Natasha Chen is a CNN national correspondent based in Los Angeles, CA. Natasha Chen is as CNN National Correspondent based in Atlanta, GA.
Operating as usual
Chris Rock isn't pressing charges against Will Smith for Oscars slap
Chris Rock will not be pressing charges against Will Smith following their onstage altercation at this year's Oscars, the Los Angeles Police Department has said.
I’m in a podcast episode that dropped today! Thank you to CNN Audio for having me on today’s “CNN 5 Things: Sunday Edition” to chat about my recent story on the anniversary of the Atlanta spa shooting and recent anti-Asian hate.
I recorded this in my closet for better sound! And I somehow got a little more nervous recording for audio-only than on camera for TV…maybe because the sole focus is on voice, and no one’s looking at any story video? Anyway, here goes!
Show CNN 5 Things, Ep Sunday Edition: Why Anti-Asian Hate Rarely Becomes a Hate Crime - Mar 27, 2022
I remember getting the call one year ago today, to come in and cover a horrific chain of attacks: the killing of 8 people, mostly women of Asian descent, who had been shot and killed at three Atlanta area spas. It took me a few days of round-the-clock coverage to stop and fully process - and feel - the impact that this had on not only these eight families, but also members of the AAPI community.
One year later, these families are still in pain, and the recent headlines of attacks against victims of Asian descent out of New York are top of mind. The son of Yong Ae Yue, Robert Peterson, told me he feels what happened was a hate crime.
But right now, there is no federal hate crime case against the suspect. The Cherokee County case (where the first spa was located) resulted in a plea deal with no state hate crime enhancement. The Fulton County case (where the gunman attacked the later two spas) does involve Georgia’s hate crime enhancements, which can allege bias based on the victim’s sex, race or both.
It will be the first real test of Georgia’s new hate crime statute, passed after the killing of Ahmaud Arbery.
Thank you to Robert Peterson, Mike Webb, Jami Webb, Jennifer Wu, and so many advocates who spoke to me and my colleagues Nicole Chavez, Lacey Russell and Matthew Gannon for this piece.
Robert Peterson struggled for months to stop thinking about the day his mother and seven other people, mostly Asian women, were shot and killed last year at Atlanta-area spas.
My thoughts are with the family of Katie Meyer today. Her family gave me this statement last night:
Friends and loved ones of Stanford University star soccer player Katie Meyer, who died by suicide earlier this month, will pay their respects at a memorial service on Saturday.
Police Officer Nicholas Quintana and his wife suddenly took in 5 children after a tragic incident.
“It’s learning how to be a father on the fly, and I don’t want to fail,” Quintana told me.
It was a privilege to be able to meet him and his new, expanded family. Hoping for the best for these kids.
Yes, I got in the back of a cop car…to do a heartwarming story about Officer Nicholas Quintana of the North Las Vegas Police Department. He and his wife took in FIVE CHILDREN that he met on a dispatch call in January.
In that incident, the children’s father died, and their mother was taken into custody. Turns out Quintana has personal experience with family tragedy - and he knew he could help these children.
I loved being able to meet them and share their journey with people. I’ll post the video separately.
There will be baseball!!!
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have agreed to a tentative deal on a new collective bargaining agreement, two sources with knowledge of the situation told CNN.
From a CNN team in Kyiv: Donetsk region police say that according to preliminary information, 17 people were injured - mothers and staff - as a result of the Russian attack on the maternity hospital in Mariupol.
"Information on victims is being clarified," the police said.
Ukraine officials are accusing Russian forces of bombing a maternity hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine. CNN's Scott McLean gives the latest of this developing story.
On this #internationalwomensday, I want to tell you about just a few of the incredible women who shared their stories with me over the past 12 months. Scroll through the photos for a little bit about each person…
The video of the fireball is jaw-dropping.
Russian troops have occupied Ukraine's largest nuclear power plant, with managers working at "gunpoint" after a fire caused by their attack was extinguished, according to Ukrainian nuclear officials.
A fact check of last night's State of the Union address:
President Joe Biden delivered his first State of the Union address on Tuesday -- using the occasion to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, promote his first year in the White House as a success story and attempt to revive his domestic legislative agenda.
Opening Day is delayed! The league locked out the players on December 2, preventing them from using team facilities and keeping free agents from signing new contracts. The work stoppage stems from disagreements over how to divide up an estimated $11 billion in annual revenue.
Major League Baseball (MLB) is postponing its March 31 Opening Day and canceling the first two series of regular season games, Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday.
The president of Ukraine did an exclusive interview with Reuters and CNN, from the bunker in Kyiv in which he is leading his military’s response.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged US counterpart Joe Biden to give a strong and "useful" message about Russia's invasion of Ukraine at his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, in an exclusive interview with CNN and Reuters from the bunker in Kyiv in which he is leading his military's...
If you're watching coverage of the war and wondering how you can help the people of Ukraine, CNN has vetted these humanitarian aid organizations: https://action.publicgood.com/campaign/13ac7e1b-4de6-4f7c-b128-4346f73b9832?title=How%20to%20provide%20aid%20to%20those%20in%20Ukraine&utm_content=http%3A%2F%2Fcms3-mobile-preview.api.cnn.io&utm_medium=button&utm_source=cnn
For the past several weeks, my colleagues have been in Ukraine, Russia, Poland, bringing us the images and stories of people on the ground. They were first to report the invasion, and they continue to risk their lives to show us what's happening. I'm in awe of them.
