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San Carlos samurai sword beheading trial: Landaeta made murder confession, deputy testifies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (KRON) -- Testimony from key witnesses and investigators is underway for the samurai sword beheading murder trial in the San Mateo County courthouse. Jose "Rafa" Solano Landaeta, 34, of Hayward, is charged with murdering Karina Castro outside her San Carlos apartment building on Sept. 8, 2022. Landaeta refused to attend his own trial for opening statements on Tuesday, and instead remained in his jail cell. He chose to appear in the courtroom on Wednesday as testimony continued.San Mateo County Sheriff's deputy Damian Machuca testified that he was working at the grisly crime scene when Landaeta suddenly appeared with his mother and made a murder confession. Machuca said he first saw the duo when the mother and son lifted up yellow crime scene tape and crossed under it. "I yelled at them to move back," Machuca testified.Karina Castro (Images via Facebook) Prosecutor Josh Stauffer asked the deputy, "What are the exact words the defendant said to you?"Machuca a...

APEC protesters launch actions with Bay Bridge banner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

(BCN) -- Get ready for a week of protests as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation comes to San Francisco. Early Wednesday, the group Oil and Gas Action Network launched the actions by hanging a 75-foot banner above the Treasure Island tunnel on the Bay Bridge reading "Biden & APEC: End Fossil Fuels." As over 21 heads of state arrive for the conference starting this weekend under the theme "Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All," protesters are arriving with the same challenge. Will there be a ‘homeless sweep’ before APEC? "We expect about 200 different organizations to come to the city to participate in a range of creative actions," said Matt Leonard, a spokesman for the group. Different groups will protest other causes, including labor rights and climate justice. But his group's focus is on U.S. policy on fossil fuels."President Biden has come under consistent fire for his administration's approval of massive new fossil fuel projects," the group said in a state...

What It’s Like to Give Birth in Gaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA — The Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip has left the health sector in the besieged coastal enclave in a state of unprecedented, near-total collapse, according to an investigation by +972 Magazine and The Intercept. The dire conditions were prompted by Israel’s intensive bombardment, sometimes targeting hospitals and surrounding areas, along with power cuts, shortages of fuel and medical supplies, and an exponential increase in injuries.More than half of the 30 hospitals in Gaza have closed completely, according to the Health Ministry. For others, the window of operation remains precariously short: The crisis has pushed many of the remaining health care centers to the brink of closure, rendering them incapable of providing vital medical services. Health care workers and hospital employees fear that, even as casualties rise daily, the health care system will soon be unable to accommodate new patients.“We ran out of fuel and the electricity is cut off. The hospital is...

Is the Democratic sweep of legislative elections a minor setback or disaster for Va. Gov. Youngkin?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

Democrats took full control of Virginia’s General Assembly, retaining their majority in the state Senate and winning enough seats to gain a majority in the House of Delegates.Analysts predicted both chambers would be highly competitive going in to Tuesday’s election. Now that the smoke has cleared, WTOP has spoken with analysts to figure out what happens next.Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball from the University of Virginia Center for Politics, joined WTOP Wednesday to talk about what Tuesday’s results mean going forward.Steven Farnsworth, political-science professor at the University of Mary Washington, also spoke with WTOP about Tuesday’s results.Find both conversations below:Kyle Kondik toggle audio on and off change volume ...

Brazil police say they foiled a terror plot and arrested two suspects

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Authorities in Brazil foiled a terror plot Wednesday when they arrested two people in Sao Paulo state, the Federal Police said in a statement.The two suspects were recruited and financed by the Lebanese militia Hezbollah and planned to target buildings tied to the Jewish community, according to an official with information about the plot who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The police statement did not give details about the suspects. It said police also executed 11 search warrants in Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais and the Federal District that were aimed at obtaining proof of possible recruitment of Brazilians for carrying out extremist acts in the country, adding that it was targeting both recruits and recruiters.Local paper O Globo reported that police arrested one of the two suspects when they returned to the international airport in Sao Paulo, with information in hand to carry out the attack. There are two additi...

