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Guatemala’s corruption is thrust into international spotlight by the government’s election meddling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:16:24 GMT

By SONIA PÉREZ D. and CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN (Associated Press)GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — The Guatemalan government’s clumsy interference with its presidential election has turned a global spotlight on rampant corruption that previously had received only limited international attention.President Alejandro Giammattei was deeply unpopular at home, but other than occasional reprobation from the United States and Europe, had managed to consolidate his control of the justice system, completely upending a longstanding anti-corruption campaign in the country with little consequence.The June 25 presidential election may have changed all that. In the days leading up to the vote, it appeared there would be a runoff between a small number of right and extreme right candidates, including Giammattei allies. But with a large number of null votes, many cast in protest, and a campaign that resonated especially with young Guatemalans, progressive candidate Bernardo Arévalo placed secon...

Fatal stabbing in Aurora, police arrest an armed suspect near the scene

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:16:24 GMT

A man was fatally stabbed in Aurora, and police have arrested a suspect in the incident.Nurendy Ropon, 22, is being held on investigation of second-degree murder and felony menacing with a deadly weapon, according to an Aurora Police Department news release.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | YouTuber apologizes after selling access to autopsy photos of murder victim Gannon Stauch Crime and Public Safety | Defendant guilty of first-degree murder in Lakewood man’s death, victim’s body never found Crime and Public Safety | Argument escalates into deadly shooting in Denver police say Crime and Public Safety | Aurora dentist’s wife fatally poisoned with cyanide and decongestant found in Visine, coroner testifies Crime and Public Safety | Pueblo officials searching for suspect in June homicide, ask public for help The stabbing happened about 9:20 p.m. Thursday in the 1600 block of Alto...

Officers hospitalized after exposure to narcotic during domestic dispute

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:16:24 GMT

Four Los Angeles police officers were hospitalized Friday afternoon after being exposed to some sort of narcotic during a call about a family dispute in Hyde Park.The incident was reported around 1:30 p.m. near the intersection of Southwest Drive and 4th Avenue, according to the LAPD.Responding officers determined there was a restraining order against one of the family members involved in a dispute and backup was called because that person was in violation of the order, Officer Drake Madison told KTLA.The officers were somehow exposed to an unspecified narcotic and taken to a hospital in good condition, LAPD said. Aerial video from Sky5 showed several LAPD and Los Angeles Fire Department vehicles at the scene. This is a developing story. Stay with KTLA for updates.

Think the Hollywood strike is bad? Just wait

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:16:24 GMT

As actors joined writers on the picket line Friday, analysts estimated a prolonged walkout could result in a $3 billion hit to the economy.That's bad news not just for creatives but also for the many businesses that rely on Hollywood for their livelihoods -- talent agencies, advertising firms, caterers and such.But the Tinseltown work stoppage could be relatively small potatoes compared to what may be coming down the pike.The Teamsters say their 340,000 union members will walk off the job at delivery giant UPS if a new contract isn't reached by the end of the month.Anderson Economic Group estimates that just a 10-day walkout at UPS could cost the economy more than $7 billion.That's a $4.6 billion hit to companies and consumers, causing "significant and lasting harm for small businesses, household workers, sole practitioners and online retailers across the country."But that's not all. A UPS strike would also result in direct losses to the company of $816 million, according to Anderso...

Passport backlog creating headaches for travelers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:16:24 GMT

Passport delays are causing road bumps for travelers this summer, and the backlog is so bad, one lawmaker is calling it a crisis.Even expensive expedited processing could take months.Many travelers are having to renew their passports by mail since the State Department’s online renewal system is not working; it stopped months ago after a technical issue, officials said.Now, for mail-in applications, the average renewal time is between 10 to 13 weeks, or seven to nine weeks for expedited service.State Department officials issued a record number of passports last year — more than 20 million — and are on track to break that record this year.Some congressional leaders say they want this problem fixed, and soon.“What we need to get back to is the approach that was taken pre-COVID, where you didn’t even need to get an appointment, you can just do a walk in,” Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia) said recently.

