Aurora police use real time information center to boost officer, public safety
The Aurora Police Department has a new resource designed to enhance both officer and community safety: the Real Time Information Center.
The Aurora Police Department's Real Time Information Center.
CBS
Housed inside police headquarters, the center leverages citywide technology like surveillance cameras, drones, license plate readers, and crime data into one centralized hub.
From there, trained staff can monitor activity in real time and relay critical updates directly to officers in the field.
"We want to make sure that we have officers on the ground. We also have eyes in the sky," said Agent Matthew Longshore. "Our techs can manipulate cameras, zoom in, scan areas, and provide officers with real-time details about suspects, vehicles, or activity tied to a call for service."
For instance, if a stolen vehicle triggers a license plate reader, staff can quickly locate the car on nearby cameras, identify any unique features, and pass that intel to officers before they arrive on the scene. They can provide vehicle descriptions, behavior patterns, and even track suspects leaving an area.
CBS Colorado's Tori Mason at the Aurora Police Department's Real Time Information Center.
CBS
"We want to make sure that we have knowledgeable, professional people in here who can do the job effectively. They are the first line of defense for our officers on the road. They're able to see things before the officers can see things," said Longshore.
Aurora's upcoming Global Fest will be the largest event to date, and it will be supported by the Real-Time Information Center. Operators will be monitoring cameras throughout the festival grounds and the surrounding area.
"We want to make sure that people attending, performing, selling things, our vendors, feel safe and supported," said Longshore. "We've increased our staffing, both seen and unseen. We're going to have our special units out there, some of them in plain clothes."
While there have been no specific threats, Longshore says the department is proactively increasing security presence as a precaution.
The Aurora Police Department's Real Time Information Center.
CBS
The department is still expanding the center's capabilities. Six stations are available inside, and staffing levels adjust depending on crime patterns and major events. Data is continuously being analyzed to determine the most effective hours of operation and deployment.
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USA Today
10 hours ago
- USA Today
Could Trump fail on tax bill? Why going 'big' doesn't always work out as planned
Could Trump fail on tax bill? Why going 'big' doesn't always work out as planned Disputes inside the GOP about parts of Trump's major tax bill threaten approval in the Senate and past compromises reached by the Republican-led House. Show Caption Hide Caption Elon Musk 'disappointed' with Trump's tax bill Elon Musk told CBS he is 'disappointed' with President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful' tax bill. Republicans begin debate in the narrowly divided Senate with factions seeking to increase spending cuts or curbing tax breaks, which threaten the compromise needed for approval back in the House. Trump's billionaire adviser Elon Musk complicated the debate by urging lawmakers to kill the bill. Congressional leaders insist approval is still possible despite the fissures in the narrow Republican majorities in each chamber and the unified opposition of Democrats. WASHINGTON – Will President Donald Trump's 'big beautiful bill' go bust? The second-term president's highest-priority legislation is under attack from some Senate Republicans – and from his former billionaire adviser Elon Musk – for costing too much. Complaints are also mounting from Republicans who are opposed to cutting Medicaid health insurance and other popular programs used by many Americans, especially as a way to help pay for tax breaks that would benefit some of the country's highest-income earners. With Republicans holding the slimmest of majorities in both chambers of Congress and with Democrats showing no sign of wanting to help Trump notch a major win to begin his new administration, lawmakers from Trump's own party are sounding apprehensive about threading the needle before their self-imposed July 4 deadline to get something to the president's desk for signature into law. More: Trump and Musk's bromance ends after personal attacks over criticism of tax bill 'We're anxious to get to work on it," Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, told reporters earlier in the week as Republicans and Musk started publicly airing their complaints about the effort. Adding to the challenge: Some of the very House GOP members who last month voted in favor of their 1,100-page version of Trump's tax and policy plan started finding faults of their own that they say meant they'd probably have been a 'no' if they had the chance to do it again. Presidents often aim high to start terms Presidents often try in their first year to build on the momentum of their elections to get major legislation approved. For Joe Biden, it was an infrastructure bill. For Barack Obama, it was overhauling healthcare insurance. For George