If you'd like to follow their work, here are just a few of the journalists I'm proud to call my co-workers: Jim Sciutto, Erin Burnett OutFront, Clarissa Ward, Alex Marquardt CNN, Matthew Chance, Fred Pleitgen, Sam Kiley, Scott McLean, and so many more.
A historic nomination. Here’s what we know about Ketanji Brown Jackson.
President Joe Biden has selected Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee to the Supreme Court, according to a source who has been notified about the decision, setting in motion a historic confirmation process for the first Black woman to sit on the highest court in the nation.
Thinking of the families in the line of fire, and all the journalists - including our colleagues Clarissa Ward, Matthew Chance, Jim Sciutto, Erin Burnett OutFront and others - who have been there for weeks to show us what's happening.
https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-23-22/h_b931aa228a85d76fd4fa8afa4ab3fdff
100% I have this kind of mom.
What's better than a surprise visit from your mom while at work? ABC 6 reporter Myles Harris was out in the field reporting Saturday morning when his mom happen to drive by. Caption: ABC 6 / FOX 28 reporter Myles Harris received a surprise visit from his mom while working in the field on the morning...
The men convicted of killing Ahmaud Arbery are now also convicted of federal hate crimes.
A jury has found Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael and William "Roddie" Bryan guilty on all counts in their federal hate crime trial. Follow here for the latest.
Hope the Queen feels better soon.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, Buckingham Palace has announced.
Me, write another story about Disney? ;)
This one is about the new residential neighborhoods the company wants to develop across the U.S.:
The Disney company has plans to create residential neighborhoods across the US, the first of which is expected to break ground in Rancho Mirage, California. "Cotino" is the first project in its Storyliving by Disney venture.
This is not a Harry Potter movie. This is real. So heartbreaking for this girl.
A New York girl reported missing in 2019 when she was 4 years old was found alive this week under a wooden staircase in a home that officials had visited several times while investigating her disappearance, authorities said Tuesday.
I'll be live this morning at 9:40am ET to discuss this lawsuit filed yesterday.
The family of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer killed on the set of the movie "Rust" last fall, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Alec Baldwin, the film's production companies, its producers, and other key members of the crew.
“Somebody doesn’t get shot on a movie set. When was the last time that happened? This doesn’t happen unless people cut costs and engage in reckless behavior leading to a senseless, tragic death.” - Brian Panish, attorney for Hutchins family
The family of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer killed on the set of the movie "Rust" last fall, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Alec Baldwin, the film's production companies, its producers, and other key members of the crew.
Here are live updates on the quickly developing situation in Ukraine:
The United States is closing the US embassy in Kyiv and "temporarily relocating" the small number of remaining diplomatic personnel to Lviv, a city in the west of the country, "due to the dramatic acceleration in the buildup of Russian forces," Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Monday.
This was a really fun story to shoot! Thank you to the thousands of law enforcement personnel from more than a dozen agencies keeping everyone safe for Super Bowl 56, and to the folks at U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Division who gave us great access to the x-ray scanners and a Black Hawk ride.
Sometimes, my job allows me to go on some really cool rides.
Thank you, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations for taking our crew up in a #blackhawk over Los Angeles near SoFi Stadium. Story coming Saturday on how their efforts - along with those of a lot of other agencies - are keeping everyone safe for the #SuperBowl.
Congratulations, Nathan Chen! Oh my goodness, who saw his free skate performance?? Not only was the technique jaw-dropping, but it was also FUN. Damn, that step sequence.
Team USA's Nathan Chen won gold after a flawless free skate routine at the men's figure skating singles on Thursday, establishing his status as titan of the sport.
I covered a NFL public safety press conference yesterday at the #SuperBowl fan experience in downtown LA. Let’s just say half the panel were made up of local law enforcement who were already talking about security for a victory parade, and even DHS Secretary Mayorkas said he grew up in LA sleeping on a Los Angeles Rams pillow. No pressure, hometown team.
Bottom line: no credible threats right now for the Super Bowl.
If anyone is considering checking out the fan experience at the convention center, tickets for adults are $40 Thurs through Sat. Closed on game day. But if you get a COVID vaccine on site, you can get in free. Free on-site testing also available.
Many states are revising their mask rules (especially in K-12 school settings - though CA’s revision does not include schools yet). Case numbers are dropping, thank goodness.
Citing a 65% drop in Covid-19 cases since the peak of the Omicron surge, California will end its statewide indoor mask mandate for vaccinated individuals next week, nearly two years after it was first implemented, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Monday.
ISIS leader killed in US-led Syria raid, Biden says
US Special Forces killed ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi in a counterterrorism mission in northwest Syria Wednesday evening, President Joe Biden announced Thursday morning.
Happy #LunarNewYear! Really glad my parents could come visit me for the holiday. We had a delicious new year’s meal with very unique dishes… @bistronasus never disappoints!
Hope the year of the tiger brings you good health and good fortune.
Well after nearly 3 years, that’s a wrap on my FINAL weekend shift! Here we go ➡️ Mon-Fri
In May 2019, I transitioned from CNN Newsource to our domestic airwaves, bringing you the major headlines mostly on Saturdays and Sundays. I’m sure some breaking news will bring me back occasionally to weekend programming, but for now - you’ll see more of me on weekdays!
Thank you to the extraordinary weekend show teams and managers who have made our stories shine. And thanks to my family and friends who have been so obliging to try to meet me in the middle of the week when I had time off.
Now for the important questions…what’s the best place to get a weekend brunch in LA, and also, anyone know of a great LA int/advanced tap class for adults on weekends?
Los Angeles, CA
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