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St. Louis County man accused of child sex crimes, linked to six victims

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:57 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A St. Louis County man is accused of coercing children overseas to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Sanel Smajlovic, 33, was indicted in federal court earlier this month on four counts of attempted production of child pornography. The indictment accuses of Smajlovic of coercing a six minors on four occasions from 2018-2019 and also says the case is part of a larger investigation. Centene to cut 3% of workforce; St. Louis impact unknown According to the indictment, Smajlovic directed the sexual abuse of children and later paid the adults who provided the children. Traffickers in the Philippines reportedly provided access to pre-produced child sexual abuse material to Smajlovic and live-streamed the sexual abuse of children to paying customers worldwide. Federal authorities arrested Smajlovic on Sunday as he was arriving for an international flight. He pleaded not guilty to criminal charges on Monday. Homeland Security assisted in the investigation, along...

In Hollywood writers’ battle against AI, humans win (for now)

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:57 GMT

By JAKE COYLE (AP Film Writer)NEW YORK (AP) — After a 148-day strike, Hollywood screenwriters secured significant guardrails against the use of artificial intelligence in one of the first major labor battles over generative AI in the workplace.During the nearly five-month walkout, no issue resonated more than the use of AI in script writing. What was once a seemingly lesser demand of the Writers Guild of America became an existential rallying cry.The strike was also about streaming-era economics, writers room minimums and residuals — not exactly compelling picket-sign fodder. But the threat of AI vividly cast the writers’ plight as a human-versus-machine clash, with widespread implications for other industries facing a radically new kind of automation.In the coming weeks, WGA members will vote on whether to ratify a tentative agreement, which requires studios and production companies to disclose to writers if any material given to them has been generated by AI pa...

Suzanne Morphew’s remains found in Saguache County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:57 GMT

Suzanne Morphew (Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office)Law enforcement officials have found the remains of Suzanne Morphew, the 49-year-old Chaffee County woman missing since 2020 whose disappearance embroiled her husband Barry Morphew in an ongoing legal battle.Colorado Bureau of Investigation agents located human remains in the area of Moffat in Saguache County on Friday during an unrelated investigation, according to an announcement from the agency.The remains were identified as Suzanne Morphew by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office on Wednesday.The Colorado Bureau of Investigation declined to release specific information about the location or state of the remains and stated that no arrests have been made since the remains were located. Twelfth Judicial District Attorney Anne Kelly was notified that the remains were found, according to the agency.“While this case has garnered attention from around the world, it has touched our community and the sheriff’s office deeply,” Chaffee County ...

Kolacny Music property on South Broadway sells for $2M

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:57 GMT

The South Broadway building where a nearly-century-old music shop is closing has sold to the owner of several nearby properties.Kolacny Music’s 7,800-square-foot building at 1900 S. Broadway sold on Aug. 15 for $1.5 million to 1900 SB LLC, according to public records.The buyer also paid $650,000 the same day for the duplex behind the store, at 26-28 E. Jewell Ave., records show. The business had used the space for music lessons.State records show the purchasing entity was formed by Paul Yaft, whose LinkedIn profile identifies him as chief operations officer of a real estate firm called Alchemy Equity Group.Alchemy also owns the 1936 and 1938 S. Broadway properties just down the block, records show. Yaft and lawyer Doug Norberg also own the former theater next to Kolacny at 1912 S. Broadway, where neighbors pushed back against loud concerts last year.Attempts to reach Yaft for comment Tuesday were unsuccessful.The seller in both deals was siblings David and Donna Kolacny. Their grand...

Stolen $1.5M ancient Buddha statue recovered; suspect arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:57 GMT

A man has been arrested in connection with the theft of a Buddha statue worth $1.5 million, Los Angeles police said Wednesday.The statue was recovered from a truck on Saturday and 44-year-old Justin Livick was arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property, LAPD Lt. Ruiz told KTLA.He has since been released from custody.It is unclear if Livick stole the statue or had purchased it from someone else, Ruiz said.The incident remains under investigation and no further details were released Wednesday. $1.5 million ancient Buddha statue stolen from Los Angeles art gallery The statue was stolen from the Barakat Gallery in Beverly Grove around 3:45 a.m. Sept. 18, police said.Historical bronze Buddha statue worth $1.5 million stolen from the Barakat Gallery in Los Angeles on Sept. 18, 2023. (Barakat Gallery)Security camera catures a thief stealing a historical bronze Buddha statue worth $1.5 million from the Barakat Gallery in Los Angeles on Sept. 18, 2023. (Barakat Gallery)Security...

