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Ex-deputy faces felony charges after being caught with more than 100 pounds of fentanyl, gun, RCDA says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

A former Riverside County Sheriff’s Department correctional deputy faces a series of local felony charges after he was allegedly caught with more than 100 pounds of fentanyl and a gun.Banning resident Jorge Oceguera-Rocha, 25, was pulled over in Calimesa on Sept. 17, and authorities allegedly found a gun and narcotics, the Riverside County District Attorney's Office said in a news release.The Sheriff's Department confirmed that Oceguera-Rocha had been under investigation for playing "a pivotal role of trafficking large quantities of narcotics within Riverside County while off duty." Deputy caught with more than 44 pounds of drugs, gun, RCSD says On Tuesday, the Sheriff's Department detailed that the drugs in question were fentanyl pills, of which Oceguera-Rocha had 104 pounds.Federal prosecutors declined to file charges against him, but Riverside County officials charged Oceguera-Rocha with possession of narcotics, transportation with the intent to distribute narcotics, weight enh...

Los Angeles housing market rose $202 billion in past year, Zillow says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

Everyone knows buying a house in Los Angeles is expensive, but the numbers just released by Zillow are likely still jaw-dropping to many.In a report released Tuesday, Zillow estimated the total value of the housing market in the L.A. metro area — the sum of Zillow's estimates for every home — is up $202 billion in the last year alone.The area's total value, $3.7 trillion, has seen a rapid increase since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, rising 38% over the past three years, Zillow said. In August 2023 alone, the median price in Los Angeles County was up 4.2%, according to the California Association of Realtors. "While a small chunk of this growth can be attributed to a 1.3% rise in the average value of a US home over the past year, the powerhouse behind this surge has been new construction," Zillow senior economist Orphe Divounguy explained. "Builders have chipped away at the housing deficit as a steady flow of new homes have hit the market this spring ...

Newsom signs law raising taxes on guns and ammunition to pay for school safety

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

California will double the taxes on guns and ammunition and use the money to pay for more security at public schools and various violence prevention programs under a new law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Tuesday. The federal government already taxes the sale of guns and ammunition at either 10% or 11%, depending on the type of gun. The law Newsom signed adds another 11% tax on top of that — making it the only state with its own tax on guns and ammunition, according to the gun control advocacy group Brady.Newsom — a potential Democratic candidate for president beyond 2024 — has a reputation as one of the country’s most liberal governors. But he has often refused to raise taxes, even for causes he supports like combating climate change.But it would have been difficult for Newsom to veto this tax increase, given his outspoken support for gun restrictions at the state and national level. Newsom is in the middle of a national campaign to amend the U.S. Constitution to restrict gun sales to pe...

GOP presidential hopefuls, minus Trump, set to debate in Simi Valley

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

Follow along for live updates on the second 2024 Republican presidential debate, which begins at 9 p.m. Wednesday ET in California. The field's early front-runner, Donald Trump, is skipping the event, just as he did the first. He'll be 2,000 miles away meeting with union workers in Michigan amid a labor strike.The candidates on stage will be Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.What to know— Who’s running for president? See a rundown of the 2024 candidates — 7 candidates qualified for the second debate. Here’s who missed the cut — Biden will join the autoworkers' picket line a day before Trump visits Michigan — Trump says he's always had autoworkers’ backs. His record shows otherwiseHutchinson misses debate stage but vows to stay in raceFormer Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson will mis...

Trenton Bevel Arrested after Fatal Crash on Van Fleet Street [Houston, TX]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

Stolen Car Crash Claimed Life of a 75-Year-Old WomanHOUSTON, TX (September 25, 2023) – Thursday morning, a carjacking collision on Van Fleet Street left a woman dead and Trenton Bevel arrested.The incident happened on September 7th, around 10:20 a.m., in the 7500 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard at Van Fleet Street.According to the police, a woman named Kathleen Hill was carjacked by two armed suspects in the 8400 block of Monroe on Wednesday night.Hill had a tracking system on her Dodge sports car and later reported the incident to the police the next morning.Meanwhile, Bevel crashed Hill’s car into another vehicle as it was stopped at a signal. The crash left the 75-year-old driver of the vehicle with severe injuries.Emergency crews at the site of the collision pronounced the 75-year-old woman dead at the scene.Meanwhile, 18-year-old Trenton Bevel sustained some injuries in the crash. Paramedics took him to a local hospital for treatment. Officials scheduled his a...

