By JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) — Texas’ top criminal court on Thursday again paused the execution of Robert Roberson, just days before he was set to become the first person in the U.S. put to death for a murder conviction tied to a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome.

This was the third execution date that Roberson’s lawyers have been able to stay since 2016, including one scheduled nearly a year ago, due to an unprecedented intervention from a bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers who believe he is innocent.

The latest execution stay was granted by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Roberson had been scheduled to receive a lethal injection on Oct. 16.

The court granted the stay based on Texas’ 2013 junk science law, which allows a person convicted of a crime to seek relief if the evidence used against them is no longer credible. In granting the stay, the court cited its October 2024 ruling that overturned a conviction in another shaken baby case out of Dallas. Roberson’s lawyers argue that case is indistinguishable from Roberson’s.

The appeals court sent Roberson’s case back to his trial court in East Texas for review.

Since his first execution date more than nine years ago, Roberson’s lawyers have filed multiple petitions with state and federal appeals courts, as well as with the U.S. Supreme Court, to try and stop his execution. Over the years, they have also asked the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and Gov. Greg Abbott to stop his lethal injection, as part of their efforts to secure Roberson a new trial.

Prosecutors at Roberson’s 2003 trial argued that he hit his 2-year-old daughter Nikki Curtis and violently shook her, causing severe head trauma. They said she died from injuries related to shaken baby syndrome.

Roberson has long proclaimed his innocence, telling The Associated Press in an interview last week from death row in Livingston, Texas, that he never abused his daughter.

“I never shook her or hit her,” he said.

The diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome refers to a serious brain injury caused when a child’s head is hurt through shaking or some other violent impact, like being slammed against a wall or thrown on the floor.

Roberson’s lawyers and some medical experts say his daughter died not from abuse but from complications related to pneumonia. They say his conviction was based on flawed and now outdated scientific evidence.

In their latest appeal, Roberson’s lawyers included what they say are new legal and scientific developments and expert analyses that show Nikki’s death was caused by illness and accident, not by abuse.

Roberson’s lawyers also included a joint statement from 10 independent pathologists who said the medical examiner’s autopsy report, which concluded Nikki died from blunt force head injuries, was “not reliable.”

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His attorneys have also claimed that new evidence shows judicial misconduct in Roberson’s case. They allege the judge who presided over Roberson’s trial never disclosed he was the one who authorized circumventing Roberson’s parental rights and allowing Nikki’s grandparents to remove her from life support.

The office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, as well as some medical experts and other family members of Nikki, maintain the girl died because of child abuse and that Roberson had a history of hitting his daughter.

In a Sept. 26 op-ed in The Dallas Morning News, three pediatricians, including two with the Yale School of Medicine, said they reviewed the case and “are convinced that Nikki was a victim of child abuse.”

Shaken baby syndrome has come under scrutiny in recent years; some lawyers and medical experts say the diagnosis has wrongly sent people to prison. Prosecutors and medical societies say it remains valid.

Roberson’s supporters include both liberal and ultraconservative lawmakers, Texas GOP megadonor and conservative activist Doug Deason, bestselling author John Grisham, and Brian Wharton, the former police detective who helped put together the case against him.

By FATIMA HUSSEIN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Thursday imposed sanctions on a group of 50 people, companies and ships largely out of the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and China, alleging they were facilitating the shipment of Iranian oil and sales of liquefied petroleum gas.

Included in the penalties are two dozen “shadow fleet” ships flagged across multiple nations, concealing the origin of Iranian oil and circumvents earlier sanctions; a China-based crude oil terminal; and a non-state-owned Chinese refinery. The Treasury Department said they are key to Iran’s ability to export petroleum and petroleum products.

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The department said the entities and individuals cited enabled the export of billions of dollars worth of oil and gas products, aiding Iran’s government.

The administration is citing a collection of executive orders signed by Republican President Donald Trump, including one in February that calls for the United States to “drive Iran’s export of oil to zero.”

Among other things, the sanctions deny the people and companies access to any property or financial assets held in the U.S. and prevent U.S. businesses and citizens from doing business with them.

