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Colorado businessman gets over 5 years in prison for “We Build The Wall” fundraiser fraud

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

NEW YORK — A Colorado businessman convicted of fraudulently siphoning hundreds of thousands of dollars from an online fundraiser that raised $25 million to build a wall along the U.S. southern border was sentenced Tuesday to five years and three months in prison.Timothy Shea was sentenced in Manhattan federal court by Judge Analisa Torres, who presided over an October trial that ended with his conviction on charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and obstruction of justice. A trial earlier in 2022 had ended when a jury deadlocked on charges.Shea, 52, of Castle Rock, Colorado, also was ordered to forfeit $1.8 million and to pay restitution of an equal amount.Shea was charged three years ago along with three others, including Steve Bannon, the former top adviser to then-President Donald Trump. Trump pardoned Bannon in early 2021 while two others pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison. Bannon, who is now being prosecuted in Ne...

WATCH: Brush fire breaks out in Sylmar

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

Fire crews are battling a brush fire that broke out in Sylmar on Tuesday afternoon.The Victor Fire is burning near Sierra Highway and Needham Ranch Parkway surrounded by the 5 and 14 Freeways, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.The blaze ignited around 3:30 p.m. at around five acres and by 4 p.m., had grown to around 10 acres. The fire is surrounded by "light, flashy fuels," and has the potential to expand to 100 acres, officials said.The flames are burning near a commercial building in the brush-filled area with heavy plumes of smoke seen covering the hills.Ground units are responding to the scene along with air tankers and helicopters dropping water and fire retardant. Officials say ground units are struggling to access the fire due to the brush-heavy terrain.No homes were immediately threatened so far.This developing story will be updated.

1 firefighter injured after brush fire erupts in Angeles National Forest

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

A firefighter was injured while battling a brush fire in the Angeles National Forest near Agua Dulce Tuesday afternoon. The Agua Fire was reported around 2:15 p.m. near Soledad Canyon and Agua Dulce Canyon roads, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The blaze was first reported at 4 acres but by 4:35 p.m. it had grown to 40 acres, officials said. Heavy brush was burning in the fire, though no structures are currently being threatened.The county fire department is in unified command with the forest in fighting the blaze. "Units on scene are making good progress slowing down the fire with ground crews and multiple water dropping aircrafts," LACoFD said in an update. Check back for updates on this developing story.

Chargers, Herbert agree to record-breaking contract extension

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

Justin Herbert will remain a Los Angeles Charger for the long haul after he and the team agreed on a multi-year contract extension.The new five-year extension is estimated to be around $262.5 million, according to ESPN. The new deal makes Herbert the highest paid player in the league, eclipsing previous leaders, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who held onto the respective crowns for only a few weeks. Herbert, 25, has appeared in 44 games for the Bolts since being drafted out of the University of Oregon with the No. 6 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He was named the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year, Pro Bowl starter for the AFC squad in 2022, and is in sole possession of several franchise and league records.Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts after defeating the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 26, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Getty Images)Herbert led the Chargers back to the NFL Playoffs last season for...

Pete Davidson ordered to perform community service after Beverly Hills crash

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

Pete Davidson has entered a diversion program to resolve a reckless driving charge for crashing into a Beverly Hills home and will perform 50 hours of community service, authorities said Tuesday.The 29-year-old “Saturday Night Live” and “King of Staten Island” actor and comedian will likely do his community service with the New York Fire Department, where his late father worked, Los Angeles County prosecutors said.Davidson was 7 years old when his father, Scott, a New York firefighter, died responding to the 9/11 attacks.Authorities say comedian and actor Pete Davidson was speeding when he crashed into a home in Beverly Hills. March 4, 2023. (OnScene.TV)Davidson pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor and was put on an 18-month diversion that also includes 12 hours of traffic school, an order to obey all laws and restitution that was not specified.When Davidson was charged on June 16, prosecutors called the March 4 crash a “serious collision." No one was reported injured.Davidson’s la...

Police searching for 33-year-old attorney missing out of downtown L.A.

