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Russia’s Wagner mercenaries face uncertainty after the presumed death of its leader in a plane crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 05:36:43 GMT

The Wagner Group’s presence extends from the ancient battlegrounds of Syria to the deserts of sub-Saharan Africa, projecting the Kremlin’s global influence with mercenaries accused of using brutal force and profiting on mineral riches they seized.But that was under Yevgeny Prigozhin, who in what could have been his final video released earlier this week appeared in military fatigues and held an assault rifle from an unidentified dry and dusty plain as he boasted that Wagner is “making Russia even greater on all continents and Africa even more free.”On Wednesday, a private jet carrying Prigozhin and his top lieutenants of the mercenary group crashed northwest of Moscow, two months after he led an armed rebellion that challenged the authority of President Vladimir Putin. There is wide speculation that Prigozhin, who is presumed dead, was targeted for his uprising, although the Kremlin has denied involvement.That crash has raised questions about the future of the Wagner Gro...

Tesla driver arrested after CHP pursuit in Orange County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 05:36:43 GMT

A Tesla driver was arrested after a pursuit through L.A. and Orange counties on Friday night.The suspect was initially wanted for a carpool lane violation, according to California Highway Patrol.The pursuit began in the Anaheim area around 10:30 p.m. Multiple CHP units can be seen trailing the suspect.A spike strip was thrown on the 57 freeway in Yorba Linda around 11:10 p.m., knocking out the rear driver-side hubcap before the wheel was completely disabled.Sky5 video showed a male suspect pulling over and quickly exiting the car before approaching deputies in an aggressive manner. Armed deputies eventually tackled the man to the ground before taking him into custody. While handcuffed the man appeared to be combative.The pursuit can be viewed in the video player above.

Hundreds gather to honor victims of Orange County mass shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 05:36:43 GMT

Hundreds attended a community gathering and prayer held in Lake Forest on Friday night to honor the victims killed in a mass shooting at Cook’s Corner bar on Wednesday.The gathering was held at Saddleback Church as a caravan of motorcyclists was seen arriving at the church along with community members and loved ones to mourn the lives lost.Three people were killed and six others were wounded during the shooting.The victims were identified on Friday morning as:-Tonya Clark, 49, of Scottsdale, Arizona-John Leehey, 67, of Irvine-Glen Sprowl Jr., 53, of StantonThe suspected gunman, John Snowling, 59, died in a shootout with deputies on Wednesday night. Snowling was a retired Ventura police sergeant who worked for the agency for 28 years before retiring in 2014.During the shooting, customers were enjoying the bar’s famous spaghetti night as a live band played at the popular biker bar in Trabuco Canyon.A motorcycle caravan attended a community gathering and prayer held in a Lake Forest ch...

CHP recovers more than $85,000 worth of pilfered retail goods

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 05:36:43 GMT

OAKLAND – A pair of Oakland residents has been arrested on suspicion of possessing more than $85,000 worth of stolen retail goods, according to the California Highway Patrol.In July, detectives opened an investigation into several people suspected of selling pilfered Victoria’s Secret merchandise at the Oakland Coliseum flea market, the CHP said in a news release Friday.An investigation by the California Highway Patrol culminated in the recovery of more than $85,000 worth of stolen retail goods on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023, the agency said. (California Highway Patrol) “The suspects were observed selling merchandise, with (retail) tags attached, at the flea market,” the CHP said.Earlier this month, detectives found the same people selling “significant quantities of retail goods” at a flea market in the Sacramento suburb of Galt, according to the CHP.The CHP said Victoria’s Secret representatives scanned the goods and confirmed they had never been sold at a retail store. The merchan...

De La Salle fades in second half, loses its season opener to Orange Lutheran

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 05:36:43 GMT

CONCORD — De La Salle was going to have to play a clean game to win its season opener on Friday night against Southern California heavyweight Orange Lutheran.The Spartans did not play a clean game.Tied at halftime, De La Salle gave up three unanswered second-half touchdowns and lost at home 35-14 against an opponent that won impressively a week earlier and comes from the same league that features Mater Dei and St. John Bosco.Steve Chavez was the star of stars for Orange Lutheran, rushing for three touchdowns, including one the junior running back justifiably called “Beast Mode 3.0.”The 58-yard run late in the third quarter included multiple stiff arms in an electrifying sequence that made it 28-14.For De La Salle, it was one of several plays it would like to have back.“With a good team like Orange Lutheran, the mistakes you can make are very little, virtually none,” quarterback Toa Faavae said. “Too many mistakes. Too many mental mistakes.”D...

