Southern California man suspected of sexually abusing, making videos of boy, 8

The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office believes there may be additional victims of a 20-year-old Banning man suspected of sexually abusing an 8-year-old boy and then distributing video and photos on the internet. John Edward Lario was arrested last month after Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received a referral from a child exploitation team in New Zealand on Sept. 2 indicating that a link containing videos and images of child sexual abuse materials originated from Riverside County, the DA’s Office stated. A joint operation between HSI special agents and the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team (RCCET) resulted in a search of Lario’s residence. John Edward Lario is seen in an image provided by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. “A search warrant served at Lario’s residence led to the identity of the alleged victim, an 8-year-old boy,” the DA’s Office said. Lario was arrested and charged by the DA’s Office with sexual penetration or oral copulation of a child under 10, lewd act with a child under 14, using a minor to engage in sexual conduct for purposes of producing data or images of the conduct

Warm weekend ahead for SoCal, but cooler temperatures a week away

It’s going to be a warm weekend, Southern California, but don’t fret; more pleasant temperatures are just a week away. In the Los Angeles area, highs are expected to be in the mid-to-high 80s through the weekend and could hit 90 degrees on Monday. In the Inland Empire, an excessive heat warning has been issued and will remain in place through 8 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service. A similar warning will go into effect for much of Southern California, including areas like the Santa Clarita Valley, Santa Monica Mountains and Burbank, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. It will also expire at 8 p.m. Monday. Southern California forecast By next weekend, however, highs are expected to fall about 10 degrees, with highs at 80 degrees and below.

Banning Police Investigate Child Porn Case

A 20-year-old Banning man accused of sexually assaulting a young boy and distributing videos of the acts online possibly targeted other children, prompting authorities Friday to ask anyone with information to come forward. John Edward Lario was arrested and charged last month following an investigation by the multi-agency Riverside County Child Exploitation Team, or RCCET. Lario pleaded not guilty during a Sept. 19 arraignment on four counts of forced oral copulation of a minor, two counts of lewd acts on a child and one count each of using a minor to produce child pornography and child endangerment. The defendant, who’s being held on $1 million bail at the Smith Correctional Facility, is scheduled to appear for a felony settlement conference on Dec. 4 at the Banning Justice Center. “As the investigation into Lario continues, RCCET investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating any other possible victims,” according to a District Attorney’s Office statement. “They ask anyone with information to call the nationwide RCCET Hotline at 866-723-3595.” According to prosecutors, the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs contacted U.S. Homeland Security Investigations

Disgraced Deputy Mayor Chan Sentenced 12 Years in Huizar Scheme

Disgraced former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan was sentenced Friday to 12 years in federal prison for acting as the intermediary in convicted ex-Councilman José Huizar’s City Hall pay-to-play scheme with downtown high-rise developers. Chan, 67, of Monterey Park worked for the city for more than three decades, much of it at the Department of Building and Safety, where he became general manager. In 2016, he was hired by then-Mayor Eric Garcetti to serve as deputy mayor over economic development, supervising the Planning Department, Building and Safety, and other city agencies. He was convicted in Los Angeles federal court in March of all 12 felony counts he faced: one count of conspiracy to violate the RICO Act, seven counts of honest services wire fraud, three counts of bribery and one count of making false statements to a federal government agency. U.S. District Judge John Walter ordered Chan to self-surrender on Jan. 6 to begin his prison sentence. Evidence showed Chan was a key member of the so-called Council District 14 enterprise, a conspiracy in which Huizar — assisted by others — unlawfully used his

Halle Bailey and DDG, who share a baby boy, call it quits: ‘We are still best friends’

Halle Bailey and DDG will no longer be part of each other’s worlds — at least not romantically. The “Little Mermaid” star and the “I’m Geekin” rapper have called it quits after two years of dating and recently welcoming a baby boy. “After much reflection and heartfelt conversations, Halle and I have decided to go our separate ways,” DDG (born Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr.) announced Thursday. “This decision was not easy, but we believe it’s the best path forward for both of us,” DDG said in a Thursday Instagram story. “I cherish the time we’ve spent together and the love we’ve shared.” A representative for Bailey, who is half of “Do It” duo Chloë x Halle, did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment. “The Color Purple” star Bailey, 24, and DDG, 26, first sparked romance rumors in January 2022, then made things red carpet official at the 2022 BET Awards that June. Speaking to Essence in August 2022, Bailey said she knew of DDG from his YouTube channel and shared that their relationship began with private messages on social media. When the

