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Court hears first-of-its-kind challenge to police’s use of Google search terms to ID murder suspects

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:01:35 GMT

GRAND JUNCTION — The Colorado Supreme Court on Thursday grappled with privacy and freedom of speech concerns as the justices heard a legal challenge to a controversial new law enforcement technique that Denver police used to identify the three teenagers accused of killing five people in a house fire three years ago.The groundbreaking legal case considers for the first time in Colorado — and, attorneys said, nationally — whether police can legally issue search warrants that require Google to turn over account information for any users who searched particular keywords in a particular time frame.Such “reverse keyword search warrants” require Google to scan through potentially billions of search histories in order to find the keywords sought by law enforcement. Attorneys challenging the warrant said during oral arguments Thursday that the massive scope amounts to an illegal search that violates Google users’ constitutional protections for free speech and against unreasonable searches. A...

As part of a plea deal, Bay Area man gets 11 years for killing his father

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:01:35 GMT

A 34-year-old Fairfield man, acquitted in March for the 2018 first-degree murder of his father and the jury hung on second-degree murder, later pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced last week to 11 years in state prison, The Reporter has learned.Victor Alfonso Estrada, who appeared April 27 in Department 11 for the sentencing hearing, faced Judge William J. Pendergast, who handed down the sentence, as stipulated in the April 3 plea agreement, in the Justice Center in Fairfield.Estrada’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Nick Filloy, confirmed the sentence.Estrada, who has been in custody for more than five years in a case at the intersection of the state’s mental health and criminal court systems, remains in the Stanton Correctional Facility, a check of jail records showed on Thursday, and awaits transfer to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.With the no-contest plea, Estrada did not admit guilt but essentially stated he would offer n...

US probes complaint that woman was trapped in flaming SUV

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:01:35 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — U.S. safety regulators are investigating possible electrical problems in older Dodge Journeys after a woman was trapped and died when her SUV caught fire in December.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it’s investigating whether inoperative door locks and windows can prevent people from getting out of the SUVs during an emergency.Documents posted Friday on the agency’s website say the probe covers more than 82,000 Journeys from the 2009 model year. The investigation was opened after the woman’s death on Dec. 9.A complaint filed with the agency says the woman pulled to the side of a road when warning lights started flashing, windshield wipers came on, the horn started honking, windows wouldn’t go down and the doors wouldn’t unlock. The complaint alleged that fire apparently started in the engine and spread, trapping the woman inside.“The driver was unable to exit the vehicle, resulting in her death,” the agency wrote in...

Maryland teacher charged with sexually abusing student

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:01:35 GMT

Authorities have charged a teacher at Mt. Hebron High School in Howard County, Maryland, with sexually abusing a 15-year-old female student, following his arrest in North Carolina.Police arrested Matthew Barth, 44, of Ellicott City, on Thursday, in North Carolina, where he awaits extradition.Barth, who had been teaching at the high school in Ellicott City since 2003, was charged with sexual abuse of a minor and a third-degree sex offense.The Howard County Police Department said it was notified Tuesday by a friend of the teenage student, who police said was the victim of the alleged abuse by Barth.After investigating the friend’s report, police said the acts happened multiple times inside the school building “over a period of approximately four months.”Police said a review of “electronic records” also indicates sexual contact between Barth and the teen.Investigators ask anyone with more information to contact them at 410-313-7867 or by email.Source

Study: China’s squid fleet avoids Peru to dodge new port law

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:01:35 GMT

A port regulation adopted by Peru to combat illegal fishing by Chinese squid vessels appears to have backfired and driven the world’s largest overseas fishing fleet deeper into the shadows, increasing the risk of forced labor, according to new research.Peru in 2020 began requiring any foreign fishing boat entering its ports to use a vessel monitoring system allowing its activities to be tracked in real time 24 hours a day. The equipment, which tracks a vessel’s geographic position and fishing activity through a proprietary satellite communication system, sought to provide authorities with visibility into several hundred Chinese squid vessels that every year amass off the west coast of South America. With the support of Global Fishing Watch, a non-profit that encourages sustainable fishing, Peru joined a handful of countries making the information publicly available as well. Decades of overfishing have pushed China’s fishing fleet farther from home. But its expansion to far-flu...

Sunstone Hotel: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:01:35 GMT

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (AP) — ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (AP) — Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc. (SHO) on Friday reported a key measure of profitability in its first quarter. The results topped Wall Street expectations.The Aliso Viejo, California-based real estate investment trust said it had funds from operations of $43.8 million, or 21 cents per share, in the period.The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for funds from operations of 17 cents per share.Funds from operations is a closely watched measure in the REIT industry. It takes net income and adds back items such as depreciation and amortization.The company said it had net income of $17.3 million, or 8 cents per share.The hotel real estate investment trust, based in Aliso Viejo, California, posted revenue of $243.4 million in the period, also exceeding Street forecasts. Five analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $223.9 million.For the current quarter ending in June, Sunstone Hotel expects its per-share...

CBOE: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:01:35 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — CHICAGO (AP) — CBOE Global Markets, Inc. (CBOE) on Friday reported first-quarter profit of $172.6 million.On a per-share basis, the Chicago-based company said it had profit of $1.63. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were $1.90 per share.The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.85 per share.The holding company for the Chicago Board Options Exchange posted revenue of $988.2 million in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $471.4 million, which did not meet Street forecasts. Five analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $481 million.CBOE shares have climbed 9% since the beginning of the year. The stock has risen 20% 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 CBOE at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CBOESource

CNH: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:01:35 GMT

LONDON (AP) — LONDON (AP) — CNH Industrial NV (CNHI) on Friday reported first-quarter net income of $482 million.The London-based company said it had net income of 35 cents per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 32 cents per share.The truck, tractor and bus maker posted revenue of $5.34 billion in the period, also surpassing Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $5.15 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CNHI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CNHISource

Dominion Energy: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:01:35 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Dominion Energy Inc. (D) on Friday reported first-quarter earnings of $997 million.On a per-share basis, the Richmond, Virginia-based company said it had net income of $1.17. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, were 99 cents per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 98 cents per share.The energy company posted revenue of $5.25 billion in the period, also surpassing Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $4.47 billion.For the current quarter ending in June, Dominion Energy expects its per-share earnings to range from 58 cents to 68 cents. Analysts surveyed by Zacks had forecast adjusted earnings per share of $1.08._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on D at https://www.zacks.com/ap/D...

E.W. Scripps: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:01:35 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — CINCINNATI (AP) — E.W. Scripps Co. (SSP) on Friday reported a loss of $18.5 million in its first quarter.On a per-share basis, the Cincinnati-based company said it had a loss of 37 cents. Losses, adjusted for restructuring costs, came to 17 cents per share.The television and radio company posted revenue of $527.8 million 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 SSP at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SSPSource