Union Berlin ends 12-match losing streak with 1-1 draw at Napoli in Champions League

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

NAPLES, Italy (AP) — Union Berlin’s incredible losing streak ended in an unlikely place as it rescued a 1-1 draw at Serie A champion Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday.Matteo Politano gave Napoli the lead in the 39th minute but David Datro Fofana, who is on loan from Chelsea, leveled seven minutes after the break with his first goal in almost a year to prevent Union from falling to a 13th straight loss in all competitions.Napoli remained second in Group C, two points behind Real Madrid, which played Braga later.Braga was four points behind Napoli and two ahead of Union after the German team recorded its first point in this season’s Champions League.Napoli was still without standout forward Victor Osimhen but had won three of its four matches since he got injured.Napoli scored six minutes from halftime in somewhat fortunate circumstances as Mário Rui’s cross took a deflection off a Union player and hit Politano’s face to ricochet in from close range.Union almost levele...

Son of ‘Donnie Baseball’ Preston Mattingly earns front office promotion from Phillies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Preston Mattingly was promoted Monday to the Philadelphia Phillies’ assistant general manager for player development.A son of former New York Yankees great and current Toronto Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly, Preston Mattingly was hired by the Phillies in September 2021 to run the club’s player development system. Mattingly spent five seasons with the San Diego Padres as coordinator of major league advance scouting and game planning after working as manager of scouting for three years. The Phillies also promoted Brian Barber to assistant general manager of amateur scouting. Barber joined the Phillies in October 2019. “Our minor league talent has continued to progress because of the hard work of Brian and Preston and their staffs. Both Brian and Preston will continue to lead their respective departments while growing within our organization.” Phillies President Dave Dombrowski said.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbSource

Cowboys sign Martavis Bryant, ending a 5-year absence for a receiver suspended 3 times

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys signed receiver Martavis Bryant to their practice squad Wednesday, ending a five-year absence from the NFL for a player who has been suspended three times.Bryant last played in 2018 with the Raiders before they moved from Oakland to Las Vegas. He was indefinitely suspended over substance-abuse violations late that season.The 31-year-old was a fourth-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2014 and spent four years with the Steelers, including when he was suspended for the entire 2016 season.Bryant spent time in the CFL and more recently the XFL before signing with the Cowboys after a workout following his reinstatement by Commissioner Roger Goodell.“I know I’m 31, but I’m still fast, still big, I still want to play football,” Bryant said. “I haven’t lost anything. I got a lot of doubters out there. It’s more of me proving to myself that I still got it.”Bryant scored eight touchdowns with Pittsburgh as a rookie, then had his career high with 765 yards rece...

Boulder listed in best cities to visit in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

BOULDER, Colo. (KDVR) -- A lot of travel was halted with the pandemic, but these days COVID is not impacting travel as much as other things.In fact, the Denver International Airport saw record traffic this summer, with June ranking as the busiest month the airport has ever had. Guide to DIA: Travel tips during the holidays Now, travelers are more concerned about how global conflicts affect travel or how climate change and natural disasters might impact destinations.For the first time since 2019, COVID-19 warnings were not part of Fodor's 2024 Go List of the top three destinations to visit in the U.S. and Canada, which included one city in Colorado.Boulder was named on the list for its array of entertainment and things to do, all within minutes of the city's center. The list noted that Boulder has a rural, mountain-town feel while still being a big city as it's surrounded by over 30,000 acres of city-owned open space, according to the report."Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or...

The owners of a funeral home where 190 sets of human remains were ‘improperly stored’ have been arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

(CNN) — The owners of a Colorado funeral home were arrested Wednesday in Oklahoma, weeks after 190 sets of human remains were discovered “improperly stored” at their business, authorities say.Jon Hallford and Carie Hallford were arrested on suspicion of abuse of a corpse, theft, money laundering and forgery, according to a news release from the district attorney’s office.An investigation began after a foul odor was reported coming from the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, about 30 miles south of Colorado Springs. Fremont County Sheriff Allen Cooper said in October that human remains were found mproperly stored at the site – which offered “green burials.”The remains were discovered after a search warrant was executed on October 4.A total of 190 bodies have been found to date, 110 of which have been positively identified, Fremont County Coroner Randy Keller said.“We have notified approximately 137 families,” said Keller. “We have released approxi...