Latest news with #Barraza
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Grapevine Lake Death Exposes Dangers Of Possible Illegal Alien Gatherings
Before an illegal alien allegedly killed a woman on Grapevine Lake during Memorial Day weekend, likely Venezuelan crowds had been gathering at the location for 'months' with large amounts of alcohol, The Dallas Express has learned. 'It's kind of turned into kind of a big, big party,' said Raul Barraza, a nearby resident who frequents the location with his family, to The Dallas Express. 'Beer everywhere.' Barraza explained that he lives just minutes from Oak Grove Park in Grapevine, where Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez allegedly struck and killed 18-year-old Ava Moore with a jet ski on May 25, as The Dallas Express previously reported. Gonzalez fled the scene with Maikel Coello Perozo. Both suspects, 21, are illegal aliens from Venezuela, as The Dallas Express reported at the time. They were caught illegally crossing the southern border in 2023, but officials under President Joe Biden's administration released them at the time. The Texas Game Wardens and Grapevine Police Department captured the suspects on May 27 after a days-long manhunt. ICE has placed them on immigration holds, and they are now in 'removal proceedings.' Barraza told The Dallas Express that he and his family routinely visit the park where Moore lost her life. He said for months, from Katy's Woods to Oak Grove Park – where the tragedy occurred – 'it's madness' between Thursday and Sunday. 'We've kind of seen it from a distance the past couple months, and it just kind of gets crazy,' he said. 'It's almost turned into a party, dude. Beer everywhere.' Barraza's wife is from Colombia, so she recognized the crowds were speaking in accents described as 'definitely' from Venezuela – 'no doubt about it.' The park area by the baseball field is usually where 'all the commotion happens.' He said he has not seen any drug use but 'would not doubt it.' 'The lake is supposed to be a place where you go find some peace, get relaxed, get close to nature,' Barraza said. 'For a place that's always been kept clean, it's crazy seeing it just kind of get grimy.' He also said he has heard instances of men roaming the park, offering jet skis for rent to the 'big crowd.' The Dallas Express asked the Grapevine Police Department where the suspects got the jet ski, but Media Manager Amanda McNew directed inquiries to the Texas Game Wardens. Maggie Berger, public information officer for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – which oversees the game wardens – told The Dallas Express that officials are investigating the ownership of the jet ski Gonzalez was operating at the time. 'The Texas Game Warden Marine Theft Investigation Unit is looking into the ownership history of the personal watercraft,' Berger said. She also said she is 'unable to release any additional details relating to the ownership' of the jet ski due to the 'ongoing investigation.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Some newer food truck options in Sioux Falls
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – As we get closer to warmer temps and summertime, many people might be looking forward to some street food within Sioux Falls. Los Bros Tacos opened just two months ago. You can find it on South Ellis Road serving up some authentic Mexican dishes. 'We've always enjoyed my mother's cooking. I like to cook like her so I want to share it, I suppose, with other people since we feel like it's a good mix of spices and fresh vegetables and meats,' Ramon Barraza, owner of Los Bros Tacos, said.' My mom's from Mexico so it's some authentic, home-cooked Mexican recipes from her mother and so on.' Barraza is looking forward to the summer months in the truck with his family. 'We're a family-owned business. I do this with my mom and my brothers and my own son,' Barraza said. Another food truck you can check out this summer is 605 Island Guy. This truck has been around a little longer, coming up on its one year anniversary, but it does offer something newer to the area with it's Hawaiian and Polynesian flavors. 'Bringing the island flavor to South Dakota but with different twists here and there,' Nefu Mageo, owner of 605 Island Guy, said. Mageo used to run a restaurant at Lake Madison before taking to the streets. 'I love it, I love it. It's giving me the joy that I can do whatever I want, whenever I want and yet you got your kids with you, you family working with you. It's the best thing there is,' Mageo said. You can find him at various spots during the week and at some summer events. 'Just come out and try the different flavor of island style and, you know, I bring a different island vibe to food trucks around town here. So, just something different if you want to try something different,' Mageo said. Another new food truck option in Sioux Falls this summer comes from a familiar name — Valentino's has opened a truck to go along with its restaurant. You can keep up with many of the area's food trucks through the online street food finder. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's anti-DEI battle threatens Chicago nonprofits trying to fill critical labor gaps
