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Bank error allows customers who have no money in their account to withdraw 1,000 euros at ATMs People queued at cash machines in Dublin as news of the IT blunder spread

By Our Foreign Staff 16 August 2023 • 12:27am The bank told customers that it is working to rectify the difficulties as a “high priority” The bank told customers that it is working to rectify the difficulties as a “high priority” CREDIT: REUTERS Bank of Ireland has warned customers that money withdrawn from ATMs will still be debited from their accounts after some people with low balances reported being able to take out 1,000 euros in cash following an IT failure.

An Garda Siochana said it was aware of an “unusual volume of activity” at some ATMs across the country following reports of people queuing to withdraw money at Bank of Ireland cash machines.

The gardai also said it was aware of issues relating to banking services on Tuesday after the bank’s online and app services were down.

Officers were on Tuesday night reported to be guarding some ATMs after videos were posted on social media of huge queues forming in Dublin, Limerick and Dundalk.

In a statement to the PA news agency, a Bank of Ireland spokesman said: “We would like to remind customers that if they transfer or withdraw funds - including over their normal limits - this money will be debited from their account.

“While we are conscious customers may not be able to check their balance at this time, they should not withdraw or transfer funds if they are likely to become overdrawn.”

Police also said they would “remind people of their personal responsibility in carrying out their personal banking”.

A spokesman for banking technology firm Revolut said it was “looking into” claims that excess amounts of money had been transferred into customer’s accounts from Bank of Ireland.

A fault with the online app allowed people who have no money in their account to transfer up to €500 into a Revolut account, the Irish Independent reported.

Earlier, Bank of Ireland said it does not have an estimated time for when its mobile app and web service 365Online will be restored.

Upon opening the app, users are informed they are unable to connect while the website is also unavailable.

The bank has told customers that its technical team is working to rectify the difficulties as a “high priority”.

Customers reported having no access to their accounts for hours and being unable to transfer money for “important payments”.

Apologising to users, Bank of Ireland said: “We are aware that customers using our mobile app and 365Online are currently experiencing difficulties.

“We are working to fix this issue as quickly as possible and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

The bank also acknowledged that some customers were having difficulties withdrawing cash from ATMs.

Shortly before 10pm on Tuesday, the bank added that it did not “have an ETA” for the restoration of services.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/08/16/bank-of-ireland-atm-1000-euros-gardai/

WEST HARTFORD, CT — State investigators released dramatic footage Friday of when a West Hartford police officer shot and killed a car theft suspect outside of Town Fair Tire on Tuesday.

The Connecticut Officer of the Inspector General released five different angles of the incident late Friday morning, the most dramatic being of the officer involved in the shooting.

In addition, state investigators also released the identities of the suspect killed and the WHPD officer involved in the incident.

The suspect has been identified as Mike Alexander-Garcia, 34, who was described as a Hispanic male, according to a preliminary state report released Friday.

State officials identified the WHPD police officer involved in the shooting as being K-9 officer Andrew Teeter.

Find out what's happening in West Hartfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch. Your email address Subscribe While the investigation is ongoing, state officials in their report released a detailed chronology of Tuesday afternoon's events at a busy commercial district in town.

According to the three-page report, at about 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, West Hartford police were attempting to stop a stolen Hyundai Elentra traveling east on New Britain Avenue.

At the New Britain Avenue/South Street intersection, the stolen Hyundai hit a silver BMW and a blue Honda Pilot, disabling the Hyundai, state officials wrote in the report.

According to investigators, the two occupants of the stolen vehicle, Lyle Solsbury, 46, and Alexander-Garcia, exited the Hyundai and fled.

Solsbury was immediately apprehended by police, with Alexander-Garcia fleeing east on New Britain Avenue, authorities wrote.

In the report, the state alleges Alexander-Garcia unsuccessfully tried to carjack two vehicles, eventually making his way to a Town Fair Tire at 980 New Britain Ave.

State authorities said Alexander-Garcia entered the Town Fair Tire garage and then entered the driver's side of a Toyota Rav4 vehicle being serviced there.