El Cerrito uses proven formula in season-opening win over Division I school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 05:36:43 GMT

PLEASANTON – A hard-fought nonleague win over Division I Amador Valley last year helped propel the El Cerrito High School football team to an undefeated regular season.Gauchos coach Jacob Rincon would gladly take the same end result in 2023, and he might have the defense to do it.El Cerrito’s defense made a two-touchdown lead in the first-half stand as the Gauchos held on to a 14-7 win over Amador Valley on Friday in the season-opening game for both teams.Running back Micah Avery, a transfer from Clayton Valley Charter, scored on a 69-yard touchdown run with 3:46 left in the first quarter and fellow senior Michael Vanhook scored on a quarterback keeper just before halftime, providing just enough offense to help No. 14 El Cerrito extend its regular season win streak to 16 games.Avery had 95 yards on 13 carries and Vanhook completed 8 of 15 passes for 72 yards. El Cerrito’s second touchdown drive was aided by an 85-yard run from another newcomer in Zaire Eastman, who attended De...

Mitty still gritty in wild season-opening victory over James Logan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 05:36:43 GMT

UNION CITY – Archbishop Mitty’s players were tired of hearing about last season’s success story, when the team went from 1-9 to 9-4. The 2023 roster featured fresh faces after most of that senior core graduated in the spring. They were players ready to prove that the Monarchs were more than just a one-year-wonder or feel-good story. “We definitely have a different identity, and each team brings something different to the field,” senior running back AJ Cenizal said. “I feel like we’ll forge our own identity.”But if Friday’s wild 20-12 victory over James Logan was anything to go by, “gritty Mitty” showed it still had that familiar resolve, plus some magic, on gameday. That magic? Just a ho-hum 60-yard onside kick return touchdown by junior Alec Grimaldo, who scooped the ball up off a perfect bounce, and rather than fall on it like his coaches wished, ran up the right sideline to make it 20-6. “I was a little nervous, but I powered through it,” Grimaldo said. “I saw the opportuni...

Luke Baker shines in San Ramon Valley’s dominant win in season opener

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 05:36:43 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO – San Ramon Valley picked up this season where it left off in last year’s 2-A title game.Never mind the fact the Wolves moved up to North Coast Section’s Division I and are facing a tougher slate of opponents.San Ramon Valley, led by senior quarterback Luke Baker, came out firing on all cylinders, resulting in a 42-14 rout of St. Ignatius at the West Catholic school’s San Francisco home.“It felt great,” said Baker, who couldn’t stop smiling after the win. “Guys weren’t over confident going into this game… It feels peaceful being back out here on the football field. I just feel like it’s where I belong. It felt great getting a big first win.”The Wolves returned a large chunk of last year’s team, with that already established chemistry on full display against the Wildcats, who are being guided this season by first-year head coach Lenny Vandermade.“When you play against a guy like [Baker], we got to be on our stuff and can’t make little mistakes be...

Families of victims speak out against Alameda County DA Pamela Price

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 05:36:43 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) – Family and friends of murder victims held a press conference on Friday to support the effort to recall Alameda County’s top prosecutor. A notice of intent was filed in the county last week to recall District Attorney Pamela Price.The group calling for Price's recall is known as Save Alameda For Everyone or "SAFE." As of last week, 127 signatures have been collected and certified in Alameda County, and DA Price has responded to the recall petition. Suspect in custody after chase across Bay Bridge "What I'm not going to do is be intimidated to not stand up for these families. I'm going to continue until we get the job done,” said Brenda Grisham, who is leading the effort to recall Price. Grisham is referring to a letter she received from Price. KRON4 reached out to Price’s office for comment on the claims. A spokesperson sent a letter to Grisham, listing Price’s accomplishments over eight months in office.Friday’s news conference took place on what...

Purdy runs for a TD before Chargers backups roll past 49ers 23-12

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 05:36:43 GMT

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Brock Purdy ran for a 5-yard touchdown during a brief tune-up for the season opener for San Francisco before the Los Angeles Chargers backups beat the 49ers 23-12 in the exhibition finale on Friday night.The teams took different approaches in the final preseason game with San Francisco (1-2) playing Purdy and several other starters for two drives, while the Chargers (2-1) used almost exclusively second and third-string players.“We’re ready to get this thing rolling,” Purdy said. The game took place only a few hours after the Niners traded former quarterback of the future Trey Lance to Dallas for a fourth-round draft pick.Lance became expendable less than three years after San Francisco traded three first-round picks to draft him third overall because of the emergence of Purdy.“Obviously we took our shot, and it didn’t work,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “That’s on us for that. I’m not going to say anything was a failure. That’d be too much of a negative...