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FBI releases surveillance video of Bay Area woman being kidnapped in Mexico

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:14 GMT

(KRON) -- The FBI San Francisco released new surveillance videos Thursday showing a group of men kidnapping a Bay Area woman in Tepatitlán, Jalisco, Mexico.Monica De Leon Barba, 29, of San Mateo, is a United States citizen who was living in Mexico before she was abducted. On November 29, 2022, she was walking her puppy home down a sidewalk when five men forced her into a van. Her whereabouts are still unknown."The FBI is requesting the public’s assistance in locating Monica and returning her safely to herfamily. We believe these videos may help generate new public tips to assist in our investigation,"said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. "The FBI is offering a reward of up to$40,000 for information leading to Monica’s recovery. If you know anything, please comeforward to law enforcement."Monica De Leon Barba (Image courtesy FBI)The FBI said the first video shows De Leon Barba walking with her dog. The second video depicts the kidnappers and their vehicles. "This video in...

Antioch police chief speaks on 'racially abhorrent' officer texts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:14 GMT

ANTIOCH, Calif. (KRON) -- After more information was released on Wednesday about racist text messages sent by Antioch Police Department officers, APD Chief Steve Ford released a statement condemning the messages on Thursday. "I condemn -- in the strongest possible terms -- the racially abhorrent content and incomprehensible behavior being attributed to members of the Antioch Police Department in media reports," Ford said in part. ‘You want to go outside?’: Antioch mayor blows up at contentious city council meeting KRON4 reported Wednesday that officers sent texts such as, "I will bury that n***** in my field. It was a hard R on purpose." The texts were released in a 21-page report by the county district attorney's officeThere are 14 officers involved in the text messaging. Some officers are witnesses in a murder case in Contra Costa County. Some messages also targeted Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe. In one exchange, an APD officer wrote that he would buy a prime rib dinner for someon...

Falcon chicks in nest at Alcatraz, UC Berkeley part of same family tree

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:14 GMT

Peregrine falcon chicks hatched recently on both Alcatraz Island and at a famous University of California at Berkeley landmark, and while they're in different nests, they're part of the same family tree. The falcons have lately been a source of interest locally. On Tuesday, hundreds of people at UC Berkeley attended a party to watch the hatching of falcon chicks in a nest at the Campanile bell tower, the third-largest bell-and-clock tower in the world. Live-streamed video on an outdoor screen at the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) showed the latest eggs to hatch at a nest where a female falcon named Annie has lived since 2017. Bob Lee stabbing suspect’s company website goes offline in wake of arrest The webcams set up at the tower to watch the falcons have been popular enough that the school has held public naming contests when Annie has new chicks, including a female falcon born in 2018 that got the winning name Lawrencium in honor of an element di...

1 dead after shooting on I-580 in Oakland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:14 GMT

(KRON) -- The California Highway Patrol said it is investigating a freeway shooting that happened late Wednesday night on I-580 in Oakland. Officers said they responded to the shooting just before midnight.  22 arrested in San Jose sex crimes sweep operation A preliminary investigation showed that the shooting happened on the freeway before the vehicles exited onto Oakland city streets including Lakeshore Avenue and Lake Park Avenue where one person was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene, officials told KRON4. I-580 was closed at 14th Street until around 3 a.m. At this time, California Highway Patrol officers said they are only aware of one victim. This shooting comes after reports of a violent weekend in Oakland, including another shooting on I-580 in Oakland on Sunday.This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.

In Pentagon Leak, the Problem Is What’s Classified, Not What Gets Out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:14 GMT

Only death and taxes are certain in life, Ben Franklin wrote in 1789, though he could have done us a favor by also noting that we can count on our government to make exaggerated claims about the unauthorized publication of classified documents.Like clockwork, after a set of secret national security documents burst into public view last week, the Washington Post reported a “high level of panic” at the upper echelons of the Department of Defense, with officials “stunned” and “infuriated.” According to Politico, one Pentagon aide even said he was “sick to [his] stomach” over the alleged betrayal. The Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation, while John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesperson, warned, “This is information that has no business in the public domain. It is not intended for public consumption, and it should not be out there.”The intelligence documents appear to have entered the public domain in an unusual way — someone began sharing them, starting lat...

