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Hazelwood man sentenced for $400K in credit card fraud

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:19 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A Hazelwood, Missouri, man appeared in federal court on Thursday and was sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison for credit card fraud.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Naquan Powers, 27, admitted to a series of fraudulent schemes to acquire numerous vehicles and working with others to do the same.Powers pleaded guilty in March to four counts of bank fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft.He admitted to buying three cars from a Florissant dealership between June 24, 2019, and Aug. 23, 2019, and using fake Social Security cards and driver’s licenses to apply for loans.Powers purchased a Chevy Impala with an $18,098 loan, a Chevy Tahoe with a $42,086 loan, and a BMW 428 XI with a loan in the amount of $29,079.Police finally arrested Powers when he attempted to purchase a Dodge Challenger with a loan in the amount of $38,191.Following his arrest, Powers helped at least four other people buy cars th...

New community violence intervention program aims to curb crime in key neighborhoods

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:19 GMT

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis City’s Board of Estimate and Apportionment approved a contract Wednesday with Mission St. Louis to implement a new community violence intervention program.“We’re excited to get this started. We’re excited to be able to love and care for staff that are going to be laying their life down to make sure that this city is loved and cared for,” said Josh Wilson, founder and CEO of Mission St. Louis.“This doesn’t change the work itself. The work is still about looking at a defined geographical area, engaging high-risk individuals,” said Wilford Pinkney Jr., director of the Office of Violence Prevention.The program will cover the following neighborhoods:DutchtownGravois ParkMt. PleasantHamilton HeightsWells-GoodfellowWalnut Park EastWalnut Park WestMission St. Louis said violence interrupters, who best know the areas, will be working on the ground in these communities, building relationships and addressing deep systemic issues like poverty.“Any time you’re battling pove...

Colorado seeing higher levels of West Nile infection earlier than normal, with 36 confirmed cases

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:19 GMT

As West Nile season approaches its peak in Colorado, the state is starting to see an increase in human cases of the virus, outpacing the five-year average.Since the first case of the virus was documented in La Plata County on July 17, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has confirmed 36 human cases of the virus across 14 counties. Nineteen of the 36 were hospitalized with severe neurological symptoms and one died from the virus.Last week, Denver alone was investigating six cases of the virus in residents.“Based on the past 20 years of monitoring by municipalities, counties and the state, we have seen extremely high levels of mosquito activity in our region this summer,” said Bob McDonald, executive director Denver’s health department. “It’s extremely important to take extra precautions to protect yourself, your family, and neighbors, especially if you’re spending time outdoors in the morning or evening.”AnneMarie Harper, communicati...

Broncos OLB Randy Gregory: I need to fulfill my end of the contract

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:19 GMT

If Randy Gregory’s game is anywhere near his self-awareness, then maybe the Broncos will have something in their dangerous-but-injury-prone outside linebacker.Gregory, whose first year with the Broncos was derailed by a knee injury and his own temperament, said Thursday afternoon that the onus is on him to live up to the $70 million contract he signed with the Broncos in March 2022, which included $28 million guaranteed.“(Living up to expectations has) always been big for me,” Gregory said. “My thing is fulfilling my end of the agreement, and a big part of that is being able to be available and be healthy.”Gregory played in just six games last season owing to arthroscopic knee surgery — though when healthy, he was one of their most impactful defensive players. Perhaps it was that same urge to validate his contract that compelled him to return midway through December, before a horrific showing in Los Angeles against the Rams.In Denver’s ugly 51-14 loss, Gregory slammed his helm...

Broncos rookie Marvin Mims Jr. looks forward to preseason debut vs. 49ers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:19 GMT

Marvin Mims Jr. is healthy and ready for game action.Following a solid week of practice, Broncos head coach Sean Payton said Thursday the rookie wide receiver will make his preseason debut against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday.Mims, a second-round pick from Oklahoma, was sidelined in last week’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals, as the team has been monitoring him closely while he’s dealt with hamstring injuries since OTAs and minicamp. He left the game with a sour taste, wishing he could play, but now that feeling is gone.Payton didn’t specify if Mims will be on a pitch count against San Francisco, but he expects the starters to play up to 24 snaps. In regards to Javonte Williams, who is recovering from a torn ACL, Payton said the third-year running back will play between 10-12 snaps.“In a perfect game, I would like to see (Williams) get three to four carries and maybe a pass,” Payton said.For Williams and Mims, the Broncos’ second preseason game is important. The former w...

