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Ukrainian baker who raised $150K for her home country helps family reach safety amid Russia-Ukraine war

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A Ukrainian baker primarily based in Texas who has raised greater than $150,000 to assist Ukrainian conflict efforts has additionally been capable of assist her household flee to security. 

Anna Afanasieva, 28, is initially from Odesa, Ukraine, and at present lives in San Antonio, Texas. She’s been within the U.S. for eight years.

Her household was in Odesa when Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, however just lately they have been capable of depart the nation, first for Moldova, then Romania. They’re proper now settling in Turkey till they will return house to Ukraine, Afanasieva advised Fox Information Digital in an interview.

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“It was actually onerous,” Afanasieva mentioned of when her household was nonetheless in Ukraine. “I imply, it nonetheless is. However not less than I do know that now they’re protected.”

Anna Afanasieva, left, opened Laika Cheesecakes and Espresso in San Antonio, Texas, in December 2020. She’s pictured right here along with her crew at work. She mentioned of her Ukrainian household, “At the least I do know that now they’re protected.” 
(Anna Afanasieva/Viktor Krizma)

She added, “Watching the information each day, it’s fairly intense. I nonetheless have lots of associates dwelling there, even in Kyiv. A few of them — they’re unreachable. There’s no reception. We don’t actually get in contact with them.”

‘The toughest half’

Afanasieva spoke to Fox Information Digital from Istanbul, the place she was serving to her family members settle into their momentary house. 

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“The toughest half was to persuade them to [leave Ukraine], as a result of everyone needed to remain there,” Afanasieva mentioned. 

“However I spotted, it’s simply not very protected for the time being.”

Afanasieva's parents (pictured here) were in Odesa when Russia attacked Ukraine on Feb. 24, but recently they left the country — first for Moldova, then Romania. They’re currently settling in Turkey and expect to return to Ukraine one day.

Afanasieva’s mother and father (pictured right here) had been in Odesa when Russia attacked Ukraine on Feb. 24, however just lately they left the nation — first for Moldova, then Romania. They’re at present settling in Turkey and anticipate to return to Ukraine someday.
(Anna Afanasieva)

Afanasieva mentioned that many individuals she is aware of aren’t “realizing what’s really happening.”

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“Till it’s really occurring to you, if it’s occurring some other place, even in a neighboring metropolis, you continue to don’t actually — you may’t understand it,” Afanasieva mentioned. 

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“The toughest half was to persuade them to [leave], as a result of everyone needed to remain there. However I spotted, it’s simply not very protected for the time being.”

When she reunited along with her household this previous Monday, Afanasieva mentioned it was the primary time she’d seen them in three years.

That is as a result of the coronavirus pandemic over the previous two years prevented her from touring to Ukraine. 

CHICAGO MOM FLIES TO HELP UKRAINIANS AT POLISH BORDER: ‘I COULD NOT STAY AT HOME’

“I’m actually completely satisfied, to start with that they’re protected,” Afanasieva mentioned. “And at last we had been capable of see one another. It’s been a very long time.”

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‘The least we will do’

Afanasieva runs Laika Cheesecake and Espresso, a bakery she opened in San Antonio in December 2020. 

Proper after Russia invaded Ukraine, Afanasieva introduced on Fb that her store would donate all of its gross sales from Friday, Feb. 25, to Sunday, Feb. 27, to assist the Ukrainian military. 

Laika Cheesecake and Espresso held a fundraiser last month to support the Ukrainian army after Russia invaded the country. 

Laika Cheesecake and Espresso held a fundraiser final month to assist the Ukrainian military after Russia invaded the nation. 
(Anna Afanasieva )

Afanasieva advised Fox Information Digital that the concept for the fundraiser “got here very naturally.”

“That is the least we will do,” she mentioned.

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In one other Fb publish after the fundraiser, the bakery introduced it had bought greater than 4,500 items of cheesecake and that some 3,000 individuals had visited the bakery over the weekend.

Many individuals waited as much as three-and-a-half hours to buy gadgets and make donations.

Even after the bakery was bought out for “hours,” individuals nonetheless waited in line to donate, the publish mentioned. 

