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Avalanche coach Jared Bednar thought he finally had difficult lineups decisions to make in Stanley Cup Playoffs. Then another last-second injury made a choice for him.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:51 GMT

Before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar joked about the uncharted territory where he found himself.Did it feel nice to finally be confronted with difficult lineup decisions after an injury-hounded regular season in which he didn’t have to make a lot? “Probably haven’t had to make any,” he said, laughing. “Never mind a lot of them.”By that night, the choice had already been taken away from him.With Cale Makar and Josh Manson back from injuries in Game 1 of the first round, the Avalanche suddenly had a surplus of defensemen. Someone had to be scratched. Nineteen Avalanche skaters warmed up at Ball Arena, including seven blueliners. But Jack Johnson participated in line rushes with the third pairing; Erik Johnson did not. In the official lineup sheet issued to reporters by the team, Erik Johnson was a scratch.Until minutes before puck drop, when Jack Johnson was ruled out with a lower-body injury. Erik Johnson played. ...

Pomona man indicted for importing meth from Mexico into Arizona: Officials

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:51 GMT

A 21-year-old from Pomona was indicted last week on a pair of felony charges: importation of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. According to a report released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, David Daniel Gallegos of Pomona allegedly applied for admission into the United States from Mexico at the San Luis Port of Entry in San Luis, Arizona, on March 14. When Customs and Border Protection officers inspected Gallegos’ vehicle, they discovered 103 hidden packages within the vehicle’s doors, rear quarter panel and center console. In total, the packages weighed 104.47 pounds.  Is it safe to live in a house where meth was cooked? “The packages contained a white substance that field-tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine,” ICE said in a statement. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million and up to lifetime of supervised release. 

Charges against Alec Baldwin in fatal 'Rust' shooting to be dropped: Report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:51 GMT

Prosecutors in the case of the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the film "Rust" are reportedly set to drop all charges against Alec Baldwin.The paperwork is expected to be filed soon by special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin without prejudice, Deadline reports.According to the publication, this could mean the case will be further investigated. Baldwin was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter for the October 2021 deadly shooting of Halyna Hutchins at a ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The move comes weeks before a scheduled preliminary hearing on May 3. “We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident,” said lawyer Luke Nikas in a statement to Variety. Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’ movie to resume filming in spring Baldwin's codefendant, Hannah Gut...

L.A. County Public Health Department issues ocean water use warnings for several beaches

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:51 GMT

The warm weather and sunshine are starting to come back to Southern California, but the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is cautioning those who plan to visit some county beaches to avoid the water. Ocean water use warnings have been issued due to high bacteria levels at several locations that exceeded health standards when last tested. The Public Health Department advises individuals to “avoid swimming, surfing and playing in ocean waters” at the following locations in L.A. County: Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach Las Flores Creek at Las Flores State Beach Santa Monica Pier Pico-Kenter storm drain at Santa Monica Beach Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State Beach Strand Street extension at Santa Monica Beach Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey. Warnings have been lifted for the following beach areas: Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove Marie Canyon storm drain at Puerco Beach Pena...

Prosecutors reportedly set to drop charges against Alec Baldwin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:51 GMT

By Chloe Melas | CNNProsecutors in the “Rust” fatal shooting case plan to file a notice to dismiss involuntary manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin, his attorney, Luke Nikas, tells CNN.CNN has contacted the special prosecutor in the Santa Fe, New Mexico case for comment.Halyna Hutchins, the film’s cinematographer, was struck and killed by a live round of ammunition fired from a prop gun being held by Baldwin, while rehearsing a scene on the set of “Rust” in 2021. Baldin has pleaded not guilty.Director Joel Souza was also shot and injured.Baldwin and “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed were both charged with involuntary manslaughter in January. Baldwin pleaded not guilty. An attorney for Gutierrez Reed has previously said she will plead not guilty and has maintained her innocence. A preliminary hearing in her case is set for May 3.Prosecutors already removed a firearm enhancement charge against Baldwin and Gutierrez Reed, reducing a pot...

