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Five takeaways from Hunter Biden IRS whistleblower hearing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:10 GMT

Republicans and Democrats sparred over the significance of the tax crimes investigation into Hunter Biden at a House Oversight Committee hearing that featured two IRS whistleblowers, with the GOP arguing the president's son was spared from true justice while Democrats argued he was thoroughly investigated by a team formed under the former president and led by a Trump-appointed attorney.IRS special agent Joseph Ziegler and his supervisor Gary Shapley, who investigated Biden, expressed frustration over how U.S. Attorney for Delaware David Weiss and other prosecutors handled the investigation, alleging authorities slow-walked the case and showed preferential treatment to the president’s son. The House Ways and Means Committee had first privately interviewed the two whistleblowers, releasing transcripts just days after prosecutors reached an agreement with Biden to plead guilty to two charges of willful failure to pay taxes.The nearly six-hour hearing relayed little information not...

Ventura County minister charged for allegedly trying to meet teen girl for sex

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:10 GMT

A minister and former teacher in Ventura County has been charged with multiple felony counts of child abuse, including accusations that he tried to meet up with a 15-year-old girl for sex.Barry Fike, 67, of Fillmore, was arrested on Monday following an investigation by the Ventura County Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.Fike, a minister at Fillmore Church of Christ, pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment Wednesday.He became the subject of an investigation only days ago, when he allegedly started communicating online with a person he believed to be a 15-year-old girl. "The conversations were sexual in nature and Fike allegedly shared explicit photos of himself with the victim, who was actually an undercover officer," the Ventura County District Attorney's Office said in a news release. Fike has previously taught at Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, as well as served as a visiting professor at Pepperdine University. He is not currentl...

Pilot program allows private security cameras to record public in Newport Beach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:10 GMT

A new pilot program that allows private security cameras in public areas is sparking debate among residents in Newport Beach.City council members unanimously approved the program that would allow privately owned and operated cameras to record public areas such as sidewalks and streets.Residents in Newport Beach’s Spyglass community say the security cameras will allow them to better surveil their neighborhood and deter potential thieves from targeting homes.The program would also include signs that warned drivers they're being recorded when they enter the neighborhood.Although residents appear to be generally supportive of the program, a few are concerned about privacy violations.“This is just a wonderful community but I was burglarized soon after we moved in,” said one resident in a recent city council meeting. “I felt so violated as others have. There are three in our street who were burglarized.”A new pilot program that allows private security cameras in public areas is sparking d...

Fire hydrants sheared, stolen in South L.A.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:10 GMT

Police are investigating a string of fire hydrant thefts in a Watts neighborhood Wednesday, authorities told KTLA.  Calls about the sheared hydrants came in just before 4:30 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department, who then contacted LAPD and the L.A. Department of Water and Power about the stolen city property.  While as many as nine fire hydrants have been reportedly stolen, footage from Sky5 confirmed three sheared hydrants at 110th Street and Wilmington Avenue, 100th Street and Willowbrook and 10th Street and Wilmington Avenue.  The suspect was only described as an approximately 18-year-old male who was possibly seen breaking at least three fire hydrants with an unknown tool, according to LAPD.  As many as nine fire hydrants may have been sheared and stolen July 19, 2023, in a Watts neighborhood. (KTLA)As many as nine fire hydrants may have been sheared and stolen July 19, 2023, in a Watts neighborhood. (KTLA)As many as nine fire hydrants may have been ...

Luis Marroquin, Joel Araujo Killed in Multi-Vehicle Crash on 5 Freeway [Norwalk, CA]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:10 GMT

Hector Rivero, Luis Marroquin Injured and Arrested, Clarence Hill Arrested after Fatal Collision near Florence AvenueNORWALK, CA (July 19, 2023) – Sunday morning, a multi-vehicle crash on the 5 freeway left Luis Marroquin, Joel Araujo, and a woman dead.The collision happened at around 2:20 a.m. along the northbound 5 Freeway, just south of Florence Avenue.According to reports, a 2017 Honda driven by Clarence Hill collided with a sound wall, causing his vehicle to become disabled. Shortly after, a driver from Hadley’s tow truck stopped behind the disabled Honda to render some assistance.For unknown reasons, a 2011 Kia driven by Hector Rivero then crashed into the tow truck, killing Rivero’s passenger. Authorities only identified the deceased passenger as a 32-year-old woman from Pico Rivera.Then, a 2016 Toyota driven by 22-year-old Luis Marroquin also rear-ended the tow truck at an unknown rate of speed. Unfortunately, the two passengers of Marroquin suffered major injuries and...

