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Federal agents arrest man alleged to have extorted money from Koreatown karaoke clubs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:12:50 GMT

Homeland Security Investigations special agents and officers from the Los Angeles Police Department arrested a Woodland Hills man on federal charges that he was extorting "protection" money from several businesses in Koreatown. According to the Justice Department, the federal investigation into 38-year-old Daekun Cho began a year ago and found that he was demanding protection money from karaoke businesses in Koreatown as well as from “doumi,” who are hostesses employed by patrons of the karaoke establishments. “To further his extortion scheme, Cho committed shootings, a carjacking, a kidnapping and other acts of physical violence,” the complaint affidavit said. “Cho made explicit threatening statements to the doumi drivers and karaoke bar owners to get them to pay a monthly fee.” The affidavit also outlines other physical attacks committed by Cho dating back to May of 2021, when he is alleged to have beaten a victim with a baseball bat after the victim refused to pay protection...

Port of Los Angeles agrees to green shipping corridor with Tokyo and Yokohama ports 

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:12:50 GMT

The Port of Los Angeles has reached an agreement with the Ports of Tokyo and Yokohama in Japan to create more sustainable shipping passages. The agreements, known as Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs), were signed by Port officials during the 2023 California Japan Clean Energy Trade Mission this week. A Green Shipping Corridor partnership has been agreed upon between the three ports to be established within the coming year. The partnership aims to reduce emissions along trade routes and promotes low and zero-carbon ships and fuels. “Global cooperation is critical if we are to make meaningful progress toward a cleaner and more sustainable maritime industry,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “The Port of Los Angeles is proud of the role it has played in advancing port-related environmental technologies and supply chain decarbonization solutions, but we can do so much more with ports and other international stakeholders working together.” The Port of ...

Taco Bell bringing back the fan-favorite Volcano Menu in June

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:12:50 GMT

Taco Bell is turning up the heat with the return of the fan-favorite Volcano Menu. The fast-food restaurant announced the return of the Volcano Burrito, Volcano Taco and Lava Sauce on Thursday.“A menu so hot we can’t keep our cool. Established all the way back in 1995, Taco Bell is returning up the heat, for the third time, with the perfect encore to satisfy your spice cravings through the return of the fan-favorite Volcano Menu,” a news release said.The menu will make its grand return to the general public on June 29, but Taco Bell Rewards Members will have exclusive access to it on June 27, two days before it’s available to the general public.The Volcano Menu will be avaliable for a limited time at particapating restaurants nationwide. Taco Bell opens its newest cantina restaurant in Hollywood Taco Bell fans have been advocating for the Volcano Menu to return on social media since it left menus in 2013, The Daily Meal reported.Taco Bell is expected to release more information a...

Sun+Earth Certification Program Expands to Canada

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:12:50 GMT

As cannabis goes international, so will the standards we use to determine its quality like the Sun+Earth certifications that just recently entered the Canadian market.Sun+Earth is a nonprofit that was created in 2019. The space has seen many for-profit certification programs get pushed in the wake of not being able to actually call your cannabis organic. Why Not? Schedule I narcotics are not eligible for the  National Organic Program by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. States also have started pushing their own organic programs like OCal here in California. While many of those other programs have fallen off, Sun+Earth grew to California, Michigan, Oregon and Washington before this new move into British Columbia with Sea Dog Farm. They note the program was founded by those with a shared commitment to regenerative organic agriculture, farmer and farmworker protections, and community engagement. Currently, there are more than 70 Sun+Earth Certified cannabis farms and manufacturers.&...

78-year-old woman loses thousands of dollars in Oakland scam, suspects being sought

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:12:50 GMT

OAKLAND — Suspects who scammed a 78-year-old woman out of thousands of dollars and briefly dragged her with their getaway vehicle last week in the Laurel district were being sought by police.One person was arrested in the case earlier this week but was released pending further investigation, authorities said.Police said that just after 1:30 p.m. March 9 the woman was approached by two men in the 4000 block of MacArthur Boulevard in the Laurel district. The suspects told her that if she gave them a specific amount of cash, they would contribute a larger amount to a charity of her choice, police said.The woman withdrew the cash, which was in the thousands of dollars, from her account at a nearby bank and gave it to the two men. They then got into a vehicle driven by a third person.That is when the woman realized she had been scammed, police said. When she tried to exit the vehicle, she was dragged a short distance before falling onto the roadway. She did not require medical aid,...