Shortly after, Teeter and his police dog entered the garage and the passenger side of the vehicle and attempted to subdue Alexander-Garcia, according to state officials.

"Despite the K-9 and Officer Teeter being in the vehicle struggling with Alexander-Garcia, he backed out of the garage and drove out of the Town Fair Tire parking lot striking two vehicles. One of those vehicles was the K-9 police vehicle," wrote the state Office of the Inspector General. "As Alexander-Garcia continued to drive, Officer Teeter discharged his weapon multiple times, striking Alexander-Garcia in the torso."

The Toyota ended up crashing across the street into a utility pole, near the intersection of New Britain Avenue and Shield Street, officials said.

Authorities said Teeter sustained a broken rib and multiple head lacerations and was taken to the hospital. The police dog was unharmed.

Alexander-Garcia was taken to Hartford Hospital and pronounced dead at 5:53 p.m. that afternoon, reads the report.

Authorities said the investigation into the incident is continuing.

West Hartford town and police officials weighed in on the situation, expressing hope for a thorough state probe into the matter.

“Any loss of life is tragic in such a difficult situation. The videos that have been released are undeniably hard to watch. Thankfully, Connecticut has been a national leader in developing a fair, independent and transparent system for investigating police-involved shootings. I am confident that our police department will work together with state authorities to ensure that a comprehensive and thorough investigation is conducted into this incident,” said Democratic West Hartford Mayor Shari G. Cantor in a statement.

The town's top WHPD official said the release of the footage was necessary and the department believes "strongly" in transparency of the facts.

Joan Meyer, the 98-year-old co-owner of a small Kansas newspaper, collapsed and died at her home on Saturday, a day after police raided her home and the Marion County Record's office, the newspaper said. Meyer had been "stressed beyond her limits and overwhelmed by hours of shock and grief," the Record said, calling the raids illegal.

Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody on Saturday defended the raid and said that once all the information is available, "the judicial system that is being questioned will be vindicated." Police have not shared an update since Meyer's death was announced.

Police took Meyer's computer and a router used by an Alexa smart speaker during the raid at her home, according to the paper. Officers at the Record's office seized personal cellphones, computers, the newspaper's file server and other equipment. Cody also allegedly forcibly grabbed reporter Deb Gruver's cellphone, injuring a finger that had previously been dislocated.

"Our first priority is to be able to publish next week," publisher Eric Meyer said. "But we also want to make sure no other news organization is ever exposed to the Gestapo tactics we witnessed today. We will be seeking the maximum sanctions possible under law."

The federal Privacy Protection Act protects journalists and newsrooms from most searches by law enforcement, requiring police usually to issue subpoenas rather than search warrants.

"It is true that in most cases, it requires police to use subpoenas, rather than search warrants, to search the premises of journalists unless they themselves are suspects in the offense that is the subject of the search," Cody said.

Friday's raid was conducted on the basis of a search warrant. The search warrant, posted online by the Kansas Reflector, indicates police were investigating identity theft and unlawful acts concerning computers. It also indicated police were looking for documents and records pertaining to local restauranteur Kari Newell.

According to the Record, Newell had accused the newspaper of illegally obtaining drunk driving information about Newell and supplying it to Marion Councilwoman Ruth Herbel.

"The Record did not seek out the information," the newspaper wrote. "Rather, it was provided by a source who sent it to the newspaper via social media and also sent it to Herbel."

The Record verified the information about Newell through public records but did not plan to publish it, believing that the information had "been intentionally leaked to the newspaper as part of legal sparring between Newell and her estranged husband," the paper wrote.

"The victim asks that we do all the law allows to ensure justice is served," Cody said. "The Marion Kansas Police Department will [do] nothing less."

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation assisted in the investigation "into allegations of illegal access and dissemination of confidential criminal justice information," the bureau said in a statement.

"Director Mattivi believes very strongly that freedom of the press is a vanguard of American democracy... But another principle of our free society is equal application of the law," the bureau said, adding, "No one is above the law, whether a public official or a representative of the media."