Afanasieva advised Fox Information Digital that she didn’t anticipate the neighborhood to reply in such an enormous means. 

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“It appeared like the entire metropolis confirmed up,” she mentioned. 

Afanasieva told Fox News Digital that the idea for the fundraiser "came very naturally." The line outside Laika during the fundraiser is shown here.

Afanasieva advised Fox Information Digital that the concept for the fundraiser “got here very naturally.” The road outdoors Laika through the fundraiser is proven right here.
(Anna Afanasieva )

“We clearly didn’t anticipate something like that. I believed it would get a little bit bit busier than standard, however then abruptly, we get to the store on Friday and there’s a line outdoors the door — round the entire block, principally,” she mentioned.

HOW AMERICAN CITIES ARE HELPING THEIR UKRAINIAN SISTER CITIES DURING THE WAR

Afanasieva advised Fox Information Digital that Laika remains to be accepting donations to assist the Ukrainian military and that up to now, the bakery has raised about $150,000.

During the fundraiser weekend, Laika Cheesecake and Espresso sold more than 4,500 pieces of cheesecake and had approximately 3,000 people visit the bakery. 

Through the fundraiser weekend, Laika Cheesecake and Espresso bought greater than 4,500 items of cheesecake and had roughly 3,000 individuals go to the bakery. 
(Anna Afanasieva )

“The quantity is growing each day,” Afanasieva mentioned. “We actually obtain checks within the mailbox and even money. Persons are sending money from everywhere in the states.”

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She added, “We had been actually shocked to find so many individuals had been really prepared to assist.” Afanasieva mentioned she’s “actually grateful” to the San Antonio neighborhood. 

“We didn’t anticipate that a lot response from the American individuals,” she mentioned. 

“We had been actually shocked to find so many individuals had been really prepared to assist.”

Afanasieva is planning to make use of the cash to purchase provides for the Ukrainian military and get them to Ukraine, although the planning and logistics are difficult, she mentioned.

‘Actually proud to be a Ukrainian’

Immediately, greater than two weeks after the fundraiser, Afanasieva mentioned enterprise is booming for Laika Cheesecakes and Espresso. 

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“We’re nonetheless promoting out each day by 3 o’clock,” Afanasieva mentioned. “Usually we open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.”

Afanasieva told Fox News Digital that Laika is still accepting donations to help the Ukrainian army and so far, the bakery has raised about $150,000.

Afanasieva advised Fox Information Digital that Laika remains to be accepting donations to assist the Ukrainian military and up to now, the bakery has raised about $150,000.
(Anna Afanasieva )

Although it’s been troublesome for her to observe the information concerning the assaults on her place of origin, Afanasieva mentioned she’s additionally experiencing pleasure in her nation for “in all probability the primary time in my life,” she mentioned. 

 

“I’m actually proud to be a Ukrainian,” Afanasieva mentioned. “I’m actually completely satisfied to be part of this nation.” (She is a everlasting resident of the U.S.) 

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“I actually hope all of that can be over quickly for my individuals, for my nation,” she added.

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Los Angeles, Ca

L.A., O.C. housing prices 10 times more than earnings: Harvard

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L.A., O.C. housing prices 10 times more than earnings: Harvard

A new report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies has quantified the struggle many face when looking to buy a home in Southern California.

A new report from the center finds that in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, the average home costs about 10 times the average income, as reported by the Orange County Register.

Even outside of some of the pricier areas of Southern California, home prices soar above the national average of homes being about five times larger than incomes.

The center’s State of the Nation’s Housing report said the Inland Empire’s home prices are about six times larger than incomes.

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To read the report for yourself, click here.

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Southwest

Illegal immigrant caused DUI collision that killed 22-year-old in tragic hit-and-run: ICE

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The suspect in a deadly DUI hit-and-run that killed a 22-year-old in New Mexico entered the U.S. illegally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed.

ICE confirmed to Fox News that 21-year-old Jesus Sandoval-Martinez was arrested early Monday morning and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, reckless driving and leaving an accident resulting in great bodily harm or death.

