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El Salvador plans mass trials for those imprisoned in gang crackdown

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:51 GMT

SAN SALVADOR (AP) — New rules passed by El Salvador’s congress Wednesday will allow courts to try accused gang members in mass trials, in an effort to expedite tens of thousands of cases for those detained under the country’s crackdown on street gangs.The changes to the country’s criminal code are just the latest in President Nayib Bukele’s war on the Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gangs, which began last year when the leader declared a “state of emergency” in response to a wave of violence.His government suspended constitutional rights and has detained 71,976 people accused of being in gangs, or 1% of the country’s population. They have been jammed into prisons, fueling waves of accusations of human rights violations. As little as 30% of those detained have clear ties to organized crime, the human rights group Cristosal estimates.The new rules allow trials to be held for groups of defendants based on what area they lived in and what “clique” — a smaller group within a gang ...

Family and friends gather for funeral of five-year-old allegedly abused to death by grandparents

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:51 GMT

COUNTRY CLUB HILLS, Ill. — Family and friends gathered in the southern suburbs for the funeral of five-year-old Jada Moore Wednesday. Described by family members as a loving and sweet child, Jada's life was cut short after she was allegedly physically abused to death at the hands of her grandparents.She was temporarily living with her grandparents since March while her mother got back on her feet and started a new job in Atlanta, and her mother had plans of picking her back up next month and enrolling her in school down south. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Suburban grandparents charged with murder in death of 5-year-old granddaughter Katherine Miles, a community member who attended the funeral, said when it comes to being human and dealing with this as a mother, it's an incredibly tough situation to handle."that’s [what] being human means to me. It’s being able to connect with someone outside of yourself and just a community coming together to support someone we don’t even know," Miles said....

Lampasas under Stage 5 water restrictions after main breaks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Due to a water main break Wednesday, the City of Lampasas is under Stage 5 water restrictions.According to a post on the city's website, the water main broke in Kempner, a town in between Lampasas and Copperas Cove in Lampasas County. Under the restrictions, "residents and businesses are required to limit all unnecessary use of water including no outdoor watering, and only using water to the extent of health and sanitation."The post said due to the size and depth of the water main, it could be more than 24 hours before it's fixed. The post also said the city will provide updates once more information is available.The city went to Stage 2 water restrictions July 11.

3M Open: North Oaks’ Frankie Capan III wasn’t sure if he’d play this week. But now that he is, he’s playing to win

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:51 GMT

Frankie Capan III is beyond excited for this week — his first regular PGA Tour event as a professional, played 15 minutes from the North Oaks native’s home.And yet he almost chose not to play. The 23-year-old got the call in the days leading up to the U.S. Open from 3M Open tournament director Mike Welch that he had received a sponsor’s exemption into this week’s tournament in Blaine. The obvious response is to take it, right? How can you turn down a chance to tee it up on the world’s top tour in your home state? It’s a dream come true.But Capan is also chasing the more permanent dream. In his first year as a pro, Capan is playing well on the Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA Tour’s feeder program. He currently ranks 34th in the season-long standings. The players in the top 30 at season’s end earn their PGA Tour cards for the 2023-24 season.Playing on the PGA Tour this week means Capan isn’t playing in the Korn Ferry Tour event in Illinois. He&...

Albany police arrest 4 after drug investigation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:51 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Four Albany residents are facing multiple charges after an investigation on Lexington Avenue in the city.Around 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Albany police stopped four people in the area of Lexington Avenue and Sherman Street as part of an ongoing drug investigation. Police determined they were selling drugs and took them into custody. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Two loaded handguns, crack cocaine, and fentanyl were also recovered, police said.Quazier Wertz, 20, was arrested. He is also under parole in New York State. He was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, and two counts of Criminal Use of of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree.Wertz was arraigned and sen...

