Tijuana once again sets up additional checkpoint at border crossing

Mexican authorities have resurrected additional security checkpoints for U.S.-bound drivers approaching the San Ysidro Port of Entry in Tijuana during the busy holiday travel season — a move that has many border commuters worried about increased traffic headaches. The new inspection point, set up on Thanksgiving Day in the SENTRI lanes, is part of a pilot program by Tijuana officials meant to add an extra layer of security and deter unauthorized travelers before drivers reach the international boundary line. At the boundary line is where U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents then, as they have for some years now, ask drivers to show their documents before they approach the official inspection booth. The hope — as was the first time around — is that CBP will decide that the Mexican inspections are robust enough to replace CBP’s first line of officers. Those U.S. officers could then be deployed to additional inspection booths at the port of entry, therefore reducing wait times. Staffing issues have long prevented all inspection lanes from being staffed at the port of entry. Tijuana’s secretary of economic development, Pedro Montejo Peterson, said

LAPD give update on Maui woman who vanished in Los Angeles

(KTLA) — After a massive and lengthy search for a 30-year-old woman from Maui who vanished in Los Angeles last month, sparking concerns of human trafficking and foul play, investigators announced Monday that she was seen crossing into Mexico, appeared unharmed and is now considered a voluntary missing person.   Hannah Kobayashi traveled from Maui to L.A. on Nov. 8.   There, investigators said she deliberately missed her connecting flight to New York where she was planning on visiting an aunt.   The Maui native was spotted a day later at The Grove for a LeBron James event, with family members saying they received concerning texts from her that day and that they were concerned for her safety.   According to police, Kobayashi was spotted on LAX surveillance cameras on Nov. 11 where she retrieved her luggage, which had originally been checked through to New York.   Hannah Kobayashi seen in L.A. in a surveillance photo obtained by family members. (viewer image) “The investigation further revealed that Kobayashi knowingly departed LAX with her luggage and traveled to Union Station,” an LAPD news release stated. “While

Police seeking victims of alleged sexual predator in Southern California

A 35-year-old man in San Bernardino County has been arrested after authorities say an investigation found he had inappropriate online communication with a minor.   The investigation, according to a news release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, began in Oct. 2023 after detectives with the department’s crimes against children detail received a tip from the Department of Children and Family Services that the 35-year-old was engaging in illegal behavior with a 16-year-old.   Irish pub in Orange County asks for stolen sign back, no questions asked Investigators identified the suspect as Chino Hills resident Timothy Holub, who went by the online screen name “httechtims5.”   “During the online communication, Holub asked the minor to engage in lewd acts,” the release stated.   Timothy Holub, 35, a resident of Chino Hills. (SBSD) The 35-year-old was arrested and booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga for possession of child pornography, distributing or showing a minor pornography and contacting a minor for a sexual offense.   Maui woman who vanished in Los Angeles seen voluntarily crossing into Mexico Holub’s bail was set at

Lakers lose to Minnesota in lowest-scoring game of the LeBron era in L.A.

MINNEAPOLIS —  LeBron James shrugged. He rolled his eyes. He complained to the refs. He hung his head. There was no discretion Monday in Minnesota — everything you needed to know about the Lakers and their leading scorer was on display in big, bold letters. “It’s everything,” James said. “It’s the rhythm. I just feel off rhythm these last three, four games.” Playing on the second night of back-to-back games, James looked as uncomfortable as ever in a Lakers uniform as he and his team failed over and over at the game’s simplest task — putting the ball in the basket. Minnesota beat the Lakers 109-80 on Monday, their fifth loss in their last seven games. James has now gone four straight games without a made three-pointer, and the Lakers’ offense has failed to score 110 points or more in five of its last six games. The 80 points is the Lakers’ worst offensive game in James’ time with the team and the worst for the organization since Jan. 22, 2017. Anthony Davis called the game “disgusting.” For James, it’s been a miserable stretch of offensive

Francesca Eastwood won’t be charged with felony domestic violence, D.A. says

Francesca Eastwood, daughter of Oscar-winning actor-director Clint Eastwood, will avoid criminal charges following her October arrest on suspicion of domestic violence, the Los Angeles district attorney’s office confirmed. Eastwood, a 31-year-old actor whose credits include “Twin Peaks” and “Juror #2,” was arrested Oct. 12 in Beverly Hills on suspicion of felony domestic violence, according to police. She was released on $50,000 bail. A week later, prosecutors declined her case for insufficient evidence. Police did not release specifics about the arrest. TMZ reported that a drive around Beverly Hills allegedly turned into a verbal, then physical, argument between Eastwood and her boyfriend, and the “Mrs. Eastwood & Company” reality TV star was subsequently arrested. Representatives for Eastwood have not responded to multiple requests by The Times for comment regarding the arrest. “Officers conducted an investigation, and based on statements and injuries, Francesca Ruth Fisher Eastwood of Los Angeles was arrested for a felony, PC 273.5 – Domestic Violence, and was booked at BHPD Jail,” Beverly Hills Police Department Lt. Andrew Myers said in an October statement to The Times. Eastwood’s mother is “Titanic” actor Frances Fisher