One Injured after Car vs Pedestrian Collision on Highway 6 [Sugar Land, TX]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:57 GMT

Pedestrian Hospitalized after Being Struck by Car near Settlers Way BoulevardSUGAR LAND, TX (September 27, 2023) – On Saturday evening, one person lost their life after a car vs pedestrian collision on Highway 6.The accident happened on September 9th, at around 8:23 p.m., near the intersection of Highway 6 and Settlers Way Boulevard.According to the authorities, the report about a person who was hit by a car came in. The victim was transported by air after the incident to a nearby hospital.Moreover, the driver stayed and cooperated with the investigation. No additional information is available on the identities of the persons involved.Additionally, authorities temporarily shut down a portion of the roadway for cleanup and preliminary duties. The road has since been reopened to the public.When driving, it is vital to always be alert for pedestrians and other vehicles. This is especially true when you are driving through a residential area, an intersection, or a parking lot. Als...

49ers’ leaders strongly endorse extensions of Kyle Shanahan, John Lynch

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:57 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Nick Bosa is not the only one who agreed to an extension and pay raise before the 49ers’ season. So did coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, much to Bosa’s approval.“I appreciate being in an organization that’s stable,” Bosa said Wednesday. “I’ve seen other teams with friends, my brother (Joey, on the Los Angeles Chargers), people who have not really had a stable working environment, and I’m lucky to have that.”Bosa, three weeks after signing the NFL’s richest contract for a non-quarterback, lauded the cohesiveness of Shanahan and Lynch, as well as their up-front communication skills.“There’s a lot of shadiness in the NFL,” Bosa said. “People treat different echelons of players differently throughout (other teams’) building, and it seems pretty consistent with (Shanahan), whether you’re practice squad or one of the starters.”“People talk about it a lot about how real he is, about how authentic h...

White House: GOP has all the control over potential shutdown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:57 GMT

By MJ Lee | CNNThe White House continues to argue that it is entirely up to House Republicans to avert a government shutdown: “The ball is completely in their court,” a White House official told CNN on Wednesday, just three days out from the end-of-month funding deadline. White House aides have been tightly monitoring movements on Capitol Hill and in close contact with congressional leaders in recent days, with government funding set to expire on October 1. The White House has called on House Republicans to support the Senate’s bipartisan stopgap bill to avert a shutdown.Asked whether a shutdown was unavoidable, President Joe Biden told reporters Wednesday afternoon: “I don’t think anything’s inevitable in politics.”But as CNN has reported, even after a deal was reached in the Senate, White House officials were reticent to make predictions. Meanwhile, officials are actively preparing for a shutdown and in the process of drawing up operational plans, including on which White House pe...

Feds charge four with trafficking guns from Texas to East Bay; one firearm was seized in quintuple shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:57 GMT

OAKLAND — Four people are facing federal charges of conspiring to illegally sell firearms in the Bay Area, including one gun that was seized in a homicide investigation, court records show.Glen Phason, Dung Dinh, George Abston, and Aaron Harrison have been charged with conspiracy and dealing firearms without a license, crimes that carry up to five and 10 years in federal prison respectively, court records show. The case was filed in late August after an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.In a criminal complaint, the ATF describes Abston and Harrison as straw purchasers who would buy guns in Texas — where firearm sales restrictions are looser — and ship them back to California, where Phason and Dinh allegedly sold them to others.The ATF used confidential informants to buy guns from Phason and Dinh, including on instance in February where Dinh allegedly sold an informant an AR-style rifle for $1,200, authorities said.One of the ...

Four-bedroom home in Hayward sells for $1.6 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:57 GMT

3484 Pinewood Drive – Google Street ViewA spacious house located in the 3400 block of Pinewood Drive in Hayward has a new owner. The 2,678-square-foot property, built in 1972, was sold on Aug. 3, 2023, for $1,600,000, or $597 per square foot. This two-story home offers a roomy layout with four bedrooms and three baths. On the exterior, the house is characterized by the use of wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, there is a fireplace. The property is equipped with forced air heating and central A/C. In addition, the house includes a two-car garage. The property’s backyard is further enhanced by a pool.Additional houses have recently been sold nearby:In August 2022, a 2,599-square-foot home on Sandpiper Court in Hayward sold for $1,400,000, a price per square foot of $539. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On El Portal Drive, Hayward, in July 2022, a 2,552-square-foot home was sold for $1,350,000, a price per square foot of $529. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 1,878...