Recruiting women into construction has been a painstaking but broadly popular effort, with growing bipartisan and industry support amid persistent labor shortages. But President Donald Trump's aim to stamp out diversity and inclusion programs threaten to cripple community-based organizations that have been critical to that goal. The Trump administration has moved swiftly to cut off federal funding to dozens of community groups that implement programs on the ground, including apprenticeship readiness programs designed for women, anti-harassment training, and child care and transportation support for workers who need them. The overhaul stems from a pair of anti-DEI executive orders, which direct federal agencies to cancel all 'equity-related' grants, and require government contractors and recipients of federal funds to certify, under threat of severe financial penalties, that they do not operate DEI programs that violate anti-discrimination laws. The orders have set off a scramble among many corporations, universities, law firms and major philanthropies to figure out how to adapt their DEI policies to avoid losing federal funding. But for nonprofits whose very mission involves providing services to historically marginalized communities, the executive orders pose an existential threat, driving several lawsuits alleging Trump's orders are impossible to comply with because they are so vague about what constitutes 'illegal' DEI. Stakeholders in the construction industry are closely following a lawsuit filed by Chicago Women in Trades, an organization founded in 1981 to help women enter the skilled trades. Other similar groups said they were considering litigation after the Department of Labor yanked their grants last week. About 40% of Chicago Women in Trades' stems from federal funding, according to court filings. As the lawsuits play out, Chicago Women in Trades Executive Director Jayne Vellinga said hiring and future programming has stalled because the ultimate fate of the organization's funding is unclear. Current programs are continuing under a cloud of uncertainty. The sound of whirring drills filled the Ironworkers Local 63 training center just outside Chicago during one exploratory training program that is reliant on state and federal funds. About two dozen women donned hard hats, work gloves and safety glasses to practice assembling windows as an instructor looked on. Two groups raced each other to see how quickly they could perfect each assembly. Another practices caulking nearby. During the 10-week program, participants spend a week exploring different trades with experienced carpenters, electricians and iron workers. About 70% of the participants successfully move on to apprenticeships. Sam Barraza, 24, joined the program after struggling with an office job due to ADHD. During a rotation with the Bricklayers Union, Barraza was hired as an apprentice in tuck pointing, a masonry repair process used to restore older buildings. But Barraza, who is nonbinary, said they would never have understood how to get a foothold in the industry without a program like Chicago Women in Trades. 'There are so many insider things that, if your uncle was in the trades, or your dad did it, whatever, you would know,' Barraza said. 'It's the first time I've been excited for a career instead of like, 'I just have to work to live.'' Government agencies, construction companies and labor unions have invested billions of dollars to expand apprenticeships and other programs to draw younger generations into the skilled trades, an effort that accelerated as the Biden administration ramped up investment in infrastructure and the semiconductor industry. Part that effort has been programming to make worksites more welcoming to women, racial minorities and LGBTQ people who have long faced bias and harassment in an industry that is majority white and overwhelmingly male. Progress has been slow but steady. Women, for instance, comprise only 4% of skilled trade workers, but that's a nearly 30% increase since 2018 and a record high, according to U.S. labor statistics that have been celebrated by both women's advocacy groups and industry associations. Advocates say recruiting more women and minorities to well-paid skilled jobs helps alleviate pay gaps while addressing labor shortages. Far from being a target during the first Trump administration, Chicago Women in Trades received two grants in 2019 and 2020 under the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations program, known as WANTO, which dates back to a 1992 Congressional act signed by President George H.W. Bush. The first Trump administration increased funding for WANTO, providing more than $8.5 million in grants to 17 community organizations that served more than 3,500 women. Funding for WANTO surged under the Biden administration, which awarded nearly $18 million in grants to more than 20 organizations. But the future of WANTO is in limbo. Last week, the Labor Department sent termination notices to many of the grants recipients, saying