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Known for laughs, DC dinner spotlights risks of journalism

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:46:26 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner — known for its fun albeit ferocious jabs at Washington — took a more solemn tone this year as what many see as the brazen attack on press freedom across the globe was on painful display.Upon arriving at the Washington Hilton on Saturday, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden met privately with the parents of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been imprisoned in Russia since March. He was charged with spying, despite strong denials from his employer and the U.S. government. Some guests wore buttons with “Free Evan” printed on them.Also among the 2,600 people attending the gala is Debra Tice, the mother of Austin Tice, who has not been heard from since disappearing at a checkpoint in Syria in 2012. U.S. officials say they operate under the assumption that he is alive and are working to try to bring him home.“They are among hundreds of journalists around the world who are wrongfully ...

The Chicago Bears' 2023 NFL Draft Class

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:46:26 GMT

KANSAS CITY — With the conclusion of the NFL Draft in Kansas City Saturday, here is a quick recap of the Chicago Bears' 10-player haul they took home in this year's NFL draft.1. Darnell Wright - OT/Tennessee - Rd. 1, Pick 10FILE - Tennessee offensive lineman Darnell Wright (58) plays against Ball State during an NCAA football game Sept. 1, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. The Chicago Bears selected Wright with the No. 10 overall pick in the NFL draft Thursday, April 27, 2023. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)Even after the Bears shipped off the no. 1 overall pick to Carolina for a trove of selections and wide receiver D.J. Moore, there was still widespread ideations being made on what need Chicago would address with their top draft pick.Would it be a pass rusher? A defensive tackle? Perhaps an offensive tackle? Another wide receiver? A corner? Every single one of those position groups needed to be addressed after an abysmal 3-win season a year ago, and as fate would have it, the Bears decided it ...

Williamson County enters cooperation agreement with Korean trade-investment agency

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:46:26 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell signed a mutual cooperation agreement with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) Thursday at the grand opening of its Global Partnering Center in Austin.Gravell said KOTRA is like a 'department of commerce' for South Korea, the partnership aims to make it easier for foreign business to build operations in the county and Central Texas.“In visiting with them, we realize there are many businesses that need to set up local offices. They [the center] help them [the company] to onboard to their workplace there at WeWork in Austin, and then we help them on board with a permanent location here in Williamson County," Gravell said.The agreement comes a week after Williamson County leaders returned from a visit to South Korea with KOTRA leaders. Many of the businesses poised to move to Williamson County, Gravell said, will likely be support businesses for the Samsung Semiconductor Plant under construction in T...

Rebuilding Together St. Louis: Free home repairs for those in need

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:46:26 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- More than 300 volunteers with "Rebuilding Together St. Louis" will rehab 19 homes for people who need it most. For 30 years, the non-profit has provided free home repairs to veterans, people with disabilities, and low-income homeowners. Repairs include ramps, grab bars, plumbing, and electrical issues. For the first time in over a decade, the volunteer group includes a team of renovators composed entirely of women.

Celebration of life for Alexa Bartell, killed by rock thrown through windshield, draws hundreds to Arvada church

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:46:26 GMT

On a beautiful, sun-filled afternoon, more than 500 people gathered in an Arvada church to celebrate the life of Alexa Bartell, who died at age 20 when a stone was hurled through the windshield of her car.People hugged and wept outside the Storyline Church before the service, and others did the same inside, crossing aisles to embrace and pause. A table in the church lobby was filled with framed photographs of Alexa, smiling in most. Photos included images of Alexa playfully flashing a peace sign; she often wore baseball caps, sometimes with the bill facing back. Dozens of colorful floral bouquets were inside the lobby and the church. Friends left written messages that were displayed.The Rev. JT English, lead pastor, welcomed the gathering, which included many young adults — friends and former classmates of Alexa’s. English said people shouldn’t suppress or deny emotions they’re feeling, including anger and grief, and that it would also be acceptable to laugh ...

