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Judge voids Bowe Bergdahl court-martial conviction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:50 GMT

A federal judge has voided the court-martial conviction of former Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who left his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and was then captured and held by the Taliban for five years. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton on Tuesday issued a 63-page ruling granting summary judgment in favor of Bergdahl, who was convicted after pleading guilty in 2017 to charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. Walton argued that Bergdahl was denied a fair trial because the military judge who presided over the court martial, Jeffrey Nance, failed to disclose that he had applied to the executive branch for a job as an immigration judge, creating the potential for a conflict of interest. Former President Trump had made repeated public statements insulting Bergdahl, calling him a traitor and suggesting he receive the death penalty. Walton noted in the ruling that although many of these comments were made during Trump’s campaign, he leaned into them after he was elected.&nbs...

UPS Avoids Workers Strike, Reach Tentative Contract Agreement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:50 GMT

The summer of strikes avoided a major one Tuesday, as the United Parcel Service (UPS) and the Teamsters representing its drivers and factory workers reached a contract agreement.The Teamsters call the contract “historic,” saying it will lead to wage increases, more full-time job opportunities and workplace improvements for the following five years.“Teamster labor moves America,” Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said in a statement. “The union went into this fight committed to winning for our members. We demanded the best contract in the history of UPS, and we got it. UPS has put $30 billion in new money on the table as a direct result of these negotiations. We’ve changed the game, battling it out day and night to make sure our members won an agreement that pays strong wages, rewards their labor, and doesn’t require a single concession. This contract sets a new standard in the labor movement and raises the bar for all workers.”The wage increases will begin this year, with ...

Luis Romero In Custody after Fatal Hit-and-Run on Buhach Road [Merced, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:50 GMT

Motorcyclist Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver near Highway 140MERCED, CA (July 26, 2023) – Authorities arrested Luis Romero following a deadly hit-and-run collision on Buhach Road last Monday night.CHP officers responded to the collision around 10:00 p.m. near the intersection of Buhach Road and Highway 140.According to the investigators, a driver of a Nissan Sentra was attempting to make a left turn onto the southbound Buhach Rd. At the same time, a rider in an eastbound Yamaha motorcycle entered the intersection and collided with the Nissan.The impact of the first collision ejected the rider from his motorcycle onto the westbound lanes of Highway 140. However, the Nissan driver did not render aid to the rider and fled the scene on foot.Subsequently, a 20-year-old Merced woman driving a Ford Mustang ran over the motorcyclist, leaving the rider with fatal injuries. Police said the female Mustang driver stopped at the scene.After a short while, authorities located the Nissan driver...

Justin Thompson Arrested Following Deadly Hit-and-Run Crash on West Foothill Boulevard [Rialto, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:50 GMT

Woman in Wheelchair Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver in RialtoRIALTO, CA (July 26, 2023) – Late Thursday evening, a fatal hit-and-run collision on Foothill Boulevard led to the arrest of Justin Thompson.The collision happened on June 20th, at around 11:30 p.m. at the 1400 block of West Foothill Boulevard.According to the police, a pedestrian in a wheelchair was in the traffic lanes on Foothill when an eastbound vehicle approached the area.Investigators said the vehicle hit the pedestrian outside a marked crosswalk and continued driving without rendering aid. Unfortunately, the female pedestrian succumbed to her injuries after being transported to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.The next day, authorities located and arrested the driver at the 100 block of Willow Avenue. 28-year-old Justin Thompson of Rialto is currently booked into the West Valley Detention Center for a suspected hit-and-run.At this time, the Rialto officials are asking anyone with additional information to conta...

Steven Taggert Killed, Steven Foster Injured in Single-Car Accident on Spring Creek Road [Boulder Creek, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:50 GMT

Driver Pronounced Dead, Passenger Hospitalized after Single-Vehicle Crash on Douglas LaneBOULDER CREEK, CA (July 26, 2023) – Sunday, Steven Taggert died and Steven Foster was hurt in a single-car accident on Spring Creek Road.Police responded to the scene around 5:00 p.m., near Douglas Lane on July 23rd.According to reports, Taggert was driving a southbound red 2003 Toyota Tundra when he veered off the road and struck a tree. Upon impact, the Toyota overturned and sustained severe damage.Paramedics transported Taggert and his passenger, 31-year-old Foster, of Boulder Creek to Valley Medical Center in critical condition. Due to the extent of injuries sustained, crews later pronounced 34-year-old Taggert, of Boulder Creek dead at the hospital.At this time, officers suspect that alcohol was a factor in the collision. Once available, further details will be provided about the fatal car accident on Spring Creek Road.No words can mend the broken hearts, and sorrow felt during this d...

