Organized crime ring that set up shop in St. Charles targeted small towns

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:33:50 GMT

Organized crime ring that set up shop in St. Charles targeted small towns ST. CHARLES, Mo. - News first broke last month about the St. Charles arrest of Romanian jewel thieves, but newly released court documents explain the magnitude of the organized crime operation. The court documents also offered a few surprises involving the group that was hiding in plain sight.It’s hard to believe the ring settled on St. Charles, specifically North 3rd Street, in a short-term rental. The operation is believed to be on such a massive scale that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is involved. Before the bust, police warned people around the country about a group of young Romanians targeting small towns. The men and women range in age from their late 20s to early 30s. One of their reported targets was Miramar Beach, Florida, where they reportedly got away with more than $1 million in jewelry in December 2022.At the end of April, the suspects drove to St. Charles, where they reportedly rented the home on North 3rd Street. Court records indicated seven suspects iden...

Trans parents speak on upcoming gender-affirming care ban

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:33:50 GMT

Trans parents speak on upcoming gender-affirming care ban ST. LOUIS - A couple of years ago, Daniel and Karen Bogard’s world changed.“I was putting him to bed one night, and he asked me if God could make him over again as a boy,” Daniel said.Since then, their son has begun transitioning, wearing more boyish clothes and cutting his hair short. It’s a topic that still brings about tears, especially following Wednesday’s news.“The first thing you learn living in Missouri if you have a trans kid is that you have to protect them from the government,” Daniel said.The Missouri Legislature banned gender-affirming care, meaning their son, who has not hit puberty yet, would be denied puberty blockers. A transition, his mom says, does not define him. Circuit Attorney refuses charges to woman arrested in Cherokee St. shooting “He’s an amazing 9-year-old, and being trans doesn’t define him; it’s made to define him by our government," Karen said.Governor Mike Parson is expected to sign the bill into law on August 28.“All we want is our government to n...

Impressive NE Colorado storm system unleashes hail, tornadoes, heavy rains

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:33:50 GMT

Impressive NE Colorado storm system unleashes hail, tornadoes, heavy rains Severe weather with hail, lightning and heavy rains rumbled across the southern Denver area Wednesday and out onto the Eastern Plains, hitting Washington County hard where multiple tornado sightings were reported.“This was a pretty impressive event,” said Evan Direnzo, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boulder. “We knew this was going to be a good afternoon and evening, storm-wise.”The threat for severe weather has decreased. Storms are moving generally towards the north-northeast and may produce sub-severe hail, strong winds up to 50 mph, and heavy rainfall. With any areas receiving heavy rain, the potential for flash flooding exists. #COwx #KSwx #NEwx pic.twitter.com/8c20WsSVW0— NWS Goodland (@NWSGoodland) May 11, 2023The biggest hail, a 4-inch stone according to the weather service, fell northeast of Gary in Morgan County about 5:50 p.m., Direnzo said. The Woodrow area, in Washington County, recorded 3-inch stone hail about 6:10 p....

Beyoncé brings the heat to Sweden on first Renaissance Tour stop

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:33:50 GMT

Beyoncé brings the heat to Sweden on first Renaissance Tour stop This is the moment that BeeHive fans all over the world have been waiting for. The Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, has officially kicked off her Renaissance Tour in Stockholm, Sweden. Fans quickly rushed to TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms to share clips of the singer’s first solo tour performance since her 2016 Formation World Tour. Carter opened her show with her smash hit, “Dangerously in Love” from her first studio album. According to several quickly spreading video clips, the pop singer also performed a blend of her earlier fan favorites including  “Flaws and All,” “Drunk in Love” and “I Care” mixed with hits from "Renaissance" including “That Girl,” “Alien Superstar,” and “Plastic Off the Sofa.” The "Cuff It" queen launched her “Renaissance” album dedicated to her late Uncle Johnny in July 2022 that caused a major culture shift, social frenzy, and dance movement. The album amassed nine Grammy nomin...

Construction of new park under Sixth Street Bridge to begin this summer

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:33:50 GMT

Construction of new park under Sixth Street Bridge to begin this summer Construction of a brand new park under the Sixth Street Viaduct was unanimously approved on Tuesday.Two million dollars were approved for a budget gap in the Sixth Street Park, Arts, and River Connectivity (PARC) project which brings 12 acres of open space for the public to enjoy.Funds from the Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018 (Prop 68) will be funding a major portion of the estimated $30 million project. The act was authored by Los Angeles City Council member Kevin de León.The new space will bring two dog parks, a skate park, a performing arts plaza, soccer fields, and a large playground area for children.An Arts Plaza will provide local artists with display areas along with community gathering grounds.Arts plaza stage at Sixth Street Park, Arts, and River Connectivity. (Hargreaves Jones)The soccer fields at Sixth Street Park, Arts, and River Connectivity. (Hargreaves Jones)West park seating at Sixth Street Park, Arts, and River Connectivity. (Hargreaves Jones)The Sixth Street Park...

