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Better Business Bureau warns of holiday travel scams

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:08:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Travel can be stressful when airports and roadways aren’t jam-packed with people hurrying home for the holidays. Mix in some Christmas craziness, and scammers can quickly cash in. The Better Business Bureau’s Sarah Wetzel warns consumers of cancellation scams.“Consumers have told the Better Business Bureau that they received a text or an email saying their flight was cancelled, and they were provided a phone number to rebook their flight. When they called that number, the 'airline' was happy to rebook it, but there was an additional fee they had to pay. So then the consumer provided their personal and financial information only to find out their flight was never cancelled," said Wetzel.Should you receive one of these messages, the BBB recommends calling the airline directly or checking the airline's official website or app to confirm the status of your flight. Sadly, Wetzel says the scam threat doesn’t end when you reach your destination. Two St. Louis-area highways am...

Chesterfield Police ramp up effort to curb retail theft

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:08:51 GMT

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – A recent spike in shoplifting has some retailers hoping more can be done to address an issue that grows during holiday shopping seasons. Just last week, the Chesterfield Police Department reported more than a dozen shoplifting cases.More officers are patrolling business districts to reduce thefts. The effort is appreciated at the Chesterfield Antique Mall. Seventy-two vendors help fill the building with walls of merchandise.“You know everyone works hard for their money, so we don’t want any of it going out the door the wrong way,” said Annie Bauer, a vendor and cashier.Surveillance cameras are just one tool the antique mall uses to deter shoplifting.“I think it’s a really serious issue,” she said. “There are problems with it everywhere. We really work to combat that.” Two St. Louis-area highways among ‘America’s most loathed,’ report says The Chesterfield Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit is a key piece of the effort. We reported on their work in 201...

Aurora man convicted of vehicular homicide in DUI crash that killed mother, daughter

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:08:51 GMT

The Aurora man accused of killing a mother and her 6-year-old daughter when he drove the wrong way down South Chambers Road while drunk in 2022 was found guilty on all charges by an Arapahoe County jury last week.Juan Pablo Pascual-Licea was found guilty of two counts of vehicular homicide, two counts of vehicular assault, child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury and child abuse resulting in death on Dec. 7, according to court records.Pascual-Licea was arrested on April 8, 2022 after he crashed into an SUV carrying a family of four near South Chambers Road and East Sixth Avenue. The family was on their way home from their 6-year-old daughter’s birthday party, according to a news release from the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.Pascual-Licea was driving more than 80 mph the wrong way down South Chambers Road when the crash occurred, according to the district attorney’s office. He had previously hit a bicyclist and almost hit a group of teenagers in a crosswalk.He had a...

20 arrested for burglaries targeting homes across Orange County

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:08:51 GMT

Police have arrested 20 people for a string of burglaries targeting homes across Orange County.The suspects had ties to several Los Angeles-based gangs and operated as part of a burglary crime ring, according to the Laguna Beach Police Department.A 13-month investigation resulted in the arrest of five juveniles and 15 adult suspects. The crime ring is responsible for at least 34 residential burglaries in Orange County, authorities said.In total, the suspects escaped with over $500,000 in cash, jewelry, guns and luxury items. Laguna Beach police first became aware of the crime ring in Dec. 2022 following a residential theft on Skyline Drive.The suspects entered the home through a window and escaped with around $10,000 worth of jewelry. In August, a security camera captured two masked burglars breaking into a home on Alta Laguna Boulevard. The homeowner immediately contacted police and officers were able to spot the suspects’ vehicle. An attempt to pull them over failed, lea...

Suspect arrested in killing of Oakland rapper outside nightclub, was on federal probation for gun conviction at the time of shooting

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:08:51 GMT

OAKLAND — A Bay Area man has been arrested and charged with fatally shooting a local resident outside of a nightclub, a crime he allegedly committed while on federal probation for a case that stemmed from a triple shooting, court records show.Robert Hamilton, 29, of San Francisco, was charged Thursday with murdering 34-year-old Marquis Baxter on Oct. 29, and with being a felon in possession of a firearm. His first court appearance has been set for Friday morning, and he’s being held without bail.During the 2010s, Baxter recorded numerous rap songs and music videos under the stage name Hillside Quis, and frequently wore a necklace with the initials “HQ.” That necklace, covered in blood, was found next to his body, which police took as a possible indication that Baxter was shot during an attempted robbery, authorities said.Baxter was shot a little after 3 a.m. on Oct. 29, in the 400 block of 19th Street in downtown Oakland, shortly after leaving a nearby nightclub, p...