Catch Alexa Villa at the Moroccan Lounge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:50 GMT

Catch Alexa Villa at the Moroccan Lounge: Straddling a line between pop-punk and alt-pop, “bubble rockstress” Alexa Villa has released a string of awesome singles over the past couple of years, building a career that appears to be on the brink of something really quite special. Time will tell, but for now things are looking exciting. SAFTisland and FLASCH also perform.Villa released the “Bored” single, featuring Colie Hutzler, at the end of last year. “We have so many songs about heartbreak and relationship breakups, but what about the best friend breakup?! Sometimes those hurt worse,” said Villa in a statement at the time. “Recently, I lost a group of friends that I considered sisters. We decorated our apartment together, planned holiday parties, wrote each other’s Bumble profiles, and even binged six hours of Love Island once. I really can’t speak as to why the friendships ended but for a moment there, I was in a confused and lonely headspace over it,...

What to watch: Terrifying ‘Talk to Me’ will get to you, we promise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:50 GMT

If you prefer your entertainment dark and twisted, do we ever have just the right film and series recommendations for you this week.Read on, if you dare.“Talk To Me”: With their first feature, Aussie twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippou repurpose a familiar trope, pinning the blame for dreadful, horrible goings-on on a rather obscure object, in this case a creepy, graffitied ceramic hand that has the power to summon up the dead and possess the soul of any fool who decides to repeat key phrases. But even if the setup seems uninspired there’s nothing routine about “Talk to Me.” This is one freaky, talk-back-at-screen horror show. It is worthy of all the hype it’s getting.You become well aware you’re entering brutal territory from the start with a shocker of a prologue that sets us up for more carnage. Central to the film’s success, though, is Sophie Wilde’s fully committed performance as Mia, a vulnerable Australian teen who’s recovering from her mom’s terrifying death. Mia...

CHP investigates man found dead in truck in Santa Cruz County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:50 GMT

APTOS — Investigators do not suspect foul play in the death of a 68-year-old Aptos man found unconscious in a truck with its motor left running in the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center parking lot early Tuesday.California Highway Patrol authorities did not know if alcohol and/or drugs were factors, as the investigation into the man’s death continued, said officer Israel Murillo.The CHP was called to the shopping center, at Soquel and State Park Drives, around 3:15 a.m. for a suspected DUI crash. The driver and his red 1998 Toyota Tacoma, however, had not collided with any structures, nor were there any obvious signs of drug or alcohol use at the scene, according to Murillo. The vehicle remained in drive, with the man’s foot on the gas, according to radio dispatch traffic. Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Sam Bankman-Fried faces potential gag order after witness-tampering allegations Crime and Public Safety | Lowe’s employee who was fired for ta...

Sam Bankman-Fried faces potential gag order after witness-tampering allegations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:50 GMT

By Allison Morrow and Kara Scannell | CNNNew York  — A federal judge is set to consider a gag order on former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried after prosecutors accused him of leaking his former girlfriend and business partner’s personal writings to the New York Times.Prosecutors said last week that Bankman-Fried, 31, had attempted to discredit their star witness, Caroline Ellison, who is expected to testify against Bankman-Fried at his trial in October.US District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan was expected to rule on a so-called gag order that would prevent Bankman-Fried from discussing his case publicly. At a previous bail hearing, Kaplan alluded to the possibility of revoking Bankman-Fried’s bail deal and forcing him to await trial in jail. But he has also extended leniency on Bankman-Fried’s use of electronic devices, citing the complexity of his case.Lawyers for Bankman-Fried responded that they would comply with a gag order but requested that it apply equally to all parties, including “th...

Melania Trump’s small life: Spa days, hawking NFTs, mystery charity

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:50 GMT

To many, Melania Trump doesn’t act like the typical former first lady or the loyal spouse, as her attention-seeking husband is running for president again while brashly fending off legal battles that could lead to prison.The Slovenian-born former model hasn’t appeared beside Donald Trump at campaign events or when he’s had to go to court in New York and Florida to be arraigned on state and federal criminal charges. Unlike other recent first ladies, she also hasn’t stayed in the public eye by writing a best-selling memoir, earning lots of money by giving paid speeches, or launching a foundation devoted to important global causes.Instead, Melania Trump keeps mostly to herself, according to a new profile in the New York Times. She privately lends support to her husband’s political ambitions and defends him when it comes to his legal battles.For example, she expressed anger to people in her inner circle about how his attorneys handled the lawsuit filed by E...