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FBI warns of increase in scams targeting elderly people after L.A. man arrested in timeshare fraud

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

A Los Angeles man was among two arrested this week after allegedly targeting elderly people in a telemarketing timeshare scheme, one of the latest incidents in what the FBI warns is an increase in elder fraud.The men, Michael Farole, 44, of West Los Angeles, and Christopher Lang, 42, of Hays, Kansas, said they represented companies that provided advertising and other services to current and former timeshare owners, and allegedly convinced victims to pay advance fees in return for services that involved selling or securing the sale or rental of timeshares, officials said.They were charged in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.After the victims paid initial fees for services that were never provided, the defendants allegedly kept contacting the victims by phone, text and emails in efforts to charge more fees.An investigation revealed that at least 370 elderly people lost more than $4.5 million as a result of the fraud, officials said.“The victims u...

SAG-AFTRA strike looms as talks continue with Hollywood studios

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

Both SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood studios could be extending negotiations to avoid a strike. The current contract expires at midnight on July 1, but that deadline could be extended to July 7.If no deal is made, either with the contract or extension, by Friday, members of the Screen Actors Guild would hit the picket lines as soon as the first of the month. Earlier this week, more than 300 actors signed a letter to SAG-AFTRA leadership urging them to fight for a strong deal rather than compromise too soon. The union is pushing for Hollywood studios to restrict the use of AI and secure higher streaming residuals for its members. Artificial intelligence has become a major point of contention in talks. Justine Bateman sounded the alarm over six weeks ago about how important of a topic it is in Hollywood. In May, the SAG-AFTRA board asked members to authorize a strike ahead of negotiation talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.“An affirmative vote does not mean a st...

Anthony Sanchez, Caitlin Leedy Killed in High-Speed Car Accident on State Route 29 [St. Helena, CA]

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

Two Pronounced Dead after Solo-Vehicle Collision near Whitehall LaneST. HELENA, CA (June 30, 2023) – Saturday morning, Anthony Sanchez and Caitlin Leedy were killed in a high-speed crash on State Route 29.The incident happened at around 1:56 a.m., on the southbound lanes of the freeway near Whitehall Lane.According to reports, the driver of a red BMW 325i was driving at a high rate of speed and lost control of the vehicle. The BMW then veered into oncoming lanes and crashed into a sign on the east shoulder of the road. Upon impact, the BMW overturned.Medical personnel arrived and pronounced the driver and front passenger dead at the scene. Meanwhile, paramedics took two other backseat passengers to Providence Queen of the Valley Hospital with moderate injuries. The passengers were identified as Robert Davis, 24, and Evan Gravett, 22 of Calistoga.On Tuesday, the coroner’s office identified the deceased driver as Anthony Sanchez, 28, and the deceased passenger as Caitlin Leedy, ...

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Tries to Turn Back Time

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

Indiana Jones used to be afraid of one thing: snakes. The archeologist could outrun boulders, crawl through tunnels and hop on moving planes, but put him next to one of those slithering creatures and he turns into a school girl with a bug on her desk. Harrison Ford was the definition of fearless in Steven Speilberg’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, but his character has grown scared of a number of things in recent years, like risk, vivacity and originality. The sequels haven’t exactly broken new ground, delivering the same combination of laughs and thrills audiences have come to expect from this franchise. And Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny offers more of the same.As always, the action sequences–which include the inevitable running through jungles and flying across deserts–are solid. But the title Dial of Destiny, might as well refer to the series itself turning back the clock: a digital de-aging technique allows the filmmakers to bring back the original Indy...

Nine things to know about California’s new state Assembly speaker

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

California’s Assembly Speaker is among the Golden State’s most powerful political positions, a perch considered second only to the governor in influence that controls the flow of legislation, and from which many legendary politicians made their mark — Ralph M. Brown,  Jesse “Big Daddy” Unruh and Willie Brown, to name a few.On Friday, the Assembly gavel passed for the first time in more than seven years to Assemblyman Robert Rivas, 43, a Democrat whose district stretches from Gilroy to King City and includes Hollister, Watsonville and Salinas. He replaces fellow Democrat Anthony Rendon, 55, of Los Angeles County.So what do you need to know about this shift of power in the Capitol?The role of SpeakerThe Speaker presides over California’s 80-member state Assembly, appointing committee chairs and controlling the flow of legislation through hearings and votes. Elected by the full Assembly, the Speaker is nominated by the majority party caucus, becoming...

