1 twin son

The Dvash-Banks family says that law only granting citizenship at birth to genetic children of US citizens discriminates against LGBTQ community

By brian melley

This January 13, 2018, photo provided by Jhune Liwanag shows a highway median sign broadcasting a message of "There is no threat" in Kaneohe, Hawaii. (Jhune Liwanag via The AP)

January 15, 2018, 4:52 pm

Hawaii missile-alert mistake feeds doubts about a real US emergency

Confidence in leaders undermined as islanders find themselves unprepared for attack when warning systems fail

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER and brian melley

Members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Search and Rescue crew walk toward flooded waters in Montecito, California, on Wednesday, January 10, 2018. (AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

January 12, 2018, 5:16 am

Hopes of finding survivors dwindle in mud-stricken California town

17 people have been confirmed dead and eight others remain unaccounted for in disaster

By Christopher Webber and brian melley

In this December 22, 2017 photo, Dale Gieringer of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) poses for photos at his house in Berkeley, California. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

January 1, 2018, 6:23 pm

New year brings broad pot legalization to California

Adults in most cities now permitted to grow up to six plants, possess up to an ounce of the drug, though availability scarce

By brian melley

Stephen Bannon, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign chairman, attends Trump's Hispanic advisory roundtable meeting in New York, Saturday, August 20, 2016. (AP/Gerald Herbert)

August 27, 2016, 6:28 am

Trump campaign CEO made anti-Semitic remarks, says ex-wife

Stephen Bannon’s former spouse claims custody battle over twin girls decade ago included him saying he didn’t want them ‘going to school with Jews’

By brian melley and Jill Colvin

This July 27, 2014 file photo provided by US Customs and Border Protection shows Tashfeen Malik, left, and Syed Farook, as they passed through O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. (US Customs and Border Protection via AP, File)

December 19, 2015, 6:58 pm

Family ties can help shield terrorists from detection

Husband and wife San Bernardino shooters were ‘not even below the radar. They’re stealth,’ says ex-CIA officer

By brian melley

Regina Kuruppu reacts as she describes being on the second floor of Building 3 at the Inland Regional Center during Wednesday's shooting in San Bernardino, on Friday, Dec. 4, 2015, in Redlands, California. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

December 6, 2015, 6:44 am

‘Watch over us’: Prayers, chaos ensued as terror hit home

As Islamic State-inspired rampage cut through their San Bernardino office building, victims held each other tight and prayed

By brian melley and PAULINE ARRILLAGA

New York City real estate heir Robert Durst leaves a Houston courtroom, Aug. 15, 2014. (AP/Pat Sullivan)

March 17, 2015, 8:35 pm

Robert Durst back in court for 2nd straight day

Jewish real estate heir suspected of killing wife; mumbled that he ‘killed them all’ during TV documentary

By brian melley and Janet McConnaughey

March 16, 2015, 11:27 am

Wealthy US Jewish developer arrested in TV murder mystery

Eccentric Robert Durst held on suspicion of spate of killings of women, says in HBO finale he ‘killed them all’

By Janet McConnaughey and brian melley

The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo rocket separates from the carrier aircraft prior to it exploding in the air during a test flight on Friday, Oct. 31, 2014. (photo credti: AP/Kenneth Brown)

November 1, 2014, 7:13 pm

Federal inspectors arrive to investigate spacecraft crash

Virgin Galactic owner Richard Branson says despite explosion that killed pilot, injured another, ‘we will persevere and move forward’

By brian melley

This image from video by KABC TV Los Angeles shows wreckage of what is believed to be SpaceShipTwo in Southern California's Mojave Desert on Friday, Oct. 31, 2014. A Virgin Galactic space tourism rocket exploded after taking off on a test flight, a witness said Friday. (photo credit: AP Photo/KABC TV)

October 31, 2014, 10:54 pm

Richard Branson’s spacecraft for tourists explodes on test flight

One pilot killed, another seriously injured as Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo disintegrates, crashes in California desert

By brian melley and Justin Pritchard