Why Sen. Feinstein’s absence is a big problem for Democrats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:14 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s monthslong absence from the Senate to recover in California from shingles has become a vexing problem for Democrats who want to confirm President Joe Biden’s nominees to the federal courts. Now there is some pressure from within her party, and her state, to resign.With frustration mounting among Democrats, Feinstein on Wednesday asked to be temporarily replaced on the Senate Judiciary Committee while she recuperates. The statement came shortly after a member of California’s House delegation, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, called on her to step down, saying it is “unacceptable” for her to miss votes to confirm judges who could be weighing in on abortion rights, a key Democratic priority. It will not be easy to temporarily replace Feinstein on the influential committee. Republicans could block such a move, given that the full Senate must approve committee assignments.The conundrum for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., stems from his pa...

Post-Parkland, Florida OKs easier path for death penalty

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:14 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida will soon no longer require a unanimous jury recommendation before an execution under a bill the Legislature approved Thursday, a reaction to the life sentence handed to the man who massacred 17 people at a Parkland high school.The House passed the bill on a 80-30 vote. It now goes to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis for final approval. It will allow the death penalty with a jury recommendation of at least 8-4 in favor of execution. DeSantis supports the proposal.The bill was filed after the outrage over a divided 9-3 jury sparing Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz from capital punishment for the 2018 massacre. He instead received a life sentence with no parole. Only three states out of the 27 that impose the death penalty do not require unanimity. Alabama allows a 10-2 decision, and Missouri and Indiana let a judge decide when there is a divided jury.Florida has executed two convicted murderers this year, including one on Wednesda...

La Fiscalía de México tiene órdenes de aprehensión contra dos funcionarios de Migración vinculados con mortal incendio en Ciudad Juárez

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:14 GMT

(CNN Español) — La Fiscalía General de México informó este jueves que tiene órdenes de aprehensión en contra de dos funcionarios del Instituto Nacional de Migración, por su “vinculación directa” con el incendio que el 27 de marzo dejó 40 personas muertas y decenas de heridas en un centro migratorio de Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.Agregó que la Policía Federal Ministerial “se encuentra ejecutando” las detenciones.Además, el boletín establece que se busca realizar las audiencias iniciales los próximos 20 y 21 de abril, donde se conocerán las imputaciones y los datos probatorios.La Fiscalía solo identificó a los señalados como Francisco “N” y Antonio “N”. El miércoles, el presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador informó en su conferencia de prensa matutina que la Fiscalía General investigaba a Francisco Garduño, comisionado del Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) en relación con el incidente.Abren proceso penal contra funcionarios por incendio en centro de detención de migrantes en C...

Red Bulls’ Vanzeir suspended 6 games for racist language

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:14 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Red Bulls forward Dante Vanzeir was suspended Thursday for six games and fined by Major League Soccer for using racist language during a game against the San Jose Earthquakes.The Belgian forward is also prohibited from playing in the U.S. Open Cup, in exhibition matches or in the third-tier MLS Next Pro league until the suspension is over, and he will be required to participate in training and education sessions, MLS said. The league did not disclose the amount of the fine. Vanzeir had previously stepped away from the team. The Red Bulls issued a statement Tuesday that said Vanzeir addressed his teammates that day and left “to avoid further distractions.” San Jose striker Jeremy Ebobisse alleged a Red Bulls player used a racial slur early in the second half of a 1-1 draw on April 8 at Red Bulls Arena. A scuffle broke out among players and caused a lengthy delay. Ebobisse, who is Black, did not name the player.The league investigated and issued a statement sh...

Fairfax Co. police identify driver of ‘suspicious buses’ attempting to pick up children

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:14 GMT

Police in Fairfax County, Virginia, say they are investigating two incidents of what they called “suspicious buses” attempting to pick up children Thursday morning.The first incident happened at 7:44 a.m. when a short white bus with a blue stripe tried to pick up a student at a bus stop in the area of Southington Lane in Reston, according to a Fairfax County police news release.A member of the community tried to speak with the driver but the driver shut the door and drove off, according to police. The driver was described as a white male with facial hair.Officers were notified later that morning, police said.The second incident occurred at 7:55 a.m. In this case, police said an unmarked yellow school bus with black stripes tried to pick up elementary school students at a bus stop in the area of Chynoweth Street and Telegraph Road in Lorton.When a community member confronted the driver, he drove away, police said. This driver was described as having long, curly brown hair...