Police have fallen under scrutiny due to the search, with free speech advocates expressing concern about its implications.

Dozens of news organizations, including CBS News, on Sunday condemned the raid in a letter sent by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press to Cody.

"Your department's seizure of this equipment has substantially interfered with the Record's First Amendment-protected newsgathering in this instance, and the department's actions risk chilling the free flow of information in the public interest more broadly, including by dissuading sources from speaking to the Record and other Kansas news media in the future," the letter said.

The raid appears to have violated federal law and the First Amendment, according to Seth Stern, advocacy director of Freedom of the Press Foundation.

"This looks like the latest example of American law enforcement officers treating the press in a manner previously associated with authoritarian regimes," Stern said Friday. "The anti-press rhetoric that's become so pervasive in this country has become more than just talk and is creating a dangerous environment for journalists trying to do their jobs."

PEN America on Saturday said law enforcement should be held accountable for violating the Record's rights.

"Journalists rely on confidential sources to report on matters of vital public concern," Shannon Jankowski, PEN America's journalism and disinformation program director, said in a statement. "Law enforcement's sweeping raid on The Marion County Record and confiscation of its equipment almost certainly violates federal law and puts the paper's very ability to publish the news in jeopardy."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kansas-newspaper-police-raid-marion-county-record-joan-meyer-dies/

A group of congressional Democrats visited the U.S.-Mexico border Thursday to tour the recently constructed barriers on the Rio Grande River and look into other controversial border security measures put in place by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R).

The group, led by Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), included fellow Reps. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) and Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D), according to a release. The group visited the border along the Eagle Pass portion, which Gutierrez represents.

The barriers, installed as part of a Texas anti-illegal immigration effort known as “Operation Lone Star,” have received criticism from both those inside the government and those on the outside. The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against Texas for the barriers late last month, alleging Abbott “flouted federal law” by installing the measures “without obtaining the required federal authorization.”

“Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) led a congressional delegation (CODEL) to Eagle Pass, Texas,” a statement from Castro’s office read. “The purpose of the delegation was for legislators to see the deadly razor wire and buoys that Texas Governor Abbott installed in the Rio Grande as part of Operation Lone Star and to engage with local leaders and community members about the impact of Operation Lone Star on asylum-seekers and federal immigration enforcement.”

A few of the lawmakers who visited the border appeared to post reactions from their visit. Garcia posted a video on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, of what seemed to be the barriers.

Related video: Has Texas installed a floating barrier with chainsaws to injure migrants? (Dailymotion)

“Appalled by the ongoing cruel and inhumane tactics employed by @GovAbbott at the Texas border,” the caption of her post read. “The situation’s reality is unsettling as these buoys’ true danger and brutality come to light. We must stop this NOW!”

Gutierrez, a candidate running against Sen. Ted Cruz (R) in 2024 for his seat, called Operation Lone Star a “failure” in posts on X and Facebook tied to his visit.

“Standing alongside members of the Texas Congressional delegation today in Eagle Pass to discuss the failure of Operation Lone Star and the humanitarian crisis Greg Abbott and his allies have inflicted on our border,” he said.

Jackson Lee posted a video of herself on social media looking out at what appeared to be the floating barriers, calling for more “humane treatment” when it comes to immigration.

“We are seeing clearly what Abbott’s Operation Lone Star program is doing to women and children,” the caption on her post read. “The inhumane treatment from this program is not solving our immigration problem but is causing a spectacle at the border.”

Castro also posted commentary on social media, sharing wa video of himself in front of the buoys and later showing more of what he said is a “public park.” In the video, he called the floating barriers, razor wire and Abbott’s border operation as a whole “barbaric.”

“Everyone needs to see what I saw in Eagle Pass today,” the post’s caption reads. “Clothing stuck on razor wire where families got trapped. Chainsaw devices in the middle of buoys. Land seized from US citizens.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democrats-tour-rio-grande-amid-criticism-of-recently-installed-buoys-razor-wire/ar-AA1f1m2C

Two separatist militants were killed Sunday when they attacked a convoy carrying Chinese workers to a Beijing-financed port project in Pakistan's Balochistan province, officials said.

