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California man charged with running a ‘high-end brothel network’ used by elected officials, military officers and others

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:07 GMT

(CNN) — Three individuals have been arrested on charges of operating a “high-end brothel network” in Massachusetts and Virginia with a clientele that included elected officials, military officers and government contractors with security clearances, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.“Pick a profession,” Joshua Levy, acting US attorney for Massachusetts, said of the sprawling client list during a press conference in Boston. “They’re probably represented in this case.”Levy did not identify any of the brothel’s clients and noted that multiple search warrants are being executed in the case in Massachusetts, California and Virginia.Han Lee, 41, of Cambridge, Massachusetts; James Lee, 68, of Torrance, California; and Junmyung Lee, 30, of Dedham, Massachusetts have been charged with conspiracy to coerce and entice to travel to engage in illegal sexual activity. They are expected to appear in federal court in Boston Wednesday or at a later date.The three individuals, Levy said, tran...

Watsonville-based farm owner charged with involuntary manslaughter after 2020 employee death

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:07 GMT

WATSONVILLE — The owner of a Watsonville-based farm has been formally charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection to the 2020 death of one of his employees in a workplace incident, according to the Santa Clara County Office of the District Attorney.The president of Willoughby Farms, Inc., 50-year-old David Willoughby, was arraigned on the felony charges Tuesday. He faces a potential maximum sentence of four years in prison.Around 4:50 a.m. on Oct. 15, 2020, Carlos Jimenez Cruz, a 32-year-old employee of Willoughby Farms died when the hood on his clothing was caught in the spinning shaft of a 16,000-pound spinach harvester, the DA’s Office said. Prosecutors allege that the farm didn’t provide adequate training and left dangerous parts of the machine exposed.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | San Jose police arrest second teen in connection to hit-and-run that killed pregnant woman, baby Crime and Public Safety | Nine arrested in s...

Photos: Paradise moves forward, 5 years after the Camp Fire

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:07 GMT

Related ArticlesCalifornia News | Rebuilding Paradise: Six projects to prevent a future tragedy, five years after the Camp Fire California News | Paradise recovery from deadly Camp Fire: How to build a fireproof town California News | Philp: California fire victims may be taxed for their suffering See from ground-level and from the skies how parts of Paradise, California, have changed in the five years since the Camp Fire — California’s deadliest and most destructive ever. Bay Area News Group photographers Karl Mondon and LiPo Ching documented the town on foot and from above via drone in the days immediately after the Nov. 8, 2018 inferno killed 85 residents and razed homes and businesses. Use the sliders below to compare then and now.Click here to read our full report on Paradise five years later.Ridgewood Mobile Home ParkValley Ridge DriveDawnridge CourtMelene Court

San Carlos samurai sword beheading trial: Landaeta made murder confession, deputy testifies

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:07 GMT

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (KRON) -- Testimony from key witnesses and investigators is underway for the samurai sword beheading murder trial in the San Mateo County courthouse. Jose "Rafa" Solano Landaeta, 34, of Hayward, is charged with murdering Karina Castro outside her San Carlos apartment building on Sept. 8, 2022. Landaeta refused to attend his own trial for opening statements on Tuesday, and instead remained in his jail cell. He chose to appear in the courtroom on Wednesday as testimony continued.San Mateo County Sheriff's deputy Damian Machuca testified that he was working at the grisly crime scene when Landaeta suddenly appeared with his mother and made a murder confession. Machuca said he first saw the duo when the mother and son lifted up yellow crime scene tape and crossed under it. "I yelled at them to move back," Machuca testified.Karina Castro (Images via Facebook) Prosecutor Josh Stauffer asked the deputy, "What are the exact words the defendant said to you?"Machuca a...

APEC protesters launch actions with Bay Bridge banner

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:07 GMT

(BCN) -- Get ready for a week of protests as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation comes to San Francisco. Early Wednesday, the group Oil and Gas Action Network launched the actions by hanging a 75-foot banner above the Treasure Island tunnel on the Bay Bridge reading "Biden & APEC: End Fossil Fuels." As over 21 heads of state arrive for the conference starting this weekend under the theme "Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All," protesters are arriving with the same challenge. Will there be a ‘homeless sweep’ before APEC? "We expect about 200 different organizations to come to the city to participate in a range of creative actions," said Matt Leonard, a spokesman for the group. Different groups will protest other causes, including labor rights and climate justice. But his group's focus is on U.S. policy on fossil fuels."President Biden has come under consistent fire for his administration's approval of massive new fossil fuel projects," the group said in a state...

