Joran van der Sloot’s confession in Natalee Holloway case provides long-sought answers, mother says

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:10:03 GMT

Joran van der Sloot’s confession in Natalee Holloway case provides long-sought answers, mother says BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Beth Holloway was after one thing for 18 years: answers about what happened to her missing daughter.She got them Wednesday when Joran van der Sloot, long considered the chief suspect in her daughter’s 2005 disappearance in Aruba, admitted in submitted court filings to bludgeoning Natalee Holloway to death on a beach and dragging her body out to sea.Van der Sloot, 36, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to federal charges of attempting to extort money from Beth Holloway in 2010 in exchange for information about the location of her daughter’s body. The plea agreement included an unusual provision for van der Sloot to “provide all information and evidence” about what happened to Natalee Holloway and to let her family hear him in “real time” give his account to federal investigators.Beth Holloway said in an interview with The Associated Press that the family made the decision to allow the plea agreement to “finally get the answers we’ve been searching for for...

Marine killed in homicide at Camp Lejeune; second Marine held for suspected involvement

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:10:03 GMT

Marine killed in homicide at Camp Lejeune; second Marine held for suspected involvement CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) — A Marine was killed in a homicide at Camp Lejeune on Wednesday night and a second Marine was held on suspicion of being involved, the base said.Base authorities took the Marine into custody at about 10:15 p.m. after an incident that occurred in a barracks room on the North Carolina base earlier in the evening, a statement from the base said.The statement called the death a homicide and described the other Marine as a suspect but didn’t provide any other details, including how the Marine died.The Associated Press

Mexican court employees call 5-day strike to protest proposed funding cuts

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:10:03 GMT

Mexican court employees call 5-day strike to protest proposed funding cuts MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican court employees said Wednesday they will go on strike from Thursday through Tuesday to protest proposed funding cuts, threatening an already creaky court system.President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has proposed cutting funds for the judicial branch, arguing that judges make too much money and often protect criminals.The court employees’ union denied that its members — which include employees like typists and bailiffs — are overpaid, and said the cuts would affect them. Mexican courts have never been known for their speed or efficiency. One court recently handed down sentences against five soldiers in the 2010 killing of two university students, after legal proceedings that lasted almost 13 years.Despite some reforms, such multiyear trials are not uncommon in Mexico. That has contributed to the controversy surrounding López Obrador’s push to require more suspects to stay in jail pending trials that may last years, even if they end in acquittal.Nor is...

Malibu residents speak out after four Pepperdine students killed on PCH

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:10:03 GMT

Malibu residents speak out after four Pepperdine students killed on PCH Surveillance cameras outside of a Malibu home captured the moment a 22-year-old driver in a dark-colored BMW goes speeding by on Pacific Coast Highway just seconds before it crashed into four Pepperdine University students, killing them all.  The crash happened around 8:30 p.m. in the 21600 block of PCH, near La Costa Beach and east of the Malibu Pier, authorities said. “I feel terrible for them,” Rob Daniels, whose cameras captured the moment, told KTLA’s Omar Lewis.  Daniels got emotional thinking about the four young women, all of whom have been identified and were seniors at Pepperdine’s Seaver College of Liberal Arts, that lost their lives not far from his home. He said that the stretch of PCH just outside his door is dangerous.  “This is not the first time,” he said. “We had a piano teacher come when my kid was taking piano lessons. Luckily, she didn’t get out of her car. She was rear ended.”  Investigators with the Los Angeles Coun...

San Mateo: $130K in jewelry and electronics stolen from rental car

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:10:03 GMT

San Mateo: $130K in jewelry and electronics stolen from rental car SAN MATEO – A 42-year-old San Francisco man and a 28-year-old Oakland woman were arrested on suspicion of stealing more than $130,000 worth of jewelry and electronic devices from a rental car Monday in San Mateo, police said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Bicyclist arrested on suspicion of brandishing weapon at driver in San Mateo Crime and Public Safety | Fire destroys three vehicles, damages home in Daly City Crime and Public Safety | San Mateo: Baseball bat attack sends man to hospital Crime and Public Safety | San Jose man escapes from custody in San Mateo County; later found and arrested Crime and Public Safety | Half Moon Bay man arrested on suspicion of molesting child The burglary happened around 8:10 p.m. in the 100 block of East 4th Avenue, the San Mateo Police Department said in a news release. The victim told police she saw one of the suspects break a window, steal a purse and get ...

