Adoption fraud was widespread for many South Koreans adopted into Western countries, AP finds

Yorely Bernal Inciarte was deported to Venezuela without her two-year-old daughter after being detained in Texas, where she and her partner were separated upon entry into the U.S. Inciarte's partner, Maiker Espinoza Escalona, was later transferred to a prison in El Salvador, while the child remains in U.S. government custody, leading to accusations from DHS labeling the parents as gang affiliates, which they deny. Venezuelan officials have condemned the U.S. for the separation, with Inciarte...

Jacob Vereb, owner of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial in Pittsburgh, has been charged with improperly disposing of thousands of pets' bodies and giving owners the ashes of other animals, defrauding them of over $650,000 from 2021 to 2024. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday stated that Vereb misled pet owners who paid for private cremation services, with more than 6,500 victims identified. He faces felony charges, including theft by deception, and the investigation...

Idaho Court Rules on Media Access to ExecutionsA federal judge ruled that Idaho prison officials must allow media witnesses to observe the preparation and administration of lethal injection drugs during executions, as part of a First Amendment lawsuit by several news organizations. U.S. District Judge Debora K. Grasham emphasized the public's right to access execution processes, noting that the state's current protocols keep this critical aspect hidden. The ruling aims to enhance transparency in the...

A Nassau County legislature candidate, Petros Krommidas, 29, has been missing since April 23, last seen in Baldwin, New York, and is believed to be in the Long Beach area. His family reported it is uncharacteristic for him not to respond to messages, as he left his belongings, including a towel and phone, on the beach after going for a late-night exercise. The police and family have urged the public to assist in the search...

Approximately 55,000 workers in Los Angeles County have initiated a two-day strike led by SEIU Local 721, citing failed contract negotiations and 44 alleged labor law violations. The strike, which affects various sectors including public services and health care, follows significant challenges faced by public workers after the January wildfires. Union leaders claim the county's proposal includes no cost-of-living increase while the county continues to invest in new office space, prompting concerns about the prioritization...

Four suspects, posing as police officers, robbed a deli in Brooklyn, New York City, forcing three males to the ground at gunpoint before fleeing in a dark van with stolen property. Surveillance footage captured the incident, which has led to an ongoing investigation by the NYPD, with no arrests made yet. The United Bodegas of America is offering a $5,000 reward for information on the robbery and advocating for panic buttons in bodegas for enhanced...