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Police make arrests in Southern California online child-sex predator sting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:16 GMT

Clint Walton sounded crestfallen.The San Bernardino police detective had been posing as a 12-year-old girl in a text chat with a man who said he wanted to meet her in San Bernardino for sex. But the man had gone silent for more than a month when on June 21 he texted what sounded like a goodbye:“I’ll always love you. I miss you,” he wrote.Walton, maintaining his cover, responded: “You just left me all alone.”“I panicked,” the man texted back.“He legitimately broke my heart,” Walton joked after showing the texts to a reporter. “I thought he was going to be my first.”Nevertheless, Walton said it was a victory. The “breakup” meant there was one less man coming in to San Bernardino to sexually assault a child.Walton and other San Bernardino police officers arrested four other men during a two-week sting in July dubbed Operation Online Guardian that was overseen by the Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.For related, see: Southern California authorities arrest...

Gang probe launched after deaths of 2 California police officers nets arrests

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:16 GMT

Images of El Monte police Officers Michael Paredes and Joseph Santana a mural at the El Monte Civic Center on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Federal and local law enforcement officials announced federal charges and arrests stemming from an investigation into a street gang accused of shootings and a wide array of criminal activity. The investigation was started after a member of the gang was accused of murdering El Monte police Officers Michael Paredes and Joseph Santana on June 14, 2022. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)Images of El Monte police Officers Michael Paredes and Joseph Santana a mural at the El Monte Civic Center on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Federal and local law enforcement officials announced federal charges and arrests stemming from an investigation into a street gang accused of shootings and a wide array of criminal activity. The investigation was started after a member of the gang was accused of murdering El Monte police Officers Michael Paredes and ...

Barabak: How New Mexico went from a battleground state to a blue state

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:16 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE —  For five long weeks, the White House hung in the balance as one of the closest, most wrenching presidential campaigns in history went deep into overtime.It all came down to Florida, where Republican George W. Bush was finally declared the winner, by Supreme Court decree. The official margin was 537 votes.But in 2000, one state was even closer.Lost amid Florida’s tumult and all the legal gladiating was Al Gore’s victory here in New Mexico, where the Democrat prevailed by a mere 366 votes.The result established New Mexico as one of the country’s foremost presidential battlegrounds, a status reaffirmed in Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign when he won the state by less than a percentage point.Since then, it’s been one Democratic victory after another — none of them close.“We’re not purple,” said Joe Monahan, a blogger who has chronicled New Mexico politics for decades. “We’re blue. Very blue.”To a large extent, it’s a story of movement.People relocating from more liberal cl...

So much home, so little DIY

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:16 GMT

You’re the handy type. Or you’re not. You love to do-it-yourself. Or you don’t.You’d like to imagine that every build-it, create-it, decorate-it, plant-it, maintain-it or fix-it job is an opportunity to develop a closer relationship with your house. But who has the time?For many, if not most, new-home buyers, stepping back from DIY work for a while drives much of the decision to choose new construction, in which everything is brand new and perfect. For others, the new home provides an opportunity to learn some DIY basics.Some projects always require a professional. These include major plumbing alterations or updates; electrical rewiring or circuit additions; changes to the roof and gutters; HVAC installations; structural work or additions; and heavy-duty landscape or hardscape work.Now for the fun part: All homeownership comes with some degree of cleaning, decorating, maintenance and repairs. Even at a new home. This upkeep can be incredibly gratifying at a new home. Keeping the hou...

Sonic Automotive: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:16 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Sonic Automotive Inc. (SAH) on Thursday reported second-quarter profit of $23.4 million.The Charlotte, North Carolina-based company said it had net income of 65 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to $1.83 per share.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.63 per share.The auto dealer posted revenue of $3.65 billion in the period, also beating Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $3.64 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SAH at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SAHSource

FMC Technologies: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:16 GMT

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, Britain (AP) — NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, Britain (AP) — FMC Technologies Inc. (FTI) on Thursday reported a loss of $87.2 million in its second quarter.The Newcastle Upon Tyne, Britain-based company said it had a loss of 20 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and restructuring costs, were 10 cents per share.The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 15 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 16 cents per share.The provider of equipment and services to energy companies posted revenue of $1.97 billion in the period, topping Street forecasts. Eighteen analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $1.93 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on FTI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/FTISource

Lennox: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:16 GMT

RICHARDSON, Texas (AP) — RICHARDSON, Texas (AP) — Lennox International Inc. (LII) on Thursday reported second-quarter net income of $217.2 million.The Richardson, Texas-based company said it had profit of $6.10 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were $6.15 per share.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 15 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $5.21 per share.The manufacturer of furnaces, air conditioners and other products posted revenue of $1.41 billion in the period, also exceeding Street forecasts. Fifteen analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $1.37 billion.Lennox expects full-year earnings to be $15.50 to $16 per share._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on LII at https://www.zacks.com/ap/LIISource

Southwest: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:16 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) on Thursday reported second-quarter profit of $683 million.The Dallas-based company said it had profit of $1.08 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to $1.09 per share.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.08 per share.The airline posted revenue of $7.04 billion in the period, also topping Street forecasts. Nine analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $6.99 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on LUV at https://www.zacks.com/ap/LUVSource

Donegal: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:16 GMT

MARIETTA, Pa. (AP) — MARIETTA, Pa. (AP) — Donegal Group Inc. (DGICA) on Thursday reported net income of $2 million in its second quarter.On a per-share basis, the Marietta, Pennsylvania-based company said it had net income of 6 cents. Earnings, adjusted for investment gains, came to less than 1 cent on a per-share basis.The insurance holding company posted revenue of $229.2 million in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $226.7 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on DGICA at https://www.zacks.com/ap/DGICASource

First American Financial: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:16 GMT

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — First American Financial Corp. (FAF) on Thursday reported profit of $138.5 million in its second quarter.The Santa Ana, California-based company said it had net income of $1.33 per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were $1.35 per share.The financial services company posted revenue of $1.65 billion in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on FAF at https://www.zacks.com/ap/FAFSource