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5 plead guilty in fake nursing diploma scheme in Florida

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Five people have pleaded guilty in South Florida to participating in a wire fraud scheme that created an illegal shortcut for aspiring nurses to get licensed and find employment.Krystal Lopez and Damian Lopez, both of Palm Beach County, Florida; Francois Legagneur, of Nassau County, New York; Reynoso Seide, of Union County, N ew Jersey; and Yelva Saint Preux, of Suffolk County, N.Y.; pleaded guilty last Wednesday in Miami federal court to wire fraud conspiracy. They each face up to 20 years in prison at a July 27 hearing.A total of 25 people were charged earlier this year in a scam that sold more than 7,600 fraudulent nursing degree diplomas from three Florida-based nursing schools, according to grand jury indictments. The schools involved — Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute — are now closed.During guilty plea hearings, Damian Lopez, Legagneur, Seide and Saint Preux admitted to soliciting and recruiting people who sough...

Detectives charged with stealing costly Champagne at Electric Zoo music festival in NYC

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Two New York City police detectives have been charged with swiping pricey Champagne while on duty at an electronic music festival, and a third detective did nothing to stop them, prosecutors said Monday in announcing indictments of all three officers.Detectives Wojciech Czech and Warren Golden were arraigned Monday and suspended from their jobs. Czech pleaded not guilty to felony charges of grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property; Golden pleaded not guilty to official misconduct, a misdemeanor. Both were released without bail. A third detective, Jonathan Gonzalez, is due to be arraigned on all three charges later in the week.“Detective Czech is shocked and saddened by the criminal charges,” said his lawyer, Oliver Storch, adding that his client is a 10-year law enforcement veteran who “loves being in the business of protecting and saving lives.” Gonzalez’s attorney, Peter E. Brill, said he believed the charges “come from a misunderstanding of the fac...

Swarm of bees close Los Angeles-area streets; injuries reported

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) - Crashes and investigations often lead to road closures, but it's not every day a swarm of bees is to blame. Authorities were called to an Encino neighborhood around 4:15 p.m. Monday evening for a bee sting, the Los Angles Fire Department said. When fire crews arrived, they were met with a massive swarm of bees, prompting multiple roads in the area to be closed. Nexstar's KTLA captured video of a man appearing to be stung by a swarm of bees that shut down a residential neighborhood in Encino on May 15, 2023. (KTLA)Thousands of bees were seen in the area and residents were urged to stay inside and wait for the arrival of animal control personnel. Video from Nexstar's KTLA showed one person, believed to be an officer or security guard, being attacked by what appeared to be a swarm of bees. The condition of the person who was originally stung is unclear, but they were transported to the hospital.Bee and wasp stings can cause major health complications and even death...

Almanac for May 16, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

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City of Austin employees to return to the office, union not on board

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Many City of Austin employees are being asked to return to the office starting later this year, according to a city memo from Interim City Manager Jesús Garza. Starting in early June, employees in management positions with the city will be required to work five days a week in person, the memo said. Non-executive staff that have been working from home will have to return to the office no less than three days a week starting in October. "It is imperative, in my opinion, that we work to ensure the public’s trust. We cannot completely do so if we are not present or responsive to their needs. With this in mind, we must address the various department policies surrounding telework," Garza said in his memo to employees. ‘A new lens’: Jesús Garza on Austin leadership shakeups, office procedures Meanwhile, the union representing Austin and Travis County employees -- AFSCME Local 1624 -- says it argued against the new policy and that it was prepared to fight it. "Determinin...

Pittsfield offering textile recycling drop-off, pickup

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) -- Officials in the city of Pittsfield have launched a new textile drop-off and pickup service. The city is partnering with Massachusetts-based textile exporter CMRK Inc., to open three drop-off boxes.The locations are the parking lot of the Morningside School at 100 Burbank St., the parking lot of Berkshire Athenaeum at 1 Wendell Ave., and the parking lot behind the Ralph J. Froio Senior Center at 330 North St. They also offer curbside pickup. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Clothing, household textiles and shoes must be placed in a bag. Larger items such as kitchen appliances and bikes must be placed in a box. A ban on putting mattresses, clothes and other textiles in the trash took effect in Massachusetts in November. It's part of the state's efforts to reduce waste. Experts said about three-fourths of mattress parts can be recycled once they're disassembled.

YWCA proposes new housing units in downtown Troy

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A new, supportive housing development project could soon be coming to downtown Troy. The YWCA of the Greater Capital Region unveiled their proposal on Monday.If approved, a new development would be built next to the existing YWCA and provide 53 new units for families facing homelessness. They said additional units would not only help residents but would create a greater sense of community in downtown Troy. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "We have over 317 women on our waiting list," YWCA of the Greater Capital Region Exec. Dir. Starletta Smith said. "Because of that, it is more imperative than ever that we address homelessness in our communities. We want a community that is inclusive. We want a community that is safe and equitable."The project proposal will be formally presented to the Troy Planning Commission on Wednesday.

CU Buffs to open football season on FOX’s Big Noon Saturday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

Colorado will kick off the Coach Prime era in a prime TV spot.On Monday, it was announced that CU’s football season opener on Sept. 2 at TCU has been selected for FOX’s Big Noon Saturday telecast.It will be the official debut for new CU head coach Deion Sanders and the new-look Buffs.Related Articles Chance for fresh start prompted Brendan Gant to leave Florida State for CU Buffs Keeler: Ex-CU Buffs coach Mike Sanford on Coach Prime, transfers, recruiting: “Not every single kid on that team was a 1-11 person.” Recapping spring transfer additions for CU Buffs football After betting on himself, Zach Blackwood relishes opportunity with CU Buffs CFB top-25: Our post-spring practice rankings The Buffs and Horned Frogs will kick off at 10 a.m. Mountain at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. The CU game was one of two announced by FOX, along with the Ohio State vs. Michigan game in the Big N...

Swarm of bees leads to closed streets in Encino; injuries reported

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

Fire crews and police officers were called to a residential neighborhood to help with the closure of roads after at least one person was injured. The culprit, officials say, was a massive swarm of bees.It started around 4:15 p.m. on the 17100 block of Adlon Road in Encino, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.The Fire Department was the first to respond to the area following a report of a bee sting.When they arrived, crews discovered a massive swarm of bees which led to the need for roads in the area to be shut down. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to assist with the closures. Thousands of bees were seen in the area and residents were urged to stay inside and wait for the arrival of animal control personnel. An animal control worker is swarmed by bees at a home in Encino, California. May 15, 2023. (KTLA)Video from Sky5 showed one person, believed to be an officer or security guard, being attacked by what appeared to be a swarm of bees. The condition of the person...

Former O.C. elementary schoolteacher pleads guilty to possession of child pornography

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

A former elementary schoolteacher and wrestling coach in Orange County pleaded guilty Monday to possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including at least one video that portrayed masochistic sexual conduct involving a child, authorities with the United States Attorney’s Office announced.  Richard O’Connor, 45, worked as a fourth-grade teacher at Crescent Elementary School in Anaheim. He also volunteered as a boys’ wrestling coach at Canyon High School. Both schools are in Anaheim.  In October 2022, agents with Homeland Security Investigations served a federal search warrant on Apple Inc. for the contents of the 45-year-old's Apple iCloud account, authorities said.  “A forensic review of O’Connor’s iCloud account identified at least 81 videos and 158 images of CSAM. O’Connor admitted in his plea agreement that several of the videos and images of CSAM in his iCloud account depicted infants or toddlers as well as violent, sadistic, or masochistic conduct,” a news r...