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Oakland money service business operators charged with laundering thousands, as feds signal their intent to target drug traffickers’ proceeds

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:02 GMT

OAKLAND — In a sign that federal prosecutors in the Bay Area are targeting not just fentanyl traffickings but the swaths of cash it generates, the owners of a local money service business have been charged with laundering funds to “high risk drug trafficking areas” in Central America, court records show.Silvana Jorge de Oliveira and Jose Luis Garcia, operators of Envios Express in Oakland, have been indicted on a charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Federal prosecutors say they have evidence that the couple illegally $136,000 for one unidentified co-conspirator in a single month in 2020, by transferring funds to people in Mexico and Honduras.The indictment alleges that Oliveira and Garcia broke regulations under the Bank Secrecy Act requiring operators of money transfer businesses to flag suspicious transfers and require certain information and identification for transfers totaling more than $3,000. Prosecutors also say that a confidential informant was...

Third Southern California school board OKs policy to tell parents if students are transgender

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:02 GMT

The Temecula Valley school board voted early Wednesday, Aug. 23, to approve a policy to notify parents if their students are transgender, becoming the latest Southern California district to do so.The 3-2 vote came after midnight, capping a meeting that began Tuesday night, Aug. 22.The board’s conservative Christian majority — Joseph Komrosky, Jen Wiersma and Danny Gonzalez — voted yes. Trustees Steven Schwartz and Allison Barclay voted no.Like earlier sessions across the region, it was another crowded, contentious, school board meeting. By 5 p.m., 50 to 100 people waited in the parking lot outside the Temecula Valley Unified School District office and the crowd gradually grew. Half a dozen sheriff’s deputies looked on.Most of the crowd was divided into two groups. Those with rainbow pride flags and clothing were scattered across one. Those holding American flags, “Protect Family Bonds” signs and “Leave Our Kids Alone” T-shirts were mixed into the other.Several people said entry tick...

Business jet crash in Russia kills 10; authorities say mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was on passenger list

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:02 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — A business jet crash in Russia kills 10, and mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was on passenger list, authorities say.According to an Associated Press profile of him, “Once a low-profile businessman who benefited from having President Vladimir Putin as a powerful patron, Yevgeny Prigozhin moved into the global spotlight with Russia’s war in Ukraine.”In June, a challenge to Putin “fizzled out after the rebellious mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow abruptly reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile and sounded the retreat.Related ArticlesWorld News | Letters: In-depth coverage | Safeway’s concern | California Conference | Flow trail | Solar squeeze | Ukraine slaughter World News | Russia’s Luna-25 spacecraft crashes into the moon, ending its bid to reach the lunar south pole World News | The Netherlands and Denmark will give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, the Dutch prime m...

Seventeen years for Bay Area man who brutalized elderly couple with a butcher knife

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:02 GMT

A Vallejo man who attacked an elderly couple with a butcher knife last year, hacking off an 84-year-old’s finger as she tried to defend herself, was sentenced to 17 years in prison Tuesday.Judge Robert Bowers lamented recent changes to California law that made this the maximum sentence he could hand down for 35-year-old Juan Lopez-Garcia’s two charges of attempted murder and one charge of mayhem.“What’s done is done,” Bowers told attorneys and the shackled Lopez-Garcia, who listened quietly through an interpreter. “From this court’s perspective, I feel like under these circumstances and these facts, I would give him a lot more time. But I can’t.”Lopez-Garcia had been renting a room from 76-year-old Luis Lopez and 84-year-old Delfina Lopez when he fell behind on his rent. The couple’s daughter, Annette Delacruz, said her parents were eating breakfast the morning of Sept. 19 when Lopez-Garcia exited his room with a knife.“(He) attacked my dad from the back and hit directly onto his he...

Brentwood at-risk teen found after being reported missing

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:02 GMT

(KRON) -- The Brentwood Police Department announced they have found a missing at-risk teenage boy. The boy was reported missing Tuesday afternoon.Marcus Velasquez, 15, was last seen leaving his home on the 400 block of Fremont Peak Drive at about 4 p.m. In an update from Brentwood police at 11:12 p.m., authorities said that he had been found safely."Marcus has been located and he is safe," Brentwood Police Department posted to Facebook. Remains found near Castle Rock State Park were Katie Schneider’s, police confirm He was considered at-risk because he is on the autism spectrum and has other health issues, Brentwood police said.