Woodland Hills man arrested on multiple indecent exposure charges 

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:33:50 GMT

Woodland Hills man arrested on multiple indecent exposure charges  A man was arrested for multiple indecent exposure violations committed in Camarillo over a three-month period. Shayan Carpio, 26, of Woodland Hills was arrested on Tuesday on three counts of indecent exposure. According to a release from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, residents in the 1600 block of East Ventura Boulevard reported two different incidents of indecent exposure at the same location in March and April 2023. “During the incidents, the suspect exposed himself and engaged in lewd conduct in plain view of the public,” VCSO said in a statement.  Former O.C. cheerleading coach arrested on molestation charges; additional victims sought A third report came in on the same day in the 700 block of Camarillo Center Drive, approximately one mile away from the first two incidents. Detectives with the Camarillo Investigations Bureau were able to confirm that the suspect from the first two incidents was the suspect in the third one. A fourth incident of indecent exposu...

49ers’ Kyle Shanahan glad season opener won’t be at Philly for obvious reason

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:33:50 GMT

49ers’ Kyle Shanahan glad season opener won’t be at Philly for obvious reason SAN JOSE — Kyle Shanahan approves, with a compelling reason, that the 49ers’ rematch of the NFC Championship Game won’t come until a Dec. 3 visit to the Philadelphia.That late-season meeting affords Brock Purdy ample time to recover from his right-elbow surgery, which was required March 10 after his injury left the 49ers shorthanded in that 31-7 defeat at Philadelphia in late January.“I am glad we’re not playing Philly Week 1,” Shanahan said Wednesday night at the Dwight Clark Legacy Series at the California Theatre. “ I want to play them at a better time. I want to make sure our whole team is right there and I don’t like home back in Philly again.”Shanahan believes Purdy will be better than ever of his recovery goes as planned, including possibly being ready for training camp in three months.That said, Purdy’s availability to start the season is an unknown, so Shanahan is glad the Eagles won’t be their opening opponent; the 49ers’ full schedule will be revealed by the N...

$7K worth of equipment stolen from Oakland student program

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:33:50 GMT

$7K worth of equipment stolen from Oakland student program OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) – A student program in Oakland is trying to recover after falling victim to a theft. The suspects took off with video and audio equipment that were used by teens to make documentaries centered on personal history, cultures and their communities.Approximately $7,000 worth of equipment was stolen from the Peralta House Museum in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood last month. The stolen goods include cameras, microphones, and a laptop.The theft is a big setback, and the group is now hoping the community can help. Man in custody after slashing BART rider with ‘cleaver-style knife’: police “Very shocking, very shocking for all of the interns. We couldn’t believe it,” said Abad Leyva, the education director at Peralta Hacienda.Leyva oversees “Oakland 200,” which is made up of just over a dozen teenage students that make documentaries and other video projects.“You’re gonna see poetry that these kids have done – interviews in Fruitvale, in West Oakland talking about B...

Ex-Raider Henry Ruggs accepts plea deal in Las Vegas fatal crash that killed young woman

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:33:50 GMT

Ex-Raider Henry Ruggs accepts plea deal in Las Vegas fatal crash that killed young woman LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Former Las Vegas Raiders player Henry Ruggs entered a guilty plea in a Las Vegas courtroom Wednesday morning for causing a fiery DUI crash that killed a 23-year-old woman and her dog. Exclusive: District attorney explains why his office offered Henry Ruggs plea deal in fatal Las Vegas crash Attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, who represent Ruggs released a statement that said "Henry entered his plea today in hopes it will further the process of healing the wounds caused by the accident."Ruggs, 24, pleaded guilty to felony DUI resulting in death and a misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter. Under the plea deal, a judge will sentence 24-year-old Ruggs to a minimum of three years in prison because the DUI resulting in death charge is not probationable. The maximum sentence is 10 years. The plea deal reduced the initial charges he faced. The plea deal has come under scrutiny and Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson released a statement aft...

Exclusive: District attorney explains why his office offered Henry Ruggs plea deal in fatal Las Vegas crash

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:33:50 GMT

Exclusive: District attorney explains why his office offered Henry Ruggs plea deal in fatal Las Vegas crash LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said prosecutors were concerned blood evidence in the case against Henry Ruggs would never have made it to trial, leading to a plea deal, which could send the former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver to prison for up to 10 years.Ruggs, 24, pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges of felony DUI resulting in death and a misdemeanor charge of vehicular manslaughter. Ruggs crashed into Tina Tintor, 23, and her dog, Max, when he was speeding on Rainbow Boulevard at 156 mph in November 2021, police said. Viral video of Henry Ruggs filmed before fatal crash, former Las Vegas Raider cannot leave state As part of the plea agreement, Ruggs could serve anywhere from three to 10 years. He is not eligible for probation or an appeal, Wolfson said. A judge will have the final say on Ruggs’ sentence.“Why did we get to this plea agreement?” 8 News Now Investigator David Charns asked Wolfson on Wednesday.“You know, this is an agonizing case,...