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Family seeking answers after model was murdered in DTLA

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:41 GMT

The discovery of an aspiring model and real-estate agent found dead in her Los Angeles apartment on Tuesday has left a family grieving, police searching for a suspect, and tenants alarmed.Malessa Mooney, 31, was found dead inside her apartment at Skye at Bunker Hill luxury apartments on the 200 block of South Figueroa Street around 4 p.m. on Tuesday. After her family became worried because she wasn't answering calls or texts, Los Angeles Police Department officers were dispatched for a welfare check and discovered Mooney’s body inside.“When a week went by, we just knew something was off,” said Bailey Babb, Mooney’s cousin. “Her messages weren’t delivering and we knew something was up because we all have a special relationship with Maleesa.” Maleesa’s sister, Jourdin Pauline, says she was kind, loving, and opened her arms up to so many friends and she has no idea who would be capable of doing this. She says life without Melissa isn’t the same. A 31-year-old aspiring model and re...

Speed cameras could be coming to the L.A. area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:41 GMT

A bill that would introduce speed safety cameras in six California cities, including Los Angeles, Long Beach and Glendale, is now awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom's signature or veto. AB-645, which passed in both houses of the State Legislature this week, would allow speed cameras to be installed in school zones and in areas where people are prone to speeding. “According to the National Transportation Safety Board, speeding is a factor in 31% of all traffic fatalities,” Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Burbank), one of the bill's sponsors, told KTLA in July. “If we want to stop traffic fatalities and injuries, we’ve got to slow people down.”The bill also targets speeders in San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland.San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan explained his support. Street vendors raided in Fullerton “We need to invest in technology, education and continued enforcement, and this is part of the enforcement strategy to hold people accountable for following our traffic laws,” he said. The ...

Loved ones seek answers for father, daughter killed in Compton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:41 GMT

Loved ones are seeking answers and asking for the public's help to solve the 2001 murder of a father and his young daughter in Compton.On Aug. 8, 2001, 24-year-old Stephen Murphy and his 2-year-old daughter, Kali Murphy, were gunned down outside of a home on the 13100 block of Willowbrook Avenue.With the gunmen still at large, loved ones have been seeking justice for over 20 years. A press conference held by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on Friday morning announced the reopening of the case once again. The summer Stephen and Kali were murdered was a violent one in Compton, filled with constant strife and deadly gang-related activity.Stephen and his daughter were caught in the crossfire as gunfire from passing cars struck and killed them both. They were scrambling for safety on his grandmother’s front porch before they died. Stephen Murphy, 24, and his daughter, Kali Murphy, 2, were killed in the crossfire of gang-related shooting in Compton on Aug. 8, 2001. (...

Shaquille O'Neal appears in quirky L.A. Port Police recruiting video

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:41 GMT

The big man is lending a big hand to the Los Angeles Port Police recruiting effort.NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal recently taped a light-hearted promotion in which he’s summoned to help apprehend a (fictitious) bad guy on the run.  “We need the Big Aristotle,” one L.A. Port police officer says. “Bring in the diesel!” shouts another in the video, which was shared on social media this week.Shaq eventually arrives clinging to an armored vehicle, and the bad guy surrenders.Shaquille O’Neal appears in an L.A. Port Police recruiting video. Sept. 2023. “Team is more important than any one of us,” Shaq says. “If you have what it takes to join the Los Angeles Port Police, come on down. It’s time to dive in.”"Big thanks to @SHAQ for his continued support for law enforcement and spending time with his old police department," Port Police tweeted. "It was great to see him back in our uniform!"O’Neal, 51, played 19 seasons in the NBA, including eight with the Los Angeles Lakers. He won four NBA titl...

Six Flags delays opening of new haunted house experience

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:41 GMT

Fans of “The Conjuring” will have to wait a little longer to experience the haunted house inspired by the movie at Six Flags Magic Mountain's Fright Fest.The theme park announced on Friday that it has to delay the haunted house opening due to “unforeseen circumstances.”“Due to unforeseen circumstances, the opening of our Fright Fest haunted attraction, The Conjuring, has been delayed.” the announcement said. “Updates on the attraction opening will be made on our social media channels and website.” Six Flags’ newest food festival allows guests to sample food from across the world The theme park didn’t announce a new opening date for the haunted house, which is a new addition to the Halloween event.This year, Six Flags will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of Fright Fest, which runs from Sept. 8 until Oct. 31. Halloween fans can immerse themselves in seven scare zones, Halloween-themed entertainment and performances, and take a ride on select coasters with the lights turned off. ...