A spokesman for China's consulate in Karachi said none of its nationals were killed or wounded in the attack, and urged Chinese citizens to heighten their vigilance.

Various Baloch separatist groups have claimed attacks on projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project in the past, with thousands of security personnel deployed to counter threats against Beijing's interests.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) said Sunday two of its fighters died in a "self-sacrificing" attack on a convoy going to Gwadar port in Pakistan's southwest.

"The operation has concluded with the elimination of two assailants," a senior police official told AFP, adding that three Pakistani soldiers were wounded.

China's consulate in Karachi said it had asked Pakistan to "severely punish the perpetrators and take concrete and effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions and projects".

"A Chinese convoy from the Gwadar port project was hit by roadside bombs and gunfire on its way back to the port area from the Gwadar Airport," it said in a statement.

"No Chinese citizens were killed or injured."

The BLA, which frequently exaggerates its successes, claimed in a statement that four Chinese workers and nine Pakistani soldiers had died in the attack.

• 'No fair share' -

The CPEC project is the cornerstone of Beijing's massive Belt and Road Initiative and seeks to link China's western Xinjiang province to Gwadar port in Balochistan -- Pakistan's least populous province but rich in mineral resources.

Baloch people have long complained they do not get a fair share of the province's profits, giving rise to more than a dozen separatist groups.

Three Chinese academics and their Pakistani driver were killed when a woman suicide bomber detonated her device as they were driving into the University of Karachi's Confucius Institute in April 2022.

The BLA claimed responsibility for that attack.

A year earlier, five people were killed in an attack claimed by Pakistan's Taliban at a luxury hotel hosting the Chinese ambassador in Quetta.

Also in 2021, 12 people -- including nine Chinese workers -- were killed by a blast aboard a bus carrying staff to the Dasu dam site.

Islamabad blamed that explosion on a gas leak but Beijing insisted it was a bomb attack.

Since its initiation, CPEC has seen tens of billions of dollars funnelled into massive transport, energy and infrastructure projects.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng was in the Pakistani capital last month to mark the 10th anniversary of the project's start.

The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was detained by Iran's so-called morality police has sparked angry protests, with women burning their headscarves in a defiant act of resistance against the Islamic Republic's strict dress code and those enforcing it.

The Gasht-e Ershad (Guidance Patrols) are special police units tasked with ensuring the respect of Islamic morals and detaining people who are perceived to be "improperly" dressed.

Under Iranian law, which is based on the country's interpretation of Sharia, women are obliged to cover their hair with a hijab (headscarf) and wear long, loose-fitting clothing to disguise their figures.

Ms Amini allegedly had some hair visible under her headscarf when she was arrested by morality police in Tehran on 13 September. She fell into a coma shortly after collapsing at a detention centre and died three days later in hospital. The force denied reports that officers beat her head with a baton and banged it against one of their vehicles.

"They told us the reason we are working for the morality police units is to protect women," he said. "Because if they do not dress properly, then men could get provoked and harm them."

He said they worked in teams of six, comprising four men and two women, and focused on areas with high foot traffic and where crowds gather.

"It's weird, because if we are just going to guide people why do we need to pick somewhere busy that potentially means we could arrest more people?"

"It's like we are going out for a hunt."

The officer added that his commander would tell him off or say he was not working properly if he did not identify enough people violating the dress code, and that he found it particularly difficult when people resisted arrest.

"They expect us to force them inside the van. Do you know how many times I was in tears while doing it?"

"I want to tell them I am not one of them. Most of us are ordinary soldiers going through our mandatory military service. I feel so bad."

Post-revolutionary decree The Iranian authorities' fight against "bad hijab" - wearing a headscarf or other mandatory clothing incorrectly - began soon after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, a major aim of which was to make women dress modestly.

