DEA operation reveals cartels using social media to move drugs in St. Louis, nationwide

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:16:22 GMT

DEA operation reveals cartels using social media to move drugs in St. Louis, nationwide ST. LOUIS - A year-long operation targeting Mexican drug cartels moving fentanyl and methamphetamine into communities across the country resulted in thousands of arrests and the seizure of more than $100 million in assets, the Drug Enforcement Administration said Monday.The DEA claims the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels are responsible for flooding communities across the country with meth and fentanyl, using both social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, and TikTok, as well as encrypted platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, to coordinate logistics of deliveries and reach victims.The DEA St. Louis Division, which covers Missouri, Kansas, and southern Illinois, recorded 72 arrests, the seizure of more than 1.3 million fentanyl pills, 100 pounds of fentanyl powder, more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine, over 400 guns, nearly half-a-million dollars in assets. Top Story: Former head of board that oversaw St. Louis police weighs in on possible return of state contr...

Caltrans to close 71 Freeway in Pomona for road repairs

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:16:22 GMT

Caltrans to close 71 Freeway in Pomona for road repairs The California Department of Transportation on Monday announced a full freeway closure of the 71 Freeway in Pomona from Chino Avenue through the state Route 71 and 60 interchange to Rio Rancho Road for road repair work.The closure will begin Thursday at 9 p.m. and conclude on Saturday at 6 a.m., according to a news release from Caltrans.The full freeway closure plans are as follows:Thursday, May 11, from 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. • Northbound SR-71 Full Freeway closure from Chino Avenue to Rio Rancho Road.• Northbound SR-71 Rio Rancho Road off-ramp• Northbound SR-71 Garey Avenue on-ramp• Westbound SR-60 Connector to Northbound SR-71Friday, May 12, from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. • Northbound SR-71 Full Freeway closure from Chino Avenue to Rio Rancho Road.• Northbound SR-71 Rio Rancho Road off-ramp• Northbound SR-71 Garey Avenue on-ramp• Westbound SR-60 Connector to Northbound SR-71Drivers traveling in the area should expect delays while construction-related noises can impact res...

Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye wants 'to kill' his alter ego

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:16:22 GMT

Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye wants 'to kill' his alter ego For over a decade, The Weeknd has dominated the music scene with catchy singles, a Super Bowl performance, and various collaborations with big names like Kanye West, Future, Beyonce, and Ariana Grande. Now, the man behind the moody and dark alter ego, is ready to rid himself of that persona.In a piece for W Magazine, The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, is ready that shed that image. “I’m going through a cathartic path right now,” he told the magazine. “It’s getting to a place and a time where I’m getting ready to close The Weeknd chapter. I’ll still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd. But I still want to kill The Weeknd. And I will. Eventually. I’m definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn.”That path he's on comes as he's wrapped up filming the highly anticipated HBO series "The Idol," where he stars alongside Lily-Rose Depp. The Toronto native plays the character Tedros, the self-help guru and love interest of Depp's character Jocelyn. By playing Tedr...

bellabeat: Pioneering the Cycle Sync Movement for Women’s Wellness

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:16:22 GMT

bellabeat: Pioneering the Cycle Sync Movement for Women’s Wellness As the tide turns and women’s health takes center stage, Bellabeat emerges as a trailblazer in the burgeoning cycle sync movement. This innovative company has evolved from creating stylish smart jewelry to spearheading a groundbreaking wellness movement, empowering women to take control of their menstrual cycles. Let’s delve into the captivating tale of Bellabeat and their quest to empower women and break down barriers.In 2014, Urška Srsen and Sandro Mur founded Bellabeat with a daring mission: crafting wellness products tailored specifically for women. Their initial offerings included chic smart jewelry, such as the Leaf and the Time, which seamlessly merged fashion and technology. These wearable devices allowed women to monitor their activity, sleep, stress, and more, offering invaluable insights into their health and well-being. Unlike other brands in the market, Bellabeat stands out as the only female-centric wearable company.Mur recalls their early days: “As w...

Innovating the Real Estate Experience: Brody Broker’s Technological Edge

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:16:22 GMT

Innovating the Real Estate Experience: Brody Broker’s Technological Edge In today’s rapidly changing real estate landscape, remaining ahead of the curve necessitates adaptation and evolution. Enter Brody Broker —the brilliant mind behind Brody Broker Team —who has consistently led the way in innovation. By honing cutting-edge marketing tactics and leveraging technological advancements, he and his team have emerged as frontrunners within the industry. Their results speak for themselves: superior performance for clients coupled with mentorship for leading agents.By embracing the ever-evolving technological advancements, Brody Broker has set itself apart as an industry leader in real estate. The company’s integration of cutting-edge technology plays a crucial role in revolutionizing not only the client experience but also that of its agents. With virtual property tours and advanced data analytics software, clients can now make informed decisions faster than ever before.It is this competency that sets the company at the forefront, providing super...