their focus on gender equity and diversity no longer aligns with the administration's priorities, several of the organizations told The Associated Press. Rhoni Basden, executive director of Vermont Works for Women, said the loss of its $400,000 WANTO grant imperils a new apprenticeship readiness program aimed at building a pipeline of workers in semiconductor manufacturing in the state. The program, using curriculum developed with the industry group Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center, had been scheduled to launch in the spring. Chicago Women in Trades' WANTO grant is protected for now under a preliminary injunction issued last month by Judge Matthew Kennelly of the U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, who ruled that canceling the grant would violate the separation of powers. However, Kennelly declined to protect the organization's four other federal grants, or to extend his protective order to other WANTO grantees. The Labor Department did not reply to multiple emails seeking clarity about its intentions for WANTO or other similar federal initiatives. In his 2026 fiscal year budget request, Trump pledged to keep investing in the expansion of apprenticeship opportunities while eliminate funding to 'progressive non-profits' that focus on DEI. Instead, the administration proposed sending funding to states and localities to decide how to spend them. The Trump administration argues that many DEI policies pressure employers to hire based on race or gender, or unfairly shut out some workers from training and funding opportunities. Another WANTO grantee, Maryland Center for Construction Education & Education, said the impact of losing its federal funding will force the suspension of programs to help women enter construction and other industries that are 'facing a severe labor shortage — tens of thousands of skilled workers are needed across Maryland in the next few years alone.' 'These are not abstract losses. These are missed paychecks, shuttered training programs, and stalled progress for communities that need it most,' the group said in statement, adding that it was exploring 'legal and legislative avenues to fight back.' Construction firms have supported outreach programs to women out of sheer need: The industry is seeking more than 400,000 new workers this year to meet anticipated demand, according to trade group Associated Builders and Contractors. 'We need all of the talent and resources that we can get,' said Vanessa Jester, community and citizenship director for Turner Construction in Columbus, Ohio, where construction worker shortages are especially acute. The company has partnered with Chicago Women in Trades and other community groups to expose women and girls to the construction industry. 'If these young girls can't see it, feel it, touch it and see that there's an opportunity, we're not going to be able to grow,' Jester added. Turner Construction is one of 800 firms that have joined the 'Culture of Care' program launched in 2019 by the Associated General Contractors of America to address harassment, hazing and bullying that has long plagued in the industry. The association, which has 27,000 member firms, says on its website that Trump's executive orders on DEI have prompted a review of its initiative and resources 'to ensure continued compliance with the law.' Brian Turmail, the association's vice president of Public Affairs & Workforce, said that while the language of some guidance might be changed, the organization plans to double down on 'Culture of Care,' saying it's about preventing discrimination that drives away many women and racial minorities from the field. 'There isn't any other way for the industry to be viable,' he said. The Associated Press' women in the workforce and state government coverage receives financial support from Pivotal Ventures. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Oroville man pleades guilty to paying women to sexually abuse children
( — An Oroville man pleaded guilty Friday to sexual exploitation of a child, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Video Above: Efforts by law enforcement to stop AI-generated child sex abuse images According to the DOJ, Javier Robert Barraza, 43, paid women to sexually abuse 'young boys' on video calls. Barraza recorded the calls and had more than 1000 pieces of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) saved to devices belonging to him, the DOJ said. According to the DOJ, he also shared the CSAM online and over text messages. 11-year-old girl dies after driving and crashing ATV in Auburn Barraza faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine, the DOJ said. His sentencing is scheduled for August 29. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gerardo 'Dado' Valenzuela goal gives FC Cincinnati third straight win
