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6 arrested in undercover prostitution sting in Los Angeles

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:54 GMT

Los Angeles police have rescued a minor who was the victim of human trafficking and made six arrests as part of a prostitution crackdown, authorities announced Monday.  Between Dec. 10-16, undercover vice officers with the Los Angeles Police Department conducted surveillance operations along the busy Figueroa Corridor “targeting lewd conduct, prostitution, and human trafficking activities,” according to a LAPD news release.  The ongoing effort, police said, is to prevent the trafficking of women and minors in the area.  Over the six-day operation, officers spotted numerous people approaching and soliciting women for sexual services, with many of the exchanges and services happening in public near residential neighborhoods where families and children were present, police said. Family of man fatally gunned down say first responders ‘negligent’ Uniformed officers with LAPD’s Southeast Division arrested individuals as they were committing the crimes, the release stated.  Six...

Woman Fatally Struck in Pedestrian Collision on Beckman Road [Lodi, CA]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:54 GMT

23-Year-Old Female Pedestrian Pronounced Dead after Fatal Crash near Kettleman LaneLODI, CA (December 18, 2023) – One woman died Wednesday afternoon in a pedestrian crash at the 700 block of Beckman Road.The incident occurred at approximately 5:10 p.m. near the intersection of Kettleman Lane and Lodi Avenue.According to accounts, the driver of a southbound vehicle struck a female pedestrian who had entered the road from the western sidewalk.Upon the collision, the 23-year-old female pedestrian suffered serious injuries and succumbed to them at the scene. Despite this, her identity has not been disclosed to the public.Furthermore, the driver involved in the incident remained present at the scene and fully cooperated with the ongoing investigation.After initial investigations, law enforcement authorities have not identified drugs and alcohol as contributing factors to the collision. Individuals with any additional information regarding the Beckman Road pedestrian crash are urged...

Shooting in South San Jose leaves one dead, another injured

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:54 GMT

SAN JOSE – One man was killed and another was injured in a shooting over the weekend in South San Jose, police said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | San Jose police arrest man allegedly connected to seven-figure fraud scheme Crime and Public Safety | Milpitas police arrest five at Great Mall in anti-shoplifting operation Crime and Public Safety | South Bay prisoner implicated in inmate homicide at Salinas Valley State Prison Crime and Public Safety | San Jose, Union City tech workers accused of stealing devices and secrets, making smoking-gun mistakes Crime and Public Safety | CHP suspects arson in multiple brush fires near San Jose highways Officers were called to Snow and Giusti drives, near Great Oaks Park, around 4:20 a.m. Sunday for reports of gunshots, San Jose police Sgt. Jorge Garibay said in a news release Monday afternoon. They arrived to find evidence of a shooting but no victims.A sh...

YouTube mom who gave parenting advice pleads guilty to abuse

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:54 GMT

By Amy Beth Hanson | Associated PressA Utah mother of six who gave parenting advice on YouTube pleaded guilty Monday to child abuse charges and will go to prison for trying to convince her two youngest children they were evil, possessed and needed to be punished to repent.Ruby Franke stood shackled in gray and white jail clothing as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before pleading guilty to each of her first three charges. On the fourth, she fought back some emotion before saying: “With my deepest regret and sorrow for my family and my children, guilty.”Judge John J. Walton scheduled sentencing for Feb. 20 after accepting the plea agreement, which described new details of the abuse the children endured, including the claims that they were possessed. Under the plea agreement, Franke agreed to serve a prison term and the sentences will run consecutively. Sentencing would be up to the judge.Franke pleaded not guilty to two other counts, court records said, and was...

The nine most expensive homes reported sold in Oakland in the week of Dec. 4

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:54 GMT

A house that sold for $2.2 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Oakland in the past week.In total, nine residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $1.7 million, $896 per square foot.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Dec. 4 even if the property may have been sold earlier.9. $1.3 million, single-family home in the 3600 block of Victor Ave.A sale has been finalized for the detached house in the 3600 block of Victor Ave. in Oakland. The price was $1,260,000 and the new owners took over the house in October. The house was built in 1945 and the living area totals 2,094 square feet. The price per square foot ended up at $602. The house features four bedrooms and two bathrooms.Victor Avenue8. $1.3 million, single-family house in the 4400 block of Redwood RoadThe 2,035 square-foot single-family home in the 4400 block of Redwo...

