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Entire California Hells Angels chapter arrested in criminal street gang investigation
An entire chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle club has been arrested in California as part of a criminal street gang investigation and now face charges including kidnapping, robbery and assault, police say.
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office announced that the Bakersfield chapter of the “outlaw motorcycle gang” was taken into custody on Tuesday following a joint probe with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the California Highway Patrol.
“More than 150 law enforcement personnel seized approximately 25 firearms, ammunition, multiple high-capacity magazines, and gang affiliate paraphernalia,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Police released images of the firearms – which included several rifles – laid out on a table, along with patches, jackets and other clothing.
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Guns and other items seized by police during the arrest of the Bakersfield, California chapter of the Hells Angels. (Kern County Sheriff’s Office)
Those arrested were identified as Ricardo Alvarez, 42, Armando Villasenor, 55, Joseph Soto Sr., 57, Joseph Soto Jr., 33, Joshua Zavala, 31, and John Seeger, 57, all from Bakersfield.
A seventh suspect linked to the investigation, 37-year-old Joshua Vaughn, was already in custody on other charges and “eight search warrants were executed at various locations throughout Bakersfield,” the Sheriff’s Office also said.
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More than 150 law enforcement personnel were involved in the investigation, according to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. (Kern County Sheriff’s Office)
“Alvarez, Villasenor, Soto Sr., Soto Jr., and Zavala are active, patched members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, Bakersfield Chapter,” police added. “Vaughn and Seeger are members of the Sons Of Hell Motorcycle Club. This sub-affiliate Motorcycle Club takes orders and direction from the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.”
The Hells Angels members now face charges including kidnapping and robbery, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office says. (Kern County Sheriff’s Office)
All seven of the suspects now face charges of kidnapping, first-degree robbery, criminal threats, false imprisonment, assault with a firearm, participation in a criminal street gang, criminal conspiracy, intimidating a witness or victim and elder abuse, according to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.
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RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Wyoming officials are reminding travelers to be prepared for high winds this summer, especially those driving or towing recreational vehicles.
The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources and the Wyoming Department of Transportation are encouraging outdoor enthusiasts to plan ahead and stay informed about weather conditions before hitting the road. Officials said highways such as Interstate 25, Interstate 80 and U.S. 287 frequently experience strong wind gusts that can create dangerous driving conditions for high-profile vehicles.
Vehicles most vulnerable during high-wind events include motorhomes, fifth-wheel and bumper-pull trailers, toy haulers, rooftop tent vehicles and passenger vehicles towing campers, boats or utility trailers.
Wyoming transportation officials may impose travel restrictions or temporarily close roads to certain vehicles during severe wind events.
Travelers are encouraged to check road conditions at wyoroad.info or by calling 511 before departing and to build flexibility into their travel plans. Officials also recommend securing external gear and understanding how wind conditions may impact their specific vehicle setup.
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A gray whale found in San Francisco Bay last week is believed to have been killed in a vessel strike, scientists said Thursday.
The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito told CBS News Bay Area that an adult male whale was found floating off San Francisco’s Pier 80 on the morning of June 4. On June 5, the center’s Cetacean Conservation Biology Team saw the whale carcass floating southeast of Alcatraz.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers towed and secured the 38-foot whale, bringing the carcass to Sand Springs Beach at Angel Island State Park.
A team of scientists from the center and the California Academy of Sciences performed a necropsy on Sunday. Scientists noticed evidence of blunt force trauma, including hemorrhage behind the skull and a broken vertebra “consistent with blunt force trauma due to a suspected vessel strike.”
The whale was in “fair to normal body condition” at this point in the migratory season, the center said. Additional samples were taken for further testing.
According to the center, this case marks the 13th dead gray whale found in the wider Bay Area so far this year.
The cause of death in four of the incidents have been determined as suspected or probable vessel strikes, including a whale that was found off San Leandro on May 27 and a whale that was found in San Francisco Bay on March 17.
The center said gray whales are currently on their northern migration to their feeding grounds in the Arctic. Several whales frequenting San Francisco Bay are expected to depart in the next two weeks.
According to a population estimate by the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, there are about 12,900 North Pacific gray whales, the lowest since the early 1970s.
With Payton as head coach, the Broncos captured their first AFC West title in 10 years in 2025 after finishing with a 14-3 record in the regular season en route to hosting the AFC Championship Game. Denver also snapped its eight-year playoff drought in 2024 under Payton, earning a wild card berth with a 10-7 mark.
Since 2024, Payton has led the Broncos’ offense to NFL top-10 rankings in fewest sacks allowed (1st, 47) and passing touchdowns (8th, 55) while ranking fifth in the AFC in points (24.3) and touchdowns scored (92). Quarterback Bo Nix, who was selected 12th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, became just the third quarterback in league history to win at least 10 games and make the playoffs in each of his first two seasons.
Defensively, the Broncos have allowed the fourth-fewest points per game (20.3) in the NFL under Payton, while also ranking second during that span in third down percentage (34.8) and third in red zone percentage (48.8). Denver became just the third team in NFL history to eclipse 60 sacks in consecutive seasons, setting franchise records in 2024 (63) and 2025 (68).
Since joining the Broncos, Payton has coached nine different players to a total of 13 All-Pro selections, which is tied for the fourth-most in the NFL in that span. All-Pro honors since 2023 include defensive lineman Zach Allen (2 selections), guard Quinn Meinerz (2), wide receiver/returner Marvin Mims Jr. (2), cornerback Pat Surtain (2), tackle Garett Bolles (1), outside linebacker Nik Bonitto (1), safety Talanoa Hufanga (1), safety Devon Key (1) and safety Justin Simmons (1).
Additionally, Payton has coached eight different Broncos to 12 total Pro Bowl selections, including Surtain (3 selections), Bonitto (2), Mims (2), Allen (1), Bolles (1), Meinerz (1), Simmons (1) and wide receiver Courtland Sutton (1).
Surtain became the second player in franchise history to be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year after signing a four-year contract extension in 2024. Bonitto earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year finalist status the following year in 2025.
During his 15 seasons as the Saints’ head coach, Payton led New Orleans to nine playoff berths, seven NFC South Division titles and a victory in Super Bowl XLIV (2009). The Saints won 10 or more games in nine seasons under Payton, finishing as the NFC’s No. 1 seed on two occasions (2009, ’18).
Before joining the Saints in 2006, Payton spent three seasons (2003-05) as assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach with the Dallas Cowboys and four years with the New York Giants, coaching quarterbacks in 1999 before serving as offensive coordinator from 2000-02. He began his NFL coaching career as quarterbacks coach with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1997-98 following nine seasons at the collegiate level.
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