Amy Taxin, Author at The Rapid City Post

Christina Castillo, center, with Dare to Struggle, speaks during a news conference outside the Santa Ana Police Department in Santa Ana, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, following a recent protest outside a federal building in the city. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Demonstrator injured after federal agent fired projectile from close range during California protest

January 13, 2026

A demonstrator was hit in the face with a projectile fired by a federal officer at close range during a protest in Southern California. The protester was bloodied and with serious injuries, according to video and fellow protesters during a Tuesday news conference. The incident occurred during a Friday protest in Santa Ana over the shooting death of Renee Good in Minneapolis by a federal agent. Video shows the officer firing at the demonstrator, who grabbed his face and fell to the ground. In a statement read aloud by a friend, the demonstrator said he lost vision in one eye. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin says two officers were injured.

FILE - In this June 29, 2019, file photo, Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs throws to an Oakland Athletics batter during a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

Angels and Tyler Skaggs’ family discuss settlement after trial about his fatal overdose, source says

December 19, 2025

Lawyers for the Los Angeles Angels were discussing a possible settlement Friday with the family of pitcher Tyler Skaggs following a trial over whether the team was responsible for his fatal drug overdose. That’s according to a source with knowledge of the case who was not authorized to discuss deliberations publicly. Jurors began deliberating earlier this week after the two-month trial. Skaggs died after he snorted a fentanyl-laced pill provided by the team’s communications director, Eric Kay. Skaggs’ family filed the lawsuit. The team says officials would have sought help for Skaggs if it had known.

Closing arguments underway in trial over Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs’ drug overdose death

December 15, 2025

Closing arguments began Monday in a civil trial over whether the Los Angeles Angels should be held responsible for the fatal drug overdose of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. The long-running trial in Southern California has included testimony from Angels outfielder Mike Trout and the team’s president, John Carpino. Skaggs’ widow and his parents also testified. Skaggs died in a 2019 overdose on a team trip to Texas. A team employee was convicted of providing him a fentanyl-laced pill that led to his death. In their lawsuit, Skaggs’ family argued the team knew or should have known Eric Kay was addicted to drugs and dealing to players

FILE - Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout gestures toward a photo of Tyler Skaggs in center field prior to a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Anaheim, Calif., on July 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

LA Angels president testifies he wishes he’d known about drug use before pitcher’s fatal overdose

December 12, 2025

The Los Angeles Angels’ president says the fatal overdose of pitcher Tyler Skaggs was tough for the baseball club and he wished he knew sooner about drug use by the player and one of the team’s employees. Angels president John Carpino told jurors in a California court Friday both Skaggs and team communications director Eric Kay were drug addicts. His comments came at the end of defense testimony in a long-running civil trial over whether the team should be held responsible for Skaggs’ death. Closing arguments are expected on Monday.

Ex-wife of Angels employee to face cross examination in trial over pitcher’s overdose death

October 27, 2025

The civil trial against the Los Angeles Angels over a player’s 2019 drug overdose death is set to continue Tuesday. Lawyers for the Angels will continue cross-examining Camela Kay, the ex-wife of the team’s former communications director, Eric Kay. Eric Kay has been convicted of providing pitcher Tyler Skaggs with drugs that led to his death. Skaggs family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Angels. Camela Kay testified Monday she saw players and clubhouse attendants passing pills and alcohol on the team plane. Defense attorneys are questioning her direct knowledge of Eric Kay’s interactions with Skaggs.

Ex-wife of Angels employee is expected to testify in trial over pitcher’s drug overdose death

October 27, 2025

The ex-wife of a Los Angeles Angels employee is expected to testify in a trial over whether the MLB team should be held responsible for the drug overdose death of one of its star pitchers. Camela Kay is expected to take the stand Monday to speak about her ex-husband, Angels’ communication director Eric Kay, who was convicted of providing drugs that led to the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Orange County court records show Camela Kay filed for divorce after Skaggs’ death. Eric Kay was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison.

FILE - Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout stands on the field before a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sept. 27, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Angels outfielder Mike Trout testifies he loved late teammate Skaggs and saw no signs of drug use

October 21, 2025

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout testified Tuesday in a trial over whether the MLB team should be held responsible for the drug overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. The three-time American League most valuable player told the court about his friendship with Skaggs and suspicions of drug use by team communication director Eric Kay. Kay was convicted of providing a fentanyl-laced pill that led to Skaggs’ fatal overdose in 2019. Skaggs’ family has sued alleging the Angels should be held responsible, while the team says the pitcher took the pill in the privacy of his hotel room.

