Category: Regional News

Tornadoes Kill at Least 26 in Mississippi

Tornadoes left at least 26 dead in Mississippi, with dozens more injured, officials said on March 25. In addition to the dead and injured, four people are missing in the state, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said in a statement. “Unfortunately, these numbers are expected to change,” the agency said. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said that…


Meat Recall Due to Possible E. Coli Contamination Affects Over 3,000 Pounds of Beef Chuck

Elkhorn Valley Packing has recalled approximately 3,436 pounds of boneless beef chuck product due to possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The outfit, based in Harper, Kansas, issued the recall after an FSIS routine inspection of a sample of ground beef that…


Pennsylvania School District Seeks Damages From Norfolk Southern for Train Derailment

Blackhawk School District in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, says its students and staff have suffered medical problems including rashes, eye irritation, and respiratory problems since the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment and chemical disaster in East Palestine, Ohio. The district, with school properties located within 15 miles of the derailment, says the disaster also caused…


Highway Patrol Seeks Help Catching Road Rage Shooter in Fountain Valley

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif.—California Highway Patrol investigators Thursday asked for the public’s help identifying a suspect in a road-rage shooting on the San Diego (405) Freeway in Fountain Valley this week. Police were called at 4:55 p.m. Tuesday about the shooting in the northbound lanes at the Euclid Street exit, according to CHP Officer Mitch Smith….


Newsom Eases Water Restrictions After Storms Drench California

The drought is not yet over, but this year’s wet and snowy storms have delivered enough water for California to ease residential restrictions, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced March 24. Newsom signed an executive order Friday to stop asking residents to cut water use by 15 percent, a measure he first called for two years ago….


Innocent After ‘Proven’ Guilty: Advocates Fight to Free Man They Say Was Wrongly Sentenced to Life Behind Bars

As an April court date approaches, advocates are increasing their efforts to free a man who has served almost 10 years for a crime many say he didn’t commit. At the April 21 hearing, a judge will consider evidence not previously seen in the trial of David Yarde, who is serving a life sentence for a…


Actor Dick Van Dyke Injured in Malibu Car Crash

MALIBU, Calif.—Actor Dick Van Dyke suffered minor injuries when the car he was driving crashed a week ago in Malibu, authorities said Wednesday. The “minor” single-vehicle crash occurred on the morning of March 15, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Paramedics were sent to the scene as a precaution, and an accident report…


Body of Missing 20-Year-Old Man Found in Flood Control Channel in Irvine

A 20-year-old man’s body was found on March 23 in the San Diego Creek in Irvine after being reported missing for two days, authorities said. Christian Nathan Cruz, of Irvine, who was developmentally disabled, was reported missing at about 11:30 p.m. on March 21. Cruz’s mother dropped him off at an L.A. Fitness gym located…


California Bill to Ban Police K-9s for Crowd Control, Arrests Advances in Legislature

A California bill to ban the use of police dogs for arrests and crowd control has advanced in a state Assembly committee March 21. Public Safety Committee members voted along party lines to pass Assembly Bill 742, introduced by Assemblymen Corey Jackson’s (D-Perris) and Ash Kalra (D-San Jose). Six Democrats voted in favor while the…


Man Arrested for San Diego Triple Murder Over 2 Decades Ago

SAN DIEGO—A suspect was in custody March 23 in connection with a narcotics-related shooting that fatally wounded a young couple and a toddler in Normal Heights more than two decades ago. Sergio Lopez Contreras, 44, was booked into San Diego Central Jail on Wednesday on suspicion of carrying out the Sept. 4, 2000, triple slaying,…