1 Hospitalized after Motorcycle Accident on Mission Bay Drive [San Diego, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:16:24 GMT

One Injured in Motorcycle Collision near Ingraham StreetSAN DIEGO, CA (July 14, 2023) – Saturday afternoon, a motorcycle accident on West Mission Bay Drive left one rider with serious injuries.The incident occurred around 4:15 p.m., at the 1000 block of West Mission Boulevard near Ingraham Street.Per reports, the 54-year-old driver of a 2011 Toyota Camry made a U-turn while heading west. There, the driver turned directly into the path of a 2008 Triumph motorcycle, resulting in a collision.Emergency responders arrived and transported the 32-year-old motorcyclist to a local hospital. Reports said the rider sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.Meanwhile, the Camry driver did not receive any injuries from the crash. Officers also determined that intoxication did not play a factor in the incident.At around 6:00 p.m., the San Diego Officials reopened the eastbound lanes of Mission Bay Drive. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the motorcy...

Closing the Divide: The Clear Umbrella’s Impact on the EDI Landscape

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:16:24 GMT

The Clear Umbrella (TCU) is an organization that stands out for its gentle and innovative approach to diversity and inclusion in a world where these issues have been brought to the forefront of public and corporate consciousness. Having been founded by Warren Dean Flandez, a staunch supporter of EDI, TCU is reshaping our collective consciousness in regards to EDI.Flandez’s strong desire to make the world more equitable stemmed in part from his own experiences as a member of a historically underrepresented group. “The tipping point occurred several years ago, when I was taking my cell phone out of my car on a sunny Saturday afternoon.” Flandez says, “A neighbor accused me of being a thief because I didn’t look like I belonged in the community. This experience strengthened his resolve to combat prejudice and stereotyping, which became central to the founding of TCU.”TCU’s method is characterized by its mildness in comparison to more confrontational ...

Report: Biden raised $72M in first quarter since re-election bid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:16:24 GMT

By Jeremy Diamond | CNNPresident Joe Biden raised $72 million for his reelection effort and for the Democratic Party in his first quarter of fundraising since launching his reelection bid in April, his campaign announced Friday.The showing could help quell some concerns about the president’s ability to fundraise as he seeks a second term. His campaign boasted an average contribution of $39 from nearly 400,000 donors and said 97% of all donations were less than $200.Biden’s campaign, which has yet to open a headquarters and maintains a skeletal staff several months in, also boasted a sizable war chest, with $77 million in cash on hand at June 30, the end of the quarter.While the president’s fundraising haul is stronger than any other 2024 presidential contender, it falls short of the record-breaking $86 million raised in 2011 by President Barack Obama for his reelection campaign and the Democratic National Committee in his first quarter of fundraising after launching his second-term ...

GOP hopefuls face mounting pressure to derail Trump in Iowa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:16:24 GMT

By Thomas Beaumont and Steve Peoples | Associated PressDES MOINES, Iowa — As the six-month sprint to the Iowa caucuses begins, the sprawling field of Republican presidential candidates is facing growing pressure to prove they can become serious challengers to former President Donald Trump.The urgency is particularly acute for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who entered the race in May with expectations that he would quickly become Trump’s top rival. For now, however, he has struggled to generate the enthusiasm that Trump commands from the GOP base, leaving it uncertain he will become the threat to the former president that he was once billed to be.“That’s what DeSantis wanted to be. It’s possible he may be that still,” said Gentry Collins, a seasoned Iowa and national Republican strategist who ran Mitt Romney’s 2008 caucus campaign. “But it sure doesn’t look like that to me — it’s become clear that there isn’t room for another a...

California AG expands state-sponsored travel ban to other states with discriminatory LGBTQ+ laws as legislators work to undo it

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:16:24 GMT

Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Friday that California has expanded its list of states to which it will not sponsor travel over LGBTQ+ laws it deems discriminatory, even as his own state’s lawmakers work to undo the travel ban altogether.By law, California will restrict state-funded travel to Missouri, Nebraska, and Wyoming as a result of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation recently enacted in each of those states, Bonta said, adding them to the list of 23 other states to which state-funded or sponsored travel is banned. That puts more than half the country off limits for state travel.“These new laws enacted by Missouri, Nebraska, and Wyoming aren’t just discriminatory, they constitute a clear case of government overreach — and it’s an alarming trend we’re witnessing across the country,” Bonta said in a statement. “By preventing transgender individuals from participating in sports aligned with their gender identity, or by denying them access ...