While many women were doing so at the time, miniskirts and uncovered hair were not uncommon sights on the streets of Tehran before the pro-Western Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was overthrown. His wife Farah, who often wore Western clothing, was held up as an example of a modern woman.

Montgomery, Alabama's Riverfront Park offers a calming vista for locals to take in the scenery of the state capital on the banks of the Alabama River. On Aug. 5, however, the park was the scene of a now-viral brawl between several people. Just how did it all start, and how did it get to a point where people were being thrown into the river?

What happened at the Harriott II riverboat in Alabama? It all started when a group of boaters refused to move their pontoon boat from a dock at the park normally reserved for the Harriott II riverboat. The confrontation quickly escalated after three white men began attacking a Black security guard who told them they needed to move their vessel.

Some bystanders, including tourists aboard the Harriott II, called for someone to help him. A group of men quickly swooped in and began attacking the men who came after the security guard; one even used a folding chair as a weapon.

To try to defuse the situation, a Harriott II crew member—now known widely as "Black Aquaman" on social media—jumped in the water and began swimming toward the dock to join in on the action.

Who is 'Black Aquaman'? According to Newsweek, the citizen who swam to the rescue has been identified as a 16-year-old boy named Aaren. His identity was seemingly confirmed by a statement from Makina Lashea, a woman who claimed to be the family publicist.

"In the face of adversity, Aaren selflessly came to the rescue of a fellow colleague, showcasing courage beyond his years," Lashea said. "We are immensely proud of his actions and the values he exemplifies, standing as an inspiration to us all."

Besides Black Aquaman, Aaren has been dubbed several other names including Michael B. Phelps, Tyrone Lochte, and Shaquille O'Gills.

Are the people involved in the Alabama riverboat fight facing charges? Police eventually intervened to detain those involved in the melee, including the boat owners who originally attacked the security guard. On Aug. 6, Mayor Steven Reed addressed the incident that had since been seen worldwide.

"Last night, the Montgomery Police Department acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job. Warrants have been signed and justice will be served," Reed said on social media.

"This was an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred," the statement continued. "As our police department investigates these intolerable actions, we should not become desensitized to violence of any kind in our community. Those who choose violence will be held accountable by our criminal justice system."

As of Aug. 7, there are four active warrants for arrest, according to USA Today. The police department told the publication that more may be coming after they review more videos of the incident.

https://www.mensjournal.com/news/black-aquaman-alabama-boat-fight-video

In a video seen and shared by millions, a retired Royal Marine suffering from advanced physical symptoms of Parkinson’s is asked by a neurologist to touch his own nose and then touch her finger. As someone who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in August 2017, this is a common test that I’m asked to do each time I see my neurologist. My family, friends and colleagues are hyper-aware of all things Parkinson’s. Many of them highlighted this video for me to watch. It is amazing, but do you know what you’re watching?

In the video, the man’s hand wags uncontrollably in front of his face unable to will it to do much of anything. He flinches as he flicks his own nose harder than he’d like to have. He’s asked to pick up a plastic water cup. He takes a deep breath and silently commands his body to do so. He crushes the cup in a vice grip and flails it about. Had it been filled with water, it would have all spilled about.

A retired Royal Marine suffering from the degenerative Parkinson’s Disease. Watch the moment his world was changed forever after undergoing a life-changing therapy for Parkinson’s using Technology pic.twitter.com/amODSeE8IJ

— Kevin W (@kwilli1046) October 11, 2018 His family painfully watches it all — you see how they are physically distraught by the extreme tremors. Fifty seconds into the video, the neurologist switches on the electric stimulation deep in his brain. You can see the change immediately. It’s as if he’s awakened. Suddenly he’s alert, his eyes flash with surprise, and a smile creeps across his face.

The neurologist asks, “does that feel better?”

“That feels great,” he says. His family, amazed at the transformation, exhale in laughter and are visibly relieved.

The neurologist repeats the tests from earlier and the tremors have all but disappeared. The retired Royal Marine once again has command of his body. But, now he’s lost control of his emotions. Tears well up in his eyes. He uses a tissue to catch the happiness streaming down his face. At the end, he looks around the room at his family and says, “that deserves a round of applause.”

