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Private islands and Pokemon: The great COVID-19 grift

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:36 GMT

By Richard Lardner | Associated PressYANKEETOWN, Fla. — A freshwater spring bubbles amid the mangroves, cabbage palms and red cedars on Sweetheart Island, a two-acre uninhabited patch of paradise about a mile off the coast of this little Gulf Coast town.Pelicans divebomb nearby into the cool waters of Florida’s Withlacoochee Bay and the open view westward holds the promise of dazzling sunsets.It may have seemed like an ideal getaway for Florida businessman Patrick Parker Walsh. Instead, he’s serving five and half years in federal prison for stealing nearly $8 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds that he used, in part, to buy Sweetheart Island.While Walsh’s private island ranks among the more unusual purchases by pandemic fraudsters, his crime was not unique. He is one of thousands of thieves who perpetrated the greatest grift in U.S. history. They potentially plundered more than $280 billion in federal COVID-19 aid; another $123 billion was wasted or misspent.T...

Three-bedroom home in Palo Alto sells for $1.8 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:36 GMT

4101 Park Boulevard – Google Street ViewThe property located in the 4100 block of Park Boulevard in Palo Alto was sold on Oct. 10, 2023 for $1,825,000, or $1,232 per square foot. The house, built in 1959, has an interior space of 1,481 square feet. The layout of this single-story house consists of three bedrooms and two baths. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. In addition, the house features a two-car garage.These nearby houses have also recently been purchased:A 2,277-square-foot home on the 200 block of Davenport Way in Palo Alto sold in June 2023, for $3,150,000, a price per square foot of $1,383. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Roosevelt Circle, Palo Alto, in August 2023, a 1,573-square-foot home was sold for $2,375,000, a price per square foot of $1,510. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In September 2023, a 1,770-square-foot home on Davenport Way in Palo Alto sold for $3,400,000, a price per square foot of $1,921. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 ba...

Recognizing fake news now a required subject in California schools

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:36 GMT

Pushing back against the surge of misinformation online, California will now require all K-12 students to learn media literacy skills — such as recognizing fake news and thinking critically about what they encounter on the internet.Gov. Gavin Newsom last month signed Assembly Bill 873, which requires the state to add media literacy to curriculum frameworks for English language arts, science, math and history-social studies, rolling out gradually beginning next year. Instead of a stand-alone class, the topic will be woven into existing classes and lessons throughout the school year.“I’ve seen the impact that misinformation has had in the real world — how it affects the way people vote, whether they accept the outcomes of elections, try to overthrow our democracy,” said the bill’s sponsor, Assemblymember Marc Berman, a Democrat from Menlo Park. “This is about making sure our young people have the skills they need to navigate this landscape.”The new law comes amid rising public distrus...

San Jose police arrest two in connection to alleged organized crime spree

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:36 GMT

SAN JOSE — Police announced Friday that two men have been arrested in connection to an organized crime spree that took place in San Jose between July and October, linking the group to 25 separate alleged crimes.Search warrants were executed around noon Wednesday at multiple residences in San Jose and Livermore, authorities said, resulting in the seizure of three vehicles and evidence believed to be related to crimes like jewelry-swap scams and robberies, Facebook Marketplace vehicle scams, credit card skimmers and money laundering.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Stanford: Authorities release sketch of hate crime suspect Crime and Public Safety | San Jose police arrest man in connection to Cinco de Mayo shooting Crime and Public Safety | Santa Cruz County jury returns first-degree verdicts in double homicide trial Crime and Public Safety | Santa Clara moves closer to letting voters decide whether to change the polic...

Fences along beach cliffs near UCSB will be made taller after 13 fatal falls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:36 GMT

As part of a plan to prevent people from falling off the cliffs near the University of California, Santa Barbara, fences will be raised to 6 feet.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Suspected DUI crash in East Bay seriously injures two high school students Crashes and Disasters | US-bound plane takes off with missing window panes as crew fails to spot damage Crashes and Disasters | Caltrain collides with three vehicles in Burlingame Crashes and Disasters | Driver survives after vehicle hit by train in Oakland Crashes and Disasters | ‘Black Panther’ stuntman, three of his children killed in car crash in Atlanta The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved the proposal, part of Supervisor Laura Capps’ eight-point plan for Isla Vista bluff safety.In the past 30 years, 13 people have died in falls from the cliffs overlooking the beach, which are up to 50 feet tall. ...