L.A.’s ex-deputy mayor headed to prison: ‘Corruption at any level will not be tolerated’

A federal judge on Friday sentenced former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan to 12 years in prison for his role in a sprawling City Hall corruption case that also brought down a former councilmember. U.S. District Court Judge John F. Walter handed down the sentence in a courtroom packed with Chan’s supporters, stating that “corruption at any level will not be tolerated.” A jury in March found Chan guilty on a dozen counts — including racketeering conspiracy, bribery, honest services fraud and giving false statements to investigators — in a case focused on financial benefits provided by real estate developers with projects in former Councilmember Jose Huizar’s district. Officials said Chan solicited and accepted more than $750,000 in bribe money for himself and facilitated more than a million in bribes from property developers to Huizar. “Chan abused his public office and sought to deepen the corruption of city politics for the benefit of his own business interests,” U.S. Atty. Martin Estrada said in a statement. Chan’s sentence, Estarada added, “sends a message to the public and City Hall alike that our government should not

‘More serious than we had hoped’: Bird flu deaths mount among California dairy cows

As California struggles to contain an increasing number of H5N1 bird flu outbreaks at Central Valley dairy farms, veterinary experts and industry observers are voicing concern that the number of cattle deaths is far higher than anticipated. Although dairy operators had been told to expect a mortality rate of less than 2%, preliminary reports suggest that between 10% and 15% of infected cattle are dying, according to veterinarians and dairy farmers. “I was shocked the first time I encountered it in one of my herds,” said Maxwell Beal, a Central Valley-based veterinarian who has been treating infected herds in California since late August. “It was just like, wow. Production-wise, this is a lot more serious than than we had hoped. And health-wise, it’s a lot more serious than we had been led to believe.” A total of 56 California dairy farms have reported bird flu outbreaks. At the same time, state health officials have reported two suspected cases of H5N1 infections among dairy workers in Tulare County, the largest dairy-producing county in the nation. With more than 600,000 dairy cows, the county accounts for roughly

‘Being true to our inner nerd’: The eye-catching lineup at L.A. Comic Con is proof of the event’s growth

Giancarlo Esposito is no stranger to the fandom convention circuit. His role in “Breaking Bad” brought a certain type of fan. His roles in “Abigail” and “The Mandolorian” bring another type. And his upcoming role in “Captain America: Brave New World” will thrust him into a Marvel fan space he has yet to experience. He acknowledges that it’s all because of fans. “They are responsible for me being in ‘Captain America,’ because although I liked the idea of X-Men and many other comic book characters, it was that particular fandom blowout that allowed me to walk up to [Marvel executive] Nate Moore at an Emmy Awards and say, ‘Hey, it would be great to do something with you,’” said Esposito. “The world has changed in film and television, and I think people are listening to the fans. Fans are loyal. If fans love what you do, they can create a space for you to do more of what you do and to do what you don’t do.” The award-winning actor is one of the standout participants at this year’s Los Angeles Comic Con. The con

Girl admits cutting off tanker that spilled deadly chemical: “My bad”

October 4, 2024 / 2:11 PM EDT / CBS/AP Evacuation lifted after hazmat crash Evacuation lifted after hazmat crash 01:07 A federal report on a tanker-truck crash a year ago in central Illinois that spilled a toxic chemical and killed five people includes an interview with a 17-year-old Ohio girl who concedes that the truck was forced off the road when she passed it with the minivan she was driving. The tanker slowed and pulled to the right to allow the minivan to get back in the right-hand lane and avoid a head-on collision with oncoming traffic on the two-lane U.S. 40 in Teutopolis on Sept. 29, 2023, according to dash-cam video from the truck also released late Wednesday by the National Transportation Safety Board. “Oh, (expletive). Yeah. Oh, my goodness. Yep, totally my bad. Wow. Holy (expletive),” the girl said while watching the video from the ill-fated truck during an Oct. 4, 2023, Illinois State Police interview. The tanker truck was carrying caustic anhydrous ammonia when it jack-knifed and hit a utility trailer parked just off the highway. The trailer’s hitch punctured the tank

