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Welcome to Slowjamastan, a 'micronation' hidden in California

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:08:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO (KSWB) -- A San Diego-based slow jams radio DJ has spent his life visiting every country in the world. Now, Randy "R Dub!" Williams is the "sultan" of his own "country," tucked away right here in the United States.Over the course of about a decade, Williams visited every single UN-recognized nation, from the regular tourist favorites to some of the world's most elusive destinations, like North Korea and Venezuela, to South Sudan and Somalia. Ahead of crossing off the 193th country on his list, the radio personality was looking for a new frontier to explore. That's when he visited a "micronation," or a self-declared territory, in Nevada known as the "Republic of Molossia."That visit cemented his next mission: to found his own country. Commute nightmare: These cities are most infuriating, expensive and dangerous for drivers, study finds "It has been an absolute dream and a mission to see every country in the world," Williams said to Nexstar's FOX5SanDiego.com. "I've seen s...

A pay-what-you-can café in North Carolina is thriving

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:08:00 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (WGHP) — It's probably not something they teach at the nation's elite business schools: open a cafe, let people pay what they can, and give away tens of thousands of meals each year. But it's working for Maggie Kane.“We’ve been here for 5-and-a-half years, which is wild," says Kane about her cafe, A Place at the Table, on Hargett Street in downtown Raleigh. "Am I surprised? I’m surprised, every single day, by just how beautiful this place is. I’m surprised that it’s worked, that it’s continued to work and I’m grateful.” A large percentage of restaurants close, each year, even in relatively good times so, when the pandemic came and closed everything in North Carolina under government order, Maggie didn't know what they'd do, at first.“We actually became a serving line out here, so we just passed out meals, everything was free, we had a line upwards of 450 people, every single day,” she says. And when asked how they could afford that, she replies, “Whew!  A lot of amazin...

One suspect in fatal Austin, Minn., drive-by shooting taken into custody

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:08:00 GMT

Authorities say one suspect as been arrested in a fatal drive-by shooting in Austin., Minn., on Friday night that left a person dead and several others injured.Police said Sunday that Manamany Abella, 23, was taken into custody in connection with the shooting.Authorities say the chain of events began about 10:40 p.m. Friday when five people got into a vehicle on the 700 block of Second Street Northwest and a gunman in a white Dodge Durango drove up and began shooting, according to a news release from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.During the shooting, the vehicle with the victims in it rolled and then crashed into a home on the 700 block of Fourth Street North. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.When officers arrived, they found a man and a woman inside the vehicle who had both also been shot. Both were taken to area hospitals. Two other people inside the victims’ vehicle fled the accident scene. Austin police say they are concerned the two also have injuries and...

Red Cross hosts food, sneaker drive for Veterans

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:08:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The American Red Cross hosted a food and sneaker drive for Veterans on Sunday. George Walker, who spearheaded the effort, is a Marine Corps Veteran who served in Vietnam. Now, he represents the Red Cross at Stratton VA Medical Center, helping make sure his brothers and sisters don't go hungry. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "When a Veteran uses the resources at the hospital, if they find that in fact the Veteran is food insecure, they send him to the pantry," explained Walker. "And he's able to help feed himself and his family." That pantry has been running extremely low in recent weeks, but Walker said it won't stay that way for long. "The community at large comes out and brings us enough food to pretty much fill that van usually, by the end of the day," he stated. The Hangar at 473 hosts 3rd Annual Wings and Wheels And it came with some perks. Donors got the chance to meet Luna, the therapy dog...

East Durham man arrested on sexual assault charges

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:08:00 GMT

CATSKILL, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An East Durham man has been arrested following a sexual assault investigation, according to police. Kenneth Ball, 25, is facing multiple charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! State Police worked with Greene County Child Protective Services to launch an investigation into an allegation of an adult male engaging in sexual conduct with a child less than eleven years old. The investigation led to the arrest of Ball on June 9, who faces the following charges: ChargesFirst-degree criminal sex actFirst-degree sex abuse Endangering the welfare of a child Police investigate fatal car crash in Colonie Ball was remanded to Green County Jail pending arraignment in Green County Court on June 12. Anyone who feels they may have been a victim of Kenneth Ball, or knows someone who may have been a victim are asked to call State Police Catskill at (518)622-8600.

