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Former O.C. cheerleading coach arrested on molestation charges; additional victims sought

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:48:05 GMT

A former competitive cheerleading instructor in Orange County was arrested and charged with multiple felony counts of molesting six girls while he was their coach.Erik Kristianson, 44, of Antioch, Tennessee, was arrested last week in Fargo, North Dakota after a warrant was issued for his arrest in Orange County.Officials allege that Kristianson molested several young girls while working as a coach at a competitive cheer club and at a high school in Mission Viejo, according to the United States Department of Justice.The accusations came to light last year after he was arrested in Daytona Beach, Florida, on allegations that he masturbated to three girls, all under the age of 13, during a FaceTime call. He's also accused of touching another young girl's breasts.In August 2022, Kristianson was arrested in Kansas on a warrant related to the alleged abuse in Florida. He was extradited back to the state to face charges related to the FaceTime call, but left the state after posting $300,000...

Famed mountain lion P-22 could get permanent memorial at Griffith Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:48:05 GMT

Beloved mountain lion P-22 could soon be getting a permanent memorial at Griffith Park, the sprawling urban park he once roamed.The Los Angeles City Council voted last week to create a committee to determine the location and design of a memorial for the famed cougar.The ad hoc committee of the Griffith Park Advisory Board is made up of city staff and stakeholders who will report back within 120 days to determine the cost of the endeavor, the Los Angeles Daily News reported.Councilmember Nithya Raman, who represents District 4 where Griffith Park is located, said in a statement she is looking forward to the results of the committee.“We hope for this memorial to be a place for the community to come together, pay their respects, and reflect on the importance of protecting our environment and the wildlife that inhabits it,” she said.P-22 was humanely euthanized late last year after being struck by a car near Griffith Park.Wildlife officials had been searching for the cougar over concern...

L.A. might install speed humps at all public schools

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:48:05 GMT

Drivers could soon encounter a lot more speed humps in Los Angeles.On Wednesday, the L.A. City Council approved a motion by Council President Paul Krekorian asking the city's Department of Transportation to examine the feasibility of installing speed humps outside all public schools in the city.The program would be similar to the pilot program underway in Krekorian’s District 2 where the raised sections of asphalt are being installed at all public elementary schools, the President’s office said.The program is expected to be completed by the start of the 2023-24 school year.The Council’s motion instructed the Transportation Department to prepare a report on “the feasibility of establishing a dedicated speed hump program for all schools, including the required funding and staffing resources, and a timeline for execution.”There was no estimate of the potential cost.Under L.A.’s current program, speed humps are only installed on an annual cycle and closes when 375 applications are ...

4 arrested in illegal gambling house sting in Westminster 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:48:05 GMT

A search of an illegal gambling house in Westminster led to the arrest of four individuals on Wednesday. A total of 12 people were found in the residence in the 15800 block of Quartz Street, also known as a “slaphouse,” around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning by detectives with the Westminster Police Department. Detectives recovered methamphetamine, fentanyl and $3,000 in cash at the residence, as well as eight gaming machines. A search of an illegal gambling house in Westminster led to the arrest of four individuals on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 (Westminster PD)A search of an illegal gambling house in Westminster led to the arrest of four individuals on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 (Westminster PD)The four individuals were arrested on charges of operating an illegal gambling house. Anyone with information about illegal gambling houses in Westminster is asked to contact the Westminster Police Department at 714-548-3810. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Orange Cou...

North Hollywood man arrested for fentanyl-related overdose death in Glendale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:48:05 GMT

A North Hollywood man was arrested in connection with the fentanyl-related overdose death of a 19-year-old man in Glendale in 2021, authorities announced this week.  The overdose death occurred in Dec. 2021 when Tevan Gevorkian and a friend unknowingly ingested fentanyl, according to a news release from the Glendale Polie Department. Both men suffered a medical emergency after taking the powerful synthetic opioid. Medical personnel were unable to save Gevorkian. His friend was taken to the hospital and eventually recovered.  While the cause of the 19-year-old's death was known, Glendale Robbery and Homicide detectives did not know where the drugs came from.  During the course of a 16-month long investigation, detectives were able to trace the fentanyl to 23-year-old Heriberto Galvan. Personnel with Glendale PD arrested Galvan and worked with special agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency to indict the 23-year-old.  Galvan was charged with distribution of fentany...