W. Bush, it was overhauling public education. Trump leapt into action in 2025 with an unprecedented pace of executive orders: 157 through May 23. When he turned to legislation, he persuaded Republican congressional leaders to package all his priorities into one bill, rather than splitting taxes and border security into two different bills, to complete the debate in one fell swoop. More: Everything's an 'emergency': How Trump's executive order record pace is testing the courts Lawmakers often shy away from piling too much into one bill because each contentious provision spurs its own opposition. But faced with the prospect of unanimous Democratic opposition, Trump opted for a strategy that focuses on GOP priorities such as tax relief and border security while personally lobbying reluctant Republicans to stay in line. 'Americans have given us a mandate for bold and profound change,' Trump told Congress in a speech March 4. 'I call on all of my Republican friends in the Senate and House to work as fast as they can to get this Bill to MY DESK before the Fourth of JULY,' he added in a social media post about three months later, on June 2. Musk opposition makes waves Trump's efforts worked in the Republican-led House, which after several days of negotiations and an all-night floor debate voted 215-214 in favor of a plan that had the full backing of the White House. Getting the measure through the Senate - even with the GOP in charge needing just a simple majority of 51 votes - is proving to be its own elusive challenge. Musk, the former head of Trump's bureaucracy-slashing Department of Government Efficiency, spent this past week unloading on the House-passed bill for spending too much money. He called the legislation "pork-filled" and a "disgusting abomination," and urged lawmakers to "KILL the BILL." More: The post-fight fallout from Trump-Musk battle could get even uglier While Musk's barrage ignited a war with Trump and left many Republicans cringing, deficit hawks in the GOP said they appreciated the world's richest man also pushing for deeper spending cuts from the U.S. government. "I welcome people like Elon Musk that try to hold our feet to the fire," said Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Missouri. "We often disappoint our voters when we don't do the cuts that we campaign on, when we're not fiscally responsible." But Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, who served in the Air Force for 30 years, said the division between Trump and Musk wasn't a good look for his party, especially when it's trying to advance the primary piece of legislation on the president's agenda. "It's just not helpful," Bacon said. "When you have division, divided teams don't perform as well." 'The opposite of conservative': Sen. Paul on bill Several pockets of Republican senators have voiced concerns about the House-passed legislation. Each group has their issue that they want addressed, and each one presents a hurdle for Trump and GOP leaders like Thune as they try to cobble together a winning 51-vote coalition that can also make it back through the House for another final vote. The Senate factions include one group seeking to cut more spending because the Congressional Budget Office said the House-passed plan would add $2.4 trillion to the debt over the next 10 years. Others are worried about cutting Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for low-income families. And another handful of senators say they are worried about the House-passed bill rolling back renewable energy tax credits for solar, wind, geothermal and nuclear energy. "There are many of us who recognize that what came out of the House was pretty aggressive in how it seeks to wind down or phase out many of the energy tax credit provisions," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. "I happen to think that we've got tax policies that are working to help advance our energy initiatives around the country, as diverse and as varied as they are. Wouldn't we want to continue those investments? 'This bill is the opposite of conservative, and we should not pass it,' added Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, in a June 4 social media post that raised concerns about the nation's debt limit. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley is one of the outspoken Republicans taking issue with the House-passed bill's provisions that would cut nearly $800 billion during the next decade from Medicaid and, according to the Congressional Budget Office, cost 7.8 million people their health insurance. "I don't want to see rural hospitals close and I don't want to see any benefits cut in my state," Hawley said. Trump and his allies contend spending cuts of $1.6 trillion are the most ever approved in a House bill and that the tax cuts will spur economic growth to offset the costs. Trump got personal this week in calling Paul's ideas 'crazy' in a social media post and said the people of Kentucky 'can't stand him.' More: Trump lashes out at Sen. Rand Paul over opposition to big tax bill House Speaker Mike Johnson, a staunch Trump ally, told reporters June 4 that few people are going to like everything in an 1,100-page bill. But the Louisiana Republican said the measure he helped craft in the House