OS ANGELES – Ten people were arrested in multiple cities over the past day in relation to two federal indictments charging members of an organized crime syndicate who allegedly conspired to traffic and import hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and other controlled substances from Mexico through Los Angeles for export to Canada or re-distribution throughout the United States. Arrest and search warrants were executed this morning by a coalition of international law enforcement partners in various cities, including Los Angeles; Sacramento, California; Miami; Odessa, Texas; and the Canadian cities of Montreal, Toronto and Calgary. In addition to those arrested, two defendants…
Author: SBE Staff
By Louisa Loveluck and Missy Ryan For U.S. troops under fire from Iran-linked groups in Iraq and Syria, the military mission that brought them to the Middle East is largely complete, experts say. Whether and when to withdraw them is more complicated — an issue that has taken on greater urgency after three U.S. service members were killed in a drone attack in Jordan on Sunday. The roughly 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria are described by U.S. officials as part of an operation to keep the Islamic State from regaining a foothold in the region. But with the jihadist group…
The Hatami for Los Angeles District Attorney campaign announced a sum of $552,139.49 in total contributions – without any personal candidate contributions or loans – received through the December 31, 2023, and January 20, 2024 fundraising reporting periods. “I’m a long-time county prosecutor, military veteran, and father of two who came from humbled beginnings and put myself through college with financial aid, pell grants and the GI Bill. Roxanne and I bought our home through the VA Home Loan program, we are products of public school, and our children attend public school,” said Hatami. “I didn’t enter this race with…
LOS ANGELES – Mayor Karen Bass and the City of Los Angeles are gearing up for a momentous celebration of African American Heritage Month. The Our Authors Study Club, Inc., is proud to present the awards ceremony on Friday, February 2nd at 11:00 am on the front lawn of LA City Hall. This highly anticipated event will honor remarkable individuals who have made significant contributions in media, entertainment, arts, academia, business, medicine, government, and the nonprofit sector. Hosted by Ashley McKay from ABC 7 Eyewitness News, this year’s African American Heritage Month celebration promises to be a memorable occasion filled with joy and appreciation for the rich African American heritage. After a challenging…
By Andrew Sheeler The Civil War ended 159 years ago, but the language used by the secessionists who started it lives on today, most recently in a statement from Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. In a statement issued last week, Abbott said that “the federal government has broken the compact between the United States and the states” and announced that he was deploying the Texas National Guard and other state public safety personnel to “secure the Texas border.” It’s the word “compact” that draws concern from some, as that is how seven of the 11 seceding states (including Texas) referred…
By Emily Rauhala and Steve Hendrix THE HAGUE — The International Court of Justice on Friday ordered Israel to do more to prevent the killing and harm of civilians in Gaza but did not call for a cease-fire, disappointing Palestinians who had hoped the court would endorse their pleas for immediate relief from the violence. At a closely watched hearing at The Hague’s Peace Palace, the court’s president read out its order and reasoning, confirming that the ICJ has jurisdiction in the landmark case brought by South Africa and arguing that there is an urgent need for measuresbecause of the plausibility of genocide. It called…
The American Museum of Natural History is closing two major halls as museums around the nation respond to updated policies from the Biden administration. By Julia Jacobs and Zachary Small The American Museum of Natural History will close two major halls exhibiting Native American objects, its leaders said on Friday, in a dramatic response to new federal regulations that require museums to obtain consent from tribes before displaying or performing research on cultural items. “The halls we are closing are artifacts of an era when museums such as ours did not respect the values, perspectives and indeed shared humanity of Indigenous peoples,” Sean…
By St. John Barned-Smith A San Francisco city employee was charged Thursday with helping embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars from a program meant to fund neighborhood improvements, prosecutors said. Stanley Ellicott, a 38-year-old manager in San Francisco’s Department of Human Resources, is charged with eight felonies, including one count of misappropriation of public money, six counts of aiding and abetting a financial conflict of interest in a government contract, and one count of receiving stolen property. The charges lay out a case in which Ellicott helped an associate direct bribes to a grant manager in exchange for city dollars. “The…
By Brianna Taylor After last year’s budget of $300 million in down payment assistance was devoured in 11 days, California has relaunched its program with stricter guidelines to target a niche group of first-time homebuyers. In its second year, the California Housing Finance Agency’s Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan program will continue to award down payments that don’t have to be repaid until the property is sold, refinanced, transferred or paid off. Whether or not you are chosen for a loan will be based purely on luck — and your parents. Last year, the CalHFA dished out money on…
By Gillian Brassil California’s secretary of state asked a state appeals court to erase the ruling that let Assemblyman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, run for Congress for a two-year term to succeed retired Rep. Kevin McCarthy. “Petitioner California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber urgently requests a peremptory writ of mandate directing respondent Superior Court for the State of California, County of Sacramento, to vacate its ruling in Fong v. Weber,” read the petition filed Monday in California’s Third Appellate District. The secretary of state’s office sent The Bee the petition for a writ of mandate, which is a document…