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LAPD helicopters cost taxpayers nearly $50 million a year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:39 GMT

The Los Angeles Police Department’s air support division is the largest of its kind in the nation with 17 helicopters and over 90 employees. However, in the first-ever audit of the LAPD helicopter program, the L.A. City Controller's Office found that 61% of its flight time is spent on low-priority incidents, costing L.A. taxpayers nearly $50 million a year. "Some transportation and ceremonial flights were an inefficient and inappropriate use of city funds, including passenger shuttle flights for a “Chili Fly-In” and a flyby at a golf tournament,” said L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia.Mejia says his office spent nearly a year conducting the audit sifting through and finding information for the first time since the LAPD helicopter program started in the 1970s. “There is no persuasive empirical evidence that shows a clear link between helicopter patrols and crime reduction,” Mejia said.According to the report, there is little oversight in the air support division which costs mor...

South L.A. street food vendors robbed by knife-wielding suspect

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:39 GMT

A knife-wielding suspect remains at large after robbing street vendors in South Los Angeles.Surveillance video captured the hooded suspect walking up behind a street vendor worker and demanding all their cash.The incident happened on Dec. 8 as the workers at Tacos El Caguamo were set up on East 78th Street.The victim, Jose Segura Romero, becomes emotional when speaking about the ordeal, saying he was wondering whether he would be coming home to his family that night.“He came from behind me and forcefully applied pressure to my neck,” Jose told KTLA in Spanish.A knife-wielding suspect remains at large after robbing street vendors in South Los Angeles on Dec. 8, 2023. (Tacos El Caguamo)The Tacos El Caguamo stand in South Los Angeles. (KTLA)The suspect's getaway car leaves the scene after robbing street vendors in South Los Angeles on Dec. 8, 2023. (Tacos El Caguamo)The victim, Jose Segura Romero, owner of the Tacos El Caguamo food stand. (KTLA)The Tacos El Caguamo stand in South Los A...

49ers raise season ticket prices for 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:39 GMT

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KRON) – As the 49ers continue to win, it’s getting more expensive to see the Red and Gold in person. Some season ticket holders are finding out that ticket prices have doubled for the 2024 season.“Well I was a little surprised,” said 49ers season ticket holder Oona Smith. “We’ve already paid the SBL (Stadium Builder’s License). A little bit more communication would have been nice.”Smith says her season tickets went up 14% on top of paying the SBL. The license lets fans buy season tickets and get access to other perks at Levi’s Stadium. ‘Saturday Night Live’ mocks Draymond Green again in skit Smith says she received an email in October notifying her of the price increase.“We were barely into the season, so I think this had been planned for some time,” she said. In addition to the price hike -- she says she is also frustrated over the 49ers selling standing-room-only club passes. Smith uses the Yahoo Club at Levi’s.“There’s going to be a significant number ...

Zelenskyy says Putin is ‘inspired’ by Capitol Hill deadlock on Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:39 GMT

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy kicked off his latest visit to Washington Monday by making the case for Ukraine as the West’s only defense against an imperialist Russia, arguing that squabbling in Washington only benefits Vladimir Putin.“Let me be frank with you friends,” Zelenskyy told a room full of military officers from across the globe at the National Defense University, “if there’s anyone inspired by unresolved issues on Capitol Hill it is just Putin and his sick clique.”The Ukrainian leader’s comments kick off two days of meetings with lawmakers and Biden administration officials as U.S. funding for Ukraine dries up, and $60 billion in fresh military and humanitarian aid is snarled in Congress.The funding is part of a $111 billion supplemental that bundles aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and border security. Republican disagreements over border policy have kept the legislation from advancing, which has allowed Putin to see his “dreams come true,” Zelenskyy said.D...

A court sets aside the South African president’s recognition of the Zulu king

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:39 GMT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A South African court has overturned President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to recognize Misuzulu kaZwelithini as the king of the country’s 15 million-strong Zulu nation in what may spark a lengthy battle for the throne.Ramaphosa has now been ordered to launch an investigation into objections by some members of the Zulu royal house that the correct processes were not followed in selecting kaZwelithini as the rightful heir to the throne.KaZwelithini was chosen as the new king last year after the death of his father, King Goodwill Zwelithini.He was recognized by Ramaphosa as the new king and handed a recognition certificate, but some of his siblings have challenged the process and insisted that he is not the rightful heir to the throne and that due processes were not followed in choosing him.In judgment delivered by Judge Norman Davis in the Pretoria High Court on Monday, Ramaphosa was criticised for not launching an investigation after he became aware th...