Authorities allege Sandoval-Martinez was drunk when his Dodge pickup truck collided with a Tesla and a Toyota Corolla at an intersection in Albuquerque overnight Monday.

Following the fatal crash, the 21-year-old migrant allegedly fled on foot, and witnesses said he was visibly impaired and slurring his words.

MASSIVE SPIKE IN CRIMINAL MIGRANTS ENTERING THE US SINCE 2021, DATA SHOWS

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Authorities charged Jesus Sandoval-Martinez with vehicular homicide (DWI), leaving the scene of an accident, failure to obey traffic control devices and reckless driving. He was arrested July 1. (ICE)

Witnesses and bystanders followed him to a Walgreens and held him there until officers arrived.

Law enforcement confirmed the migrant ran a red light that resulted in the death of the driver of the Tesla, identified as 22-year-old Tiger Gutierrez. 

Detainer request for suspect

On July 1, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations officers filed an immigration detainer against Jesus Sandoval-Martinez, 21, of Mexico. (ICE)

Authorities said Gutierrez died, and a passenger was hospitalized.

The driver of the Toyota was treated for minor injuries, ICE said.

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Following Sandoval-Martinez’s arrest, ICE filed an immigration detainer against him after establishing probable cause to remove him from the U.S.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SUSPECT ACCUSED OF KILLING JOCELYN NUNGARAY WORE ICE ANKLE MONITOR 

ICE said it had no previous encounters with the migrant prior to the deadly crash.

Fox News confirmed with a source that he is a Mexican national with no Social Security number, and he did not have a valid driver’s license.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol processed approximately 84,000 migrants who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border without authorization in June 2024.

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Over 13,000 “criminal noncitizens” have attempted to enter the U.S. and been apprehended by Border Patrol agents in fiscal year 2024, an increase from 4,269 in FY 2019.

Crimes allegedly committed by illegal migrants are on the rise. 

 

The cases include the arrest of Victor Antonio Martinez Hernandez, a 23-year-old illegal El Salvadorian migrant accused of raping and killing Maryland mother Rachel Morin.

In another case, Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, Venezuelan migrants, are accused in the killing of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston. 

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Get the latest updates on the ongoing border crisis from the Fox News Digital immigration hub.



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Los Angeles, Ca

The U.S. just saw its busiest air travel day in history

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The U.S. just saw its busiest air travel day in history

More than 3 million people passed through U.S. airport security on Sunday, marking a new single-day record, according to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration.

The record, which was widely predicted to happen at some point over the July Four holiday weekend, topped the June 23 mark of more than 2.99 million screened passengers. Eight of the ten busiest days in TSA’s history have come this year as the number of travelers exceeds pre-pandemic levels.

At Los Angeles International Airport, officials expected 241,000 people to pass through terminals on Sunday and over 2 million during the June 27 through July 8 holiday travel period.

“Looking ahead, domestic travel remains steady leading into the fall, and international travel continues to grow, with notable increases in travel to Canada and Central and South America,” said Doug Webster, Interim Chief Operations and Maintenance Officer at LAX.

Travelers wait in line to check in at Los Angeles International Airport on July 3, 2024, ahead of the Fourth of July Independence Day holiday. (Getty Images)

While Americans continue to grapple with inflation, travel costs, including airline tickets and hotel prices, have eased significantly from a year ago. Hotel rooms were 1.2% cheaper in May compared with a year ago, according to recent government inflation data. Those costs have been trending lower since the beginning of the year.

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While most U.S. airlines lost money in the first quarter — traditionally the weakest time of year for travel — they were all expecting a summer of full planes.

This spring, American and Southwest said they expected solid second quarter profits. They joined Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in giving an upbeat outlook for the April-through-June period, which includes the start of peak season for carriers.

Delta reports its second-quarter earnings on Thursday, with analysts predicting sales of $15.5 billion, nearly $1 billion more than the same period a year ago. Next week, United and American issue their quarterly results, with Wall Street forecasting higher revenue from a year ago for both carriers.

TSA was created after the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and replaced a collection of private security companies that were hired by airlines. The agency operates under the Department of Homeland Security, which said that agents on Sunday checked 35 passengers every second.

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