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Editorial: All victims deserve timely DNA evidence testing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:25 GMT

The arrest of New Jersey attorney Mathew Nilo on a series of rape and assault charges was a feat of forensic mastery. Nilo, who has pleaded not guilty, was charged after his DNA was lifted from a glass and utensils at a corporate event he attended, according to prosecutors.Rape kits were performed on the victims in the 2007 and 2008 cases and the DNA collected linked to one genetic profile. No suspect, however, was identified.That’s often the case when suspects aren’t convicted offenders, who have their DNA collected and sent to CODIS, the Combined DNA Index System. That computer software program enables police to search for DNA matches when working a case.Without a suspect, these cases, like so many, remained unsolved, until Boston police revisited them last year, according to Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Lynn Feigenbaum, using newer “forensic investigative genetic genealogy” tools.Thanks to this breakthrough, DNA from a suspect’s family can serve as a tool...

Buford-Young: Women entrepreneurs at risk if IP protections fall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:25 GMT

Nearly 10 years ago, American society crossed a gender rubicon.In 2014, for the first time in history, more women than men graduated with a four-year college degree.Yet while women are an ever-increasing presence in boardrooms and C-Suites, there is one critical area where things seem stuck in time. That’s venture funding for women-led startups, especially in tech.That’s why I’m worried about an upcoming decision at the World Trade Organization. Without meaning to, global policymakers could take action that makes it harder for women entrepreneurs – especially in the life sciences – to attract venture capital.In the United States and elsewhere, strong protection for intellectual property rights is key to innovation. That’s what start-ups start with — a discovery or invention that’s securely their own, either because they themselves own the patent or have licensed it on an exclusive basis. When a talented entrepreneur seeks investors, she is pitchin...

Mets lose, 6-4, despite home runs from Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:25 GMT

ATLANTA — The last time the Mets were in Atlanta, their stars went dim. This time, the Mets’ biggest stars hit like stars early in the game, but by the end the pitching and hitting failed to come through.After an hour and 40 minutes of a rainless rain delay to start a three-game NL East series, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso homered, with the latter extending his league lead to 22 on the season. But right-handers Carlos Carrasco and Drew Smith (3-2) imploded in the sixth and the Mets lost 6-4.Carrasco started the sixth inning with a 4-1 lead, but a walk and back-to-back doubles helped the Braves close the gap to 4-3 and he was removed in favor of right-hander Smith before recording an out.Smith got Eddie Rosario to strike out on a high fastball for the first out, but he was burned by his breaking stuff later on.Marcell Ozuna lined a double to right field with two outs to score Murphy and tie the game at 4-4. A wild pitch put him in position to score on Orlando Arcia...

Lowry: What Trump got wrong about the term ‘woke’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:25 GMT

Donald Trump hasn’t been known for his scrupulously correct use of language, but now wants to police the use of “woke.”“I don’t like the term ‘woke’ because I hear, ‘woke, woke, woke,'” he said the other day. “It’s just a term they use, half the people can’t even define it, they don’t know what it is.”Of course, Trump wasn’t volunteering his equivalent of an elementary rule of usage from Strunk & White at random. His newfound disdain for the term “woke” has everything to do with his contest with Ron DeSantis for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.The former president’s by-any-means-necessary approach to fighting DeSantis means that he doesn’t care if he’s adopting the arguments of the other side as long as he’s taking a dig at the Florida governor; it’s his version of what people who are woke — to use the offending word — call “a...

Four fab finger foods for casual summer feasts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:25 GMT

For many of us, summer is the best time to throw a party.Getting everybody outside onto the porch, yard or patio means you don’t have to worry about cleaning the house or squeezing a ton of people into a crowded space. Also, summer entertaining tends to be more casual, which lends itself to finger foods that aren’t as fussy or upscale as a big fall or winter bash.Which is not to say appetizers and hors d’oeuvres served with cold beer and fruity cocktails shouldn’t look impressive. We just want something that echoes summer’s laid-back vibes and is simple for you to make and easy for your guests to grab and devour.TAG GOES HERERoasted Olives with Lemon, Garlic and HerbsINGREDIENTS2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil6 3-inch sprigs fresh thyme2 3-inch sprigs fresh rosemary1/2 teaspoon coarsely crushed fennel seeds1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes1 pound olives, such as Cerinola and Castelvetrano, in assorted colors and sizes (about 3 cups)1/2 lemon, cut i...

