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California man accused of instigating violence at rallies is extradited from Romania

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:49 GMT

A Huntington Beach man accused of helping establish a Southern California-based militant, white supremacist group has been extradited back to the United States from Romania to face federal charges for allegedly instigating violence at local political rallies.Robert Paul Rundo, authorities say, is the founding member of the Rise Above Movement and the lead defendant among three men charged with recruiting and training others to commit violence at rallies in Huntington Beach, Berkeley and San Bernardino. He  was flown to California on Tuesday evening, Aug. 1, and is in federal custody as he awaits trial, the United States Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday morning, Aug. 2.The Rise Above Movement, prosecutors note, publicly describes itself as a “combat-ready, militant group of a new nationalist white supremacy and identity movement.” Federal prosecutors have previously described members as “serial rioters” with an anti-Semitic, racist ideology who train to attack those who hold con...

Alleged Lake Tahoe foot fondler identified, arrested in NorCal

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:49 GMT

(KRON) -- A man accused of breaking into a Lake Tahoe resort and fondling women's feet has been apprehended, sheriff's investigators said Wednesday. The suspected foot fondler was identified as Mark Anthony Gonzales, 26, of Atwater, Calif., according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in Nevada. The creepy pre-dawn incidents happened when many tourists were vacationing around Lake Tahoe for the Fourth of July holiday. "During the early morning hours between July 1-3, 2023, an adult male entered two Stateline resort condominiums by opening unlocked screen doors. Once inside, he positioned himself at the foot of the bed and rubbed the feet of two separate adult females," the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office wrote.Mark Anthony Gonzales' mugshot was released by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The women woke up to discover that a complete stranger was fondling their feet, investigators said. The victims confronted the man and he fled. DCSO wrote, "Investigators learned Gonzales w...

Oakland kidnapping near south shore of Lake Merritt being investigated

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:49 GMT

(KRON) -- The Oakland Police Department is investigating a kidnapping that occurred on Tuesday morning on the 100 block of East 15th Street, police confirmed. Officers arrived on the scene and learned that a female victim had been forced into a vehicle by an individual at 8:15 a.m. Alleged Lake Tahoe foot fondler identified, arrested in NorCal The individual then fled with the victim at a high rate of speed, police said.The investigation is active. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the OPD Special Victims Unit at (510) 238-7910.No other information was provided at this time.

Brazil’s Lula voices support for more countries joining BRICS group

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:49 GMT

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Wednesday that he supports more countries joining the BRICS group of large developing nations, which currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.The group will hold a summit in Johannesburg from Aug. 22 to 24. The meeting will have in hand a list of others desiring to join ther group.“Possibly, in this meeting, we can already consensually decide which new countries can join BRICS,” Lula told international journalists in the capital, Brasilia. “I am of the opinion that as many countries want to enter, if they are in compliance with the rules we are establishing, we will accept the countries’ entrance.”Lula’s comments came hours after Reuters reported that Brazil has resisted expanding the group’s membership. It quoted unidentified Brazilian diplomats as voicing concern that adding more nations could lessen the influence of the existing members.Around 20 countries have for...

Senate office buildings locked down over reports of gunman

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:49 GMT

U.S. Capitol Police officers clear a stairwell in the Dirksen Senate Office Building next to the Russell Senate Office Building, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(AP/J. Scott Applewhite) U.S. Capitol Police officers clear a stairwell in the Dirksen Senate Office Building next to the Russell Senate Office Building, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(AP/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON (AP) — Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order and began searching Senate office buildings near the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon amid reports of an active shooter.The U.S. Capitol Police announced on the X social media platf...

Acuña, Riley and Olson homer for Braves, who hammer Angels 12-5 to take series

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:49 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley and Matt Olson homered for the MLB-leading Atlanta Braves, who kept up their power barrage with a 12-5 rout of the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.Acuña launched a three-run shot over the center-field wall off Lucas Giolito (6-8) in the third inning, then Riley and Olson went back to back in the fourth to cap a six-run outburst that finished off the Angels’ starter.The Braves hit seven homers in taking two of three from the Angels, with the long ball accounting for 11 of their 18 runs. Through 106 games, Atlanta has 206 homers — on pace for 315 for the season, which would best the major league record of 307 set by the 2019 Minnesota Twins.Yonny Chirinos (5-4), making his second start for the Braves since being acquired after Tampa Bay designated him for assignment, pitched five strong innings before being lifted after the first two batters singled in the sixth.Chirinos wound up being charged with three runs after both runners came ...

To boost donations to nonprofits, Damar Hamlin encourages ‘Donate Now, Pay Later’ service

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:49 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Damar Hamlin will expand his efforts to promote charitable giving by supporting a company that allows donors to give to nonprofits immediately, while actually paying later — the Buffalo Bills safety’s latest move to direct the outpouring of support he received after collapsing on the field during a game in January. Hamlin announced Wednesday that he will be a brand ambassador for the tech platform B Generous, which says its “Donate Now, Pay Later” service yields much higher average donations — more than $750, compared to the average online donation of $128 collected last year.“The thing about Damar is that when he does something, he’s not surface level,” said Dominic Kalms, CEO of B Generous. “This is something that actually means something to him.”As part of the partnership agreement, Hamlin received shares of the company, with the option to buy additional shares. A B Generous investor introduced the company to Hamlin, who became interested in its vision, Kalm...

Stock market today: Wall Street heads for its worst day in months as its rally loses more momentum

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:49 GMT

A currency trader gestures in front of the screens showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top right, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. Asian shares have fallen after Wall Street took a step back from its big rally as markets tried to digest a slew of earnings. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)(AP/Ahn Young-joon) A currency trader gestures in front of the screens showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top right, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. Asian shares have fallen after Wall Street took a step back from its big rally as markets tried to digest a slew of earnings. (AP P...

Shoes, backpacks, wedding dresses: Here’s what you can get tax-free in Maryland this month

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:49 GMT

If you are looking to save some cash on back-to-school clothes shopping, you’re in luck in Maryland.“Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week” returns on Aug. 13 and runs through Aug. 19.During that week, shoppers won’t have to pay the 6% sales tax on most clothing and pairs of shoes $100 or less.A full list of items that are included in the sales tax exemption are available through the Comptroller’s website.Most are what you would expect: underwear, jeans and polos. But you can also avoid taxes on wedding dresses, diapers, PJs, tuxedos and fishing vests. Winter coats are also included if you want to plan a few months ahead.Backpacks and book bags $40 or less are also tax exempt — but if you want to splurge and get a little pricier bag, you won’t be charged tax on the first $40.“Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week is an important opportunity for Marylanders, particularly families, to save some money while doing their back-to-school shopping,” Comptroller Brooke Lierman said in a statement. “...

US man alleged to be white supremacist leader extradited from Romania on riot, conspiracy charges

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:49 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A U.S. man accused of being the leader of a white supremacist group has been extradited from Romania to face charges of inciting violence at California political rallies in 2017.Robert Paul Rundo of Huntington Beach was flown back to the country Tuesday and expected to appear in federal court Wednesday on charges of conspiracy and rioting, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles said in a news release.Rundo, 33, is allegedly a founding member of the Rise Above Movement, according to the Attorney’s Office. The organization is described in the indictment as “a combat-ready, militant group of a new nationalist white supremacy and identity movement.”Rundo and two other men planned and engaged in violence at gatherings in Huntington Beach, Berkeley and San Bernardino in 2017, according to the indictment, which added that they later trained for future events and celebrated their assaults.Rundo’s attorney, Julia Deixler, declined to comment on the all...