Trump’s “maximum pressure” on Iran is meant to deny Tehran access to nuclear weapons, and during the summer, the U.S. and Israel engaged in several bombardments of Tehran’s nuclear and military sites.

The United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran in September over its nuclear program, further squeezing the country as Iranians increasingly find themselves priced out of the food and worried about their futures. Iran’s rial currency is at a record low, increasing pressure on food prices and making daily life that much more challenging.

Since January, the administration has imposed sanctions on 166 ships tied to the Iranian oil trade. The new sanctions target a second Chinese oil terminal and a fourth independently owned refinery in China.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement that the administration is disrupting the Iranian government’s “ability to fund terrorist groups that threaten the United States.”

By Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times

When it comes to making travel plans for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, you may still be crouched at the starting blocks. But the race for flights, hotel reservations and event tickets will begin in 2026, long before the Games commence.

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If you’re planning to visit Southern California for LA28, preparation will be crucial. And a little positive thinking wouldn’t hurt. As Winnipeg-based sports tour operator Dave Guenther of Roadtrips says, the Olympic cycle often feels like “two or three years of cynicism followed by two weeks of unbridled joy.”

As the days tick down to the L.A. Olympics (July 14-30, 2028) and Paralympics (Aug. 15-27, 2008), we’ll be answering the most important travel questions. We’ll be adding updates as new information comes in, so be sure to bookmark this guide.

Getting tickets to the Games

When will tickets for the Olympic Games go on sale?

Beginning in January, fans can register to enter the lottery for Olympic tickets at the organizing committee’s website, la28.org. If selected in the random draw, organizers say, fans will receive a purchase time and date for when ticket drops begin in spring 2026. Organizers say those in communities near Games venues will get early access. See a broader outline of LA28’s ticket schedule here.

Also in early 2026, LA28 will start offering hospitality packages that combine event tickets with overnight accommodations, transportation and/or special events. Tickets for the Paralympic Games will go on sale in 2027.

More details are expected later this year. Anyone interested can sign up to receive announcements through the LA28 newsletter.

What will tickets cost?

Organizers say Olympic and Paralympic competition tickets will start at $28, about $2 more than they did in Paris in 2024. We don’t know the high end yet. If Paris is a fair guide, most-coveted seats for the most popular events could be as high as $800 or more. The official vendors are also expected to manage a channel for resales of tickets, as they did in Paris.

The two most costly events are likely to be the opening and closing ceremonies. In Paris, per-ticket prices reached more than $2,900 for the opening, and more than $1,700 for the closing. In Los Angeles — for the first time — the opening ceremonies will be split between two venues, the L.A. Coliseum and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

Some of the toughest tickets, Guenther said, are gymnastics, swimming, track and field, and beach volleyball. “If you are super keen on seeing the women’s gymnastics finals, you might be on a path to disappointment,” Guenther said. “But if you’re flexible, there are a lot of things that are going to be options.”

Can I volunteer at the Games?

You can try. Recent Summer Olympics have relied upon tens of thousands of volunteers, who must meet language and training requirements. (Not every aspiring volunteer in Paris got assigned.) To stay in touch with volunteer opportunities, sign up for the LA28 newsletter.

Where will the Games happen?

The 2028 festivities will include 36 Olympic sports and 23 Paralympic sports, spread over about 40 venues. The lion’s share of Olympic events will take place in downtown L.A. and Exposition Park (which together have 10 venues); Long Beach (seven venues); Carson; Inglewood; the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys.

But events are also scheduled in San Clemente, Venice, Anaheim, Pacific Palisades, Pomona and the City of Industry. The Paralympics will use many of the same venues. Indeed, this could be a learning experience for out-of-towners who don’t realize just how broadly Greater Los Angeles sprawls.

The softball and canoe slalom events will be held in Oklahoma City.

Flights, hotels and Airbnbs

How far ahead can I book flights?

Most airlines usually start accepting bookings 330 days (or 11 months) before the flight date. At Southwest Airlines, lead time can be eight to 10 months.