What’s at stake in California with Friday’s Supreme Court decision on abortion pills?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:51 GMT

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide Friday whether to allow lower courts’ restrictions on a medication abortion pill to take effect while legal challenges to its approval more than two decades ago play out.So what would that mean for California, a state where two out of three voters in November approved a state constitutional amendment declaring abortion a right, and where Gov. Gavin Newsom has championed abortion access?Q: What is the dispute about?A: A coalition of anti-abortion medical practitioners are challenging the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone, a key drug in medication abortions — at 54%, the most common method of abortion in the U.S.A U.S. District Court judge in Amarillo, Texas, halted the FDA’s approval of the drug on April 7. The U.S. Department of Justice asked the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in New Orleans to put that decision on hold while the case proceeds. The appellate court April 12 allowed the FDA&#...

49ers prepare for busy NFL draft after long wait to start

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:51 GMT

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — When the San Francisco 49ers finally get around to making their first draft pick, they’ll be on the clock for much of the rest of the draft.The Niners traded away most of their premium picks in next week’s draft in deals that brought them quarterback Trey Lance and star running back Christian McCaffrey.But thanks to a slew of compensatory picks gained by developing minority coaches and executives and by losing key free agents, San Francisco has 11 picks overall. Barring any trades, the 49ers will have three picks at the end of the third round starting with No. 99, three more in the fifth round, one in the sixth and four in the seventh round.Luckily for the Niners, they have had good success developing later-round picks into stars under coach Kyle Shanahan with some of the most noteworthy being tight George Kittle (fifth round, 2017), linebacker Fred Warner (third round, 2018), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (fifth round, 2019), safety Talanoa Hufanga ...

Cathay: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:51 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) on Thursday reported first-quarter profit of $96 million.The Los Angeles-based bank said it had earnings of $1.32 per share.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.29 per share.The holding company for Cathay Bank posted revenue of $299.6 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $206.7 million, meeting Street forecasts.Cathay shares have declined 18% since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Thursday, shares hit $33.38, a decrease of 25% 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 CATY at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CATYSource

Former wrestler charged in Mississippi welfare fraud case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:51 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Companies run by a former professional wrestler received “sham contracts” in Mississippi and misspent millions of dollars of welfare money that was supposed to help some of the neediest people in the U.S., according to a new federal indictment.The indictment of former wrestler Ted “Teddy” DiBiase Jr., 40, of Madison, Mississippi, was unsealed Thursday, two days after it was issued by a grand jury in Jackson. During a brief court appearance Thursday, he pleaded not guilty.“Jesus loves you, brother. God bless you, man,” DiBiase told a WAPT-TV reporter outside the federal courthouse Thursday. DiBiase and his attorney offered no other comment.The indictment is the latest development in a sprawling Mississippi corruption case involving wealthy and well-connected people receiving contracts from the state Department of Human Services from 2016 to 2019.DiBiase was a WWE wrestler in the 2000s and 2010s. The indictment accuses him and co-conspirators, including former Mi...

Wyoming abortion clinic opens despite arson, legal obstacles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:15:51 GMT

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming’s first full-service abortion clinic in years defiantly opened Thursday nearly one year after an arson attack ravaged it and despite looming laws that could shut it down with some of the toughest abortion restrictions in the U.S.The clinic in a small stucco building on a busy street in Wyoming’s second-biggest city of Casper is less than a mile (1.6 kilometers) from Interstate 25, where the occasional anti-abortion billboard stands against the open, sparsely populated landscape.Last May, a few weeks before the clinic was set to open, a fire tore through building, leaving soot-stained, smashed windows and police tape to mark the clinic site in downtown Casper. A woman who has since been arrested had broken a window, filled aluminum pans with gasoline and set it ablaze, authorities say. She told told investigators that she opposes abortion and was experiencing anxiety over the facility opening.With its fire damage repaired, the Wellspring Health Acc...