Indeed it does.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is life-changing for some people in the Parkinson’s community. It’s a late-stage option for people with Parkinson’s who no longer see results from Levadopa-Carbidopa medication which creates synthetic dopamine. In cases that qualify for DBS, fine wires are inserted into parts of the brain and are electrically stimulated. Usually, the wires connect to a battery that is implanted.

It is important to note, this is not a cure for Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s is a movement disorder, but it’s more than a shake, a tremor, or a halted gate. In fact, some people with Parkinson’s never develop a tremor. It’s not just a physical disease. Parkinson’s is a collection of symptoms which, in addition to everything you see, includes many non-physical symptoms like loss of smell, bladder issues, depression, anxiety, sleeping issues and more. And there is no cure.

(You can find more on the symptoms on the parkinson.ca website.)

However, for approximately one per cent of Parkinson’s patients worldwide who experienced extreme physical symptoms and received the treatment, Deep Brain Stimulation is miracle-like. DBS can improve tremor, rigidity, slow movement and walking problems. A friend of mine in the U.K., David Sangster, is hoping to get DBS and has been documenting his journey on YouTube.

https://globalnews.ca/news/4550082/larry-gifford-parkinson-podcast/

An Orange County Superior Court judge was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of murdering his wife at their Anaheim Hills home, leaving the county’s legal community reeling in disbelief.

After spending the night in jail, Judge Jeffrey Ferguson was released Friday afternoon on $1 million bail, as neighbors talked of seeing the 72-year-old judge previously being taken into custody by a swarm of heavily armed police outside his house in the 8500 block of East Canyon Vista Drive.

Anaheim officers had been called around 8 p.m. Thursday and found Sheryl Ferguson, 65, fatally shot inside the two-story home, Sgt. Jon McClintock said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Their college-age son was home at the time, multiple sources said, and made the 911 call.

Ferguson’s murder arrest, a rarity in the legal world, created some thorny issues for the local justice system, such as whether the state or the county would handle the prosecution. Where would the case be tried?

Also, since Ferguson had not been formally charged as of Friday afternoon, prosecutors did not have a chance prior to his release to ask a judge to order Ferguson held without bail, or perhaps to increase the amount of his bail.

The felony bail schedule in OC Superior Court automatically sets $1 million for most murder cases. The exception is murder cases with special circumstances, such as lying in wait, which default to no bail.

Investigators remove firearms from a house in the 8500 block of E. Canyon Vista Dr. in Anaheim, CA on Friday, August 4, 2023. Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson was arrested late Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023 after police received reports of a shooting in an Anaheim home and found the judge’s wife, Sheryl Ferguson, inside with at least one fatal gunshot wound, Anaheim Police said. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Detectives late Friday were not disclosing any additional details because the investigation is ongoing, McClintock said.

Also see: Judge admonished for Facebook comment, friendships with defense attorneys

Investigators continued searching the couple’s home Friday and brought out more than a dozen guns as well as other boxes, including some with ammunition, and bags of evidence. McClintock said investigators found the gun believed to have been used in the shooting.

“I didn’t know what was about to happen,” he said. But I remember him saying, like, shouting loudly that he was unarmed.”

Ventura said police continued to shout commands, telling Ferguson to get down on his knees, but the judge refused to comply. “He was like, “No, I’m not gonna get on my knees but I’m unarmed’.”

The thought that Ferguson could have criminally killed his wife conflicted with his reputation in some circles as a compassionate judge concerned with the welfare of defendants in alcohol and drug abuse cases.

Attorney Lloyd Freeberg said he worked with Ferguson in helping substance abusers get clean and sober — Freeberg from the defense chair and Ferguson from the bench at the courthouse in Fullerton.

The two had become so close that Freeberg cried all night after hearing of Ferguson’s arrest and the death of his wife.