How far ahead can I book a hotel?

Ordinarily, hotels start accepting bookings 365 days ahead, so if you’re just looking for a room (and not a ticket-and-hotel package), set a reminder for around July 2027. Many hotels in Greater Los Angeles — especially those unaffiliated with global brands — are likely to follow their usual timetables. If you’re interested in a hotel-ticket combo deal, those will be offered in early 2026, as previously mentioned.

Industry veterans say most major hotels around Los Angeles have probably already made deals allotting blocks of 2028 rooms to organizers of the Games or independent tour operators like Roadtrips. For example, the Queen Mary in Long Beach already has 300 rooms and suites under contract with LA28, according to managing director Steve Caloca.

Another opportunity may arise even later: Typically, organizers and tour operators often return unsold room-nights to hotel control 60 or 90 days ahead of the event, which may give consumers a chance to book those “leftovers” directly, perhaps at a lower cost.

What will hotel rooms cost?

Nothing boosts hotel prices like the Olympics, and experts say the most luxurious hotels tend to hike their prices the most. Analyzing figures from Paris, hotel industry consultants CoStar found that average hotel rates — $342-$393 in the summer of 2023 — more than doubled to $731-$939 for the 2024 Games.

L.A.’s starting hotel rates are lower than those in Paris were. CoStar found that average daily hotel rates for greater L.A. from July 14-30, 2024, were $193-$231.

What about short-term rentals?

Again, expect prices to soar. Airbnb reported a 40% jump in accommodations inventory and a 400% jump in Paris-area bookings during the 2024 Games. On the eve of the Games, property management website Hostify.com reported that asking prices for short-term rentals in Paris had quintupled from $154 nightly to $772.

Do note that at every Games, it seems, there are reports of astronomical prices, followed by later reports of 11th-hour discounts because some people got too greedy earlier on.

Los Angeles seems to be starting out with higher short-term rental rates than those in Paris. The vacation rental website Airroi.com estimates the average Airbnb rate in greater Los Angeles for the year ended August 2025 was $283.

But of course, you can spend plenty more. One broker told The Times he has already rented out an L.A. mansion for $300,000 a month in 2028.

How far ahead can I book a short-term rental?

Airbnb allows bookings up to two years in advance, which is also VRBO’s default setting.

Will tensions between major L.A. hotels and union workers surface during the Olympics?

Hard to say. The L.A. City Council in May approved a measure requiring many hotels to raise their minimum wage to $30 hourly by July 2028. A business group started a petition drive seeking to undo the measure but fell short earlier this month.

Could President Trump’s immigration policies affect the Games?

That’s anybody’s guess. Heads of state in host countries usually play a ceremonial role, standing mostly in the background. Trump may have other ideas. In early August, he announced that he would chair a task force in charge of Olympic safety, border security and transportation.

Some foreign sports fans might stay away to signal opposition to the Trump Administration, as many Canadian travelers have been doing this year. But domestic travelers, not foreign visitors, fill most seats at the Olympics. Paris tourism statistics show U.S. visitors to that city during the 2024 “Olympic fortnight” were up a relatively modest 13% over the previous year.

Why do people go through so much trouble to see the Games?

“There is a tremendous magic,” Guenther said. “It really is quite something how people enjoy the time together with people from all over the world. … You find yourself welling up for an athlete in a sport you’ve never thought about.”

(Times staff writer Thuc Nhi Nguyen contributed to this report.)

©2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

If you ask me, there’s nothing more fun than a theme party, especially if costumes are involved.

There really are no downsides to dressing as the Cookie Monster for Halloween. (Denver Post file)

I enjoy finding decorations, cooking themed food, pouring creative cocktails, making playlists and sending friends home with little trinkets. Plus, the theme is an immediate ice-breaker for guests, who may be meeting each other for the first time or who just want to whisper about how quirky my household is (which is fine) as they study the decor.

My theme parties over the years have included the moon landing, Woodstock, Halloween monsters, a come-as-your-high-school-self birthday, a Scholastic book fair for adults and a Christmas cookie party.