Security plan released for APEC summit

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:10:03 GMT

Security plan released for APEC summit SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is coming to San Francisco next month. It’s expected to bring thousands of people, including world leaders.  The Secret Service has released an increased security plan in collaboration with San Francisco police and dozens of other agencies.Hosting the APEC summit is a big opportunity for San Francisco, as it’s expected to bring an economic boost. But those who are not attending will endure heavy traffic and road closures. Officials are releasing information weeks in advance so you can plan ahead.  Pushback to Oakland Airport expansion More than 20,000 people are expected to attend the APEC, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris – as well as leaders from 21 different APEC economies. "We are very excited to take part in this event. Putting the global spotlight on the city and county of San Francisco," said SFPD Chief Bill Scott.The Moscone Center has held large-scale conferences befor...

Groups push back against Oakland Airport expansion

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:10:03 GMT

Groups push back against Oakland Airport expansion OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) – The City of Alameda and a community organization both published responses this week criticizing the Oakland Airport expansion plan. It would add 25 gates, and critics say it’s an environmental hazard.The Port of Oakland says they are just trying to create the best experience for passengers, but people who oppose the plan are calling it insufficient and a failure.These would be the first major upgrades to the airport in 40 years. The Port of Oakland published an environmental report for its proposed terminal modernization and development project, and some people aren’t happy. Alameda City Manager Jeniffer Ott says they held a community meeting to discuss it. South Bay city to deploy hundreds of Lime scooters across city streets “We had a significant number of community members from the surrounding community that is affected by this come out and express a lot of concern about the noise and the air quality,” she said. The community’s biggest issue is the...

VIDEO: DC police search for suspects in armed robbery at the Wharf

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:10:03 GMT

VIDEO: DC police search for suspects in armed robbery at the Wharf (new Image()).src = "https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384&cid=c2ffed0c-3624-46c0-b10f-97c976d290a3";cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384",mediaId: "604bc28b-f7a9-44da-b54b-30c1b9ff2f19"}).render("548c2e9beb174582aa3008df9df86141"); });D.C. police are asking for the public’s help in locating four suspects and a vehicle that they believe are connected to an armed robbery in Southwest earlier this week.Surveillance video captured the suspects in the 600 block of Wharf Street SW shortly before 11 p.m. Monday, where they got out of a black sedan with handguns, then demanded property from victims.The victims complied, and the suspects fled with their property and money, according to a news release from D.C. police.Anyone with information on the suspects or the vehicle, or with knowledge of the incident, are asked to call police at (202) 727-9099 or text a tip to 50411.Below is a map of the appr...

Scherzer roughed up by Astros in return from injury, leaving with Rangers down 5 in loss

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:10:03 GMT

Scherzer roughed up by Astros in return from injury, leaving with Rangers down 5 in loss ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Max Scherzer was roughed up again by the Houston Astros, this time in Game 3 of the AL Championship Series.The Texas Rangers right-hander, who missed more than a month with a right shoulder strain, says he’ll be ready for another shot at the in-state rival if needed.Scherzer lasted four innings Wednesday night, leaving with a five-run deficit in an 8-5 loss to the Astros that cut the Rangers’ series lead to 2-1.“I don’t know exactly how I’ll be used from here on out,” Scherzer said. “But my arm feels good. That’s the No. 1 thing.”The three-time Cy Young Award winner gave up three runs in the second on a wild pitch and Martín Maldonado’s two-run single, then allowed Jose Altuve’s leadoff homer in the third. Houston took a 5-0 lead on Mauricio Dubón’s RBI single in the fourth, when Scherzer struck out Jeremy Peña and Maldonado with a man on.“I still feel like I had more in the tank,” said Scherzer, who threw 63 pitches. “Given what the s...

Detienen en Rusia a ciudadana estadounidense que trabaja para Radio Europa Libre

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:10:03 GMT

Detienen en Rusia a ciudadana estadounidense que trabaja para Radio Europa Libre (CNN) — Una ciudadana de doble nacionalidad ruso-estadounidense que trabaja para Radio Europa Libre fue detenida en Rusia y acusada de no registrarse como agente extranjero, informó la organización de noticias este miércoles.Alsu Kurmasheva trabaja actualmente como periodista y editora del servicio tártaro-bashkir de Radio Europa Libre/Radio Libertad (RFE/RL, por sus siglas en inglés), financiado por Estados Unidos, desde Praga.Según su empleador, Kurmasheva fue detenida el 2 de junio en Kazán, Rusia, mientras esperaba un vuelo de regreso a la República Checa. Inicialmente llegó a Rusia el 20 de mayo debido a un asunto familiar urgente, dijo RFE/RL.RFE/RL dijo que los empleados del aeropuerto de Kazán inicialmente confiscaron sus dos pasaportes y poco después fue multada por no registrar su pasaporte estadounidense ante las autoridades rusas. Kurmasheva estaba esperando la devolución de sus pasaportes cuando se anunciaron los nuevos cargos el 18 de octubre, dijo RFE, añadiendo...