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Man sentenced in California smuggling crash that killed 13 people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:40 GMT

A federal judge on Thursday sentenced a man to 15 years in prison for coordinating a smuggling trip in which two dozen migrants were stacked into a Ford Expedition that crashed into a tractor-trailer, killing 13 people outside a California desert town.Jose Cruz Noguez pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges stemming from the March 2, 2021, crash near Holtville, about 125 miles (200 kilometers) east of San Diego. It was one of the deadliest highway crashes involving migrants smuggled into the United States. Cruz Noguez also admitted to trying to still get payment for the smuggling trip from the survivors, prosecutors said. Neither Cruz Noguez nor his attorney could be reached for comment.“Cruz Noguez organized one of the most callous and inhumane smuggling attempts that law enforcement has responded to in this district,” U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said. “He and his co-conspirators treated these individuals like a worthless commodity."Cruz Noguez arranged for the Ford Expedition...

Officials search for angry sea otter harassing surfers, kayakers off California coast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:40 GMT

Wildlife officials were trying to capture a wayward sea otter Thursday that has been wresting surfboards away from surfers and aggressively approaching kayakers off the coast of Santa Cruz, California.The 5-year-old female otter has shown aggression toward people for several weeks and poses a public safety risk, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a statement.Video and photographs shared on social media show the marine mammal getting on top of different surfboards — on at least one occasion biting and tearing chunks off a board — and aggressively approaching surfers.A sea otter was captured on video going toe-to-toe with a surfer and his board in Santa Cruz on July 9, 2023. A team of wildlife experts with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the nearby Monterey Bay Aquarium were working to capture and put the animal in a new home, the service said.“While there have been no confirmed reports of injury, due to the highly unusual behavior of this otter, kayakers, s...

Chemical spill causes major backups on 60 Freeway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:40 GMT

A chemical spill closed multiple lanes of the eastbound 60 Freeway in Chino Friday morning, impacting traffic and causing delays of up to an hour.The unknown chemical appeared to come from dozens of white buckets that were strewn about the roadway, as shown in footage from the scene.A reported chemical spill closed lanes of the eastbound 60 Freeway in Chino on July 14, 2023. (Key News Network)The buckets reportedly spilled just before Central Avenue at about 3:10 a.m., and by 3:30 a.m., a SigAlert had been issued for the three right lanes, according to Sigalert.com. The California Highway Patrol and Chino Valley Fire District were on scene to direct traffic and assist with cleanup, which at times closed all lanes, according to KTLA's Ginger Chan.

Residents upset after bear purportedly shot in San Bernardino Mountains

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:40 GMT

Residents are angry after a bear was reportedly shot in the San Bernardino mountains earlier this week.Amid increased bear sightings across Southern California, encounters with wildlife remain a danger to both humans and animals.Although the shooting is under investigation, neighbors suspect someone was feeding the bear before it was shot. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed they're investigating the shooting, but the bear has not yet been found.In the San Bernardino mountains, black bear sightings are commonplace among neighborhoods, especially as the weather heats up.The black bear residents believe may have been the victim of a shooting in Angeleus Oaks in the San Bernardino mountains. (Trisha Ramsey)Bear sightings increasing in Southern California amid rising temps. (Apple Annie’s)Two orphaned bear cubs were spotted in Forest Falls and taken to a wildlife sanctuary after their mother was found dead. (San Diego Human Society)Bear sightings increasing in South...

Nathaniel Mardel Injured in Hit-and-Run Crash on Englewood Avenue [Yakima County, WA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:40 GMT

Tyson Hunter Arrested after Bicycle Accident near 21st AvenueYAKIMA COUNTY, WA (July 14, 2023) – Late Thursday night, Nathaniel Mardel was injured following a hit-and-run bicycle crash on Eaglewood Avenue.The incident occurred on July 6th, at around 11:45 p.m., in the 2000 block of Englewood Avenue near North 21st Avenue.According to the Yakima police, a Ford Mustang struck 28-year-old Mardel as he was riding his bicycle in the area.Furthermore, the authorities responded at the scene and found out that Mardel also struck a chain-link fence on the south side of the street.As a result, Mardel suffered broken thigh bone, shin, shoulder, arm, wrist, and bones in his face.First responders transported Mardel to MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital and from there he was transferred to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.Following the crash, the authorities located the suspect, Tyson Hunter, in a home in the 1200 block of Jerome Avenue. They arrested him on charges of DUI.Ad...