What It’s Like to Give Birth in Gaza

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:07 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA — The Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip has left the health sector in the besieged coastal enclave in a state of unprecedented, near-total collapse, according to an investigation by +972 Magazine and The Intercept. The dire conditions were prompted by Israel’s intensive bombardment, sometimes targeting hospitals and surrounding areas, along with power cuts, shortages of fuel and medical supplies, and an exponential increase in injuries.More than half of the 30 hospitals in Gaza have closed completely, according to the Health Ministry. For others, the window of operation remains precariously short: The crisis has pushed many of the remaining health care centers to the brink of closure, rendering them incapable of providing vital medical services. Health care workers and hospital employees fear that, even as casualties rise daily, the health care system will soon be unable to accommodate new patients.“We ran out of fuel and the electricity is cut off. The hospital is...

Is the Democratic sweep of legislative elections a minor setback or disaster for Va. Gov. Youngkin?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:07 GMT

Democrats took full control of Virginia’s General Assembly, retaining their majority in the state Senate and winning enough seats to gain a majority in the House of Delegates.Analysts predicted both chambers would be highly competitive going in to Tuesday’s election. Now that the smoke has cleared, WTOP has spoken with analysts to figure out what happens next.Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball from the University of Virginia Center for Politics, joined WTOP Wednesday to talk about what Tuesday’s results mean going forward.Steven Farnsworth, political-science professor at the University of Mary Washington, also spoke with WTOP about Tuesday’s results.Find both conversations below:Kyle Kondik toggle audio on and off change volume ...

Brazil police say they foiled a terror plot and arrested two suspects

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:07 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Authorities in Brazil foiled a terror plot Wednesday when they arrested two people in Sao Paulo state, the Federal Police said in a statement.The two suspects were recruited and financed by the Lebanese militia Hezbollah and planned to target buildings tied to the Jewish community, according to an official with information about the plot who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The police statement did not give details about the suspects. It said police also executed 11 search warrants in Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais and the Federal District that were aimed at obtaining proof of possible recruitment of Brazilians for carrying out extremist acts in the country, adding that it was targeting both recruits and recruiters.Local paper O Globo reported that police arrested one of the two suspects when they returned to the international airport in Sao Paulo, with information in hand to carry out the attack. There are two additi...

Union Berlin ends 12-match losing streak with 1-1 draw at Napoli in Champions League

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:07 GMT

NAPLES, Italy (AP) — Union Berlin’s incredible losing streak ended in an unlikely place as it rescued a 1-1 draw at Serie A champion Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday.Matteo Politano gave Napoli the lead in the 39th minute but David Datro Fofana, who is on loan from Chelsea, leveled seven minutes after the break with his first goal in almost a year to prevent Union from falling to a 13th straight loss in all competitions.Napoli remained second in Group C, two points behind Real Madrid, which played Braga later.Braga was four points behind Napoli and two ahead of Union after the German team recorded its first point in this season’s Champions League.Napoli was still without standout forward Victor Osimhen but had won three of its four matches since he got injured.Napoli scored six minutes from halftime in somewhat fortunate circumstances as Mário Rui’s cross took a deflection off a Union player and hit Politano’s face to ricochet in from close range.Union almost levele...

Son of ‘Donnie Baseball’ Preston Mattingly earns front office promotion from Phillies

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:07 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Preston Mattingly was promoted Monday to the Philadelphia Phillies’ assistant general manager for player development.A son of former New York Yankees great and current Toronto Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly, Preston Mattingly was hired by the Phillies in September 2021 to run the club’s player development system. Mattingly spent five seasons with the San Diego Padres as coordinator of major league advance scouting and game planning after working as manager of scouting for three years. The Phillies also promoted Brian Barber to assistant general manager of amateur scouting. Barber joined the Phillies in October 2019. “Our minor league talent has continued to progress because of the hard work of Brian and Preston and their staffs. Both Brian and Preston will continue to lead their respective departments while growing within our organization.” Phillies President Dave Dombrowski said.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbSource