More than 30 cold cases get fresh look in Los Angeles after arrest in ‘Grim Sleeper’ case

New look for cold cases after arrest in LA murders

LOS ANGELES – Investigators believe they have connected “Grim Sleeper” suspect Lonnie Franklin Jr. to 10 murders.
Now they are trying to tie him to dozens more.
More than 30 cold case files dating back to 1984 are getting a new look in light of Franklin’s arrest, Los …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Gunmen kill Pakistanis in Afghanistan

KABUL – Unidentified armed men Saturday attacked a civilian vehicle in Afghanistan’s Paktia province, killing two Afghan and 11 Pakistani commuters, an official said.

“The incident took place in Chamkani district,” a spokesman for provincial administration told Xinhua. Three civilians were injured in the attack.
Taliban militants early Saturday carried out a suicide … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Gunmen kill Pakistanis in Afghanistan.

Website that posted recording of Mel Gibson’s racist, vulgar rant says more audio to come

Website says Gibson rant audio not the last word

LOS ANGELES – The two-minute clip of Mel Gibson using a racial slur and calling his ex-girlfriend a “whore” during an argument are unlikely to be the last ugly words the public hears from the actor.
RadarOnline.com, the celebrity website that posted the recording Friday, says there’s more … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Website that posted recording of Mel Gibson’s racist, vulgar rant says more audio to come.

British fugitive kills himself in standoff with police after weeklong manhunt

UK fugitive kills himself after police move in

LONDON – A fugitive wanted for murder killed himself after police moved in to arrest him Saturday, ending a weeklong manhunt that had transfixed Britain.
Police in northeastern England said Raoul Thomas Moat, 37, was found alongside a riverbank on Friday. Authorities surrounded him and a six-hour standoff ensued.
The …. Source  : British fugitive kills himself in standoff with police after weeklong manhunt.

17th Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan

SYDNEY – Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Saturday an Australian soldier was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, making him the 17th Australian casualty since 2001.

The 23-year-old was killed in Chora valley, Uruzgan province, early Saturday. Another soldier was injured.
Gillard made the announcement while attending a funeral in Darwin of another …. Original source  : 17th Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan.

Spy swap defuses thorny diplomatic problem as US seeks better relations with Russia

Spy swap brings swift end to diplomatic problem
WASHINGTON – With the conclusion of the biggest spy swap since the Cold War, the U.S. has defused a thorny diplomatic problem quickly and cleanly – and avoided damaging recent efforts to improve relations with Russia. And Moscow has escaped further embarrassment over a group of … Original source on Gaea Times at : Spy swap defuses thorny diplomatic problem as US seeks better relations with Russia.

Pakistan suicide attack toll mounts to 100

ISLAMABAD – The toll in Friday’s suicide attack in northwest Pakistan’s Mohmand tribal region has risen to over 100 with more bodies recovered from the debris, a media report said Saturday.

The condition of more than 100 people injured in the blast is critical, Geo News reported.
More bodies were recovered from the debris Saturday, …. Source article  : Pakistan suicide attack toll mounts to 100.

Prosecutors charge 38 people in $20M black market travel scam that used stolen credit cards

Feds charge 38 in black market travel scheme

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Federal prosecutors say 38 people are charged in connection to a nationwide scheme that used thousands of stolen credit card numbers to buy airline tickets that were later sold at deep discounts.
The U.S. attorney is western Missouri says six indictments were unsealed Friday. They … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Prosecutors charge 38 people in $20M black market travel scam that used stolen credit cards.

San Diego foster mom convicted of grand theft for hoarding charity toys

San Diego foster mom convicted of grand theft

SAN DIEGO – A San Diego foster mother accused of hoarding thousands of toys donated for needy children has been convicted of grand theft.
Jurors returned a guilty verdict Friday for 75-year-old Virginia Kelly, a former head of the Latino Foster Parents Association. The panel also found true an … Original source on Gaea Times at : San Diego foster mom convicted of grand theft for hoarding charity toys.

Feds indict founder, director of The Hawaii Cannabis Ministry, 13 others

14 Hawaii religious marijuana advocates indicted

HONOLULU – The founder and director of The Hawaii Cannabis Ministry and 13 associates are facing federal marijuana charges.
Federal authorities told a news conference Friday that Roger Christie led a major marijuana growing, processing and distribution ring.
Christie says he uses marijuana as a sacrament. But authorities say neither his ministry …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Feds indict founder, director of The Hawaii Cannabis Ministry, 13 others.

5 men charged with stealing $200,000 worth of TVs in California freight train heist

5 charged in California freight train cargo theft

LOS ANGELES – Five men were indicted Friday on charges of trying to snatch nearly $200,000 worth of 3-D televisions from a freight train in a nighttime heist captured on video by investigators tailing them in the Southern California desert.
The men were arrested June 25 after unloading 45 …. Read the original article  : here.

SC state police won’t file any charges after reviewing jobless Senate candidate’s finances

SC nominee to face no state charge for filing fee

COLUMBIA, S.C. – An unemployed military veteran will face no state charges over the $10,440 filing fee for his successful bid to win South Carolina’s Democratic nomination to run for U.S. Senate, the state’s top police official said Friday.
The State Law Enforcement Division also opted not …. Original article  : SC state police won’t file any charges after reviewing jobless Senate candidate’s finances.

Mexican judge acquits man in precursor drug case linked to $205 million cash seizure

Mexico judge acquits man in cash-seizure drug case

MEXICO CITY – A judge has acquitted a man charged with dealing in precursor drug chemicals and allegedly linked to the bust of a Chinese-Mexican businessman who hid $205 million at his Mexico City mansion.
The ruling represents another blow to years of frustrated efforts to prosecute the case, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

LA-area schools seek movie productions to earn extra bucks as state dollars dry up

Cash-hungry LA schools seek movie shoots on campus

LOS ANGELES – In an era of yawning budget deficits and teacher layoffs, schools in the Los Angeles area are looking at a non-traditional source for some extra cash – Hollywood.
School districts from Lawndale to Glendale are seeking to earn thousands of dollars a day from renting their … Original article on : LA-area schools seek movie productions to earn extra bucks as state dollars dry up.

Prostitution sting yields bonus: seizure of 95 pounds of cocaine in Wash. state

95 pounds of cocaine seized in Wash. state

TACOMA, Wash. – Police officers working on a prostitution sting in Washington state got a bonus bust – nearly 95 pounds of cocaine.
The Tacoma News Tribune reports that officers working on the sting noticed a vehicle blocking a lane of traffic on a street near a truck stop … Read more »».

Betancourt seeks $6.8 million in damages for Colombian hostage ordeal

Betancourt seeks $6.8 million for kidnapping

BOGOTA, Colombia – Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt has asked Colombia’s government to pay her $6.8 million for damages she suffered during six years in rebel captivity.
The request was made public Friday by the government, which expressed surprise and consternation.
Betancourt was kidnapped in February 2002 by leftist guerrillas while campaigning for … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Betancourt seeks $6.8 million in damages for Colombian hostage ordeal.

Citing political persecution, owner of Venezuuela’s anti-Chavez TV channel seeks help from OAS

Owner of anti-Chavez TV seeks help from OAS

CARACAS, Venezuela – The president of Venezuela’s only opposition-aligned television channel asked for help from the Organization of American States on Friday, saying he wants its human rights commission to determine if he truly committed a crime in his homeland.
Guillermo Zuloaga, Globovision’s majority owner, was thought to be …. Read the original article  : Citing political persecution, owner of Venezuuela’s anti-Chavez TV channel seeks help from OAS.

Boston federal judge drastically cuts $675K penalty against student in song-sharing case

Boston judge cuts penalty in song-sharing case

BOSTON – A federal judge on Friday drastically trimmed a $675,000 verdict against a Boston University graduate student who was found liable for illegally downloading and sharing 30 songs online, saying the jury damage award against a person who gained no financial benefit from his copyright infringement is “unconstitutionally …. Original source  : Boston federal judge drastically cuts $675K penalty against student in song-sharing case.

Panamanian court drops money laundering charges against former Nicaraguan president

Panama charges dropped against ex-Nicaragua leader

PANAMA CITY – A Panamanian court has dropped money laundering charges against former Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman.
The court has ruled that the case against Aleman violated his right to only be tried for a crime once.
The court argued the charges against Aleman were similar to charges he has faced in …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Panamanian court drops money laundering charges against former Nicaraguan president.

Text of Johannes Mehserle’s apology letter in California transit shooting case

Text of apology letter in transit shooting case

Text of Johannes Mehserle’s apology letter written on Sunday, before Thursday’s verdict.
Please try to get this message to the public:
I don’t know what the jury in this case is going to decide, but I hope those who hate me and those who understand that I never intended to … Read more >>>.