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LAPD using Israeli spy company to gather personal data, report says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:49 GMT

Is the Los Angeles Police Department accessing data from your phone and social media accounts without a warrant?That's what is being claimed in a new report published by the nonprofit news outlet Knock LA.That report says the LAPD's partnership with the Israeli company Cobwebs Technologies uses "warrantless access to your personal information" and artificial intelligence and machine learning to surveil members of the public. While Cobwebs is Israeli in origin, it was reportedly purchased by American private equity firm Spire Capital for about $200 million. "LAPD purchased the nearly $200,000-per-year subscription to the technology in 2022 with the help of a $600,000 DHS grant that focuses on terrorism prevention in urban areas," according to Knock LA.This purchase came after Meta — parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — banned Cobwebs accounts due to its status as a "surveillance-for-hire company" that targeted "activists, opposition politicians, and government officia...

Family of slain LASD deputy to sue L.A. County officials

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:49 GMT

The family of slain Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer is planning to sue the county for jeopardizing the lives of law enforcement officers by imposing excessive overtime. Clinkunbroomer was killed in an ambush-style murder in broad daylight on Sept. 16 as he was sitting in his patrol car outside the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station where he worked. The suspect, later identified as 29-year-old Kevin Salazar, was taken into custody two days later after an armed standoff outside his home in which neighbors were evacuated and tear gas was deployed. Salazar is schizophrenic, his family says. He was charged with murder with special circumstances of lying in wait, murder of a peace officer and discharging a firearm from a vehicle. He entered dual pleas of not guilty and not guilty by insanity on Sept. 20.  Family of man shot by CHP officer on 105 Freeway files lawsuit Attorneys for the Clinkunbroomer family are now arguing that the fallen de...

Light rain in the forecast for Southern California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:49 GMT

After a dry start to the week, some rain is set to hit the region beginning Wednesday.According to the National Weather Service, a “dry day is on tap” for Tuesday, but an offshore front will move over the Central Coast before making its way to SoCal by Wednesday. “Rain chances will increase through the day Wednesday, then will wane away as the pattern turns showery into late Wednesday night and Thursday,” NWS said. Preliminary NWS forecasts indicate that most of the rain will fall on the Central Coast, with some communities in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties expected to see up to 0.2 inches. Further to the south and east, Ventura and Los Angeles counties will see less rain; projections range from 0.04 inches in Oxnard to 0.12 inches in Avalon on Catalina Island. There is a small threat of snow on the 5 Freeway near the Tejon Pass, NWS said. With the increased rain and clouds come cooler temperatures for nearly all of SoCal, according to KTLA 5 meteorol...

Sean 'Diddy' Combs steps down as chairman of Revolt amid sexual assault lawsuits

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:49 GMT

Hip-hop impresario Sean "Diddy" Combs is stepping down as chairman of his cable television network Revolt. Revolt made the announcement on Instagram on Tuesday morning."Sean Combs has stepped down from his position as Chairman of Revolt," the statement began. "While Mr. Combs has previously had no operational or day-to-day role in the business, the decision helps to ensure that Revolt remains steadfastly focused on our mission to create meaningful content for the culture and amplify the voices of all Black people throughout this country and the African diaspora."The move comes as three women have recently sued Combs for sexual assault.Just weeks ago, Combs was accused of raping and abusing R&B singer Cassie for nearly a decade. She filed a lawsuit against the Bad Boy Records founder and the two parties settled a day later. Sean "Diddy" Combs and Cassie attend the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on M...

Child, mother dead after a suspected DUI driver crashes into pedestrians at L.A. bus stop

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:49 GMT

An 8-year-old girl died several days after she and her mother were hospitalized after a driver crashed into a group of pedestrians near a bus stop in the Manchester Square neighborhood of Los Angeles.The crash happened around 1:30 p.m. on the 1700 block of West 83rd Street on Thanksgiving, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.The young child, Alexa Antonio Aragon, and her mother, 26-year-old Alma Aragon, were waiting at a bus stop after picking up a gift for a relative.The collision involved two vehicles, police said. One car was exiting a private lot when it was struck by another vehicle. The first vehicle then crashed into the pedestrians who were on the sidewalk “at or near” a bus stop, authorities said.Authorities announced that Aragon died on Thanksgiving Day.One of the drivers was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence, police officials confirmed on Nov. 23.One of the drivers was transported to the hospital following the crash.Aragon, her dau...