49ers sign quarterback Brandon Allen, add ex-Falcons second-round pick

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:16:22 GMT

49ers sign quarterback Brandon Allen, add ex-Falcons second-round pick SANTA CLARA — Defensive lineman Marlon Davidson, just three years ago, was celebrated by the Atlanta Falcons as a second-round draft pick from Auburn.Monday, the 49ers announced they’ve signed the Falcons’ injury-ravaged castoff, looking to wedge him into a defensive line rotation that’s vying to regain NFL supremacy.Also signed to one-year deals were quarterback Brandon Allen, a journeyman backup, and tight end Troy Fumagalli, a member of the 49ers’ practice squad last season. No corresponding roster moves were announced.So, what happened to Davidson’s career, after it began as the NFL draft’s 47th overall pick?Knee injuries limited the 6-foot-3, 303-pound to just one career start and just one career sack, to go along with one fumble recovery, one interception, two pass breakups and 29 tackles in 19 games.About that interception, it was the 18th (and final?) pick-six thrown by Tom Brady, and it vaulted the Falcons into the lead of their Dec...

Former Richmond police sergeant who fired gun at Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco sentenced for felony

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:16:22 GMT

Former Richmond police sergeant who fired gun at Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco sentenced for felony SAN FRANCISCO — A former Richmond Police Department sergeant received a two-year felony formal probation Monday after violating the terms of his guilty plea in 2021, authorities said.San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced the sentence against Phillip Sanchez in a statement. Sanchez pled guilty in 2021 to a felony vandalism charge after authorities said he fired his gun several times while intoxicated at San Francisco’s Four Seasons Hotel in 2017.The incident caused $3,368 in damages, Jenkins said.“I am thankful that no one was hurt as a result of Mr. Sanchez’s dangerous behavior,” Jenkins said in her statement. “Recklessly discharging his weapon put lives in danger and undermined the public’s trust in law enforcement whose basic responsibility is to ensure public safety. This sentence sends a message that law enforcement officers who violate the law will be held accountable.”Previous San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin had ...

Pac-12 football: Our post-spring practice projections for the 2023 conference race

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:16:22 GMT

Pac-12 football: Our post-spring practice projections for the 2023 conference race Spring practice has ended, the transfer portal is closed, staff changes are complete, and the most anticipated Pac-12 season in recent memory is four short months away.As was the case in January, the conference looks loaded at the top, with at least four teams — and as many as six — expected to appear in the AP preseason poll.The bottom should be more competitive, as well, thanks to coaching changes at Colorado, Stanford and Arizona State.How do we see the conference race at this point?Welcome to our post-spring projections.1. Washington. Four months after the original forecast, we see no reason to remove UW from its frontrunner position. Transfer portal exits should have limited impact; spring practice brought no serious injuries; and the staff remains intact. The Huskies will field a powerhouse attack with Michael Penix Jr. taking aim at the Heisman Trophy, while the defense possesses two elite edge rushers in Zion Tupuola-Fetui and Bralen Trice. Are there weaknesses? ...

TSA employee suspended after video shows him yanking dog off the ground

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:16:22 GMT

TSA employee suspended after video shows him yanking dog off the ground A TSA employee has been suspended after social-media outrage over his treatment of a bomb-sniffing dog in Detroit’s airport, the agency said.A statement released Monday by the Transportation Security Administration says, in part: “The behavior displayed by this handler is unacceptable and not within the high standards we hold our officers to.”It said he has been “removed … from handling duties pending completion of an investigation.”A 90-second video posted Sunday to Twitter shows a man walking the German shorthaired pointer back and forth across a 40-foot-wide section of concourse at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Several times, he shortens the leash and yanks hard enough to lift the dog’s front paws off the floor and cause the animal to scramble for traction.  The video had been viewed 2.4 million times on Twitter as of Monday morning.The agency’s statement identified the man only as “a TSA explosive detection canine hand...

Best and worst US cities for remote work job openings

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:16:22 GMT

Best and worst US cities for remote work job openings By Matthew Boyle | BloombergRemote jobs are still plentiful, but these days you have to know where to look.The most remote-friendly city isn’t San Francisco or San Jose, California, but Bloomfield, Connecticut, headquarters of insurer Cigna Group, where nearly half of job vacancies offer some freedom to work from home. It’s followed by Augusta, the capital of Maine, and Dover, Delaware, according to a team of researchers who analyzed the share of job vacancies that specifically allow working from home at least one day a week. The top ten isn’t limited to cities in the Northeast; also making the cut are Lansing, Michigan, and Helena, Montana.Those seeking remote jobs should steer clear of Burleson, Texas, along with Olive Branch, Mississippi, and Mount Juliet, Tennessee.With many companies slowing hiring, conducting layoffs and getting stricter about return-to-office policies, there’s concern that remote jobs are getting more scarce. The data, from academics including Stanford Univer...