First Republic secures $30B rescue from large banks

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:12:50 GMT

By Matt Egan, Allison Morrow and David Goldman | CNNFirst Republic Bank, facing a crisis of confidence from investors and customers, is set to receive a $30 billion lifeline from a group of America’s largest banks.“This show of support by a group of large banks is most welcome, and demonstrates the resilience of the banking system,” the Treasury Department said in a statement Thursday.The major banks include JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Truist.The $30 billion infusion will give the struggling San Francisco lender much-needed cash to meet customer withdrawals and buttress confidence in the US banking system during a tumultuous moment for lenders.A First Republic spokesman declined to comment.In a statement, the banks said their action “reflects their confidence in First Republic and in banks of all sizes,” adding that “regional, midsize and small banks are critical to the health and functioning of our financial system...

Toll rises to 326 as cyclone batters Malawi, Mozambique

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:12:50 GMT

By Charles Pensulo, Nimi Princewill and Stephanie Busari | CNNTropical Cyclone Freddy has killed at least 326 people after it ripped through southern Malawi, the country’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs told CNN Thursday.The resulting devastation has left survivors trapped and fighting for survival.Chilobwe, one of the hardest-hit areas, is a township near the city of Blantyre. Located below a hill, the township saw water gushing down from above on Sunday night.Authorities say over 30 people from the area have died and dozens remain missing as search and rescue efforts continue.People could be seen on Monday using shovels, even bare hands, to search for the people in the rubble.‘Everything is gone’Dorothy Wachepa, 39, was sleeping when she woke up to a deafening noise “resembling the sound of an airplane.”“It was around 12 and I heard the sound accompanied by shouting from people upland,” the mother of four told CNN.What followed ...

Sharks prospect arriving in San Jose from Russia today, but one big question remains

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:12:50 GMT

SAN JOSE – Defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin, one of the key players the Sharks acquired from the New Jersey Devils as part of last month’s Timo Meier trade, was set to arrive in the Bay Area from Russia on Thursday, although it remained unclear when he would play his first game with his new organization.Mukhamadullin, 21, was one of New Jersey’s three first-round draft choices in 2020 and just completed his fourth season with Salavat Yulayev-Ufa of the KHL. He was eager to come to California and meet people inside his new organization, a team official said, and on Thursday, the Sharks assigned him to the Barracuda of the AHL.The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Mukhamadullin had 25 points in 67 regular season games for Salavat Yulayev, which is coached by former Sharks player Viktor Kozlov. The team lost in the KHL’s conference quarterfinals as Mukhamadullin had a goal and an assist in the six-game playoff series.Sharks coach David Quinn said earlier this week he’s looking forward to meeting Mukh...

PHOTOS: Gov. Newsom tours storm damage in Pajaro after levee breach

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:12:50 GMT

PAJARO, Calif. (KRON) -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom toured Pajaro in north Monterey County Wednesday after the agricultural community was swamped by a storm-triggered levee breach along the Pajaro River. Thousands of residents were evacuated on March 11 after an atmospheric river drenched the region with rain, breached the levee, and swamped Pajaro. Flood victims, including babies and young children, were rescued from their homes and vehicles by swiftwater rescue teams, California National Guard soldiers, and Monterey County Sheriff's deputies. Newsom toured miles of farmland that still remains flooded on both sides of the Santa Cruz-Monterey county border. The Pajaro River's 74-year old levee is in dire need of modernization.(Image courtesy California Governor's Office) (Image courtesy California Governor's Office) (Image courtesy California Governor's Office) In December of 2019, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorized a rebuild and enhancement of the Pajaro River and Salsip...

Top Cop Scapegoats Reform DA for Double Murder in Austin

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:12:50 GMT

Shortly after Austin, Texas, police arrested a suspect in connection with two killings last month, pro-police forces were quick to blame Travis County District Attorney José Garza. One of the voices rushing to denounce Garza was Justin Berry, a high-ranking Austin cop and former police union official who was appointed last year by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, a regulatory body.Berry, the former vice president of the Austin Police Association, tweeted that Garza was responsible for the two Austin homicides because Garza had previously dismissed several charges against the man accused of the killings and ensured “the immediate release of a known violent serial offender.”“Had DA Garza taken his own words serious to be hard on gun crimes, he would not have secured a plea deal that would immediately release this known violent offender back into the streets,” Berry wrote. “These 2 live [sic] would still be with their loved ones today had DA Garza beli...