Dear Abby: Husband’s foray into phone sex irks wife

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:25 GMT

Dear Abby: My husband and I are in our early 70s. We have been married seven years. I was celibate before we met and thrilled to have a partner I respected and was attracted to. Our sex life seemed normal and exciting with lots of kisses and hugs throughout the day.Recently, I caught him on a phone sex call and then discovered he visits sex chat rooms. I’m devastated. I feel betrayed and angry that my trust has been violated. After several attempts to lie, he finally admitted the truth, but said it was a “recent” thing — which was even more insulting!My therapist says men don’t suddenly take up phone sex and pornography in their 70s. When I shared that with my husband, he revealed it wasn’t “as often” in the past. He swears he loves me and will get help, but I can’t imagine how I can trust him again.He doesn’t seem to want to talk about it any further, other than taking some online classes dealing with porn addiction. Our r...

East Village residents want noise levels mitigated from Gallagher Square concerts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:25 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Some homeowners living in complexes near Gallagher Square are speaking out after loud concerts held at Gallagher Square have become unbearable to live near and has led to some people moving.Some of the homeowners in nearby condos have formed a group called Residents Concerned About Gallagher Square Noise, to address what they believe is unreasonable sound stemming from concerts held at Gallagher Square. The group has collected 79 statements from nearly 100 residents who feel adversely impacted by the concerts.The residents said they are not against the San Diego Padres or Petco Park, but are against the loud noise from concerts at Gallagher Square outside Petco Park and want the noise to a lower decibel level.“We enjoy baseball games, we enjoy crowd noise during the games, we enjoy the live concerts that happen inside the stadium, so with activities historically happen inside the baseball stadium, we’ve had no problems with, our concerns are with Gallagher Square and th...

Pedestrian killed by vehicle while lying in road identified

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:25 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A man hit and killed by a vehicle while lying on a road in the Rolando Village neighborhood has been identified, local medical officials said.Roger Calahan, 42, was announced as the deceased, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said on its website.The crash occurred on May 20 in the 6300 block of El Cajon Boulevard, according to the San Diego Police Department. Motorcyclist dies at X Games freestyle motocross track in East County Calahan was walking southbound on El Cajon Boulevard when for unknown reasons he laid down in the road and was struck by a vehicle in the number one lane, police said.The pedestrian was taken to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Calahan's health continued to decline throughout his stay and he later died, per the medical examiner's office.Anyone with information related to the above incident is encouraged to call the listedCommand handling the investigation or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

This Anza-Borrego cave system among largest in North America

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:25 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Southern California is home to countless natural wonders spanning the region’s diverse landscape. Among those destinations, hidden deep in the badlands of Anza-Borrego State Park, is a cave system that scientists believe is the largest of its kind in North America.Called the Arroyo Tapiado Carrizo Mud Caves, the cave system is estimated to be a distance of several miles long through the park’s southern badlands, with individual caverns measuring as large as 130 meters deep and 1,000 feet in length.The mud caves are just one of numerous distinctive geological formations in the Anza-Borrego southern badlands that includes popular destinations like Font’s Point and the Wind Caves. California agreed to reduce its Colorado River usage, but San Diego might not see a change But unlike some other formations in the area that are one-of-a-kind oddities, what makes the Arroyo Tapiado pseudokarst formation unique is not necessarily how the caves were made – it’s how it ended up.“...

Mexico investigates possible case of extrajudicial killings by soldiers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:25 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office is investigating a possible case of extrajudicial killings by soldiers that left five men dead in May in the northern border city of Nuevo Laredo, according to a federal official.A video, originally reported Tuesday evening by U.S.-based Univision and Spain’s El Pais newspaper, apparently shows the daytime incident. The federal official who was not authorized to comment on the case and requested anonymity, confirmed that the Attorney General’s Office had opened an investigation. The official would not say when the investigation began.A security camera shows a black pickup truck crashing full speed into a wall. A Mexican military truck with a gun turret arrives shortly thereafter and runs into the passenger side of the pickup, blocking the front and back doors.Soldiers then pull five men from the pickup, disarming and kicking them, then lining them up against the wall.Soldiers then turn back toward the road and appear to ope...