Japan court convicts 3 ex-servicemen in sexual assault case brought by former junior soldier

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:39 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese court on Tuesday convicted three former soldiers in a sexual assault case that authorities had dropped until the victim, a former servicemember, came forward demanding a reinvestigation, prompting a military-wide harassment probe.The Fukushima District Court sentenced the former Japanese army soldiers to two years in prison but suspended the sentences for four years — meaning they won’t actually serve time in prison.The case filed by Rina Gonoi in August 2021 was initially dropped. Nine months later, she came forward — a rare step in a country that often lacks sufficient support for sexual assault victims — and demanded the case be reinvestigated, saying the experience caused her to give up her military career.Her revelation prompted a military-wide investigation into sexual harassment and other abuse allegations in September 2022, and prosecutors reopened her case.The Fukushima court said Tuesday her three former supervisors — Shutaro Shibuya, Akito Sekine a...

Poor countries need trillions of dollars to go green. A long-shot effort aims to generate the cash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:39 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A large, long-shot effort is being developed to mobilize money to save Planet Earth.Climate finance experts say trillions of dollars are needed for forestry projects and renewable energies like solar and wind in the developing world, all aimed at slashing pollution from the burning of oil, gas and coal, which cause climate change. The price tag is eye-watering: Investment in energy-transition technologies were $1.3 trillion last year, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency, an intergovernmental group, and that needs to at least quadruple to avoid a level of warming that scientists say would be catastrophic. Even rich governments can’t commit that kind of cash, and often struggle to get respective congresses and parliaments to even sign off on modest amounts.Enter a plan to combine the cash-churning power of the private sector with carbon credits, a hot topic of discussion at the annual climate talks taking place in Dubai. “It’...

Stock market today: Asia markets rise ahead of US consumer prices update

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:39 GMT

Asian markets advanced Tuesday following a positive close on Wall Street. Investors are eagerly awaiting a crucial U.S. inflation report later in the day, which will likely set the tone for the Federal Reserve’s final meeting of the year on Wednesday.U.S. futures and oil prices also were higher.Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 added 0.1% to 32,843.70. Data released on Tuesday showed wholesale prices in Japan rose by 0.3% from a year earlier in November, the slowest rate of increase in almost three years. That suggested a moderation in inflationary pressures as the central bank weighs whether or not to relax its ultra-lax monetary policy. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 1.3% to 16,398.00, and the Shanghai Composite was 0.3% higher, to 2,998.81. Chinese leaders are reportedly holding an annual economic conference that is expected to wrap up Tuesday with pledges to spur stable growth. In Seoul, the Kospi was up 0.4% at 2,535.27. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.5% to 7,235.30.India’s Sensex droppe...

Turkey suspends all league games after club president punches referee at a top-flight match

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:39 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The Turkish Football Federation has suspended all league games in the country after a club president punched the referee in the face at the end of a top-flight match.MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca attacked referee Halil Umut Meler on the pitch late Monday after the final whistle, following a 1-1 draw in a Super Lig game against Caykur Rizespor.The referee, who fell to the ground, was also kicked in a melee that occurred after fans also invaded the pitch after Rizespor scored a last-minute equalizer.The federation announced it suspended all league games indefinitely after an emergency meeting held to discuss the violence.“This attack is unfortunate and shameful in the name of football,” federation chief Mehmet Buyukeksi said after the meeting.“We say enough is enough,” he added, insisting that all involved in the violence would be punished.Buyukeksi also blamed the attack on a culture of contempt toward referees in Turkey.“Everyone who has targeted referees...

Montana county to vote on removing election oversight duties from elected official

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:39 GMT

Commissioners in a Montana county are expected to vote Tuesday on whether to remove election oversight duties from a clerk and recorder who expressed doubts about the integrity of the election process when she ran for office last year.The Cascade County commission meeting was moved to the fairgrounds in Great Falls to accommodate the anticipated public participation. If the resolution passes, it would take effect immediately.Commissioner Joe Briggs proposed the resolution, noting that since Sandra Merchant was sworn in early this year, the county has received complaints about the way several local elections have been run. Lawsuits have been filed. The library board asked for court-appointed oversight for their mill levy election this summer.“It’s been everything from people not getting ballots that should have to people who got ballots that shouldn’t have in these various elections, so there seems to be some systemic problems,” Briggs said Monday.The issue needs to be settled ...