Hurricane Hilary now a Category 2, continues to track toward Southern California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:19 GMT

Hilary intensified from a tropical storm into a Category 2 hurricane in the Pacific Thursday as it tracks up the coast of Mexico and toward Southern California. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Hilary had maximum winds of 105 mph and could perhaps skim the coast of the Baja California peninsula by the weekend. Satellite and radar show the storm continues to be on a track to reach Southern California, but will likely weaken as it moves over cooler water.“I’m not saying this will be a Category 1 Hurricane but it’s going to be awfully close when it arrives in Southern California on late Sunday into Monday," KTLA meteorologist Henry DiCarlo said. Tropical Storm Hilary’s potential path. Aug. 17, 2023. (NOAA)The outlook for excessive rainfall in Southern California stretches from Sunday to Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles weather office.A hurricane reaching Southern California would be extremely rare. The last one to make landfall was in 1858 in San Diego. No tropical storm ha...

L.A. County leaders announce task force targeting rising retail thefts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:19 GMT

Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors across Los Angeles County are establishing a task force aimed at stopping the rising number of “flash mob” style thefts targeting retailers.The task force, announced at a news conference Thursday, involves the L.A. Police Department, L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, police in Glendale, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Santa Monica, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Marshals Service, city and county prosecutors, and the state Attorney General’s office.“These are not victimless crimes,” said L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. “No Angeleno should feel like it is not safe to go shopping in Los Angeles. No entrepreneur should feel like it's not safe to open a business in Los Angeles.”Videos of the crimes have outraged the community.In at least four cases over the past two weeks, mobs ranging in size from around ten people to several dozen have raided stores in Glendale, Canoga Park, Los Angeles and, just Wednesday, a ...

Jack in the Box to offer free tacos to customers, similar to Taco Bell promotion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:19 GMT

Jack in the Box is offering a new deal for its most loyal fans and taco lovers on the heels of Taco Bell’s free tacos promotion.The fast-food restaurant will give Jack Pack rewards members two free tacos with any purchase every Tuesday, beginning on Aug. 22, a news release said.Taco Bell is also offering a similar promotion, slated to end in September, to celebrate the freeing of the "Taco Tuesday" trademark after filing a petition in May. Taco John, the company that held the trademark since 1989, decided to relinquish its claim in July.To celebrate the move, Taco Bell announced it would give out free tacos on select Tuesdays in August and September. McDonald’s announces new meal offering, merchandise and re-branded sauce Unlike Taco Bell, however, Jack in the Box announced that its promotion doesn’t have an end date and is valid until customers “run out of hot sauce.”“We're picking up where Taco Bell is leaving taco lovers off because Jack in the Box is here for you Tuesday and T...

SNAP benefit changes coming next month

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:19 GMT

Several changes are coming to SNAP benefits beginning next month, the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service confirmed. SNAP, which stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, used to be called the Food Stamp Program. Over the next year, small changes to eligibility will take effect as a result of the debt ceiling bill, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, signed by President Joe Biden in June.The changes only affect one group of SNAP recipients: able-bodied adults without dependents (or ABAWDs, as the agency calls them), ages 50 to 54. ABAWDs between the ages of 18 and 49 already need to prove they are working at least 80 hours a month, pursuing an education or in a training program to qualify for SNAP for more than three months. Majority of voters want SNAP increased, not cut: poll Now, starting on Sept. 1, able-bodied childless workers who are 50 years old will also need to meet those work requirements to receive SNAP benefits. Starting on Oct. 1, the age requirements will...

Newsom triples CHP enforcement in Los Angeles to combat retail thefts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:19 GMT

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday the state would be tripling California Highway Patrol resources in the Los Angeles area to help combat organized retail theft.The CHP has been tasked by the state to battle retail crime, and the Governor's Office said their efforts have been successful.But following major large-scale burglaries across the Los Angeles region in recent weeks, the Governor says additional help is needed.The announcement by Newsom follows a similar announcement made hours earlier by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other local leaders, establishing a new organized retail theft task force to crack down on "flash mob"-style burglaries.That regional task force will be similar in nature to the CHP's Organized Retail Crime Task Force, and will include statewide partners, including Highway Patrol. CHP will be expanding its resources and allocating more investigators specifically in L.A. Elderly woman violently dragged by purse snatcher in Hacienda Heights “The...