Officials: DNA tests drop Lahaina fire death toll to 97

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:41 GMT

By Jennifer Since Kelleher and Rebecca Boone | Associated PressWAILUKU, Hawaii — Authorities in Hawaii have adjusted the number of deaths from the deadly Maui wildfire down to at least 97 people.Previously officials said they believed at least 115 people had died in the fire, but further testing showed they had multiple DNA samples from some of those who died. The number of those who were missing also fell from 41 to 31, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said.John Byrd, laboratory director with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, said during a press conference Friday afternoon that the current number of dead should be considered a minimum, because it’s possible that toll could rise.Determining the death toll from the Aug. 8 wildfire in Lahaina has been especially complicated because of the damage caused by the fire and the chaos as people tried to escape, officials said. In some cases, animal remains were inadvertently collected along with human remains.So far, 74 of the dec...

Organized labor notches wins on California bills awaiting Gov. Newsom’s signature

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:41 GMT

The dust has cleared from the state legislature’s traditional last-minute lawmaking marathon, and organized labor emerged with a fistful of notable wins that would provide unemployment benefits to striking workers and raise minimum pay for health care and fast food workers.The bills’ passage on Thursday, the last day of the legislative session, comes at a time when labor has been flexing its muscles nationally with worker strikes on the rise, notably the ongoing walkouts by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA in the entertainment industry and, starting this week, the United Auto Workers stoppage against the Big Three U.S. automakers. Gov. Gavin Newsom has until Oct. 14 to sign the bills into law.“It was probably the most productive session we’ve had,” said Jean Cohen, executive officer of the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council in San Jose, adding that lawmakers moved 13 of their sponsored bills to the governor’s desk.But it remains to be seen ...

MItt Romney, like his father, fears the GOP has lost its way

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:41 GMT

By Mead Gruver and Jonathan J. Cooper | Associated PressMitt Romney’s announcement this week that he will not seek another term in the U.S. Senate came with a distant echo of his father’s departure from politics five decades ago.Mitt and his father, George Romney, at one time were top Republican contenders for the presidency, but fell short of the White House. Both ended their careers in elected office with a sense their party had lost its bearings. And both called for a more humane party, one that prioritizes civility and principle over resentments and score-settling.In eras 50 years apart, George and Mitt Romney found themselves isolated in a GOP increasingly uninterested in their brand of genteel, country-club conservatism. In following a path forged by his father, sometimes with eerie similarities, Mitt Romney became the latest in a line of prominent establishment Republicans who pushed back against Donald Trump’s vision for the party, only to become isolated. ...

Two fatally shot at Oakland memorial for man recently killed by Martinez officers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:41 GMT

OAKLAND — Two people were shot and killed in a parking lot of an event center, after leaving a memorial for a 22-year-old man who was recently shot and killed by Martinez police, authorities said.The victims, identified as San Francisco resident Taivale Tautalatasi, 29, and Richmond resident Angela Cummings, 40, were standing in a parking lot on the 90 block of Linden Street in Oakland when at least one gunman opened fire on the crowd, striking Cummings in the head and hitting Tautalatasi at least once.Cummings died in the parking lot. Tautalatasi — who was taken to Highland Hospital by a friend — survived for several days, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries, authorities said.Police have not identified a suspect in the double slaying, but say they’re investigating a possible gang motive. Investigators haven’t said whether Cummings or Tautalatasi were intended victims. No arrests have been made.At least one person fired back at the shooter, authori...

Petaluma woman arrested for punching, strangling dog: police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:41 GMT

(KRON) -- A Petaluma woman was arrested after she was seen punching and strangling her dog Thursday night, according to the Cotati Police Department. Police say she was strangling the animal with a leash.Officers were dispatched and made contact with the suspect. However, she refused to identify herself as the suspect police received a call about. The woman, 54, also resisted arrest.The suspect was ultimately arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail, police said. She was charged with felony cruelty to animals and a misdemeanor of obstructing/resisting an officer. Dogs from Oakland’s ‘Warriors House’ in need of new home The dog victim of the incident was taken to the Rohnert Park Animal Shelter "to be properly cared for." Cotati police did not release the suspect's name.