Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
California
3 members of California family killed, 6 others hurt in crash on interstate east of Los Angeles
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — Two children and one adult were killed and six other members of their family were injured when their SUV collided with a car on a Southern California highway early Sunday, authorities said.
The crash involving a Chevy Suburban and a Tesla sedan occurred shortly before 7:30 a.m. on Interstate 10 in the Whitewater area near Palm Springs, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The Suburban carrying nine members of a family from Anaheim overturned after hitting the center divider, and at least six occupants were ejected, officials said.
A 31-year-old woman and two girls, ages 10 and 12, were killed, ABC 7 reported. Three girls, ages, 3, 7 and 11, and a 15-year-old boy were seriously hurt, while two adults had minor or moderate injuries, the TV station reported.
The Tesla’s sole occupant, a 31-year-old man from Indio, was not hurt.
Eastbound lanes of the highway were closed for much of the day. The cause of the crash remained under investigation.
California
An ex-California official quietly stole over $1.5 million of water in a heist that lasted decades, but mysteries remain
A former California official pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal more than $1.5 million of water, but the decadeslong water heist case still has more questions than answers.
Dennis Falaschi served as the general manager of the Panoche Water District in Fresno and Merced Counties, located in central California, from around 1986 to 2017. The public water district bought water from the federal government and collected drainage water from farms, both of which it then legally sold to farmers in the area, according to a statement issued by the US attorney’s office for the Eastern District of California on Tuesday.
But after Falaschi discovered some of the federally owned water was leaking from an old pipe into a separate canal, the pipe was modified so it could be open and closed, allowing water to be taken “on demand,” prosecutors said.
The US attorney said Falaschi was responsible for stealing somewhere between $1.5 million and $3.5 million worth of water. Prosecutors also said that between 2011 and 2016 Falaschi was paid for water that he had sourced legally, but he did not report the income on his tax returns.
In a plea agreement filed Thursday, Falaschi pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to take federally owned water and one count of filing a false tax return.
A lawyer for Falaschi did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. His sentencing is set for September.
While the plea provides some answers, many questions remain in the case that farmers in the San Joaquin Valley have been watching for years.
When Falaschi was indicted in 2022, prosecutors painted him as the mastermind of a plot that lasted from around 1992 to 2015 in which more than $25,000,000 worth of water was stolen from the federal government, or more than 130,000 acre-feet of water.
The indictment said proceeds from the theft, which should’ve gone to the federal government, instead when to Falaschi and eight co-conspirators in the form of “exorbitant salaries, fringe benefits, and personal expense reimbursements.”
The Los Angeles Times, which published a deep-dive into the alleged heist in April, reported that while some farmers were angry with Falaschi, others described him as the “Robin Hood of irrigation,” ensuring they could get the water they needed.
Falaschi’s plea agreement claims he’s responsible for stealing only a fraction of the original $25 million prosecutors accused him of taking in the original indictment. The plea agreement also said Falaschi was one of several people involved in the misconduct and that he was unaware of the full extent of the misconduct.
Of the water Falaschi took, the plea agreement said almost all of it was taken to “blend down and reuse drainage water, which helped protect farmland and improve water quality in the San Joaquin River.”
“The improved water quality contributed to the San Joaquin River being removed from the list of impaired waters under California’s Clean Water Act,” the plea agreement said, adding, “There was no evidence that Mr. Falaschi directly benefitted from the misconduct.”
The Times reported the plea raises even more questions about who was stealing the water, who was making money off of it, and why it took the federal government so long to notice.
The mystery surrounding the case continues as water use in the state coms under increasing scrutiny, with droughts and water shortages forcing California officials to reconsider how water is used and allotted.
A community in Southern California is reporting an increase in mountain lion sightings, prompting rising concerns about household pets.
The latest sightings of baby cougars in Thousand Oaks come after a young man died following a mountain lion attack further north in El Dorado County back in March.
Speaking to local news outlet KTLA, residents said that the baby mountain lion was hungry and clearly searching for food as it prowled around their front yards, with footage captured on doorbell cameras showing a cat being chased.
“It wasn’t full size, so we had to re-look at it and zoom into it and stuff and then we realized, ‘Oh my God, it’s a baby mountain lion,’” Mark McGee told the outlet.
National Parks Service
Those in the neighborhood said they had some concerns about safety.
Further north a few weeks prior in March, a 21-year-old man died after being attacked in Georgetown, making it the first mountain lion fatality in California in 20 years.
His 18-year-old brother called emergency services when the attack began, with sheriff’s deputies scaring the animal away with a firearm. It was too late to save the man, however.
Following the incident, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said that human encounters were uncommon, but can happen.
