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Jury finds ex-GOP operative Lazzaro guilty in federal sex trafficking case

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:24 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS — A federal jury on Friday found Anton “Tony” Lazzaro, a one-time Minnesota Republican political operative and top donor, guilty on all counts of sex trafficking five girls, ages 15 and 16.Jurors began deliberations Friday afternoon following a trial highlighted by Lazzaro, 32, taking the stand in his own defense. While eventually acknowledging he had sex with all of the girls, Lazzaro said he did not pay for sex or the recruitment of young partners.The jury of six men and six women took only about three hours to return with a guilty verdict. Lazzaro faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.Prosecutors alleged Lazzaro met his co-defendant, Gisela Castro Medina on SeekingArrangement, a site that connects generally wealthy men with younger partners, and paid her to find other sex partners for him, including the five alleged victims who testified against him.Lazzaro maintained that the website was no different than other dating sites and disputed that he had an agreem...

UPDATE: Tornado watch ends around St. Louis

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis metropolitan area had remained under a tornado watch until it expires at 10 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service, but many warnings have already passed through the area. Tornado warnings had been issued for Franklin, Crawford and Washington counties in Missouri and Greene County in Illinois within the 5 p.m. hours. Those warnings have now been downgraded to watches. When a tornado warning is issued, a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar and there is imminent danger to life and property. If you’re in the area of a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately.During a tornado watch, atmospheric conditions are favorable for a tornado to develop, but a tornado has not yet been sighted or indicated by weather radar.The St. Louis Metropolitan is under a Level-4 risk for severe weather through late Friday. Mother Nature means business on Friday, as winds will become quite gusty from the south as temperatures climb towards 70 degre...

Cardinals Care program celebrates 20 years of service to St. Louis community

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Redbird Rookies, a flagship program of Cardinals Care, is celebrating a major milestone: twenty years of service to the St. Louis community."Kids ages 5-13 are eligible to participate in the Redbird Rookies League, founded back in 2004," said Marybeth Johnson, manager of communications for Cardinals Care. "Over the past 20 years, Cardinals Care has invested nearly $7 million, and we've had nearly 50,000 kids go through the program."Kids in the Redbird Rookie League not only play ball, but they also have the opportunity to see a show at the Muny. Top Stories: Severe weather expected near St. Louis Friday "We also provide scholarships for ten of our Redbird Rookies participants every year. For $10,000 each to support their post-secondary education," Johnson said.Also, Redbird Rookies get free health screenings and participate in educational programs, including reading and learning life skills, through the organization's partnerships with the Magic House, the St. Louis Sc...

New baseball exhibit and first ever CITY SC public autograph signing 

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS - It didn't take long for the Cardinals to play on the same day as the new kids on the block, CITY SC. Saturday afternoon, the Cardinals will play at Busch Stadium, and a few hours later, CITY SC will kick off a home game at CITYPARK. Before the busy sports Saturday, a few firsts were happening in the city, both for baseball and soccer. Just across the street from Busch Stadium, at the Field House Museum, the St. Louis Browns History exhibit opened. "It's a dream come true," said Ed Wheatley, the president of the St. Louis Browns Historical Society.  Trending: St. Charles County’s top prosecutor leaves after decade of service Wheatley helped put together the exhibit, which will last through the baseball season to the end of October. Admission to the exhibit is $10. The Browns played in St. Louis from 1902 to 1953. “St. Louis being the best baseball town in America, we are keeping that legacy alive," Wheatley said. Across the city in Des...

WATCH: Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland makes great defensive play vs SD

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO — Colorado Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland made a sensational play to retire Austin Nola of the San Diego Padres leading off the fifth inning on Friday night.Pitchers. Are. Athletes. pic.twitter.com/xdl86Y0rXr— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 1, 2023Nola hit a weak chopper down the third base line and Freeland hopped off the mound, gloved the ball, took two steps, made a leaping spin and threw to first baseman C.J. Cron, who made a nice stretch to retire the runner. Freeland ended up sprawled face down in foul territory.He squatted behind the mound for a few minutes and was checked by a trainer and manager Bud Black. He remained in the game.

Suspect killed in shootout with police on 10 Freeway in East L.A.