Robert De Niro says Gotham Awards speech was censored: 'How dare they do that'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:49 GMT

Actor Robert De Niro received a major honor at the Gotham Awards on Monday night.The "Killers of the Flower Moon" star received the Gotham Historical Icon and Creator Tribute award. Touching video of Bruce Willis grasping daughter’s hand draws mixed reactions While accepting the honor, the Academy Award winner noticed his speech was missing some key elements while he read the teleprompter. Those key elements were about President Donald Trump.“I just want to say one thing,” he said. “The beginning of my speech was edited, cut out, and I didn’t know about it. And I want to read it."Robert De Niro speaks onstage at The 2023 Gotham Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on Nov. 27, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute)Regardless, De Niro decided to read his original speech from his phone."History isn’t history anymore. Truth is not truth. Even facts are being replaced by alternative facts and driven by conspiracy the...

City officials among those against funding homeless center in downtown Santa Ana 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:49 GMT

A homeless center that serves as a mental health center is causing controversy in Santa Ana. City officials are now asking the Board of Supervisors to not fund the group that runs the Multi-Service Center, the Mental Health Agency of Orange County (MHA), citing safety concerns in the business district and residential neighborhoods surrounding the facility, which is located at 2416 South Main Street. The walk-in facility was constructed for unhoused individuals to obtain mental health services, but the city says it's been a nuisance for years.The city is currently in litigation with MHA, arguing that clients of the facility often wander away from the property and towards nearby homes and businesses.  Plainclothes shoplifting stings result in 11 arrests during Black Friday weekend Those for and against the Multi-Service Center (MSC) voiced their concerns at a Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday morning.“The Santa Ana Police Department received more than 249 calls for services a...

From Business Magnate to Historical Author: A Comprehensive Look At Polynesian Culture From Fata Ariu Levi

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:49 GMT

Fata Ariu Levi, formerly a serial entrepreneur with a rich history in the business world, has turned his attention to a new kind of venture – sharing the rich history and culture of the Polynesian people. As the President and Co-Founder of a publicly traded in NASDAQ Fundtech Ltd, now Finastra privately owned by Vista Equity Partners, and co-founder and CEO of  Primeton Software, Inc., and later the Real Estate Orchestra Group, Inc., Levi has demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in the financial services technology and real estate sectors. In November 2020, Levi embarked on a new venture as a self-employed author, channeling his passion for Polynesian culture into literary form. His book, “Navigators Forging a Matriarchal Culture in Polynesia,” offers a profound exploration of Polynesian history, culture, genealogy, religious rituals, and language. As a Paramount Orator Chief for the Maletoa Monarchy and a native Samoan, Levi brings authenticity and d...

Palo Alto “builder’s remedy” house towers are eyed at Mollie Stone site

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:49 GMT

PALO ALTO — A pair of housing towers could sprout at a Palo Alto site now occupied by a Mollie Stone’s grocery store in the latest effort to use a “builder’s remedy” gambit to streamline the approval process for the project.All told, the project would produce 382 residential units and a brand-new Mollie Stone’s Market store at 156 California Avenue in Palo Alto, according to documents on file with city planners.Elevated view of a housing and retail mixed-use development at 156 California Avenue in Palo Alto that will include 382 residential units and a new Mollie Stone’s Markets grocery store, concept. (Studio Current)Of the 382 apartments, 77 would be affordable units, which would mean slightly more than 20% of the proposed residences would be affordable domiciles. Redco Development has proposed the project“Density on public transit with a grocery anchor is great Urban Design 101,” said Chris Freise, a managing partner with...

2 children hospitalized following possible gas leak at Sonoma County camp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:49 GMT

(KRON) -- Two children were hospitalized following a possible gas leak at a Catholic Charities camp in Sonoma County, the Monte Rio Fire District has confirmed. Monte Rio fire assisted Occidental Fire at around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday on reports of sick children at the camp.Firefighters responded to a cabin at the CYO camp in Occidental. It was occupied by one adult and 11 children. San Jose parents appear in court after fentanyl kills baby The children, firefighters reported, awoke with headaches and stomach aches. Two were transported to the hospital for further evaluation. The other 10 people were evaluated on the scene.Firefighters reported a possible sealed gas leak inside the cabin. The cabin was evacuated and crews began investigating, firefighters said. The children involved were all from the same school and were all around 12 years old.The incident has since been cleared but the incident is still being investigated by the camp.