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DNA evidence unveils Santa Cruz 1982 cold case homicide ID

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:11:35 GMT

SANTA CRUZ — With the help of gene sequencing advances, investigators have identified a man found dead of apparent foul play 41 years ago in Natural Bridges State Park.Distinctive tattoos found on the body of a man now identified as Rodney Alan Rumsey. (Santa Cruz Police Department — Contributed) According to a release posted to the website of DNASolves, an arm of Houston-based lab Othram Inc., the “John Doe” unsolved likely homicide victim was 28-year-old Rodney Alan Rumsey, of Woodland.In 2022, the California Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, submitted forensic evidence to Othram. The company’s scientists used the forensic evidence to develop a DNA extract and, later, a comprehensive DNA profile for the man. The lab’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team produced new investigative leads that were sent back to law enforcement, whose investigators determined that Rumsey was born May 25, 1954. Additional details of his life ...

McDonald’s releases 2023 Boo Buckets

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:11:35 GMT

Boo Buckets, a Halloween favorite, are back at McDonald’s for a limited time.There are four designs for 2023: an orange skeleton, a white mummy, a green monster and a purple vampire.The trick-or-treat containers come with a sheet of stickers for kids to create loony faces.Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | There’s more to M&M’s than meets the mouth Restaurants, Food and Drink | Police Recognition Luncheon honors Los Gatos law enforcement Restaurants, Food and Drink | 20 scary books and horror novels to read this Halloween Restaurants, Food and Drink | Hosting a Halloween soiree? Try these 5 spooktacular cocktail recipes Restaurants, Food and Drink | 8 spooky Bay Area home displays to explore for Halloween — and revisit at Christmas They are offered with the purchase of a Happy Meal, which run in the $5-$7 range. They come with the choice of hamburger or Chicken McNuggets, a kid-sized...

Man gets 21 years in 2019 slaying of reggae artist outside California bar

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:11:35 GMT

A 47-year-old man was sentenced Friday, Oct. 20, to 21 years in prison for shooting to death a reggae singer and songwriter outside a Long Beach bar in 2019.Thomas Neri Arellaga of Long Beach pleaded no contest in September to voluntary manslaughter in the death of 45-year-old Tasi Malaki, also known as Toko Tasi.Arellaga’s co-defendant, Lorna Santos Clemena, 47, pleaded no contest to accessory after the fact in September and was given credit for time she already served under electronic monitoring, prosecutor Kenneth Chiu said.Family members and friends of Malaki submitted three victim impact statements to the court, which Judge Laura Laesecke read silently before imposing the sentences. They declined to offer further statements in court.“It’s certainly a devastating loss and people are still suffering four years later,” Laesecke said. “I could feel the pain expressed in those letters.”Malaki, known for his work with bands such as Sublime and Slightly Stoopid, was visiting the bar f...

California house payments jump 127% in pandemic era with rates at 23-year high

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:11:35 GMT

“Numerology” tries to find reality within various measurements of economic and real estate trends.Buzz: A typical California homebuyer’s mortgage payment is up 127% – yes, more than double – since the pandemic transformed the housing market.Source: My trusty spreadsheet looked at housing costs using Freddie Mac’s weekly tally of the average 30-year fixed loan combined with median selling prices for existing, single-family homes provided by the California Association of Realtors.Fuzzy math: California home sales are running 41% below the average buying pace since 1990.ToplineSo, how have mortgage rates at 23-year highs hit California house hunters?Well, the typical California buyer would get a $4,717 payment, assuming 20% down, on the median-priced $843,340 single-family home at this week’s 7.63% average rate for a 30-year loan.Back in February 2020, just before coronavirus struck, rates were 3.47%. So a house payment on that month’s $579,770 median price was $2,075.Yes, that 45% pri...

Rare northern right whale dolphin without dorsal fin spotted off California coast

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:11:35 GMT

A deckhand aboard a Dana Point whale watching charter boat named the Hoku Nai’a was in the middle of describing traits of the common dolphins when he stopped cold and announced the sighting of a rare northern right whale dolphin swimming in their midst.The unusual sighting on Thursday, Oct. 19, was about five miles off the coast of Dana Point, where the water is about 1,200 feet to 2,000 feet deep.Caitlyn Nieblas, a biologist and photographer aboard the Capt. Dave Dolphin and Whale Watching vessel, described the sighting as a first for herself, adding, “They don’t come this far south.”The dolphin, described as small and slender with no dorsal fin, is typically seen in the cold water of the northwest. They are often mistaken for fur seals because of their dark color and acrobatic nature. Typically, they swim in a group of 100 to 200 animals.Related ArticlesEnvironment | South Bay Audubon Society creates online gallery for bird art Environment | Scientists k...