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:24 GMT

A robbery suspect who fired at officers while being chased on the 10 Freeway in East Los Angeles Friday morning was fatally shot by police, authorities said.Around 10:10 a.m., Monterey Park police officers spotted the white BMW allegedly involved in a robbery in Los Angeles earlier this month along the westbound 10 Freeway and Atlantic Boulevard, Monterey Park police Sgt. Arlene Chaidez said during a news conference Friday afternoon. The officers tried to stop the driver, but he did not yield and a pursuit began. The man at some point fired at the officers while driving. He eventually stopped, got out of the car, jumped over the median wall and ran across the eastbound lanes of the highway while still firing at officers, Chaidez said. The suspect was struck by gunfire and was declared dead near the Eastern Avenue off-ramp and the southbound 710 Freeway transition. At least three officers were involved in the shooting and were not injured during the exchange of gunfire. Both sides o...

Authorities search for 13-year-old girl who disappeared in Carson

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:24 GMT

Authorities are searching for a teenage girl who disappeared in Carson on March 26.The missing teen was identified as Sarah Villanueva Embisan, 13, by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.She was last seen on the 22300 block of South Main Street around 1 a.m., authorities said.Embisan is described as a Hispanic female standing 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds with a black, pixie-style haircut and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink sweater and red pajama pants.Her family is concerned for her well-being and is asking for the public’s help. Sarah Villanueva Embisan, 13, in a photo from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.Anyone with information or who may know Embisan’s whereabouts is asked to call the LASD’s Carson Station at 310-830-1123 or Detective M. Castro at 310-847-8372. Anonymous tips can be submitted to “Crime Stoppers” at 800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

Photos: Towering Monument Valley buttes display sunset spectacle

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:24 GMT

MONUMENT VALLEY, Utah (AP) — A sunset spectacle featuring two mitten-shaped rock formations played out this week at Monument Valley on the Navajo Nation along the Arizona and Utah border.Twice a year, in late March and mid-September, spectators, photographers and videographers get a visual treat. As the sun sinks, the West Mitten Butte’s shadow crawls across the desert valley floor before climbing up the side of the East Mitten Butte.The spectacle draws people from around the world to Monument Valley Tribal Park, which already is popular with tourists.TV and movie critic Keith Phipps once described Monument Valley as having “defined what decades of moviegoers think of when they imagine the American West.”It is a frequent filming location, including a number of Westerns by the late American film director John Ford, as well as the 1994 Oscar-winning film “Forest Gump.” In the movie, the character played by Tom Hanks is seen running on the road to Monument...

Second suspect arrested in Walnut Creek Macy's smash-and-grab

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:24 GMT

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KRON) -- The jewelry section of the Macy's at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek was a victim of a smash-and-grab last summer. Police said three men smashed cases and stole an unknown amount of high-end watches on June 18, 2022. Smash-and-grab suspects steal from jewelry counter at Walnut Creek Macy’s A second suspect has been arrested in connection to the smash-and-grab, the Walnut Creek Police Department said Friday. The suspect, 20-year-old Vallejo man Gerald Dial, was arrested on March 23 at the San Francisco Airport. The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office filed felony charges against Dial: robbery, burglary and grand theft. As of Friday, Dial is no longer in custody as he posted bail, according to Walnut Creek police. The first suspect was arrested on July 5. He is identified as 19-year-old Jammoni Simon of Vallejo. Simon faced charges of robbery, burglary and possession of a loaded firearm.A third suspect remains outstanding. KRON On is streamin...

Recent storms uproot thousands of trees in SF

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:07:24 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – Thousands of trees were uprooted and toppled over by the last two storms in San Francisco alone. That caused some damage, but it’s also a loss because of the benefits that trees bring to the environment.A local nonprofit revealed that these storms tore up trees at an alarming rate. Members of the ‘Friends of the Urban Forest’ warn that the bigger trees that came down also equal the biggest loss because they provide the most benefits, such as storing carbon, and are least likely to be saved.They estimate more than 2,000 trees were uprooted in the last month and a half. They also say trees are especially vulnerable now because of the saturated soil after years of drought. Photos: California ‘super bloom’ may be coming after historic rain There’s been a pledge by the City of San Francisco to plant trees, but the group says that program has been chronically underfunded and the urban forest is shrinking. Only 14% of San Francisco is covered with trees, which pale...