was carefully calibrated to gain wide support. "I hope everybody will evaluate that – in both parties, and everybody – and recognize, 'Wow, the benefits of this far outweigh anything that I don't like out it,'" Johnson said. Senate dropping local tax deductions would be 'radioactive': Rep. Lalota Any changes made by the Senate will force another vote in the House before the bill can become law - and that's where the math can get tricky. Republican senators are talking about tinkering with a key compromise that Trump and Johnson signed off on in the House that raised the federal deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) from $10,000 to $40,000 for people earning less than $500,000 per year. That provision is important to GOP lawmakers from high-tax states such as California, New York and New Jersey who supported the House bill that passed through the 435-seat chamber by only a one-vote margin. More: Senate Republicans plan to amend SALT tax deduction in Trump's sweeping bill The Senate aims to cut back that provision. But Rep. Nick Lalota, R-New York, told reporters on June 4 that revisiting the tax issue "would be like digging up safely-buried radioactive waste." House members scouring through the bill they voted on weeks ago are also finding unfamiliar provisions in the version that they say they would have opposed. For example, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, said in a social media post June 3 that the Senate needs to strip out language she hadn't noticed earlier that would prevent states from regulating artificial intelligence. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Nebraska, said he opposed a section that aims to hinder federal judges from enforcing their court orders. Trump sought the provision to prevent judges from blocking policies largely spelled out via his executive orders. Senate could drop contentious provisions House members risked supporting Even though Republicans control both chambers of Congress, the Senate could drop or fail to approve contentious parts that GOP House colleagues in competitive districts already went out on a limb to support. It's happened many times before - with sizable political consequences. The concept even has a name: Getting BTU'd. That refers to a 1993 House vote on a controversial energy tax during the first year of Bill Clinton's presidency based on British thermal units. House Democrats lost 54 seats in the 1994 election – and control of the chamber for the first time in 40 years – in part because of supporting the BTU tax that the Senate never debated. John Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College, has said a book about such votes could be called 'Profiles in Futility.' Another example was the 2009 American Clean Energy and Security Act, a bill which Obama supported as president that aimed to limit the emissions of heat-trapping gases from power plants, vehicles and other industrial sources. The Democrat-controlled House narrowly approved the measure 219-212 but the Senate never took it up. Critics said it would raise the cost of energy. The Competitive Enterprise Institute, a non-profit libertarian think tank that opposed the measure, counted 28 House Democrats from coal states who lost their seats in the 2010 mid-term election after voting for the bill. Fast forward to 2025 and Republicans are the ones facing a similar dynamic. Musk, who contributed about $290 million of his personal fortune to help Republicans including Trump win last November, slammed House lawmakers who voted for the president's legislative package.'Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong,' Musk wrote June 3 on social media. But House Republicans who voted for the legislation, including some who also demanded deeper spending cuts when it was in their hands, said they're not worried about the package falling apart and coming back to haunt them. They say that's because they did fight for more budget cuts. "This wasn't a hard vote. It was hard going through the process to get more, and you can always do better," said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-South Carolina. "But look at what Donald Trump's done, the great things that are contributing to cutting the deficit." Rep. David Schweikert, R-Arizona, who represents a competitive toss-up district, noted that he's introduced multiple bills to trim federal spending. "If Mr. Musk wants to be helpful, what he should do is start to understand that those of us in a 50-50 district who have shown up with actual policy solutions that offset every penny of this bill," he said. Leaving Washington for the weekend, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force Once on June 6 that he wasn't worried about Musk and that he remained confident he'd get "tremendous support" in the Senate to pass the bill. 'I don't know of anybody who's going to vote against it," the president said, before adding: "Maybe Rand Paul." For his part, Johnson told reporters June 4 that he wasn't concerned about House Republicans losing seats in 2026. Predicting that the Senate would find the necessary votes on the president's tax bill, the speaker said he expects Americans will see the benefits of Trump's efforts before the next election. 'Am I concerned about the effect of this on the midterms? I'm not," Johnson said. "I have no concern whatsoever. I am absolutely convinced that we are going to win the midterms and grow the House majority because we are delivering for the American majority and fulfilling our campaign promises." Contributing: Reuters
