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Senate passes mammoth annual defense policy bill

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

The Senate on Wednesday passed the annual defense policy bill, a compromise $886 billion package that lays out how the Pentagon will be funded through the next fiscal year.  The vote to approve the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was 87-13.House lawmakers will next take up the legislation. The bill faces resistance in the House from far-right lawmakers who are opposed to the package, in part because it fails to include House-passed provisions to rid the Pentagon of what they say are “woke” policies.In addition to keeping the Defense Department's programs and policies funded, the defense bill will authorize tens of billions of dollars for aircraft and ships and give a historic 5.2 percent pay raise to troops.The NDAA also eyes bolstering U.S. national security abroad, with $11.5 billion slated to deter China in the Indo-Pacific region and another $800 million to support Ukraine.  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday urged senators to pass the...

Facebook video shows person forced into van in Aurora on Wednesday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

A video of a person being forced into a white van in Aurora on Wednesday morning was shared thousands of times on social media, prompting Aurora police to ask for help from the public in finding out more information.The video appears to show at least four people forcing someone into a white van with tinted windows before closing the door, according to a post shared by the Aurora Police Department on X.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Burglaries at over 40 Denver-area marijuana dispensaries lead to charges for members of two organized crime groups Crime and Public Safety | Family alleges UCHealth cut off Indigenous patient’s hair, then lied about it Crime and Public Safety | 1 killed, 2 hospitalized in fatal Aurora crash Sunday night Crime and Public Safety | Motorcyclist hit twice and killed in overnight crash in west Aurora Sunday Crime and Public Safety | 3 hospitalized in overnight Aurora sh...

Family of girl, 12, raped by home intruder in Culver City speaks out

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

While police search for the dangerous predator, the family of a 12-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted in her own bedroom by a home intruder earlier this month is speaking out and asking for the public’s help to identify the man.  The incident, according to a news release from the Culver City Police Department, occurred on Dec. 2.  The adult male suspect allegedly entered the residence at around 2-3 a.m., assaulted the victim and left the residence approximately four to five hours later, at around 7 a.m., on foot.   The young girl’s parents, who only wanted to be identified by their first names, were alerted to the assault after their daughter woke them up.  “She came to wake me up and just straight out said, ‘Mom, I need to call the police,’” Alexis, the victim’s mother, told KTLA’s Kimberly Cheng.  Alexis added that the family is devastated and in disbelief that this happened to their daughter, especially in the safety of their own...

Procession honors Southern California Air Force major killed in Osprey crash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

Loved ones gathered for a final salute to an Air Force major killed in an Osprey crash in Japan.The Nov. 29 airplane crash killed eight service members in Yakushima Island, including U.S. Air Force Maj. Luke A. Unrath, 34, a Southern California native.A procession to honor Unrath took place Wednesday from the Los Angeles International Airport to a mortuary in his hometown of Riverside.A flag-draped casket was unloaded from an aircraft and placed into a hearse as a long line of servicemembers stood at attention.Community members and residents were also seen lining the streets in solidarity.“They need all the support we can give them right now.,” said Sue Holley, a Riverside resident. “He deserves all the respect I can give him and just by standing here is my way of giving my respect to the man.”U.S. Air Force Major Luke Unrath, 34, was one of eight U.S. military service members killed in an Osprey crash on Nov. 29, 2023. (Unrath Family)U.S. Air Force Major Luke Unrath, 34, was one of...

School janitor accused of molesting students acquitted on all charges

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

A man who worked as a school janitor and was accused of molesting multiple students has been released from custody after he was acquitted on all charges.Pedro Martinez, 50, of Hesperia, was arrested by San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department deputies in January 2019 on allegations that he molested a 6-year-old boy at Maple Elementary School where he worked.At the time of his arrest, investigators said they found additional victims who corroborated the first victim's claim. They also said there may be other victims who had not yet come forward.Martinez was ultimately charged with 11 counts of child sex abuse, and he was held in custody since his arrest. His trial, which was delayed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and on request by the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office, began in August.The trial was held in the Joshua Tree District over the course of more than three months. On Monday, nearly five years after his arrest, Martinez was acquitted on 10 of the...