Police investigating death threats written on high school bathroom wall

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:11:35 GMT

(BCN) -- Police in Petaluma are investigating disturbing messages written on a bathroom wall at a high school on Friday. Detectives have opened a case into death threats on a bathroom wall written in black ink at Petaluma High School, located on Fair Street. 16-year-old killed, 3 injured at Oakley house party shooting According to police, one message read, "Date: Monday 10/23/23 is the day I kill. I'm going to shoot up the school and my first person is [name redacted]. So watch out Monday is your guys (sic) day." Two students were named in the threat, according to police. A third student was also singled out with derogatory names and "wishing death upon them," Petaluma detectives said. School administrators and police narrowed down a few persons of interest in the case using video footage near the bathroom and relationships to the named students. "The threats are possibly related to an ongoing conflict amongst a small group of students," said police. Interviews with students...

Bank of Marin: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:11:35 GMT

NOVATO, Calif. (AP) — NOVATO, Calif. (AP) — Bank of Marin Bancorp (BMRC) on Monday reported third-quarter profit of $5.3 million.The Novato, California-based bank said it had earnings of 33 cents per share.The results matched Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was also for earnings of 33 cents per share.The bank holding company posted revenue of $37.7 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $27.1 million, which beat Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $26.9 million.Bank of Marin shares have declined 48% since the beginning of the year. The stock has fallen 47% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on BMRC at https://www.zacks.com/ap/BMRCSource

Pakistan’s Imran Khan could face the death sentence in trial over revealing state secrets

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:11:35 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistani court on Monday indicted Imran Khan on charges of revealing official secrets after his 2022 ouster from office in another dramatic move against the former prime minister who could now face a possible death sentence and will likely be unable to run in parliamentary elections in January.Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a close aide and the deputy leader of Khan’s opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, will go on trial this week at a high-security prison in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. The charge of revealing state secrets carries a sentence ranging from life in prison to the death penalty, according to Umair Niazi, one of Khan’s defense lawyers. Niazi, however, said he was confident Khan and Qureshi would be acquitted as they had done “nothing wrong.” The trial starts on Friday and both Khan and Qureshi have denied the charges against them. The hearings will take place before a special court behind closed doors at the Adiyala Prison, wher...

Barcelona celebrates another talented teenager making a successful move from its La Masia academy

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:11:35 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona coach Xavi knows from his own experience that taking a chance on youngsters at the club’s famous La Masia soccer academy usually pays off.Xavi himself was a member of the academy before becoming one of Barcelona’s — and Spain’s — greatest players. He was an 18-year-old when given the chance to debut with the first team in a Spanish Super Cup game in 1998. The former midfielder scored in the match against Mallorca to kickstart his successful career. So it’s no surprise that Xavi hasn’t been afraid to give opportunities to the current generation of La Masia players. The latest to get his chance was 17-year-old Marc Guiu, who on Sunday came on late in the second half and scored about 30 seconds into his debut to give Barcelona a 1-0 win against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish league.At 17 years, 291 days, Guiu became the youngest Barcelona player to score in his debut with the club.“I don’t have a problem with looking at our talent at home,” Xavi said. “On ...

Motivation high for Man United in Champions League in first home game since death of Bobby Charlton

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:11:35 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — If gaining much-needed Champions League points wasn’t motivation enough, Manchester United’s players are sure to be driven by the memory of Bobby Charlton on what will be an emotional night at Old Trafford on Tuesday.The match against FC Copenhagen will be the first at United’s stadium since the death of Charlton, the England great who for so long was the club’s top scorer and is considered by many to be the best player in its illustrious history.A minute’s silence will be observed before kickoff while players will likely wear black armbands. A wreath is expected to be laid on the field.United’s players paid similar respects to Charlton before the Premier League match at Sheffield United on Saturday — only hours after his death was announced — and captain Bruno Fernandes was among those who dedicated the 2-1 victory at Bramall Lane to Charlton and his family.Fernandes and United manager Erik ten Hag were at Old Trafford to sign a book of condolence o...