Time Magazine
13 hours ago
- Time Magazine
15 of the Most Important Inventions of All Time According to AI
This article is published by a partner of TIME. Inventions are the building blocks of civilization, shaping everything from our daily routines to the entire global economy. From the first stone tools created by our ancestors to the cutting-edge technologies driving innovation today, human creativity has consistently led to breakthroughs that improve lives and change the course of history. Some inventions have dramatically altered entire industries, while others have redefined our interaction with the world around us, pushing the boundaries of what's possible. The following list highlights 15 of the most important inventions of all time, selected for their far-reaching impact and transformative influence on society. These inventions have laid the foundation for modern life, from medicine and communication to transportation and energy. With the research assistance of AI, we will explore how these breakthroughs have shaped the world and continue to do so today. Here are the 15 inventions that stand out as some of the most influential throughout history. Breakthrough Inventions 1. The Wheel (3500 BC) The wheel is one of the oldest and most important inventions, dating back to around 3500 BC. Originally used for pottery, it soon found application in transportation, revolutionizing human mobility. The ability to transport goods and people over long distances led to the growth of trade and connected far-flung cultures. The wheel also became a critical component in machinery, laying the foundation for the Industrial Revolution and modern engineering. Additional Insights: Engineering Impact: It has been used in countless machines and continues to be foundational in modern engineering. Transportation: The wheel made it possible to move goods and people quickly and efficiently, boosting trade. Symbol of Innovation: It's often seen as a symbol of human ingenuity and problem-solving. Global Adoption: Its utility spread across the world, influencing various civilizations and industries. 2. The Printing Press (1440) Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the printing press in 1440 dramatically changed the dissemination of information. By making it possible to mass-produce books, pamphlets, and newspapers, it allowed knowledge to be distributed widely and inexpensively. This invention played a crucial role in the Renaissance, Reformation, and the spread of scientific ideas. The printing press was key to the democratization of knowledge and laid the foundation for modern education and the information age. Additional Insights: Knowledge Distribution: Books became affordable, allowing information to reach a much wider audience. Cultural Shift: The press helped spread ideas that challenged religious and political norms, such as during the Reformation. Scientific Advancements: It enabled the rapid dissemination of new scientific discoveries, propelling the Scientific Revolution. Global Impact: Its influence extended across Europe and beyond, shaping societies worldwide. Enduring Legacy: Paved the way for the modern information society. 3. The Atomic Bomb (1945) Developed during World War II, the atomic bomb was a revolutionary and highly controversial invention. Its creation led to the first use of nuclear weapons in warfare, resulting in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. While its destructive power reshaped global politics and military strategy, it also sparked the nuclear arms race and significant shifts in geopolitical relations during the Cold War. The atomic bomb's legacy continues to influence the field of international relations and nuclear disarmament. Additional Insights: World War II Impact: It helped bring the war to a close but raised ethical questions about the use of such destructive weapons. Nuclear Arms Race: Initiated the Cold War competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. Geopolitical Shifts: Nuclear weapons fundamentally altered military strategies and global diplomacy. Nuclear Energy: The underlying technology contributed to the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Moral Dilemmas: Sparked global debates about the morality and necessity of nuclear weapons in warfare. 4. Electricity (18th–19th Centuries) Electricity powers nearly all modern technology, from lighting in homes to methods of communication, transportation, and industry. Discovered and refined throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, it paved the way for countless innovations, including the telegraph, electric motors, and telecommunications. Its widespread adoption during the Industrial Revolution allowed factories to run more efficiently, transforming economies and improving quality of life. Today, electricity remains essential in almost every aspect of daily life. Additional Insights: Early Discoveries: Benjamin Franklin, Michael Faraday, and Thomas Edison made key contributions. Industrial Impact: Powered the growth of various manufacturing sectors and mass transportation. Technological Advancements: Enabled telegraphy, radio, television, and eventually the computer and internet. Global Accessibility: Powers homes and businesses worldwide, essential for modern living. Sustainability Challenges: The quest for renewable energy sources remains central to the future of electricity generation. 