FC Cincinnati had a new offensive hero for the second game in a row and won its third-straight Major League Soccer game Saturday night. One week after Sergio Santos scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over New England, Gerardo 'Dado' Valenzuela scored his first of the season in the first half. Then, the Orange and Blue held off a flurry of chances in the second half to shut out DC United 1-0 at Audi Field. Advertisement The Orange and Blue, 5-2-1 overall, end the night with 16 points and temporarily tied for first in points in the Eastern Conference with Charlotte before Columbus (15 pts) and Miami (14) have road games on Sunday. Charlotte has the goal-differential tiebreaker by five over FC Cincy. FC Cincinnati midfielder Gerardo Valenzuela (22) jumps for joy after scoring one turned out to be the game-winning goal in the first half against D.C. United at Audi Field Saturday night. DCU lost its fourth straight, falling to 1-4-3 (6 points). Valenzuela, the 20-year old homegrown player from Florida, scored his first goal of the season and second as a member of FC Cincinnati. In the 28th minute, after Kévin Denkey forced a turnover at midfield, he got the ball to Valenzuela in transition. Valenzuela dribbled past two DC United players before meeting two defenders in the middle of the goal box. Advertisement Valenzuela took a quick pivot to his right, getting the ball away from the two defenders and firing a laser past DC United keeper Luis Barraza. He was making his first start of the season as the Orange and Blue were missing four regular starters, including playmakers Evander and Yuya Kubo up front. "I'm happy that he got the goal because that was important for him and for the team," said FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan. "He got a plus rating because he scores the goal and he does some other things well that I hadn't seen enough of prior. And he hasn't had a lot of opportunities so hopefully he can build on this." DCU came into the match allowing 17 goals in seven games, three more than any other MLS team. That included 12 conceded in the previous three losses, six last weekend against San Jose. Advertisement In response, the home team swapped out four starters from the San Jose loss. One of the new starters was the keeper Barraza, making his first start since August 2023, which was also against FC Cincinnati when he played for New York City FC. The changes didn't help early, as the Orange and Blue had a couple of dangerous chances and twice a DCU backliner nearly passed the ball back into his own goal. FC Cincinnati defender Lukas Engel battles for a header with D.C. United's Brandon Servania in the first half. Engel helped FCC produce its fourth shutout of the season. The second time, about 14 minutes in, Barraza had to scramble to kick the ball away just before it crossed the goal line. Early in the game, Valenzuela found Lukas Engel in transition, with Engel forcing Barraza into a tough save. Advertisement More: TQL Stadium to host seven international teams in FIFA Club World Cup group stage FC Cincinnati defense comes up big again FC Cincinnati posted its fourth clean sheet of the season and second in a row. It wasn't easy as the home team controlled the second half, peppering the Cincy defense with one chance after another, most involving one of the league's top offensive stars, Christian Benteke. Benteke, last year's MLS Golden Boot winner (23 goals), came in with five goals this season for DCU. The 34-year old, 6-foot-3, Belgium national star is in his fourth season for DC United after 10 seasons in the English Premier League. Advertisement Benteke is adept at winning headers, and DCU frequently lobbed the ball to him in the middle of the goal box. Nick Hagglund, playing the middle of the back line, had primary responsibility on him. "Our guys did an excellent job of defending the goal and defending one of the best in the world in front of goal," Noonan said. "When we weren't at our best, defending the right way is important. Defending to protect a lead and keep a clean sheet is important to them." In the 54th minute, Hagglund leapt with Benteke to keep him from getting a clean header in the middle of the 18. In the 67th, Hagglund got in Benteke's way again, forcing Benteke to miss from close range on a header from a free kick. Advertisement "One of Nick's best performances," Noonan said. "I know there have been plenty. The task in front of him: How he anticipated service, how he used his body and defending set pieces. The one on the free kick, that was such a difficult play." In the 72nd minute, Benteke got the ball and sprinted past Miles Robinson into the 18, but Robinson caught up with him and cleared the ball away. Matt Miazga made his 2025 debut for the Orange and Blue, replacing Gilberto Flores on the back line in the 83rd minute. What's next for FC Cincinnati? The Orange and Blue go back on the road next weekend, playing at Chicago Fire FC at Solder Field 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19. Advertisement Chicago is 3-2-2 for 11 points, entering the day in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Chicago plays at home against Inter Miami 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Nick Hagglund (4) played a big role in shutting out DC United Saturday night. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati gets third win, this time over DC United in MLS 2025