Check out blind photographers’ exhibit ‘Sight Unseen’ in Walnut Creek

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

Vision is a slippery word that in application slides beyond the human eye’s physiological capabilities to reach the more allusive way of seeing referred to as “visionary.”This idea is made emphatically by “Sight Unseen: International Photography by Blind Artists,” an exhibit running July 8 through Sept. 17 in the Bedford Gallery at Walnut Creek’s downtown Lesher Center for the Arts (bedfordgallery.org/exhibitions/current-season/sight-unseen).On tour via Pasadena-based Curatorial Assistance Traveling Exhibitions and originating from UC Riverside’s California Museum of photography (an affiliate institution of UC Riverside’s ARTSblock), the exhibit curated by photographer Douglas McCulloh features the work of 13 world-renowned blind photographers.The featured artists have a range of sight impairment, from completely to legally blind to vision that is significantly limited. The causes are varied and include some, like Henry Butler, a musician who was born blind; other photographer...

Antioch city manager says he will resign

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

Antioch City Manager Cornelius Johnson has given notice that he will resign as of July 14.Johnson, who was placed on administrative leave March 17 following a closed-door City Council session, confirmed his resignation and two weeks’ notice in a phone call Friday morning. The City Council learned of the action through an email from City Attorney Thomas Lloyd Smith.The reasons behind the council putting Johnson on leave last spring are still unclear, but Johnson had faced backlash on some decisions, including one to reorganize the Public Works and Community Development departments and form a new Engineering Department, among others.Johnson’s last day also will be former Acting City Manager Forrest Ebbs’ final day. Ebbs is leaving to take a deputy city manager position in Modesto; Kwame Reed, former Economic Development director, has stepped up to fill the acting city manager role.On Friday, Johnson said his resignation was in the best interest of the city and “it was time” to move on...

Famous castaway Elián González is now a Cuban lawmaker

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

By Andrea Rodriguez | Associated PressHAVANA — Elián González has the same big, expressive eyes he did 23 years ago when an international custody battle transformed him into the face of the long-strained relations between Cuba and the United States.Now 29, González is stepping into Cuban politics. He recently entered his country’s congress with hopes of helping his people at a time of record emigration and heightened tension between the two seaside neighbors.“From Cuba, we can do a lot so that we have a more solid country, and I owe it to Cubans,” he said during an exclusive interview with The Associated Press. “That is what I’m going to try to do from my position, from this place in congress — to contribute to making Cuba a better country.”González has given only a handful of interviews since he was unwittingly thrust into the geopolitical spotlight as a boy. In 1999, at just 5 years old, he and his mother were aboard a boat of Cuban migrants hea...

Boating while intoxicated is a crime, Coast Guard warns ahead of July 4

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

(KRON) -- U.S. Coast Guard crews throughout California will increase boat safety patrols during the July 4th holiday weekend for "Operation Dry Water," targeting people who violate Boating Under the Influence (BUI) laws.It is illegal to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Coast Guard officials warned. Penalties for violating BUI laws include large fines, suspension or revocation of boat operator privileges, and jailtime. During the 2022 "Operation Dry Water," officers made contact with 126,832 vessels and 350,472 boaters. These engagements resulted in 11,869 citations and 794 BUIs.From Saturday through Tuesday, boaters can expect an increased presence from the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary, who will be paying particular attention to recreational boating safety this weekend. Alcohol use is the lead contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, accounting for the largest percentage of fatalities.Boaters on Lake Tahoe (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez /Clarks...

Nets trading Joe Harris, a two-time NBA 3-point leader, to the Pistons, AP source says

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets are trading Joe Harris, who twice led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage, to the Detroit Pistons, a person with knowledge of the details said Friday.The Nets also sent two second-round picks to the Pistons in a move designed to create additional salary cap options for the free agency period that was set to begin hours later. The deal was first reported by ESPN.Harris was the Nets’ longest-tenured player, having originally signed with the team in July 2016. He rose to become one of their most dependable players, leading the NBA by shooting 47.4% from 3-point range in 2018-19, then a franchise-record 47.5% in 2020-21.But the swingman was limited to 14 games in 2021-22 before surgery on his left ankle, and had a lesser role in the latter half of last season after the Nets acquired four starters in the trades for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in February. Harris is set to make $19.9 million next season in the final year of his contract. ___Mor...