5. The Telephone (1876) Invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876, the telephone allowed for instant communication over long distances, revolutionizing how people connect. Before the telephone, communication was limited to written letters or telegrams, which could take days to deliver. The invention enabled real-time conversations and opened up new possibilities for business, government, and personal connections. Today, the telephone has evolved into the smartphone, which plays a central role in daily life. Additional Insights: First Words: Bell's first successful telephone call was 'Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.' Global Connectivity: Made distant communication fast and efficient, fostering a new era of interconnectedness. Business Revolution: Allowed organizations to operate more effectively and make decisions quickly. Modern Evolution: The landline phone transformed into mobile phones and smartphones. Telecommunications Industry: Gave rise to a vast global industry dedicated to communication technologies. 6. Penicillin (1928) Penicillin, discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928, was the first antibiotic and revolutionized medicine. It allowed doctors to treat previously fatal bacterial infections, drastically reducing mortality rates and ushering in the era of modern antibiotics. This breakthrough saved millions of lives and paved the way for other lifesaving antibiotics. Today, penicillin remains a cornerstone of medical treatments, although challenges such as antibiotic resistance have emerged. Additional Insights: Life-Saving Discovery: Dramatically reduced deaths from infections once considered fatal. Medical Impact: Initiated the antibiotic era, radically changing the treatment of infectious diseases. Global Health: Its use is widespread, reaching patients worldwide. Antibiotic Resistance: Overuse has led to resistant strains of bacteria, a growing global concern. Ongoing Research: Scientists continue to develop new antibiotics to combat evolving pathogens. 7. The Airplane (1903) The invention of the airplane by the Wright brothers in 1903 forever changed human travel. For the first time, flight over long distances became possible, shrinking the world and enabling global commerce and tourism. Airplanes transformed industries like international business and leisure travel, making transit faster and more accessible. Today, air travel is one of the most essential forms of long-distance transportation. Additional Insights: First Flight: The Wright brothers' initial flight lasted just 12 seconds, ushering in the aviation age. Global Connectivity: Made cross-continental and intercontinental travel feasible in mere hours. Economic Impact: Aviation is vital for modern commerce, connecting businesses and services worldwide. Technological Advances: Fuel-efficient planes and improved safety measures continue evolving. Future Developments: Electric and autonomous flying vehicles may soon redefine air travel again. 8. The Computer (1940s) The invention of the computer has had a profound impact on almost every aspect of human life. Early computers in the 1940s were large machines used primarily for military and scientific calculations. With the advent of personal computers in the 1970s and 1980s, computing power became accessible to the masses, driving the digital revolution. Computers are now central to business, education, communication, and entertainment, and they continue to evolve through innovations in artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing. Additional Insights: Early Models: The first computers occupied entire rooms and performed complex calculations. Personal Computing: The rise of home and office computers democratized access to technology. Global Connectivity: Computers power the internet, enabling global communication and collaboration. Technological Growth: Laptops, smartphones, and tablets have integrated computing into daily life. AI and Beyond: Modern computers support advanced technologies like machine learning. 9. Email (1970s) Email transformed communication by enabling people to send and receive messages instantly across long distances. Developed in the early 1970s, it quickly replaced traditional mail and telegrams for many uses, offering a faster and more efficient medium. Email is indispensable in personal and professional contexts, allowing real-time communication and easy document sharing. Despite the rise of social media and instant messaging, email remains one of the most widely used communication tools today. Additional Insights: Business Efficiency: Streamlined workplace communication, reducing the need for physical memos and meetings. Global Reach: Made it possible to communicate instantly with anyone anywhere in the world. Security Considerations: Phishing attacks and spam are modern challenges in email usage. Email Evolution: Integration with calendars, task managers, and file-sharing solutions is commonplace. 