West

Los Angeles police forms task force to counter foreign gangs exploiting US visa system to target luxury homes

Published

2 years ago

April 9, 2024

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Los Angeles police forms task force to counter foreign gangs exploiting US visa system to target luxury homes

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The Los Angeles Police Department has formed a task force to counter a rise in gangs from Latin America that have been targeting luxury homes in Southern California.

In a notice last week, the LAPD said it “recognizes the increase in burglaries where homes in affluent neighborhoods are targeted.”

Joseph Choi speaks to the crowd on hand after he was sworn in as the Los Angeles Chief of Police on Friday, March 1, 2024. (David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)

“I can tell you that we have a significant increase in burglaries from organized groups that are outside this country, that are coming into the country, and they are targeting high-end residents,” Chief Dominic Choi said.

This year alone, the LAPD has recorded more than 900 Los Angeles homes that have been burglarized. The department said it was teaming up with other agencies that have been affected by organized groups coming into the country to engage in this criminal activity.

HOMELESS MAN ‘TERRORIZED’ COMMUNITIES IN 2 STATES AFTER ALLEGEDLY KILLING 3 FAMILY MEMBERS DURING CRIME SPREE

Most of the participants in these gangs are coming from Chile, but law enforcement has seen nationals from other South American countries, including Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.

It is believed that many of those involved in these organized crime rings are entering the U.S. by exploiting a 2014 visa waiver that was intended to promote tourism from trusted countries. The waiver allows nations of designated member participants to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.

Los Angeles Police Department headquarters. (Reuters)

LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton told the Los Angeles Times that the thieves tend not to carry guns to avoid gun charges.

“They sometimes carry jamming devices to disable home security systems,” he said.

Meanwhile, police in Scottsdale, Arizona are investigating a string of crimes related to South American theft groups. Last week, police announced three arrests in so-called “dinner-time burglaries,” FOX 10 reported.

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Oregon

5 things to know about Oregon’s newest reciever Iverson Hooks from UAB

Published

26 minutes ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

5 things to know about Oregon’s newest reciever Iverson Hooks from UAB

The Oregon Ducks lost a handful of players on Sunday to the transfer portal, but Dan Lanning and his staff are slowly building the 2026 roster back up, including a new target at wide receiver that could be a reminder of another slot receiver who wore the green and yellow.

Former Alabama-Birmingham receiver Iverson Hooks has committed to come out to the West Coast and play for the Ducks. Hooks was a go-to guy for the Blazers this season, and it will be difficult for UAB to replace him immediately. But UAB’s loss is definitely Oregon’s gain.

He was one of the better players in the American Conference in 2025, and it will be interesting to see how Hooks performs against tougher competition in the Big Ten. It’ll also be interesting to see how he fits into the Oregon roster and what looks to be yet another deep receivers room in Eugene.

American Conference Honors

Hooks earned Second-Team All-American Conference honors for the Blazers. He caught 72 passes for 972 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025. For his career, Hooks has 97 catches for 1,225 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The Tez Johnson/Gary Bryant Jr. Role

At just 5-foot-10 and a mere 175 pounds, Hooks is a similar player to former Duck slot receiver Tez Johnson, who also came from a Group of 5 league at Troy. He turned out to be pretty good, and there’s no reason to think Hooks won’t be either. The Ducks have had a history of making certain slot receivers into stars, such as Johnson and, most recently, Gary Bryant, Jr. Expect Hooks to pencil in at the slot and find his role there.

The WR Room Gets Deeper

Hooks should probably start in 2026 for the Ducks, but there’s no guarantee of that, as Oregon will bring back one of the more talented receiver rooms in the country. They’ll miss the likes of Bryant and Malik Benson, but Evan Stewart could be back, along with Dakorien Moore and Jeremiah McClellan. They also add Gatlin Bair fresh off of his mission, and have high-upside guys like Jalen Lott and Dillon Gresham looking for targets as well.

Remaining Eligibility

Due to an injury just three games into his redshirt freshman season in 2023, Hooks will have two years of eligibility remaining, just as Tez Johnson did when he left Troy for Eugene. Johnson made a huge jump from his junior to senior season, and the Ducks are hoping Hooks can make a similar jump as well.

Top 25 WR out of the portal

While Hooks isn’t a huge name on the market, as On3 rated him the No. 24 receiver in the portal, he doesn’t need to duplicate his numbers of 2025 to be successful for the Ducks. Oregon has plenty of playmakers on the roster and if Hooks can fill that role of being a slot receiver, make first downs, and be an occasional deep-ball threat, that should be more than good enough for the Ducks next season.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.

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Utah

Utah State Ranked No. 23 in Men’s Basketball Poll

Published

1 hour ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Courtesy of Utah State Athletics

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State men’s basketball is ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll for the first time of the 2025-26 season, checking in at No. 23 with 161 points in the poll. This is the third-straight year the Aggies have been ranked in the AP Poll, the first time in program history that has happened.

Currently sitting at 14-1 overall and an unbeaten 5-0 in Mountain West play, Utah State is the lone ranked team from the league, and is one of just two teams from mid-major leagues ranked this week, along with future Pac-12 mate Gonzaga (No. 9).

The Aggies also made their season debut in the USA Today Coaches Poll, checking in at No. 24. In today’s NET Rankings, Utah State ranks No. 12. USU has received votes in seven of the past eight AP Polls this season.

Utah State spent two weeks ranked last season, peaking at No. 22. In 2023-24, the Aggies were ranked for nine weeks and climbed as high as No. 16 in the poll.

UP NEXT
Utah State will return to Logan next week to host Nevada on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2025-26 men’s basketball season have sold out. Fans can purchase single game tickets for available remaining games here. A waitlist for 2026-27 season tickets is now available here.

FOLLOW
For more information on Utah State’s men’s basketball program, follow the Aggies on Facebook at usumensbasketball, on Twitter at @usubasketball and on Instagram at @usubasketball. Fans can also watch USU men’s basketball highlights by visiting youtube.com/utahstateathletics.

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Wyoming

Springville man dies after being buried in Wyoming avalanche

Published

2 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Springville man dies after being buried in Wyoming avalanche

SPRINGDALE, Utah (KUTV) — A Utah snowmobiler died in a Wyoming avalanche near LaBarge Creek.

Nicholas Bringhurst, 31, of Springville, Utah, was caught and buried in an avalanche at about 2:15 p.m. Jan. 11, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

Air Idaho responded to the area along with Star Valley Search and Rescue.

Officials said Bringhurst’s friend located and uncovered him. Despite CPR efforts, Bringhurst died as a result of injuries sustained in the avalanche.

The sheriff’s office expressed its “deepest sympathies” to the Bringhurst family in a social media post.

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