“This is a great loss. I’ve shed an awful lot of tears on this one,” Freeberg said. “He saved a hell of a lot of people by getting them clean and sober and making them play by the rules.”

Freeberg’s former clients as well as legal professionals were shocked by the news.

“This morning I went to North Court and had to turn around and leave, it was so emotional,” Freeberg said. “It was pretty devastating, a lot of people were stunned. They’re pretty troubled by it.”

Defense attorney James Crawford added, “I think everybody is shocked. There’s no reason to believe that something like this could happen involving Jeff. There’s no signs.”

“I’m really sad about Jeff.”

Crawford said he once had a drug case against Ferguson, who was a prosecutor at the time.”I thought he was fair and easy to deal with,” Crawford said. “He was straightforward and wouldn’t try to jam you if you weren’t ready to proceed.”

Joel Garson, a veteran Orange County attorney, met Sheryl Ferguson when their sons were in the same Boy Scout troop. Garson was the scout leader; Sheryl’s son rose to the level of Eagle Scout.

Sheryl Ferguson was an especially active parent in the troop, Garson said, always volunteering and helping organize functions.

“She always had a smile on her face, always volunteered, never had a mean thing to say about anybody,” Garson said. “She was concerned about not only her son but also other boys in the troop.”

Even after her son left for college, Sheryl Ferguson continued to occasionally show up to troop functions, Garson said, including a recent event honoring one of the Boy Scout leaders.

“Everyone I know is shocked this happened,” Garson said.

Retired Buena Park Police Chief Corey Sianez and his wife Genieve Sianez, who are neighbors and friends of the Fergusons, placed flowers outside of the family’s home pn Friday afternoon.

Sianez, who worked for the Buena Park Police Department for 42 years, including a dozen years as chief before retiring in 2022, said he has known Jeffrey Ferguson for years, first as a deputy district attorney and later as a judge.

He said the Fergusons attended a Neighborhood Watch meeting he sponsored about two months ago. There didn’t appear to be any noticeable friction between the couple, he added.

Ferguson was always calm and funny, while Sheryl Ferguson seemed supportive of her husband, Sianez said. “It’s pretty shocking,” he said. ” Why did he (Ferguson) do this? He had a good life.”

Hours before the shooting, the judge re-posted a 2013 photo of his wife on his Facebook page.

Before rising to the bench in 2015, Ferguson was an Orange County deputy district attorney for 31 years, joining the office in 1983, according to his campaign biography.

As a prosecutor, he worked his way up from the juvenile court to being named senior deputy district attorney, assigned to the Major Narcotics Enforcement Team. He also led the Probation Offender Search and Seizure Enforcement task force, comprised of 30 separate state and local police agencies.

As a judge, Ferguson was publicly admonished in 2017 by the state Commission on Judicial Performance for making an inappropriate comment about a judicial candidate on Facebook and remaining Facebook “friends” with attorneys appearing before him in court.

The panel found that Ferguson violated the code of judicial ethics by posting a comment “with knowing or reckless disregard for the truth of the statement.”

In his campaign biography, Ferguson said his wife previously worked for both the Santa Barbara and Orange County probation departments and then for American Funds Service Company for almost 20 years.

Where he will make his first court appearance, if he is charged with a crime, is unclear. Orange County’s presiding judge can decide to transfer the case outside of the county if that jurist decides a conflict of interest exists.

It was also unclear who would likely prosecute the case.

On Friday, Orange County prosecutors were coordinating with the State Attorney General’s Office to determine who would take the potential case against Ferguson.

“Our thoughts go to the family,” Orange County Superior Court Presiding Judge Maria Hernandez said in a statement. “We all pray for their comfort during this trying time.

“Although no case has been filed with our court, when appropriate we will take all necessary steps to ensure full compliance with our legal and ethical obligations,” she said.

Attorney Freeberg said Jeff and Sheryl Ferguson appeared to be a “match,” with her often accompanying him at professional and social events.