10. Television (1930s) Television fundamentally altered how information and entertainment are consumed. By the 1930s, it had become a popular medium for delivering news, shows, and educational content. TV shaped global culture and opinion, serving as a powerful platform for political discourse, advertising, and mass communication. The medium continues to evolve with the rise of streaming services and on-demand viewing, offering audiences a wealth of content anytime, anywhere. Additional Insights: Broadcasting: Revolutionized mass communication by reaching large audiences at once. Cultural Impact: Influenced everything from music to politics on a global scale. Technological Innovation: Shift to digital and high-definition improved quality and accessibility. Global Connectivity: Networks and streaming platforms bring international events to viewers worldwide. Future of TV: On-demand and interactive features are redefining the viewing experience. 11. The Refrigerator (1834) The refrigerator changed how people preserved and stored food, improving public health by preventing spoilage and reducing foodborne illnesses. Before refrigeration, methods like salting and drying were common but inefficient. By enabling long-term storage, the refrigerator revolutionized the food industry, making mass production and distribution of perishable goods possible. It's now a kitchen staple worldwide. Additional Insights: Food Safety: Maintains safe temperatures to prevent bacterial growth. Energy Efficiency: Modern designs focus on reducing electricity consumption. Environmental Impact: Early models used harmful chemicals; newer units use more eco-friendly refrigerants. Global Distribution: Essential for international trade in perishable items. Smart Technology: Some modern refrigerators come with connectivity features for better inventory management. 12. The Light Bulb (1879) Invented by Thomas Edison in 1879, the practical light bulb changed how people lived by providing a reliable source of artificial light. It extended productive hours beyond daylight, boosted nighttime safety, and influenced the layout of modern cities. The light bulb also led to the establishment of electrical grids powering homes and businesses. Contemporary designs like LEDs have made lighting more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. Additional Insights: Early Developments: Edison and other inventors like Joseph Swan made key breakthroughs. Cultural Impact: Allowed activities to continue past sunset and enhanced public safety. Energy Efficiency: LEDs and CFLs are reducing global energy usage. Worldwide Adoption: Became a universal standard in households and commercial spaces. Environmental Impact: Ongoing push for sustainable lighting to cut electricity consumption. 13. The Automobile (1885) Invented by Karl Benz in 1885, the automobile revolutionized transportation, allowing personal mobility on an unprecedented scale. People could travel long distances rapidly, reshaping urban design and fueling suburban growth. The global adoption of cars propelled trade and commerce, but also led to environmental concerns tied to fossil fuel consumption. Innovations like electric and hybrid vehicles continue to shape the industry's future. Additional Insights: Assembly Line: Henry Ford's production methods made cars affordable for the masses. Economic Growth: The auto industry is a massive global employer and economic driver. Environmental Challenges: Emissions drive the push toward electric and alternative-fuel vehicles. Suburbanization: Cars enabled the rise of suburbs and changed city infrastructures. Future Innovations: Autonomous vehicles promise another revolution in transportation. 14. The Radio (1890s) Radio transformed communication by transmitting sound over long distances through electromagnetic waves. First demonstrated in the 1890s by innovators like Guglielmo Marconi and Nikola Tesla, it became wildly popular in the early 20th century for news, music, and entertainment. Radio gave rise to shared cultural experiences and played an influential role in shaping public opinion, especially during significant historical events. Additional Insights: First Broadcast: Marconi's successful transmission in 1901 was a landmark in wireless communication. Cultural Influence: Radio dramas, music, and news broadcasts became staples of daily life. Global Reach: Served as a vital communication method for people in remote areas. Evolution of Radio: FM radio and digital broadcasting expanded the medium's range and quality. Media Convergence: Online streaming and podcasts continue to adapt radio for the digital era. 15. The Camera (Early 19th Century) The invention of the camera revolutionized how we capture memories, document events, and record history. Joseph Nicéphore Niépce took the first permanent photograph in 1826, and camera technology has evolved continuously since then—from bulky film cameras to compact digital devices. Photography has greatly impacted art, journalism, and personal expression, enabling people to preserve and share moments in real time. Additional Insights: First