One person killed, one badly injured in Oakland freeway crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:40 GMT

OAKLAND– One person was killed and another was badly injured in a multi-vehicle crash Friday morning on Interstate 880 in East Oakland, the California Highway Patrol said.No information was released immediately about the identity of the person killed or the conditioin of the person who was injured.The five-vehicle collision happened about 1:43 a.m. Friday in the southbound lanes of the freeway near the 66th Avenue offramp, the CHP said.One person was pronounced dead at the scene.Another person, who the CHP said sustained major injuries, was taken to a hospital.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Man convicted of setting up smuggling trip that killed 13 in California gets 15 years in prison Crashes and Disasters | Woman gets 9 years for killing California bicyclist and fleeing Crashes and Disasters | Big-rig truck hits and kills pedestrian on I-880 in Oakland Crashes and Disasters | Salinas man killed in crash on Hi...

Meet Nicole Taylor, the powerful foundation CEO who gives away Silicon Valley’s billions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:40 GMT

You might not know about the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, unless you work in philanthropy — or you caught stories earlier this year about a mystery donor using the foundation to give $10 million to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s nonprofit.But since the SVCF was founded in 2007, it has become one of the most powerful vehicles for charitable giving in the United States. With nearly $14 billion in assets, it has emerged as the largest community fund in the world and the go-to for Mark Zuckerberg, Reed Hastings and other tech titans to donate sizable chunks of their fortunes for eventual distribution to chosen causes.Charismatic president and CEO Nicole Taylor, who has led the foundation since 2018, believes the SVCF should help the most vulnerable. In 2022, she oversaw the distribution of nearly $2.6 billion in grants to more than 5,000 organizations around the world. Nearly $550 million of that went to Bay Area nonprofits, including $154 million to organizations in San...

These Bay Area cities could hit 100 degrees this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:40 GMT

(KRON) -- Make sure your air conditioner is working, because it's about to get hot in the Bay Area. The National Weather Service says some parts of the region could see temperatures greater than 100 degrees on Saturday and Sunday. "The second heat wave of summer is almost here," said KRON4 Meteorologist Lawrence Karnow. "This one will be much hotter than the previous with dry, desert air moving in from the southwest. I think record high temperatures are likely on Saturday and possibly Sunday." Highway 92 to remain closed through evening commute due to HazMat spill The NWS predicts that San Francisco will not reach triple digits on either Saturday or Sunday. In the South Bay, the NWS says that San Jose has a 2% chance of getting to 100 degrees on Sunday.Further inland, sky-high temperatures are more likely. The NWS says Concord and Livermore have better than a 50% chance of cracking 100 degrees on both weekend days. Karnow says Livermore could get as hot as 110 degrees ...

4 Nevada teens crash into patrol car, flee police in Palo Alto

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:40 GMT

(KRON) -- Four teenagers from Nevada were arrested in Palo Alto early Thursday morning after crashing their stolen car into a patrol vehicle and leading an officer on a pursuit, according to the Palo Alto Police Department. Just after 2 a.m., an officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a 2017 Kia Rio for a moving violation. The officer began to position his patrol car behind the Kia after the car pulled over into a cul-de-sac near Ross Road and Nathan Way, police said. COVID home eviction moratorium ending in Oakland The driver collided with the front of the patrol car while attempting to make a U-turn and fled the scene down Ross Road to East Meadow Drive. The suspect vehicle struck a raised curb and signal pole as it attempted to make a right turn onto Alma Street, Palo Alto police said.Police took all four teenagers into custody without incident. Two of the teens were taken to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries. No other injuries were reported.Police later le...

Coit Tower to light up city skyline

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:40 GMT

(BCN) -- The Coit Tower will light up the San Francisco skyline with laser space cannons this weekend, as arts non-profit Illuminate aims to continue lifting the locals' spirits and energize the city. According to Illuminate, the three-night installation "Candle" will officially begin on Friday after 9 p.m. It will beam up from sunset to sunrise through Sunday. The 210-foot tower, which overlooks the city and San Francisco Bay, was built in 1933. It is named after Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a patron of San Francisco firefighters. The non-profit group noted the SFFD will bring its fire equipment to the event. Coit Tower to light up city skyline According to Illuminate, "Candle" is the third of four "Summer of Awe" laser installations "designed to energize and mesmerize the city by creating extraordinary art using lasers" with its partner Nu-Salt Laser International. "San Francisco is the City of Awe," Illuminate's CEO Ben Davis said in statement. "Our Summer of Awe series...