Spartans falter in section final, lose 48-21

Coming into Saturday night’s Northen Section Division II  championship game, Red Bluff coach Jacob Daricek knew that his team had to slow down the Pleasant Valley Vikings’ running game, or it might be a long evening. Unfortunately for the Spartans, the Viking’s running game dominated the game from the start in a 48-21 loss in its first section football final appearance in 25 years. “It’s a good football team. They’re really good, ” he said. “They’re strong and aggressive and they got after us pretty good.” From the outset, the Vikings attacked the Spartans on the ground, scoring the first touchdown on Lucas Benson’s 4-yard run with 9:47 left in the first quarter. After the Spartans went three and out on their opening drive, Brock Coleman scored on a 3-yard TD run to give the Vikings a 14-0 lead with 7:08 remaining in the first quarter. When the Spartans couldn’t respond on their second drive of the night, the Vikings got the ball back, and it looked like Pleasant Valley might score a third touchdown without the Spartans responding. But a poor punt, by the

78th annual Candy Cane Lane Christmas Parade brings holiday spirit to downtown Visalia

The Christmas spirit was in full swing in downtown Visalia here as locals geared up for the Candy Cane Lane Christmas Parade. Tuesday, December 3, 2024 2:57AM It was a magical time in downtown Visalia as the 78th annual Candy Cane Lane Christmas Parade kicked off on Monday evening. VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) — It was a magical time in downtown Visalia as the 78th annual Candy Cane Lane Christmas Parade kicked off on Monday evening. Each year, the event attracts more than 10,000 people. Christine Estes always shows up hours before the parade to get great seats. “We have a family so we are here every year, just to start out the Christmas season, it’s a great family tradition,” said Estes. It is a tradition she hopes to pass on to future generations. “They are special, since we are starting a new family I want traditions for my son to pass down to his new family,” Estes explained. Steve Nelson, the director of downtown Visalians, works behind the scenes for months to plan the event. “it is a big event for downtown, we try to

California lawmakers begin special session to ‘Trump-proof’ the state

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KFSN) — California Democrats worked to mount their political fight against President-Elect Donald Trump in Sacramento on Monday. Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel introduced legislation to set aside $25 million for the state Department of Justice to sue the Trump Administration. “We’re not going to be caught flat-footed, and so that’s why we’re taking action to make sure that we have resources in place,” Gabriel told Action News. “On day one, California will be ready to defend our values.” Attorney General Rob Bonta made the case that the state needs to protect against reproductive rights. “In California, we’re not going back. We’re moving forward full speed ahead. We’re a reproductive freedom state, and that’s not changing. We will remain so,” Bonta said at a press conference. Governor Gavin Newsom first called for the rare Special Session two days after the election. The governor’s office told the Associated Press that Newsom wants to “Trump-Proof” the state after a rocky, back-and-forth relationship. California filed more than 120 lawsuits against the first Trump administration that began in 2017. Now, Gabriel says Democrats are ready to do it again.

Reedley landscaper partially paralyzed after tragic fall

A Reedley landscaper may never be able to walk again after falling from a tree last month. Tuesday, December 3, 2024 2:51AM A Valley family is navigating a new normal after their father and husband was partially paralyzed in a work accident. REEDLEY, Calif. (KFSN) — A Valley family is navigating a new normal after their father and husband was partially paralyzed in a work accident. Oscar Rios has been landscaping for many years, but had a bad fall last month in Reedley. “Unfortunately he fell from a palm tree,” his wife, Karen Medrano explained. “He fell straight on his back and he suffered severe cervical fractures.” He was airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center where he continues to recover – despite difficult odds. “The prognosis of him walking again is very low. His mobility is so limited right now,” Medrano said. Medrano finding the silver lining in a tragic situation. A photo of Oscar Rios at work. “The fact that he can move his arm just a little bit. Things like that. It does give us hope,” Medrano said. “He’s been conscious the entire

Historic building goes up in flames in Merced

MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) — A fierce fire destroyed a nearly 130-year-old building in downtown Merced on Monday morning. The fire broke out around 6:30 am at the former Merced County library building on 22nd near M Street. “Tragic ending for a majestic building,” said Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke. A photo from 1897 when the building served as the county’s first high school. (Merced County Historical Society) The Merced County Historical Society says the structure was originally the county’s first high school, which was built in 1897. Sarah Lim, the director of the Merced County Courthouse Museum, says by 1920, students outgrew the school. “After that it was renovated and remodeled into a county library, and it was used from 1920 to 1975,” said Lim. Since then she said the desolate building sat vacant, but was still filled with memories. “It’s one of the oldest buildings in the city of Merced, and its listed in the national registry of historic places,” added Lim. Through the day and into the evening, crews fought the flames and tried to protect nearby buildings. Despite the damage to the