DA: Serial shoplifter at Westfield San Francisco mall denied bail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:36 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- After several stores closed down in San Francisco's largest mall downtown due to rampant shoplifting, prosecutors said one of the alleged thieves faced a judge in court this week. Carmelita Barela, 30, of San Francisco, is accused of going on a commercial burglary spree at Westfield San Francisco Centre and participating in an organized retail theft ring. Barela is alleged to have participated in 20 retail thefts between March 30 and October 29, 2023. During one of the incident, Barela was part of a group who entered the mall's Bath & Body Works store and ran off with thousands of dollars worth of stolen items, according to investigators. The woman was nabbed by San Francisco Police Department officers on November 6 and taken into custody. Westfield mall operators sued by American Eagle over ‘rampant criminal activity’ Barela was arraigned in court Thursday and pleaded not guilty to one count of felony organized retail theft, six counts of felony grand...

Daly City store manager kicked in face as suspects steal laundry detergent: police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:36 GMT

(KRON) – Two suspects were arrested for allegedly stealing $290 worth of laundry detergent on Nov. 2, the Daly City Police Department announced Thursday.   Daly City police officers were dispatched to Lucky Supermarket on Mission Street on a report of a robbery on Nov. 2 at approximately 2:50 p.m.  $350K of stolen goods recovered in Oakland, Sacramento County fencing operation According to police, a manager confirmed he witnessed two suspects enter the store with large empty bags. Both suspects placed laundry detergents in their respective shopping carts.The manager approached one of the suspects and asked the suspect to leave the merchandise, police said. The manager confirmed the suspect responded with, “Stay away, or else I’m going to f— you up.” The suspect went to another aisle. Subsequently, the manager grabbed the shopping cart and demanded the suspect leave, police said. According to police, the suspect pushed the shopping cart toward the mana...

El Niño is back: What does this mean for California's winter?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:36 GMT

(KTLA) -- After a four-year break, El Niño is back, leaving many to wonder what it means for California’s upcoming winter. El Niño is the temporary warming of the eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator. When the water temperature rises a half-degree Celsius above normal over a three-month period, that is considered to be an El Niño pattern. When the water rises 1.5 degrees Celsius above normal, that’s considered a strong El Niño - which may be the case this winter.“It does appear as though this event is going to come pretty close to that if not exceed that,” said Ben Reppert, a meteorology professor at Penn State University. “If it does, it will be in the rare category along the lines of the El Niño of 2015-16 and the El Niño of [winter] 1998.”El Nino developing around the Pacific equator in 2023 (NOAA)In December 1997, 7 inches of rain fell in parts of Orange County in one day. February 1998 brought more than 13 inches of rain to downtown Los Angeles, causing major damage.&nb...

Son of Hollywood producer arrested after torso found in dumpster; wife, in-laws missing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:36 GMT

(KTLA) – Homicide detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department have announced an arrest in connection with the discovery of a woman's torso in a dumpster Wednesday morning.At a press conference late Wednesday night, officials said Samuel Haskell, 35, was arrested at the Topanga Mall and charged with one count of murder. Haskell is the son of Samuel Haskell Sr., a TV producer and former high-profile agent with Hollywood's William Morris talent agency, Deadline and the Los Angeles Times reported.While authorities believe the torso found in the bag may be Haskell's wife, Mei Haskell, they said partial remains are harder to positively identify. Mei Haskell is pictured in an image shared by the Los Angeles Police Department. (LAPD)“If a murder suspect is dismembering a body, it’s to delay identification,” said LAPD homicide detective Efren Gutierrez.Investigators also said they are looking for Haskell’s in-laws, Gaoshan Li, 72, and YanXiang Wang, 64, who lived with the suspect ...

SZA leads the 2024 Grammy nominations, but music from the 'Barbie' soundtrack scores big too

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:36 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Killing her ex? That’s a bad idea. Writing “Kill Bill” and releasing her critically acclaimed sophomore album “SOS” earlier this year? That was a great one. SZA is the lead contender for the 66th Grammy Awards, with nine nominations announced Friday.“Kill Bill,” her revenge anthem cloaked in an R&B ballad, earned her nods for record of the year, song of the year, and best R&B performance. “SOS” is also up for album of the year and best progressive R&B album. The 2024 ceremony will mark the second time SZA has been nominated for record, album, and song of the year in the same year.SZA, seen here after the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on April 3, 2022, received nine Grammy nominations on Friday. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)And just like at the box office, “Barbie” will be seen — and heard — at the Grammys. Music from the hit film’s soundtrack earned 11 nominations, including nabbing four of the five slots in the ...