“I think there is a lot to the story we don’t know.”

https://www.ocregister.com/2023/08/03/orange-county-judge-taken-into-custody-at-his-anaheim-home-after-shooting-death-sources-say/

Hundreds of fans lined up outside of the Shaquille O’Neal-owned Big Chicken location in Valencia Saturday afternoon, thanks to the news that the Lakers icon would be visiting the restaurant.

Owned by restaurateur Andy Gitipityapon (Giti) and sports chiropractor Pat Khaziran, the Valencia Big Chicken location was packed to the brim with excited Santa Clarita locals, all hoping for a glimpse of the former NBA star.

“We are super excited,” Giti said. “We opened back in October so it’s long-awaited. I feel that the community has been looking forward to having Shaq come in and he’s finally here, so everyone’s super excited.”

Also in the audience of basketball fans were children from local non-profit organizations like the Boys and Girls Club of the Santa Clarita Valley, the Michael Hoefflin Foundation, and various high schools.

“We love and appreciate the community support and Shaq is here just to say a big thank you for all the support that the community has given. And we want to give back to the schools and communities and organizations.”

Nine-year-old Liam Tellez shared his excitement to meet O’Neal, as he had been reading one of the star’s children’s books in preparation for the event.

Tellez and his family joined Shaq as one of the Michael Hoefflin Foundation patient families, a Santa Clarita organization that provides support for the families of childhood cancer patients.

Cries of joy filled the air as the 7’1” former Lakers center made his grand entrance, taking photos with fans and greeting the Big Chicken staff.

O’Neal commented that community outreach and building up the next generation is a part of the core philosophy behind the Big Chicken brand.

“That’s what we do. We love the community, we love the kids, we love the people and want to make sure our franchisees have the same vision that we have,” O’Neal said in an interview with KHTS.

Shaq shared his usual order at Big Chicken: An MDE sandwich with its usual topping of Shaq sauce and pickles, a side of fries and a large pineapple cream soda.

https://www.hometownstation.com/santa-clarita-news/community-news/shaq-visits-valencia-big-chicken-478287

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- The Harris County Medical Examiner's Office has confirmed the area's first heat-related death. The family of 67-year-old Victor Ramos said they never imagined he would be a victim of the heat and want to raise awareness of the dangers.

The video above is from ABC13's Live Streaming Channel.

Karla Ramos told ABC13 reporter Lileana Pearson her brother grew up in California and spent his life working in hot warehouses, so she never imagined her brother would die from the heat inside his own home.

PREVIOUS REPORT: N. Houston woman found unresponsive in car was Harris Co.'s 1st heat-related death in 2022

That day before Karla Ramos called 911 for her brother, she said he had made a few complaints.

"He told me that Friday, the 23rd, 'I'm not feeling good. I'm feeling kind of tired,'" Karla said.

She encouraged him to take a cool shower and lie down.

"I went back at nine on Saturday morning, and he was gone. I found him with a bunch of saliva on the side, so I knew something was wrong," Karla said.

On June 24, Karla called 911, and Victor was taken to the hospital but pronounced dead. The Harris County medical examiner confirmed it was the first heat-related death in the county.

RELATED: How extreme heat takes a toll on the mind and body, according to experts

"When I found him Saturday morning, it was mind-blowing because I never expected him not to have survived this," Karla said.

The medical examiner's office said Victor was in a house without air conditioning.

His sister said they knew the AC was out and had been working on it in the days leading up to his death.

Karla said she recently lost a sister and her mother and said this blow adds weight to her shoulders as she also cares for her sick father.

But she wants people to know a heat-related death can happen to anyone.

"If you have family help them out. If you can't help them fix the AC, get some fans. $40 isn't going to make you go broke," Karla said.

On Friday, in Richmond, law enforcement confirmed that a 6-year-old boy died after being found unresponsive inside a family vehicle after his family noticed he was missing.

SEE REPORT HERE: Richmond police investigate 6-year-old boy's death after he's found inside family vehicle

Officials told ABC13 that the vehicle was off and hot when the child was found.

https://abc13.com/heat-related-death-excessive-heat-houston-weather-severe-in/13508211/