Photograph: Taken by Niépce in 1826, marking the birth of modern photography. Cultural Impact: Influenced visual art, media, and public perception. Technological Progress: Digital cameras and smartphone integration have made photography ubiquitous. Social Media: Photos are at the heart of social platforms, fostering global visual storytelling. Historical Documentation: Cameras have captured landmark events, shaping our collective memory. Conclusion on Key Inventions These 15 inventions have fundamentally shaped human civilization, influencing everything from how we communicate and travel to how we work and live. Each marks a leap forward in human ingenuity that addressed critical needs and created opportunities for continued progress. Their impact reverberates in modern industries, improving the quality of life for countless people around the world. As we look to the future, these foundational innovations serve as a springboard for even more groundbreaking developments. The spirit of creativity and the relentless drive to overcome global challenges will fuel progress, bringing about new inventions that will once again transform the world in ways we can only imagine. Related Articles: About the Authors: Richard D. Harroch is a Senior Advisor to CEOs, management teams, and Boards of Directors. He is an expert on M&A, venture capital, startups, and business contracts. He was the Managing Director and Global Head of M&A at VantagePoint Capital Partners, a venture capital fund in the San Francisco area. His focus is on internet, digital media, AI and technology companies. He was the founder of several Internet companies. His articles have appeared online in Forbes, Fortune, MSN, Yahoo, Fox Business and Richard is the author of several books on startups and entrepreneurship as well as the co-author of Poker for Dummies and a Wall Street Journal-bestselling book on small business. He is the co-author of a 1,500-page book published by Bloomberg on mergers and acquisitions of privately held companies. He was also a corporate and M&A partner at the international law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. He has been involved in over 200 M&A transactions and 250 startup financings. He can be reached through LinkedIn. Dominique Harroch is the Chief of Staff at She has acted as a Chief of Staff or Operations Leader for multiple companies where she leveraged her extensive experience in operations management, strategic planning, and team leadership to drive organizational success. With a background that spans over two decades in operations leadership, event planning at her own start-up and marketing at various financial and retail companies, Dominique is known for her ability to optimize processes, manage complex projects and lead high-performing teams. She holds a BA in English and Psychology from U.C. Berkeley and an MBA from the University of San Francisco. She can be reached via LinkedIn.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
How Did Richard Ramirez Die? Here's Why the Night Stalker's Demise Didn't Happen on Death Row 12 Years Ago
Serial killer Richard Ramirez — known as the "Night Stalker" — murdered at least 13 people in the Los Angeles area from 1984 to 1985 He was sentenced to death in 1989 He died in in 2013 at 53 years oldRichard Ramirez — a.k.a. the Night Stalker — terrorized Los Angeles with his twisted crimes in the 1980s. From April 1984 to August 1985, Ramirez killed at least 13 people, sneaking into their homes in the middle of the night through open windows and unlocked doors, per CBS News. But his trail of terror didn't stop there: Ramirez also robbed, raped and beat many others, using a wide variety of weapons (including handguns, knives and even a tire iron) to inflict his brutality, according to CBS. The randomness of his attacks and methods left authorities perplexed — and allowed Ramirez to escape capture for more than a year. However, the Texas-born murderer was eventually caught on Aug. 31, 1985, as he attempted to steal a car in East L.A. An angry mob of citizens — who recognized him from media coverage as the Night Stalker — surrounded him, beating him with a steel rod until police arrived. It would take another four years for Ramirez to be brought to trial for his crimes. But on Sept. 20, 1989, the man known as the Night Stalker was found guilty of all 43 counts — including 13 counts of murder, five attempted murders, 11 sexual assaults and 14 burglaries. Ramirez was given a total of 13 death sentences, and was sentenced to be executed by gas chamber, The New York Times reported. Ramirez died in June 2013 at 53 years old, according to the Los Angeles Times. 'He never showed any remorse for what he had done,' Frank Salerno, one of the detectives who helped capture Ramirez, said in the 2017 Reelz docuseries Murder Made Me Famous. 