Israeli-Palestinian fighting intensifies as Egypt’s efforts falter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:48:05 GMT

By Fares Akram and Ilan Ben Zion | Associated PressGAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Palestinian militants fired hundreds of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Wednesday, while Israel pressed ahead with a series of airstrikes that have killed 23 Palestinians, including three senior militants and at least 10 civilians.A state-run Egyptian TV station announced that Egypt, a frequent mediator between the sides, had brokered a cease-fire. But the truce efforts appeared to falter as fighting intensified late Wednesday, with neither side showing any sign of backing down.Early Thursday, the Israeli military said it was carrying out airstrikes against Islamic Jihad militant group targets in Gaza. According to Palestinian media reports, the strikes targeted the last floor of a building at a residential complex in southern Gaza Strip, killing at least two people, including an Islamic Jihad commander. The Israeli military did not elaborate and there was no comment from the militant group on the ...

FBI won’t provide Comer with ‘alleged criminal scheme’ document

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:48:05 GMT

By Sara Murray and Evan Perez | CNNThe FBI declined Wednesday to provide House Oversight Chairman James Comer with an internal law enforcement document that some Republicans claim will show Joe Biden was involved in an illegal scheme involving a foreign national.“You have asked for what you say is a ‘precise description’ of an ‘alleged criminal scheme’ contained in is a single FD-1023 report. You express concern that the FBI has inappropriately ‘failed to disclose’ such a report ‘to the American people,'” Christopher Dunham, acting assistant director for the FBI’s office of congressional affairs, said in the letter to Comer, a copy of which was obtained by CNN.“It is critical to the integrity of the entire criminal justice process and to the fulfillment of our law enforcement duties that FBI avoid revealing information — including unverified or incomplete information — that could harm investigations, prejudice prosecu...

Sharks’ Karlsson joins select company as he becomes finalist for player’s award

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:48:05 GMT

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson on Wednesday was named a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, given to the league’s Most Outstanding Player as determined by the NHL Players’ Association.Karlsson, who was also named a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman earlier this month, is just the third player in Sharks history to be named a finalist for the award, joining Joe Thornton and Brent Burns.Thornton was a finalist in 2005-06, the year he won the Hart and Art Ross trophies, and Burns was a finalist in 2016-17 when he won the Norris. No Sharks player has ever won the award, named after the longtime Detroit Red Wings great who helped to establish the NHLPA.Other finalists for the award are Edmonton’s Connor McDavid — the favorite to win the Hart Trophy this year as the league’s top player, as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association — and Boston’s David Pastrnak.Karlsson, in his fifth full season with the Sharks, had 25 goals and ...

E-scooter batteries blamed for recent SF fires

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:48:05 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – The San Francisco Fire Department has seen an increase in fires caused by Lithium-ion batteries. These batteries that are used to power E-bikes and E-scooters are catching fire during charging. It happened Tuesday at an apartment complex on Locksley Avenue. Man in custody after slashing BART rider with ‘cleaver-style knife’: police KRON4 reached out to SFFD on March 5 when the battery of an e-scooter caught fire at an apartment building on Polk Street. Two months later, it’s still happening.“We are seeing a rise in responses for battery-related fires throughout San Francisco,” said SFFD Captain Jonathan Baxter, Baxter says it’s a growing problem nationwide. The batteries used to power e-scooters and e-bikes overheat during charging and catch fire.Oftentimes the batteries catch fire at night while residents are asleep. That’s what happened early Tuesday morning at a high-rise on Locksley Ave.“I hear fire alarms go off and start smelling like a plast...

SF bar named one of 50 best in North America, new ranking says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:48:05 GMT

(KRON) -- A San Francisco bar was named one of the 50 best in North America by a ranking released last week. The list named Pacific Cocktail Haven in San Francisco the 28th-best bar on the continent.Pacific Cocktail Haven is the only Bay Area bar to crack the list. Founded in 2016, the bar is located at 550 Sutter St. in Union Square. Yelp: San Mateo bakery ranked second best for Asian-owned bakeries in US The cocktails are "inspired by Asian-Pacific ingredients," according to the business' website. Pacific Cocktail Haven was named "Best American Cocktail Bar" in 2020 by the Spirited Awards®.Last year, the same ranking by "North America's 50 Best Bars" had two Bay Area establishments on its list: Friends and Family in Oakland at No. 33 and ABV in SF at No. 39. Three other California bars made the 2023 list. In Los Angeles, Thunderbolt ranked No. 10 and Death & Co. at No. 30. Youngblood in San Diego ranked No. 49.Double Chicken Please in New York City topped the list at numbe...