Letters: Utility tax | Hiding truth | Code of conduct

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:54 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Pressure Legislatureto repeal utility taxRe: “PG&E seeking rate hike — again” (Page A1, Dec 13).California legislators gave us an early Christmas present that they didn’t wrap. Most of them were unaware that they were sending us a gift, but they still voted for it.I’m referring to AB 205, which was approved last year.Starting in the summer of 2024, the California Public Utility Commission will vote to unwrap this new gift: a utility tax charging most ratepayers between $30 and $70 per month.According to the Public Advocates Office’s February report, residential electricity rates in California have already risen between 77% and 105% since 2014. Analysts say AB 205 will increase utility bills for people like me who live in apartments, condos, and smaller homes that don’t use much energy. It also discourages energy conservation, efficiency and solar panels.Please call your state Assemb...

ESPN rules analyst: Refs had ‘no choice’ but to give Sharks’ MacDonald major penalty

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:54 GMT

San Jose Sharks coach David Quinn might have disagreed with a ruling that resulted in defenseman Jacob MacDonald being assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for a hit from behind on a Colorado Avalanche player. But a former NHL referee felt the game’s officials made the correct call.MacDonald on Sunday was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski just 2:47 into the first period. Malinski’s face was cut on the play.Per league rules, NHL referees are required to conduct a video review on all major penalty calls, and after Frederick L’Ecuye and Tom Chmielewski looked at the replay, the call was confirmed and MacDonald was ejected.Forward Valeri Nichushkin scored the game’s opening goal on the ensuing five-minute power play and the Avalanche never trailed again, cruising to a 6-2 win over the Sharks at Ball Arena in Denver.“The five-minute major, (Malinski) toe-picks right as (MacDonald) is about to hit hi...

Volcano erupts in Iceland after thousands were evacuated

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:54 GMT

Associated PressSTOCKHOLM — A volcanic eruption started Monday night on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, turning the sky orange and prompting the country’s civil defense to be on high alert.The eruption appears to have occurred about four kilometers (2.4 miles) from the town of Grindavik, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said. Grainy webcam video showed the moment of the eruption as a flash of light illuminating the sky at 22:17 local time. As the eruption spread, magma, or semi-molten rock, could be seen spewing along the ridge of a hill.“The magma flow seems to be at least a hundred cubic meters per second, maybe more. So this would be considered a big eruption in this area at least,” Vidir Reynisson, head of Iceland’s Civil Protection and Emergency Management told the Icelandic public broadcaster, RUV.In November, police evacuated the town or Grindavik after strong seismic activity in the area damaged homes and raised fears of an imminent eruption.I...

And the winner for San Jose BART’s boring machine name competition is…

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:54 GMT

After more than 400 submissions and 1,175 votes on a name for San Jose BART’s tunnel boring machine, we have a winner — and it’s sure to make sci-fi fans giddy.“Shai-Hulud” came in first place, with 229 votes, a nod to the sand worm creatures in the popular “Dune” novels and movies that many readers say resemble the boring machine that will carve a nearly five-mile tunnel underneath San Jose for the future BART extension. The Valley Transportation Authority purchased the $76 million dollar device in November from Germany and it will be shipped to the South Bay in pieces before being reassembled. Construction is set to begin in 2025.“It is just such a perfect fit for Silicon Valley,” said Rob Lofland, a Sunnyvale resident who is a big fan of the books written by Frank Herbert and submitted the name. “We have so many engineering geeks.”For the non-Dune fans: The Shai-Hulud are enormous worms that populate the planet of ...

Texas gov. signs measure turning police into border patrol

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:54 GMT

By Valerie Gonzalez and Paul J. Weber | Associated PressBROWNSVILLE, Texas — Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday approved sweeping new powers that allow police to arrest migrants who illegally cross the U.S. border and give local judges authority to order them to leave the country, testing the limits of how far a state can go to enforce immigration laws.Opponents have called the measure the most dramatic attempt by a state to police immigration since a 2010 Arizona law — denounced by critics as the “Show Me Your Papers” bill — that was largely struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and Texas’ law is also likely to face swift legal challenges.It allows any Texas law enforcement officer to arrest people who are suspected of entering the country illegally. Once in custody, they could either then agree to a Texas judge’s order to leave the U.S. or be prosecuted on misdemeanor charges of illegal entry. M...