Florissant family recounts heroic efforts from officers during flood rescue

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:51 GMT

FLORISSANT, Mo. – A year ago, heavy rain flooded much of Florissant and other parts of the region. The flooding caused extensive damage to parts of north St. Louis County. A Florissant family recounts the heroic efforts of several Florissant police officers who sprang into action to help save lives.It’s often said that seconds can mean the difference between life and death. A Florissant mother and her two daughters bore witness to that as their home quickly filled up with water during last year's surprise flash flooding.“The water was coming into my bedroom ... and it started coming in through the doorway,” Deborah Ford said. “I'm like, ‘Oh my God, what are we going to do?’”Heavy rainfall flooded much of Florissant and other parts of the region exactly one year ago, causing extensive damage to parts of north St. Louis County.Ford's doorbell camera recorded Florissant police officers encountering swift floodwaters as they jumped into action to help save her family.“He grabbed me...

2 arrested after clerk fatally shot at Long Beach gas station

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:51 GMT

Two suspects were arrested Wednesday after a Long Beach gas station employee was shot and killed on Tuesday night.The suspects were identified as Eloy Lobato Jr., 37, from Long Beach and Russell Nieto, 35, from Wilmington, by the Long Beach Police Department.The shooting occurred shortly before 10 p.m. at the Valero station near the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and North Atlantic Place.Investigators told KTLA the clerk was shot multiple times before being transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Detectives believe the suspect and the victim were involved in a physical confrontation that may have led to the victim’s death.Police investigate a fatal shooting in Long Beach on July 25, 2023. (KeyNews.TV)A manager told KTLA the victim had worked at the gas station for a little over a year. Steven Luzero, who heard the gunshots and saw police arrive at the scene, said he knew the victim from shopping at the store.“I’ve just known him for probably a few months … ju...

The 10 most expensive homes that reported sold in Los Gatos the week of July 17

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:51 GMT

A house in Los Gatos that sold for $5.5 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Los Gatos in the past week.In total, 12 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $2.9 million. The average price per square foot ended up at $1,285.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of July 17 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $2 million, single-family residence in the 200 block of Belvue DriveThe 2,256 square-foot single-family residence in the 200 block of Belvue Drive in Los Gatos has been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in July and the total purchase price was $2,000,000, $887 per square foot. The house was built in 1966. The house features four bedrooms and three bathrooms.Belvue Drive9. $2.1 million, single-family home in the 200 block of Kensington WayA sale has been finalized for the single-family home in...

Indian opposition parties join forces to take on Modi

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:51 GMT

By Sheikh Saaliq | Associated PressNEW DELHI — India’s popular but polarizing prime minister, Narendra Modi, has a fondness for abbreviations that create buzz around his government schemes and dress down his rivals. Last week, Modi’s political opponents did exactly that.They announced a new alliance — called INDIA — to unseat Modi and defeat his ruling party’s electoral juggernaut.The acronym, which stands for Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, comprises India’s previously fractured opposition parties that are aiming to keep the Modi government’s increasingly powerful sway at bay. At stake, the alliance says, is the future of India’s multiparty democracy and secular foundations that critics say have seen assaults from Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party.The opposition alliance is playing on its acronym, saying it will be Modi versus the country in 2024 polls.Modi will seek reelection to a third consecutive term in a...

How invasive — or effective — will Berkeley’s 52 new license plate readers be?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:51 GMT

BERKELEY — Can a city tackle spikes in violent property crimes, auto thefts and traffic violations without violating privacy rights and increasing police enforcement stops that might be racially biased?Berkeley officials say they can walk that line with the upcoming installation of 52 license plate readers along the city’s busy streets and bustling public corridors as part of a two-year pilot program to help the city’s understaffed police force investigate criminal activity.The technology — Automatic License Plate Readers, or ALPRs — captures images of license plates, then cross-references them with law enforcement crime databases. Police are alerted when plates match descriptions of vehicles involved in active crimes or connected to missing-person reports, according to police Sgt. Joe Ledoux.While similar readers currently are used in several Bay Area cities along freeways, bridges and many parking lots, the community was sharply divided during Tuesday’s Ber...