Alameda reaches settlements with Mario Gonzalez’s estate, mother

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:08:51 GMT

ALAMEDA — The city of Alameda on Thursday announced two settlements with the family of Mario Gonzalez, who died in April 2021 after being restrained by police officers.Gonzalez’s estate will receive $11 million and his mother will receive $350,000, the city said in a statement.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Santa Clara County supervisors back direct access to non-police mental health team Crime and Public Safety | Pleasant Hill leaders defend police decision to ‘disengage’ with barricaded ex-detective Crime and Public Safety | South Bay proposal would create direct line for non-police mental health response Crime and Public Safety | Widow blames suicide of LA County sheriff’s deputy on excessive overtime Crime and Public Safety | Alameda County DA won’t seek charges against Fremont cop after second look at fatal 2021 shooting “The separate settlement agreements with the estate of M...

Warriors to start rookie Podziemski, Kuminga with Andrew Wiggins coming off bench

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:08:51 GMT

LOS ANGELES — With Draymond Green out and looking for a spark off a 10-13 record, the Warriors are making seismic starting lineup changes starting against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday.Rookie Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga, with a struggling Andrew Wiggins moving to the bench. The duo will start alongside Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney. Coach Steve Kerr has said he will look to make starting five adjustments as the traditional group is a total minus-23 in 11 games played together.Though from the backcourt, Podziemski brings the needed ball handling that the Warriors lose with Green out due to suspension indefinitely. He will make his first NBA start and Kuminga his second start of the season. Wiggins will come off the bench in the regular season for the first time in his career, he came off the bench against the Sacramento Kings after missing nearly two months for an undisclosed reason.The rookie has quickly emerged as one of the Warriors’ be...

SF Giants officially announce six-year, $113M deal with Jung-Hoo Lee

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:08:51 GMT

Jung-Hoo Lee will be introduced Friday at Oracle Park by the San Francisco Giants.The club officially announced the six-year, $113 million contract with the 25-year-old Korean outfielder Thursday night.The contract, the largest awarded to a free-agent position player in franchise history, includes the ability for Lee to opt out after four years.In addition to a $5 million signing bonus, Lee will earn $7 million in 2024, $16 million in 2025 and $22 million in 2026 and 2027. If he opts in to the final two years of the deal, he would be paid $20.5 million in 2028 and 2029. He will also make donations to the Giants Community Fund totaling $565,000 over the duration of the contract.Lee’s introductory news conference is scheduled for 1 p.m., with his agent, Scott Boras, and translator, Tad Yo, set to be on hand, along with Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi.Related ArticlesSan Francisco Giants | New-look SF Giants Fan Fest includes stop in San Jose ...

Concord police search for sexual assault suspect

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:08:51 GMT

(KRON) -- The Concord Police Department is searching for a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in the pedestrian tunnel under Highway 242.The assault happened at about 10:17 a.m. on Oct. 7. An image of the suspect is attached above. SF Bay Area rents are down in these cities The assault happened in the tunnel connecting Franquette Avenue and Market Street under Highway 242.Police said the suspect frequents the area around Concord's Home Depot, located at 2090 Meridian Park Blvd. Anyone with information about this suspect is asked to call (925) 603-5876. Anonymous tips can be sent in by calling (925) 603-5836.

New Orleans defeats Birmingham-Southern 91-51

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:08:51 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jordan Johnson had 16 points in New Orleans’ 91-51 victory against Birmingham-Southern on Thursday night.Johnson added five assists for the Privateers (5-6). Jamond Vincent added 14 points while finishing 6 of 9 from the floor, and he also had 12 rebounds. Dorian Booker had 12 points and shot 6 of 8 from the field.Brody Davis finished with 11 points and eight rebounds for the Panthers. Kaleb Green added eight points for Birmingham-Southern. Brandan Garrido also put up eight points.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source