3 home equity loan mistakes to avoid now that rates are cut

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. Borrowing more home equity than you can afford to repay would be a mistake, even with rates cooling. Getty Images While millions of Americans struggled to find a reliable and cost-effective way to borrow money in recent years, homeowners had a relatively inexpensive source of funding close by – their home equity . With a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC) , homeowners were able to tap into near-record levels of accumulated equity and they were able to do with interest rates many points lower than were available with personal loans and credit cards, for example.  And now, after the Federal Reserve issued a rate cut in September, and with other reductions looking likely for November and December, this unique borrowing option could become even more affordable. But that doesn’t mean it should be approached carelessly, either. Instead, there are some smart moves homeowners should make now to take advantage of this more favorable rate climate. And there are some important

Can you consolidate your credit card debt with bad credit?

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. It can be tough to consolidate your credit card debt with a bad credit score — but it may not be impossible. Getty Images If you’re carrying a balance on your credit cards right now, chances are you’re feeling the impact of the compounding interest charges on your account. After all, credit card rates are hovering at a record high of nearly 23% , and the average person has about $8,000 in credit card debt currently, so it doesn’t take much time for your card balances to balloon. When that happens, it can be difficult to keep up with the minimum payments on your account — let alone make a dent in the total balance.  As a result, you might be looking for better ways to manage your credit card debt, and one popular approach to this problem is credit card debt consolidation . Debt consolidation can be one of the most effective solutions for tackling large amounts of credit card debt — and the

Del Taco rolls out new value meals starting at $4.49

Del Taco has introduced a new lineup of value meals, joining a growing number of fast-food chains that are choosing to offer more low-cost food items as inflation continues to impact customers’ wallets. Known as Del’s Mucho Meal$, customers have four options to choose from, with meal prices starting at $4.49 and going up to $7.49. Each meal features an entrée, a small order of crinkle-cut fries, one Mini Cinnamon Churro and a 16-ounce fountain drink, according to a news release. The $4.49 meal features two Snack Tacos. The $5.49 B&C Burrito Mucho Meal features a Bean and Cheese Burrito with the choice of red or green sauce and a Grilled Chicken Taco. The $6.49 Double Taco Mucho Meal includes a Del Taco, a ground beef taco, and a Grilled Chicken Taco. Lastly, the $7.49 Chicken Lover’s Mucho Meal consists of a Grilled Chicken Taco and a Chicken Cheddar Roller. The Mexican quick-service restaurant joins McDonald’s, Carl’s Jr., Taco Bell, Popeyes and others that have recently introduced low-cost offerings. Del Taco also announced that its Biscoff Cookie Butter Shake has returned for a limited time. The

Infrared drone finds Southern California prowling suspect ‘within seconds’

A police department in Riverside County used an infrared-equipped drone to catch a prowling suspect who tried to hide from officers last week. “#whileyouwereasleep last week, around 1:30 am, Murrieta Dispatch received a call from an observant citizen reference an unknown individual prowling in apartment windows of a local complex,” the Murrieta Police Department posted on its Facebook page Monday. When officers arrived at the scene the suspect fled into some heavy brush growing behind some of the neighborhood homes, police said. Not only were more officers sent to the area but the Police Department also launched a Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) drone to get an aerial view despite the dark night. Officers close in on a prowling suspect by using an infrared-equipped drone. (Murrieta Police Department) “Within seconds, officers were able to locate the individual crawling in the brush in an attempt to evade detection,” the Police Department stated. With the drone’s assistance, officers got into a safe position to contact and take the suspect into custody. “Thanks to MPD’s dedicated use of the newest & best technology, officers were able to locate and arrest

The Nobel Prizes will be announced against a backdrop of wars, famine and artificial intelligence