'He was pure evil.' So how did Richard Ramirez die? From the Night Stalker's final days to his continued notoriety, here's everything to know about his death behind bars. Ramirez died while awaiting execution for the string of horrific crimes he committed in California between 1984 and 1985. Initially, California corrections officials stated that Ramirez died of natural causes, per the Los Angeles Times. However, a coroner's report released 10 days after his death revealed that he had died due to complications from blood cancer. According to the Marin County coroner's office, Ramirez had B-cell lymphoma — a common form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It was not clear when Ramirez had been diagnosed with cancer or whether he had been receiving treatment for it. Additionally, Ramirez had other significant conditions at the time of his death, including 'chronic substance abuse and chronic hepatitis C viral infection.' The drug abuse occurred prior to Ramirez's imprisonment (more than two decades earlier) and was likely the cause of his hepatitis C infection, the Marin County assistant chief deputy coroner told USA Today. 'It's likely something that he has been dealing with for years,' the coroner said about Ramirez's hepatitis C infection, per USA Today. 'It's killing your liver.' Shortly after his capture and arrest, a friend of Ramirez's named Donna Myers confirmed that Ramirez had started to use cocaine the year prior, dissolving it in water and shooting it up. (Hepatitis C is often spread by the use of intravenous drugs, per USA Today.) 'He had cut marks, you know, tracks, running across his left arm,' Myers told PEOPLE about Ramirez's extensive drug abuse. 'He broke off a needle in his arm one day... he got so hooked on cocaine he just got wigged out.' Ramirez died at 9:10 a.m. on June 7, 2013, according to the Los Angeles Times. Ramirez died at Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae, Calif., according to the Los Angeles Times. He had been admitted to the hospital earlier in the week from San Quentin State Prison, where he had been on death row since receiving his sentence in 1989. Ramirez, who was born on Feb. 29, 1960, was 53 years old when he died. While Ramirez's final words before his death are unknown, his statements at his sentencing made it clear that he did not fear dying. When the jury recommended the death penalty on 19 different counts at his October 1989 trial, Ramirez appeared unbothered. 'Big deal,' he told reporters, per the Los Angeles Times. 'Death comes with the territory. See you in Disneyland.' At his sentencing one month later, in November 1989, Ramirez delivered a chilling monologue to the packed courtroom — which included members of his family, victims who survived his attacks and relatives of those he killed. 'You don't understand me. You are not expected to. You are not capable of it. I am beyond your experience,' Ramirez said, according to the Los Angeles Times. He continued, 'I am beyond good and evil. I will be avenged. Lucifer dwells in us all. That's it.' Emotions surrounding Ramirez's death were mixed. Some expressed relief over the end of the serial killer's life, while others felt disappointed that he did not face the execution by gas chamber that he was sentenced to. Law enforcement officials viewed the death of the notorious serial killer as the closing of 'a dark chapter in the history of Los Angeles,' NBC Los Angeles reported. Though Ramirez was never executed, Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Alan Yochelson expressed to the Los Angeles Times that 'some measure of justice has been achieved,' since the notorious killer lived out the last two-plus decades of his life behind bars. Many of Ramirez's surviving victims and relatives of those he killed, however, felt that the killer known as the Night Stalker did not deserve to live as long as he did. 'It's about time,' Bill Carns, one of the last people attacked by Ramirez, told the Los Angeles Times. 'He should have been put to death an awful long time ago.' Reyna Pinon, the wife of one of the men who helped capture Ramirez, echoed a similar sentiment: 'To me, he had a better death than all those people whose lives he took,' she said. Doreen Lioy, a freelance magazine editor who Ramirez married in 1996 while in prison, declined to comment to reporters following Ramirez's death. However, Ramirez's relatives in El Paso, Texas, released a statement asking for privacy. 'We are mourning the loss of our son and brother, Richard Ramirez,' the family told the El Paso Times. 'The world judged him, whether fairly or unfairly, it no longer matters. He is now before the true judge, the judge that sees and knows all things. We ask that you respect our sorrow and grief.' Ramirez's reputation as one of the most notorious serial killers in history has lived on since his 2013 death — particularly in the L.A. area. Signs of the terror the Night Stalker inflicted on southern Californians in the 1980s still remain intact today. 'Everybody kept their windows open and he was crawling in windows,' Tiller Russell, who directed the 2021 Netflix docuseries Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer, told PEOPLE. 'So to this day in L.A., when you drive around, that's why there are bars on the windows.' The haunting memory of Ramirez has also been kept alive through pop culture references, with his life and crimes inspiring songs, television shows, films and documentaries. Since Ramirez's death, the 2016 film The Night Stalker, the 2024 film MaXXXine, episodes of American Horror Story and multiple documentaries and docuseries have all told his sadistic story. Read the original article on People