“First and foremost, our hearts go out to the families and loved ones affected by this tragic incident. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time,” CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham said at the time.
The last reported non-fatal attack in the Santa Monica Mountains was in August 2021, involving a 5-year-old boy.
Residents of Thousand Oaks explained that mountain lion sightings were unheard of until a few years ago.
“We’ve been here since 1987,” Esther O’Connor also told KTLA. “Basically, the only wildlife we’ve ever seen, up until I would say a couple of years ago, were birds and squirrels and racoons, but never a mountain lion.”
Newsweek reached out to the National Parks Service for further comment on the movements of the animals in and around the Santa Monica Mountains.
On its website, NPS says that the park is home to a “stable” population of mountain lions, with Los Angeles being one of only two megacities in the world – the other being Mumbai, India – to have a big cat population.
It’s estimated that at any one time, there are between 10 and 15 adults living in the park, with cub numbers unknown.
The City of Thousand Oaks advises locals to not approach a lion or run from one. Instead, they are urged to stand and face the animal and make eye contact if possible, while making themselves appear as large as possible while giving the lions space to escape or leave.
Newsweek reached out to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office for further comment.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
California flat sweet onions are now in season. Progressive Produce and its division, Keystone Fruit Marketing, have a comprehensive year-round sweet onion program that features a variety of onions from around the globe, including Vidalias, Walla Walla, and Mayan Sweets from Peru and Mexico. The addition of California flat sweet onions introduces a local variety known for its taste and versatility.
“The California flat sweet onions marks a significant addition to our onion portfolio,” says Dr. Oscar Guzman, vice president of marketing and sales. “These onions are cultivated with care under the optimal conditions of the Californian climate, ensuring a product that enhances any culinary experience, whether grilled, sautéed, or served raw.” The reception from customers has already signaled a promising addition to the market. Progressive’s sweet onions have received acclaim, even from those devoted to other varieties. “Going into meetings, everyone talked about 1015s, but walking out, they were all praises for Progressive’s Mexican and California sweets,” said one customer.
The team from Progressive Produce.
Available in a 40-lb carton and a 2-lb bag, California flat sweet onions cater to both retail and food service providers. They present an opportunity to support local agriculture while reducing freight costs and environmental impact. “Opting for our California sweets not only supports regional farmers but also guarantees a fresher product for our customers,” says Dr. Guzman.
California flat sweet onions will be on display at the West Coast Produce Expo from May 30 to June 1. Visit Progressive Produce at Booth #204 to explore the distinctive flavors and sustainable advantages of these freshly harvested onions.
For more information:
Dr. Oscar Guzman
Progressive Produce
Tel: (+1) 323-890-8100
[email protected]
www.progressiveproduce.com
Boston, MA5 mins ago
Boston-bound flight aborts takeoff at Reagan National to avoid runway collision
Denver, CO7 mins ago
Migas Coffee, a Black and Latina-owned coffee shop, opens in Denver's Five Points neighborhood
Seattle, WA11 mins ago
Astros Lose Third Game in Seattle in Extras, 2-1
San Diego, CA14 mins ago
Preview of the 2024 San Diego County Fair
Milwaukee, WI19 mins ago
Shota Imanaga's unbelievable start for the Cubs gets a reality check in Milwaukee
Midwest2 years ago
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Colorado2 years ago
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
South1 year ago
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
South2 years ago
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
South1 year ago
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
News4 hours ago
Video: Two Giant Pandas Will Head to D.C.’s National Zoo From China
Politics5 hours ago
Kansas Gov. Kelly to call special legislative session over tax cuts
World6 hours ago
Israel says war on Gaza likely to last another seven months
News6 hours ago
How these newly included MLB stats recognize the legacies of Black players : Consider This from NPR
Politics12 hours ago
Biden admin questioned over abortion pill push without proper environmental study
-
Culture1 week agoFrom Dairy Daddies to Trash Pandas: How branding creates fans for lower-league baseball teams
-
World1 week agoPanic in Bishkek: Why were Pakistani students attacked in Kyrgyzstan?
-
News1 week agoRed Lobster files for bankruptcy after missteps including all-you-can-eat shrimp
-
News1 week agoThe states where abortion is on the ballot in November : Consider This from NPR
-
Politics1 week agoMichael Cohen swore he had nothing derogatory on Trump, his ex-lawyer says – another lie – as testimony ends
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoMai Movie Review: Emotionally powerful lead performances in this sensitive and heart-breaking romantic film
-
News1 week agoCity of Kyle falls short of ‘Kyle’ world record
-
Politics1 week agoAnti-Israel agitators interrupt Blinken Senate testimony, hauled out by Capitol police