Ex-Angels official says employee convicted of pitcher’s fatal overdose struggled with mental health

October 15, 2025

A former Los Angeles Angels official has testified that an employee convicted of providing drugs leading to the death of one of the team’s star pitchers had been taking prescription medication to deal with depression and bipolar disorder. Tim Mead, who oversaw communications at the Angels, said he was aware of the mental health struggles employee Eric Kay had faced. The testimony came in a civil trial to determine whether the Angels should be held responsible for the 2019 overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Kay was convicted of providing the drugs that led to Skaggs’ death on a team trip to Texas. The trial is expected to take weeks and could include players’ testimony.

FILE - Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs (45) talks with catcher Martin Maldonado, left, after warming up in the bullpen prior to a spring training baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, March 4, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

Opening statements expected in trial over LA Angels’ alleged role in pitcher Skaggs’ overdose death

October 14, 2025

Opening statements are expected soon in the trial for the wrongful death lawsuit against the Los Angeles Angels. The case involves the 2019 drug overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Lawyers for the Angels and Skaggs’ family will address the jury in this civil trial. The lawsuit alleges the team knew or should have known that its communications director, Eric Kay, was supplying drugs to Skaggs and other players. The Angels argue Skaggs’ actions were his own and not preventable by the team. The trial could include testimony from players like Mike Trout and Wade Miley.

Trial underway over Angels’ alleged role in baseball pitcher Tyler Skaggs’ overdose death

October 6, 2025

The Los Angeles Angels are facing a court trial over whether the team is responsible for the drug overdose death of one of its star pitchers. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday. The family of pitcher Tyler Skaggs filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the team after he died from an overdose on a team trip to Texas in 2019. An Angels official was convicted of providing a fentanyl-laced oxycodone pill to Skaggs that caused his death. The team says Skaggs should have been aware of the risks of taking painkillers not as they are prescribed and mixing them with alcohol.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson appears for his sentencing after a murder conviction for killing his wife Sheryl in Santa Ana, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool)

Southern California judge who killed his wife sentenced to 35 years to life for murder

September 17, 2025

A Southern California judge convicted of second-degree murder for fatally shooting his wife after the couple had been arguing was sentenced Wednesday to 35 years to life in prison. Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson faced a maximum potential sentence of 40 years to life in prison. The 74-year-old has been jailed since a jury found him guilty in April. Prosecutors said Ferguson shot his wife in their home in August 2023 after he had been drinking and the couple arguing. Ferguson admitted to shooting his wife but said it was an accident.

Mathew Bowyer, who pled guilty a year ago to running an illegal gambling business, money laundering and filing a false tax return, talks to his attorney outside federal court, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Santa Ana, Calif., following his sentencing to 12 months and one day in prison, (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Bookmaker linked to baseball star Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter sentenced to just over a year

August 29, 2025

A Southern California bookmaker who took thousands of sports bets from the former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani was sentenced to just over a year in prison. Mathew Bowyer pleaded guilty last year to running an illegal gambling business, money laundering and filing a false tax return. He was sentenced Friday to 12 months and one day in prison. He will later be subjected to two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $1.6 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service, which his lawyer said he’s already paid.

Athletes train at a beach sprints camp organized by USRowing in Long Beach, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Rowers revel in beach sprints in the run-up to LA’s 2028 Olympics

August 13, 2025

The Olympics’ newest rowing competition is a beach run, a coastal row and a music party rolled into one. The event known as beach sprints is rising in popularity since the International Olympic Committee announced its inclusion for the 2028 games in Los Angeles. Now, USRowing is hosting camps to give long-time flatwater rowers and novices a chance to try out the dynamic event. Each race usually takes about three minutes and involves running, rowing and the unpredictability of waves. It was developed to give spectators a closer view of rowing, and a really great time on the beach.

Andreas Tompros tours his avocado farm, Ridgecrest Avocados, on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

California avocado growers say Mexican imports have helped their sales

May 28, 2025

On a hillside northwest of Los Angeles, Andreas Tompros is replanting hundreds of avocado trees. Consumption of avocados has boomed in the United States in the past two decades, and much of the demand has been met with rising imports from Mexico. California growers say these imports have wound up helping, not hurting, their crop by creating a stable supply of the fruit that has bolstered demand. Many farmers are tearing out lemon trees due to overseas competition and planting avocados instead. Growers like Tompros plan to stick with avocados even after losing their orchards to wildfires last year.

Trump administration revokes parole of Mexican girl receiving lifesaving care in US, lawyer says

May 28, 2025

The Trump administration has revoked permission for a 4-year-old Mexican girl who receives lifesaving medical care from a California hospital to stay in the country, her family says. Lawyer Gina Amato said Wednesday the girl’s mother was notified the U.S. government was withdrawing the humanitarian parole the family received in 2023 when she brought her ailing child to the border. Since then, the girl has made it out of the hospital thanks to a treatment she receives from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Amato says the child’s doctors have said without it she could die in days.

Amy Taxin.