Cyber Monday: How to protect your wallet

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 2:39AM Stores in Old Town Clovis had a little lull on Monday after a bustling weekend. CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) — Stores in Old Town Clovis had a little lull on Monday after a bustling weekend. “There’s something for everyone at all different ages and I try to do that,” said Tanya Demanty, who owns Bauble and Thread in Old Town Clovis on Pollasky Avenue. She’s noticed a slight increase in sales compared to last year and said she’s grateful to the people who shop small. “If you wanna have the experience and just kind of stroll around and enjoy the community and all of the different entrepreneurs that have started their businesses, supporting them is a great idea,” said Demanty. But big retailers are also relying on a busy holiday shopping season. This video shows an Amazon fulfillment center in full swing on Cyber Monday. “We actually spend most of the year preparing for the holiday season. But as you can see behind me this is one of our busiest shopping days of the year, but it’s actually business as normal

GOP insiders sought Hegseth’s removal as leader of veterans’ group in 2016

New misconduct claims against Trump pick Hegseth New misconduct claims against Trump pick Pete Hegseth 02:54 Monterey, California — The battle over President-elect Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, may become a test of loyalty for Republican stalwarts — some of whom stood at the center of a bid 10 years ago to remove Hegseth as the head of a veterans’ charity over allegations of financial mismanagement, repeated intoxication and sexual misconduct. One of those who led the effort to oust Hegseth as head of the Concerned Veterans of America in 2016 was Jessie Jane Duff, a Marine veteran who served as one of President-elect Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign executive directors, according to multiple Republican insiders familiar with the events, all of whom spoke on the condition they not be named over fear of reprisals from those within the party. Duff sought Hegseth’s removal from leadership roles in the veterans’ group, CBS News has learned.  While she worked at Concerned Veterans for America as a senior military adviser, Duff allegedly complained about Hegseth’s frequent public intoxication, poor leadership and the toxic work climate

Renewed fighting threatens fragile Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire

Renewed fighting threatens fragile Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire – CBS News Watch CBS News Despite the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, the back-and-forth violence doesn’t appear to be going away. Both sides say the other is violating the deal. Matthew Levitt, a Middle East policy expert with the Washington Institute, joins CBS News with analysis. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

These are the worst cities for package theft in 2024

(NewsNation) — With nearly $1 billion in losses last year, New York City is the worst metro for package theft in the United States, according to a recent report. The annual study by SafeWise estimates that 120.5 million packages were snatched off American porches in 2023, resulting in a total loss of nearly $16 billion. In dollar terms, New York City was hit the hardest by porch pirates, with $945M in losses last year. Philadelphia ($450M) and Chicago ($262M) were next on the list. Washington, D.C. ($232M), and Houston ($207M) rounded out the top five in SafeWise’s annual ranking. But cities with the highest financial losses weren’t necessarily those with the most package theft incidents. Of the top ten worst cities for package theft, Cleveland had the most thefts per capita — nearly 1,400 per 1,000 households. That suggests thieves struck the same houses multiple times. Third expensive package reported intercepted in Southern California this month Other repeat hot spots included Beckley, West Virginia (2,391 incidents per 1,000 households); Hot Springs, Arkansas (2,107 per 1,000); and Goldsboro, North Carolina (1,880 per 1,000), according to Safewise.

Holiday boat parades to light up Central Coast

Holiday boat parades are set to light up the Central Coast in the coming days, with events taking place in Morro Bay and at the Ventura Harbor. In Morro Bay, the Lighted Boat Parade will take place Saturday from 6:30 to 8 p.m., weather permitting. Fishing, leisure and yachting vessels will sail along the bay adorned with holiday lights. Viewing areas include the Embarcadero from Tidelands Park to Morro Rock, with parking and walking encouraged to avoid congestion. Visit morrobay.org for more information. At the Ventura Harbor, the annual Parade of Lights will take place the following weekend on Dec. 13-14. Promotional image for the Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights & Fireworks, taking place Dec. 13-14, 2024. (Ventura Harbor Village) The annual event will have a Candy Land theme, featuring boats decorated with candy-inspired designs. The parade will take place on Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m., with fireworks scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. Viewing spots include the Harbor Village promenade and other areas along the harbor. Additional entertainment includes carnival rides, artificial snowfall and bubble shows by SB Bubble Guy. Details are

Hawaiian Gardens man sentenced for distributing fentanyl that led to teen’s fatal overdose