2 Fatally Struck in Red-Light Crash on Crenshaw Road [Pasadena, TX]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

Two Pronounced Dead after Speeding Car Collision near Beltway 8PASADENA, TX (September 26, 2023) – Saturday evening, two individuals lost their lives in a collision at a red-light intersection on Crenshaw Road.Emergency responders arrived at the scene around 6:00 p.m. on September 9th, where Crenshaw Road intersects with Beltway 8.According to initial reports, a silver sedan was traveling at a high rate of speed when it collided with a truck. The impact caused one of the passengers in the backseat of the truck to be ejected from the vehicle.Medical personnel arrived and declared two victims dead at the scene. However, authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the victims. It was also reported that one of the vehicle’s occupants was not wearing their seatbelt at the time of the collision.Another victim was airlifted by paramedics to Memorial Hermann Hospital for additional medical attention. In addition, law enforcement officers located the driver responsible f...

One Killed in Pedestrian Collision on Highway 101 [Santa Maria, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

Pedestrian Accident near Cat Canyon Resulted in FatalitySANTA MARIA, CA (September 26, 2023) – Late Friday night, a pedestrian/vehicle crash on Highway 101 claimed the life of one person.The fatal collision happened shortly before 11:30 p.m. along the northbound lanes of 101, south of Cat Canyon in the town of Los Alamos.At this time, the circumstances that led up to the incident remain unknown. Responding units from Santa Barabra County Fire declared the pedestrian dead at the scene.It was unclear if the involved driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigators.In the end, the California Highway Patrol temporarily closed down Highway 101 Santa Maria officials will release the identity of the deceased victim once the next of kin has been notified.Those with additional information regarding the fatal pedestrian/vehicle crash are encouraged to contact local authorities as soon as possible.Sweet James sends out their heartfelt sympathies to the friends and famil...

Woman Dead in Hit-and-Run on 65th Street Expressway [Sacramento, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

Pedestrian Collision near Lemon Hills Avenue Resulted in FatalitySACRAMENTO, CA (September 26, 2023) – Early Sunday morning, a hit-and-run on 65th Street Expressway left a woman dead.Police responded to the incident around 12:11 a.m. near the intersection of 65th Street Expressway and Lemon Hill Avenue.Upon arrival, officers discovered the woman in the roadway suffering from significant injuries. However, the driver of the vehicle was believed to have fled the scene before the authorities arrived.Responding firefighters rushed the female pedestrian to a nearby hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.At this time, investigators are working to determine the circumstances that led up to the crash. The Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers is currently offering up to $1000 reward to anyone who can give information that will lead to the suspect’s arrest.Anyone with additional information regarding the 65th Street Expressway hit-and-run can contact 916-808-5471 or 916-443-4357.The S...

Judge: Donald Trump defrauded banks, insurers for years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

By Michael R. Sisak | Associated PressNEW YORK — A judge has ruled that Donald Trump committed fraud for years while building the real estate empire that catapulted him to fame and the White House.Judge Arthur Engoron, ruling Tuesday in a civil lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general, found that the former president and his company deceived banks, insurers and others by massively overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing financing.The decision, days before the start of a non-jury trial in Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit, is the strongest repudiation yet of Trump’s carefully coiffed image as a wealthy and shrewd real estate mogul turned political powerhouse.Beyond mere bragging about his riches, Trump, his company and key executives repeatedly lied about them on his annual financial statements, reaping rewards such as favorable loan terms and lower insurance premiums, Engoron found.Those tacti...

Suspects driving previously carjacked vehicle commit another carjacking in Oakland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

OAKLAND — Two men were carjacked at gunpoint in the Oakland hills Monday night by masked suspects who arrived at the site in a vehicle belonging to a woman robbed and carjacked at gunpoint Saturday night in the Montclair district, authorities said.Both carjackings happened in a Safeway supermarket parking lot, authorities confirmed.The suspects and both carjacked vehicles were being sought Tuesday.Monday ‘s violence happened about 11:17 p.m. in the parking lot of the Safeway store at 4100 Redwood Rd.Police said three men drove into the parking lot in an Audi stolen at gunpoint Sunday night from a 62-year-old woman in the parking lot of the Safeway market at 2096 Mountain Blvd.Two masked men with handguns got out of the Audi and confronted a 51-year-old man and his 32-year-old son as they walked from their parked 2017 Mercedes sedan to the store.The suspects demanded the keys to the Mercedes and drove off in it with the Audi following, authorities said. The men were not i...