1 person dead, another injured in 2-vehicle crash

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:08:00 GMT

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ill. - Officers are investigating a two-vehicle crash that left one person dead and another hospitalized Saturday night.The crash happened around 10:38 p.m. on Interstate 57 northbound just north of Marion, when one truck was driving southbound and suddenly crossed through the median and hit another truck in the northbound lanes head on. Both trucks caught ablaze as a result of the crash. Vandals damage LGBTQ door display at south St. Louis County church One of the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The second driver was taken to a nearby hospital via helicopter where they are being treated for their injuries. I-57 NB traffic was since rerouted onto Illinois Route 37 until 10:30 a.m Sunday. All lanes are now reopened. Further information about the crash has not yet been revealed. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

SoCal DJ creates 'Republic of Slowjamastan'; invites KTLA anchors to join nation

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:08:00 GMT

A San Diego-based slow jams radio DJ has spent his life visiting every country in the world. Now, Randy "R Dub!" Williams is the "sultan" of his own "country," tucked away right here in California.Over the course of about a decade, Williams visited every single UN-recognized nation, some of the world's most elusive destinations, including North Korea and Venezuela. While traveling the world, he visited a "micronation," or a self-declared territory, in Nevada known as the "Republic of Molossia."In the fall of 2021, Williams purchased a 11-acre plot of empty, desert land deep in the arid landscape of Southern California's Imperial County, about 100 miles east of San Diego, to establish his new nation on.A few months later, on Dec. 1, he officially declared independence from the United States, signing the secession document from "Dublândia," the capital of the new "Republic of Slowjamastan."KTLA Morning show anchors discussed the new micronation on air, and that's when they got an invi...

Will home prices increase after 2 insurance companies pull out of California?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:08:00 GMT

New California homeowners could encounter roadblocks when looking for home insurance after news broke that Allstate and State Farm will be pulling out of the California home insurance market.It’s unclear how this news will affect the California real estate market overall, but many residents already struggle to afford the six- and seven-figure home prices in the Golden State, without even accounting for monthly expenses. Six California cities where lower-budget home buyers can purchase a home “It would be more expensive to own a home since insurance is a part of your monthly budget,” Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin, said. “And if there are fewer insurers, then the insurers left behind will be able to command a higher price.”While California doesn’t require homeowners to have insurance, many mortgage lenders do. With fewer insurance companies willing to insure homes in high-risk areas, such as fire prone locations, more people won’t be able to purchase homes at all.Ac...

Stanford professor accused of domestic abuse found after disappearing on backpacking trip

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:08:00 GMT

Hunter Fraser, a Stanford biology professor accused of brutally beating his then-girlfriend, was found in Olympic National Park Sunday after “self-rescuing,” according to the National Park Service.Fraser reportedly exited the park via the Dosewallips River trail on the east side of the park with assistance from other hikers. He was then driven to Quilcene, Washington, where he was met by medical personnel and his family. It’s unclear whether he was injured.Searchers began looking for Fraser on June 8 after he was reported missing by a family member. The professor had planned a 40-mile backpacking trip through the national park and had been expected to make his return to Seattle on June 7.The Clallam County Sheriff’s office described Fraser as an “extremely experienced solo hiker,” and “well-equipped.” The multi-day search covered over 70 miles of trails and included air support, dog teams, and a variety of search and rescue agencies.He had been set to appear in San...

East Palo Alto man gets 4 years for Fremont home invasion robbery that turned deadly

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:08:00 GMT

OAKLAND — An East Palo Alto man was sentenced June 7 to four years in state prison after pleading no contest to participating in a home invasion robbery where one of his cohorts was shot and killed someone in the home.Gerardo Landa-Sandoval, 22, had been charged with murder under the provocative act theory, which says that a participant in a crime can be held liable when the victim kills one of the responsible parties in self-defense. But the murder count was dropped as part of the plea agreement, and Landa-Sandoval’s attorney argued the facts simply didn’t justify a murder charge.The hectic and chaotic robbery occurred on March 10, 2021, when Landa-Sandoval, 19-year-old Carlos Eduardo Contreras-Reyna, 22-year-old Lajon Harris, and a fourth person whose identity is unknown went to the Mosaic Apartments in Fremont to rob a specific unit, according to police. There were six people in the home, at least one of whom was armed. Details only get more unclear from there.A...