Lisa Geiser, owner of Eclectic Elegance Events in Denver, agrees that theme parties do not have to be expensive or super fancy.

“I tell people don’t worry about trends,” Geisler said. “Just get creative and just do you, not caring what people think.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Let’s jump into some tips on how to organize your theme party.

Step 1: Pick your theme

This is the most important thing, so let’s get it right.

Search inside yourself and decide what you like. This is your party, after all, and you should tailor it to your interests. Do that, and the authenticity will shine through. Your guests will love it.

Geisler recommends watching movies or searching the internet for videos and pictures from international holiday celebrations to find ideas.

“Google is your best friend to kind of see what people are doing,” Geisler said.

I love vintage stuff and childhood nostalgia. A quick and easy theme is to pick your birth year and start from there. What movies and TV shows were popular? What music were people listening to? What were they eating?

I once hosted a 1969-themed birthday and asked people to roll with it. My parents came as their younger selves — my mom wore a long blonde wig and shoved a pillow under her shirt to appear pregnant and my dad wore a white T-shirt and Madras plaid shorts like a pair he was photographed wearing while holding me as an infant. He handed out pink bubblegum cigars to the guests.

My husband bought a Cookie Monster costume because that is the year the lovable Cookie arrived on Sesame Street. I dressed as Janis Joplin.

(In the spring, I hosted a Scholastic Book Fair for adults for my best friend’s birthday since we both associate those days at school with joy. As my friend explains, it’s fun to think of things you enjoyed as a child and then spend your “grownup money” on them. We thrifted books for our guests to shop, let them decorate tote bags, gave away bookmarks and cute pens and pencils, decorated with old vintage paperbacks and held a spelling bee. People are still talking about the party six months later.)

For Halloween, I love the classic monsters such as Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolfman. It’s easy to build a party from there.

At Christmas, I go with vintage holiday decor. That could be paired with a jazz-themed party or a 1950s cocktail night.

Step 2: Set your budget

The economy is tough, and no one should go broke over a party. Make your only regret a little bit of a hangover, not a zero balance in your checking account.

Decide what the top three to five priorities will be at your party. Killer cocktails? Beautiful floral arrangements? A fancy cake? Goodie bags?

Planning is key here. If you pick your theme early, then you have time to shop at thrift stores, flea markets and sale racks at Target, Walmart and Michael’s. Save money on decorations, costumes or snacks and shift that spending to the things you value most at a party, whether that’s an expensive bottle of bourbon or a new outfit.

Step 3: Send the invitations

The holiday calendars fill up fast. So avoid those “regrets” responses by locking in the date early.

Steal a tactic from wedding planners and send save-the-date invitations.

Step 4: Plan the menu

There is no shame in making box brownies for a party. People love ’em. (Lynda Balslev, Media News Group)

I’m Southern, and the biggest party foul for me would be running out of food. My guests simply cannot go hungry, and it’s even better if I can pack to-go boxes for them when they leave

I’ve learned that RSVPs can be unreliable, so I think of dishes that can stretch on a budget. For example, for a brunch I might make a grits casserole but I will have more on hand that I can whip up on the fly. Chips and salsa never fail. Pans of Duncan Hines brownies always please the crowd and are quick and inexpensive. And for a cute, sweet cheat, buy a box of Little Debbie Swiss cake rolls, cut them into pieces and artfully arrange the rounds on a holiday platter.

Step 5: Decorate early

I start decorating the weekend before the party. I prefer to save my energy for the actual party. Plus, if the decorations are cool, it’s fun to have a festive house for longer than a weekend.

Put up decorations first in the least-used parts of the house. The kitchen and dining area would be last because you know you’re going to make a mess in that room almost every day. But the garland on the mantle or lights on the front porch can go up early.

Step 6: Leave time for yourself

Make sure you give yourself time to look cute when guests arrive. It’s stressful to just be getting out of the shower 30 minutes before the first people arrive.

Step 7: Don’t be afraid to ask for help

If someone texts the day of the party and asks if you need anything, don’t be afraid to ask for that extra bag of ice or bottle of wine.