Compromise on long-delayed state budget could be finalized this week, top Virginia lawmakers say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:02 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A compromise deal on a state budget is likely to be reached in the next few days, a bipartisan group of Virginia lawmakers who have been leading this year’s drawn-out negotiations said Wednesday. “I’m quite sure we’re going to have a deal,” said Democratic Sen. Janet Howell. “Probably by the end of this week.”Her Republican counterpart, Del. Barry Knight, agreed. “We’re all working as hard as we can on that. Nobody’s stalling anybody,” he said.Knight, Howell and Howell’s Senate Finance and Appropriations co-chair, George Barker, spoke with reporters after a joint meeting of their respective committees in Richmond. They declined to share the framework of the potential agreement or discuss the remaining sticking points in detail but insisted a deal was imminent. Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signaled that he’s open to a compromise plan that would include one-time taxpayer rebates but not the permanent tax cuts he’s b...

Urban Outfitters, Apellis rise; Foot Locker, Peloton Interactive fall, Wednesday, 8/23/2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:02 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that are trading heavily or have substantial price changes Wednesday:Foot Locker Inc. (FL), down $7.07 to $16.13.The footwear and clothing retailer slashed its earnings and sales forecast for the year.Advance Auto Parts Inc. (AAP), down 23 cents to $67.11.The auto parts retailer said Shane O’Kelly will succeed Tom Greco as CEO in September.Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN), up 71 cents to $34.80.The clothing and accessories retailer reported strong second-quarter financial results.Peloton Interactive Inc. (PTON), down $1.68 to $5.31.The exercise bike and treadmill company gave investors a weak sales forecast for the current quarter.Apellis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (APLS), up $9.64 to $40.40.The biopharmaceutical company gave investors an encouraging update on rare safety issues with its eye condition treatment Syfovre.Driven Brands Holdings Inc. (DRVN), up 42 cents to $14.78.The automotive services company announced a $50 million stock buyback plan.Abercrombie & Fi...

Chiefs’ Andy Reid: ‘no communication’ with All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones amid holdout

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:02 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Wednesday there has been no communication with Chris Jones, one day after the All-Pro defensive tackle indicated on social media that his contract holdout could stretch well into the regular season.Jones is entering the final year of a four-year, $80 million deal. The Chiefs had been talking with his representatives about a long-term contract, but those negotiations have seemingly grown more contentious as the sides dig in, and with their Super Bowl title defense beginning in a little more than two weeks against the Lions.“There’s been no communication so I don’t know what’s going to happen there,” Reid said after the last practice open to reporters before the Chiefs’ preseason finale Saturday against the Browns. “The game goes on. That’s how it works.”Jones posted a photograph of a chalkboard on social media Tuesday with the message, “If it’s out of your hands, it deserves freedom from your mind...

Disney World workers criticize DeSantis appointees’ decision to eliminate free passes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:02 GMT

Employees of Walt Disney World’s governing district on Wednesday confronted new board members appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis over a decision to eliminate their access to free passes and discounts to the theme park resort, saying it makes park visits unaffordable. During a monthly board meeting, several current and former district firefighters spoke emotionally about how the free passes to Disney parks were a benefit for them and their families that played a major role in their decision to work for the 56-year-old district, which provides municipal services like mosquito control, drainage, wastewater treatment, planning and firefighting to Disney World.“The removal of this benefit takes away, for some, their entire reason for working here,” said firefighter Pete Simon. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District earlier this week said that $2.5 million in season passes and discounts on hotels, merchandise, food and beverages that their Disney-supporting predecessors provided the d...

DC’s Medium Rare restaurant begins nationwide expansion — with focus on NFL cities

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:02 GMT

Medium Rare co-owner Mark Bucher said the expansion plans are focused specifically on cities with professional football teams. (Courtesy Medium Rare) Medium Rare co-owner Mark Bucher said the expansion plans are focused specifically on cities with professional football teams. (Courtesy Medium Rare) Prix fixe steak frites restaurant Medium Rare has opened its first location outside of the D.C. area, in New Orleans — and it is the first of several restaurants planned for what could be dozens of national locations.The Big Easy outpost is in Uptown at 5538 Magazine Street. It is open nightly for dinner and brunch on weekends.Medium Rare co-owner Mark Bucher said the expansion plans are focused specifically on cities w...