One bad inning snaps SF Giants’ win streak at 7 with loss to Reds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:10 GMT

Despite getting the longest outing of the season from Ross Stripling, the Giants weren’t able to capitalize in key spots Wednesday against the Reds and were done in by one bad inning that ultimately spelled an end to their seven-game winning streak.San Francisco put the would-be tying and go-ahead runs on first and second in the eighth inning but, rather than the late-game magic that has been so prevalent of late, it only went down in a string of missed opportunities. The Giants’ 26 come-from-behind wins are the fifth-most in the majors, but it wasn’t in the cards Wednesday night.Luis Matos flew out to end the eighth-inning opportunity, and Reds All-Star closer Alexis Diaz mowed down Blake Sabol, David Villar and Brett Wisely in order to close out the 3-2 win, handing the Giants (54-42) their first loss since the All-Star break. They’ll get another chance to win the four-game series Thursday morning with Alex Cobb on the mound.Stripling went six innings, his ...

Feinstein seeks more control over late husband’s trust

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:10 GMT

By Michael R. Blood | Associated PressLOS ANGELES — Attorneys for California U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the oldest member of Congress who has been beset with serious health problems, assert in a court filing that she is being stiffed on payments for “significant” medical bills by a trust created for her benefit by her wealthy late husband.Trustees for the fund said they were “perplexed” by the filing and they have never denied any disbursement for the 90-year-old Feinstein, who was absent from the Senate for two-and-a-half months this year as she contended with shingles and other complications, including a brief bout of encephalitis.In the Monday petition in San Francisco Superior Court, attorneys for the Democratic senator and her daughter, Katherine Feinstein, wrote that the longtime lawmaker had built up “significant” medical expenses and sought reimbursement from the marital trust, which was established in 1996 by her husband, investor Richar...

Man arrested in connection with Union City shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:10 GMT

(KRON) -- The Union City Police Department announced that it has made an arrest in connection to a shooting that happened on Tuesday morning. Police responded to the area of 12th Street and G Street at about 11:08 a.m. for the report of a shooting. Officers found a man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, UCPD said. He was taken by paramedics to a local hospital. 4 killed in 3 separate homicides in Oakland Officers were told the suspect was still in the area. He was arrested and identified as Joseph Davis, 41, of Union City. Police recovered a gun and ammunition from the scene. Davis was booked into Santa Rita County Jail on counts of assault with a deadly weapon, felon in possession of a firearm and felon in possession of ammunition. Police do not believe there is a threat to the community. Anyone with information is asked to call (510) 675-5354.

PHOTOS: Crews extinguish house fire in Alamo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:10 GMT

(KRON) -- Crews responded to a house fire Tuesday afternoon in Alamo, San Ramon Valley Fire said on Twitter. The fire did not spread onto the living space of the home, officials said.The cause of the fire is under investigation. On Wednesday, the fire department posted photos from the scene (below).San Ramon Valley Fire did not disclose the location of the blaze at this time. KRON4 reached out to the fire department for more information and is waiting to hear back. Officers make discovery in trunk of suspect vehicle after car chase on Pleasanton freeway (San Ramon Valley Fire)(San Ramon Valley Fire)(San Ramon Valley Fire)(San Ramon Valley Fire)San Ramon Valley Fire first tweeted about the blaze at 2:07 p.m. on Tuesday.

Chinese real estate CEO admits to San Francisco bribery scheme

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:10 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A Chinese real estate development company's CEO admitted to bribing a San Francisco city official in exchange for getting a green light on development projects. Zhang Li, 70, of Guangzhou, China, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. The investigation into Li grew out of a federal probe into San Francisco City Hall corruption.Li bribed Mohammed Nuru, the former head of the San Francisco Department of Public Works, according to investigators with the FBI, IRS, and United States Attorney's Office. Z&L Properties, Inc., a company that Li controls as Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, was also charged with honest services wire fraud. Prosecutors said the company showered Nuru with bribes and gifts in exchange for favorable city treatment of Z&L Properties’ mixed-use project at 555 Fulton Street.Investigators said Li wined and dined Nuru with expensive dinners, drinks, luxury lodging, and transportation during a tri...