Beloved California school crossing guard retiring

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

After many years of helping children safely cross the street, beloved Santa Clarita school crossing guard Ruben Chacon is retiring at the end of the month.Students from James Foster Elementary School greeted Ruben with high fives and hugs on Wednesday, and many wore fake mustaches in his honor. He was clearly humbled.Students from James Foster Elementary School greeted retired crossing guard Ruben Chacon with high fives and hugs. Santa Clarita, California. Dec. 13, 2023. “I guess I had a bigger effect on these kids than I thought. It’s just amazing” Ruben told KTLA.A KTLA 5 News viewer says Ruben recently won some money on a California Lottery Scratcher ticket. We’re told he also plans to donate books to the elementary school.

SoFi Stadium to host Super Bowl LXI in 2027

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

Los Angeles will once again be hosting the Super Bowl after the NFL announced it had selected SoFi Stadium to be the site of Super Bowl LXI in 2027.The stadium, which is located in Inglewood, hosted Super Bowl LVI just last year, in which the hometown Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. SoFi is currently home to both the Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. The decision to name SoFi as host of Super Bowl LXI was announced during a league meeting in Dallas on Wednesday.“We are very excited to bring the Super Bowl back to Los Angeles for the second time in five years," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a news release. “The city did an outstanding job hosting Super Bowl 56 in the incredible SoFi Stadium and we believe that Super Bowl 61 will be even more memorable."A general view of the interior of SoFi Stadium is seen during Super Bowl 56 on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)Super Bowl LVI in 2022 generated between $...

Dow hits a record high as markets rally after Fed remarks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

By Stan Choe | Associated PressNEW YORK — A powerful rally across Wall Street sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average to a record on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve indicated that the cuts to interest rates investors crave so much may be coming next year.The Dow jumped 512 points, or 1.4%, to top 37,000 and surpass its prior peak of 36,799.65 set at the start of last year.Other, more widely followed indexes of U.S. stocks also leaped. The S&P 500 rose 1.4% and is within 2% of its own record. The Nasdaq composite also gained 1.4%.Wall Street loves lower interest rates because they can relax the pressure on the economy and goose prices for all kinds of investments. Markets have been rallying since October amid rising hopes that cuts may be on the way.Rate cuts particularly help investments seen as expensive, lower quality or that force their investors to wait the longest for big growth. Some of Wednesday’s bigger winners were bitcoin, which rose nearly 4%, and the Russell ...

San Jose: Old Bayshore Highway off-ramp blocked after big rig overturns

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

SAN JOSE – A big rig overturned Wednesday afternoon while exiting northbound Highway 101 onto Old Bayshore Highway in San Jose, according to the California Highway Patrol.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Tesla recalls 2 million vehicles to limit use of ‘Autopilot’ feature after nearly 1,000 crashes Crashes and Disasters | Senator’s son charged in crash that killed North Dakota deputy Crashes and Disasters | Military grounds fleet of Ospreys after deadly crash Crashes and Disasters | California man among 8 who died in U.S. Air Force Osprey crash near Japan Crashes and Disasters | GM’s Cruise robotaxi service faces fine in alleged cover-up of San Francisco accident’s severity As a result, the off-ramp was closed and not expected to reopen until 6:30 p.m., the CHP said.The crash happened around 3:30 p.m., according to CHP dispatch logs.CHP Officer Ross Lee said the cause of the crash is under i...

Warriors’ Draymond Green suspended by NBA indefinitely after Nurkic flagrant

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

LOS ANGELES — The NBA suspended Draymond Green indefinitely, the league announced Wednesday in a statement that provided vague language for the terms required for him to return to play.Green was suspended for hitting Jusuf Nurkic, earning him a Flagrant 2 foul and ejection in the Warriors’ loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.“He will be required to meet certain league and team conditions before he can return to play,” the league statement reads.This is Green’s second suspension of the season just 23 games into the year and marked his third ejection of the season. Green will be out for the Warriors’ next game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday and likely more depending on the terms.This suspension has all the makings to bury the Warriors as they hope to escape a 10-13 start to the year in complete disarray. Green is Golden State’s most important cog after Steph Curry, fueling and connecting both the offense and defense. With s...