Masseuse accused of sexually assaulting patient at Riverside clinic

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:46:26 GMT

A masseuse was arrested and accused of sexually assaulting a patient at a Riverside clinic. Police are now searching for additional victims.The suspect was identified as 67-year-old Jungsik Mo from Anaheim Hills by the Riverside Police Department.Mo works as a masseuse at the Healing Tree Acupuncture & Wellness Center located on the 3900 block of Jackson Street. Detectives investigated a sexual assault that reportedly took place at the clinic which is also owned by Mo’s wife, police said.On April 24, Mo was taken into custody in Riverside and later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for sexual assault violations. He was released on $75,000 bail.Authorities discovered Mo did not have a valid license to operate as a masseuse. The couple also owns another location in Fullerton called Haim Healing Center.Detectives believe there may be additional victims who sought treatment at the Riverside center, but have not yet come forward. Elderly couple injured in violent Bel ...

Five more Bay Area MS-13 members sentenced in massive RICO case

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:46:26 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Five more members of a Bay Area-based subset of the MS-13 gang have been sentenced to lengthy federal prison terms as part of a 20-defendant racketeering case charging the gang with murders, drug dealer shakedowns, robberies, and other violence.Each of the five defendants received either 17 or 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to racketeering and various levels of violence to benefit the San Francisco-based 20th Street Clique of MS-13. The sentences were all handed down by U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg.Rogelio “Smiley” Belloso-Aleman, 29, Abner “Coche” Alegria, 42, Kevin “Nesio” Campos, 33, all received 17-year prison terms, while Edwin “Muerte” Alvarado-Amaya, 25, Kevin “Nesio” Campos, 33, and Kevin “Neutron” Reyes-Melendez, 30, both were sentenced to 25 years behind bars, court records show. Now only seven of the original 20 defendants’ charges remain unresolved...

Mexico City baseball an explosion of colors and home runs for Giants, Padres

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:46:26 GMT

MEXICO CITY — With the colorful luchador masks dotting the sold-out stands, the vendors hawking cervezas and the mariachi band that serenaded a captivated crowd between the second and third innings, there was no mistaking where the San Francisco Giants were playing baseball Saturday afternoon.“You can see anything from cowboy hats to gorilla outfits to big blowup heads that guys are wearing, little maraca-type noisemakers, there’s all these things that you can find, especially out here in Mexico,” said Sergio Romo, the former Giants closer of Mexican heritage serving as a crowd-favorite ambassador on this trip (who was swarmed by fans at every turn and estimated he signed about “two hours worth” of autographs).With the Giants the designated visiting team — and 16-11 losers in a home run marathon against the San Diego Padres — there was also no mistaking the rooting preferences of at least three-quarters of the fans, giving loud cheers for the Padr...

Power fully restored after days-long outage in SF's Financial District: PG&E

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:46:26 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A power outage Wednesday night affected more than 9,000 customers in San Francisco's Financial District, North Beach, Russian Hill, and Nob Hill neighborhoods, according to PG&E. As of Saturday evening, power in those affected areas has been fully restored, PG&E confirmed in an email to KRON4. Affected areas in the city had their power back on by approximately 4:45 p.m. SFPD officer injured in motorcycle crash with fellow officer The outage was due to damage from underground equipment near Clay Street and Montgomery Street, PG&E said. The cause of the damage is still under investigation.The outage caused a number of traffic lights in the area to be shut down for multiple days. KRON On is streaming news live now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; hei...

Jaguars use NFL draft to find offensive help for QB Lawrence

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:46:26 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars closed the NFL draft the same way they opened it: by getting quarterback Trevor Lawrence some potential help.Jacksonville ended the three-day event Saturday by selecting Houston fullback Derek Parish in the seventh round, with the 240th overall pick. It might normally be a throwaway choice, especially in a draft that lacked depth, but general manager Trent Baalke and coach Doug Pederson were looking for someone to boost the team’s short-yardage packages.And they landed on Parish, a 6-foot-2, 245-pound defensive end who is converting to fullback for his shot at making an NFL roster.Few teams even have fullbacks anymore in a pass-happy league, but the Jaguars are experimenting in hopes of finding more short-yardage success after ranking 25th in the league last season on third-down runs.“The fullback position has been nonexistent pretty much in our league. It’s kind of gone away,” Pederson said. “I grew up with a fullback in this leagu...