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

Authorities with the Los Angeles Police Department along with family members of a 33-year-old attorney missing out of downtown L.A. are asking for the public’s help in locating him.  Aaron Murphy Davidson, a graduate of Chapman University, Fowler School of Law in Orange, and an active member of the California Bar, was last seen on July 6 at a residence in the 200 block of South Grand Avenue downtown.  The 33-year-old is described as a white male with brown hair and eyes, who stands 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs around 170 pounds.  “His family is concerned for his safety, or that he may be hospitalized and unidentified,” LAPD said in the missing person’s bulletin. Attorney Aaron Davidson, 33, was last seen on July 6 in downtown Los Angeles. (LAPD)Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is urged to contact LAPD’s Missing Persons Unit at 213-996-1800. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be made to 877-LAPD-24-7.  Anonymous tips can be made through C...

Dodgers to bring back Kiké Hernandez in deal with Red Sox

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

The Los Angeles Dodgers are bringing back a critical piece of their 2020 World Series-winning roster.The Dodgers have agreed to a deal with the Boston Red Sox that will bring back versatile utility man Enrique "Kiké" Hernandez in exchange for a pair of relief pitchers, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan and later confirmed by the team.Hernandez, 31, is one of the league's most malleable and versatile defensive players who has played every position in the majors, aside from catcher. A fan favorite, Hernandez was the starting second baseman for the 2020 Dodgers team that defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series.In February 2021, Hernandez signed a deal with the Boston Red Sox. He's appeared in 86 games for the Red Sox this season, playing primarily shortstop. He batted .222 with 6 home runs, 31 RBIs and 38 runs scored.His return to the Dodgers is a welcome one with question marks surrounding the infield since before the season began. The team lost two-time MLB All-Star Trea Turner...

What to See, Buy and Do to Stay in a Barbie World

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

The Barbie movie is bonafide blockbuster hit, so the marketing hoopla surrounding it is not going anywhere. Though we felt the branding hype ultimately made for expectations the film couldn’t live up to (read our review HERE) we still can’t resist buying into the plucky pink party vibes and celebration of dress-up and girl power. If you can’t get enough of Barbie and her dream life, read on for ways to keep the fantastic plastic fun going, all with L.A. brand ties and at local events.See:If you really want to learn about the blonde doll’s history check out Barbie Nation, the cult documentary classic which just released a director cut on streaming platforms a few weeks ago. The film delves “into the depths of Barbie‘s dreamhouse, intimately exploring the peculiar ways in which people have embraced Barbie throughout history – and the doll’s own saucy rise from a German sex toy to the savior of Mattel.”HGTV‘s Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge f...

“Every alarm going off,” former SJSU swimmer testifies in trial against sports trainer

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

SAN JOSE – The first female athlete to come forward 14 years ago with accusations that San Jose State’s former head athletic trainer sexually abused her during treatment testified against him in federal court Tuesday, saying Scott Shaw “should be held to justice for the things that he did.”She remembers “clear as day” when he “walked his fingers” across her breast and inside her underwear in 2009 to place stimulation pads for shoulder and knee injuries.“When it went into my nipple area,” she said, “I had every alarm going off inside my body.”A former volleyball player also testified late Tuesday, explaining how she was so upset when Shaw massaged the side of her breast for a shoulder injury, she “shot off the table,” ran out of the training room and burst into the double doors of the practice gym where her team was huddling.“I was in shock,” she said of the incident that occurred sometime around 2008. “I said something along the lines of, ‘since w...

Cory Joseph has one thing on his mind after signing with Warriors: It’s ‘all about winning’

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

Cory Joseph has never been the type of player to worry about his role or playing time heading into a new season.“The way I think is I let it all take care of itself,” Joseph said Tuesday afternoon. “I try to help the team win games. It’s a blessing to be in this league and I don’t take that lightly.”Joseph’s team-first mentality and 12 years of NBA experience are part of what made him an attractive free-agent target for the Warriors, who officially signed the 31-year-old to a one-year, veteran minimum contract on July 6.Joseph is expected to be a third-string guard, who will back up Stephen Curry and Chris Paul, similar to the role two-way guard Ty Jerome played behind Curry and Jordan Poole last season. But Joseph said exactly how the Warriors envision he’ll be deployed this season wasn’t the focal point of his conversations with the organization leading up to his signing.In his mind, this season is “all about winning.R...