A Los Angeles County man was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison on Monday for selling “purported black tar heroin that, in fact, was fentanyl,” ultimately leading to an 18-year-old’s fatal overdose, officials say. According to the Department of Justice, Gregory Hevener, 47, of Hawaiian Gardens was found guilty in June of one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. The DOJ says the investigation found that the 18-year-old, whose name was not released, responded to an ad placed by Hevener on the website OfferUp in November 2020.  The Long Beach-based listing advertised a message saying: “BLACK TAR ROOFING MATERIALS!!” – which the DOJ says is coded language for black tar heroin. “OfferUp records revealed Hevener operated or had access to several accounts on the platform, in which he advertised and distributed drugs, including heroin and fentanyl,” the DOJ stated in a release. The 18-year-old bought what he believed to be heroin from Hevener during a meet-up in Hawaiian Gardens. However, officials say Hevener instead gave the teen what was a black, tar-like

Man feared to have gone overboard on cruise ship’s return to San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO – A passenger on the Ruby Princess is believed to have gone overboard ahead of the cruise ship’s arrival Monday in San Francisco, according to officials. In a statement, Princess Cruises said the 72-year-old man was not found following several searches of the vessel. Closed-circuit television footage was also reviewed. “Having ruled out other possibilities, this is being treated as a man overboard,” the statement read. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the guest who was traveling alone.” Princess Cruises did not immediately return a message seeking additional details about the incident, including where the passenger was believed to have gone overboard. Around 3 p.m. Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard air station in Sacramento dispatched a C-27 aircrew to help scour the waters roughly 45 miles off of Monterey. The air station in San Francisco joined the search effort about an hour later. The Ruby Princess arrived in San Francisco around 6:50 a.m. Monday following a five-day trip to Ensenada. It was set to depart at 5 p.m. for a 16-day voyage to the Hawaiian Islands. Check back

Five-bedroom home sells for $2.6 million in Danville

Bay Area Home Report 303 Culet Drive – Google Street View The spacious property located in the 300 block of Culet Drive in Danville was sold on Oct. 18, 2024. The $2,600,000 purchase price works out to $723 per square foot. The house, built in 1999, has an interior space of 3,596 square feet. This two-story house offers a spacious layout with five bedrooms and four bathrooms. Additionally, the house features an attached two-car garage, providing ample room for vehicles and storage needs. The property encompasses a generous 0.3-acre of land. These nearby houses have also recently changed hands: A 2,241-square-foot home on the 200 block of Viewpoint Drive in Danville sold in August 2023, for $1,850,000, a price per square foot of $826. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. In March 2023, a 2,402-square-foot home on Jasmine Way in Danville sold for $1,920,000, a price per square foot of $799. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. On Benjamin Lane, Danville, in August 2023, a 2,876-square-foot home was sold for $2,430,000, a price per square foot of $845. The home has

Sharks forward will be on Sweden’s 4 Nations roster, per report

San Jose Sharks winger William Eklund will be among the 13 forwards chosen for Sweden’s entry into the 4 Nations Face-Off, according to a published report Monday in that country. Eklund has been asked to join Sweden’s national team and has accepted the offer, per Expressen, a Swedish national newspaper. The 4 Nations Face-Off, which takes place in February, features teams from the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden. The official 23-player rosters for Sweden and Finland will be unveiled on Wednesday at 11 a.m. (PST) on ESPN and the NHL Network. Rosters for the American and Canadian teams will be announced on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. (PST) on TNT. Each country’s roster — which includes three goalies, seven defensemen, and 13 forwards — had to be submitted by Monday. This would be Eklund’s first time playing on Sweden’s men’s national team. A Stockholm native, the 22-year-old Eklund confirmed to Bay Area News Group recently that he had discussions with Team Sweden coach Sam Hallam, who has been behind the bench for Tre Kronor for the last two World Championships. After Sunday’s NHL games, Eklund

Oakland man tried to give up ‘un-handleable’ dogs prior to fatal mauling, animal control officer testifies

OAKLAND — The owner of three dogs that mauled a man to death in September had previously tried to give the 100-pound canines away because they were “a problem” and “un-handleable,” an Oakland animal control officer testified Monday. Brendan Burke, 58, even allegedly considered having the dogs euthanized in the months before they fatally mauled Burke’s childhood friend, Robert Holguin, in his driveway on Sept. 1. The details were revealed at a key evidentiary hearing Monday, during which an Alameda County judge ordered Burke to stand trial on a single felony charge of failing to control animals killing a human. Burke has pleaded not guilty, and he remains free on his own recognizance. On Monday, new details emerged about concerns that Burke appeared to harbor about the three dogs — each of them half-Cane Corso, half-Napoleon Mastiff — in the months prior to the attack. Burke told a city animal control officer after the mauling that he had repeatedly tried to give the dogs to Rocket Dog Rescue, a Bay Area nonprofit organization that seeks to save abandoned and homeless pets from being euthanized in