By MARK LEWIS STAVANGER, Norway (AP) — Wars, a refugee crisis, famine and artificial intelligence could all be recognized when Nobel Prize announcements begin next week under a shroud of violence. The prize week coincides with the Oct. 7 anniversary of the Hamas-led attacks on Israel, which began a year of bloodshed and war across the Middle East. The literature and science prizes could be immune. But the peace prize, which recognizes efforts to end conflict, will be awarded in an atmosphere of ratcheting international violence — if awarded at all. “I look at the world and see so much conflict, hostility and confrontation, I wonder if this is the year the Nobel Peace Prize should be withheld,” said Dan Smith, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. As well as events roiling the Middle East, Smith cites the war in Sudan and risk of famine there, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and his institute’s research showing that global military spending is increasing at its fastest pace since World War II. “It could go to some groups which are making heroic efforts but are

A year later, Israeli survivors reflect on the lingering toll of Oct. 7

By LEO CORREA and MELANIE LIDMAN Lilach Almog walks past the remains of a police station seized by Hamas militants and buildings pockmarked by bullets in her southern Israeli town multiple times a day. “Every corner has become a memorial,” she said. “Even if you want to forget for a bit, you can’t. You look outside at the wall and it reminds you of everything all over again.” Almog joined the roughly 120,000 Israelis displaced by the Israel-Hamas war but has returned home to constant reminders of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack. A year later, survivors reflect on that day that changed everything. They hid in bedrooms, bomb shelters, safe rooms and beneath trees as Hamas militants poured across the border. In the aftermath, they’ve mourned loved ones, struggled with anxiety, suffered survivor’s guilt and questioned whether they will ever return home to places that still bear the scars of their ordeal. Bullet holes and shrapnel pockmark the wall of a roadside bomb shelter near Sderot, where the police station was stormed during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants in southern Israel, on

Departures in House create crucial Republican targets in the fight for majority control

By STEPHEN GROVES WASHINGTON (AP) — After a tumultuous and unproductive session of Congress, nearly 50 House members decided either to not seek reelection or to run for a higher office this year, leaving Democratic vacancies in several tight races that could tilt control of the House to either party. Both Republicans and Democrats have had their fair share of turnover — with former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, the most prominent — but Democrats are also losing prodigious fundraisers who have successfully held off GOP challengers in recent years. With fierce competition raging over just a couple dozen seats, that’s left Democrats relying on fresh faces to hold their ground, while Republicans sense openings in four races in Virginia, Michigan and California. The GOP is sending resources and trying to neutralize the issue of abortion access in those districts, hoping to go on offense to hold onto a slim majority. The party is running with candidates who have previously come up short in bids to unseat Democrats, but are now optimistic they can build on campaign experience and fare better when they don’t

San Bernardino County restaurants shut down by health inspectors, Sept. 26-Oct. 3

Restaurants and other food vendors ordered to close and allowed to reopen by San Bernardino County health inspectors from Sept. 26 to Oct. 3. Yu Thai Pa, 35134 Yucaipa Blvd., Yucaipa Closed: Oct. 2 Reason: Rodent infestation This list is published weekly with closures since the previous week’s list. Status updates are published the following week. Source: San Bernardino County Department of Public Health — Ian Wheeler Related Articles Local News | San Bernardino County restaurants shut down by health inspectors, Sept. 19-26 Local News | San Bernardino County restaurants shut down by health inspectors, Sept. 12-19 Local News | San Bernardino County restaurants shut down by health inspectors, Sept. 5-12 Local News | San Bernardino County restaurants shut down by health inspectors, Aug. 28-Sept. 5 Local News | San Bernardino County restaurants shut down by health inspectors, Aug. 21-29

L.A. mayor selects longtime lawman Jim McDonnell as city’s next police chief

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass selected Jim McDonnell to serve as the city’s next police chief Friday, ending a months-long search process and ushering in a new era for one of the country’s largest police departments. In picking the longtime lawman — who helped implement a federal consent decree as an LAPD assistant chief and later was elected Los Angeles County sheriff — Bass is getting a steady hand as the massive security challenges of the World Cup and the Olympic Games loom on the horizon. However, the appointment of McDonnell, who is white, came as a surprise — and a disappointment to some — who hoped Bass would appoint the city’s first Latino or woman to serve as chief. “From the beginning, I have been clear: My top priority as Mayor is to ensure that Angelenos and our neighborhoods are safer today than yesterday,” Bass said in a statement. “Chief McDonnell is a leader, an innovator, and a change maker, and I am looking forward to working with him to grow and strengthen LAPD, deepen relationships with communities across the city, and make sure