US interviews Hamas hostage victims, families in terror probe

• July 9, 2024

Ava Benny-Morrison | (TNS) Bloomberg News

The U.S. Justice Department is interviewing survivors and families of victims of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack in Israel as it attempts to build a sweeping case against the militant group and its financial backers.

The individuals, including former hostages and families of U.S. citizens murdered abroad, have sat down with prosecutors and FBI agents in recent months, according to people familiar with the investigation. Some have traveled from Israel and provided videos and text messages to help authorities build a chronology of the attack and identify who carried out the kidnappings.

While part of the U.S. probe is looking at acts of terrorism, a broader focus is tackling the financial networks that have enabled Hamas. That includes examining any support from countries such as Iran and Qatar, and whether financing touched U.S. financial institutions or assets, one of the people familiar with the inquiry said. The investigation involves prosecutors from U.S. Attorneys’ offices in New York, Washington and the Justice Department’s Counterterrorism Section.

A spokesman for the Justice Department declined to comment.

U.S. citizens were among the approximately 1,200 people killed and 250 others taken hostage when Hamas operatives poured into Israel and stormed towns, army bases and a music festival. About 31 Americans were killed on Oct. 7 and as many as six remain in captivity, giving prosecutors a way to pursue the crimes, even though they were committed overseas. Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and European Union.

At the same time, U.S. support of Israel in the ensuing war has become a divisive issue for some voters ahead of the presidential election in November. Almost 38,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the Israel-Hamas war erupted, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The U.S. has put itself at the center of cease-fire negotiations in a bid to stop the conflict and prevent it spreading across the Middle East.

Qatar, which previously provided funding to Gaza in coordination, it says, with the Israeli government, and hosts Hamas’ political bureau, stepped up mediation when the war began. It’s been a go-between for Israel and Hamas for more than a decade.

The Gulf state helped broker the only truce in the war so far, a week-long pause that saw more than 100 hostages released and ended at the start of December.

Iran has been targeted repeatedly by the U.S. over the years for supporting terrorist groups, and indictments were filed as recently as February against senior leaders of the Islamic Republic’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran, along with Syria, is also facing a new wave of lawsuits filed on behalf of hostage victims and their families for providing the fire power and financial support to enable the attack.

In cases where people facing criminal charges have been hard to detain, prosecutors have coupled indictments with civil forfeiture actions, allowing the government to seize assets. In terrorism cases, seized funds can be potentially redirected into a reserve for U.S. victims of state-sponsored terrorism.

Federal prosecutors in Washington and New York seized more than 500,000 barrels of oil and $108 million when they charged leaders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in February with terrorism and sanctions evasion. The U.S. alleged funds from oil trafficking allowed Iran to support Hamas and Hezbollah, which has also been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. Billions of dollars from the oil laundering network passed through the U.S. financial system, the government revealed at the time.

—With assistance from Nick Wadhams.

___

©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

OC Fair summer concert series lineup is here for Pacific Amphitheatre and The Hangar

• July 9, 2024

The OC Fair has officially announced its full concert schedule for the Pacific Amphitheatre. This year’s lineup features returning favorites like Chris Young and Ziggy Marley, along with tribute bands celebrating Depeche Mode, the Talking Heads, and U2. New acts will also be making their debut.

Located on the fairgrounds, the Pacific Amphitheatre and The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa will host nightly entertainment from July 19 to August 18. Tickets include same-day admission to the OC Fair.

For more information on the OC Fair, go to ocfair.com.

Here’s the full list of concerts coming to the Pacific Amphitheatre and The Hangar this summer.

Pacific Amphitheatre

Cake 

The Sacramento-based geek rock band Cake will perform at the Costa Mesa venue, with opening support from the Ukrainian folk music quartet DakhaBrakha. Fans can expect to hear some of the band’s greatest hits, including “The Distance” and “Never There.”

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 9

Tickets: $50-90 at pacamp.com.

Tash Sultana 

Tash Sultana, the psychedelic and reggae soul artist, is set to perform with support from Chiiild. Sultana rose to fame with her unique DIY approach, showcased in her viral 2016 track “Jungle,” which has been viewed over 188 million times on YouTube. The Melbourne-bred multi-instrumentalist is also the first Australian to have a signature series guitar with Fender.

When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10

Tickets: $35-$82 at pacamp.com 

All Time Low and The Band Camino 

The Maryland-born pop-punk legends All Time Low are hitting the road for the Forever Tour, celebrating their 20th anniversary as a band. This tour marks a comeback after a brief hiatus in 2020. Fans can look forward to favorite hits as well as tracks from their 2023 album, “Tell Me I’m Alive.” The Band Camino will provide support.

When: 7 p.m. Friday, July 12.

Tickets: $43.99-$109.45 at pacamp.com.

Los Tucanes de Tijuana 

The iconic Mexican norteño group, Los Tucanes de Tijuana, will bring some regional Mexican heat to the stage with special guest Voz de Mando. The group recently performed an evening set at the multi-generational Latino Besame Mucho Festival at Dodger Stadium on Dec. 2.

When: 7:30 Sunday, July 14

Tickets: $50-$100 at pacamp.com.

Ziggy Marley 

Reggae artist Ziggy Marley returns to the Pacific Amphitheatre, following the release of his two new singles this year, “Drive” and a live recording of “Personal Revolution.” Marley will be supported by the funk band Lettuce.

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, July 18

Tickets: $35.30-$87.50 at pacamp.com.

Chris Young 

Country music star Chris Young will return to the venue, promoting his latest record, “Young Love & Saturday Nights,” released in March. Fans can also expect to hear hits like “Famous Friends” and “Gettin’ You Home.”

When: 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 19 $55-$100 at pacamp.com.

Tickets: $55-$100 at pacamp.com.

The Hangar

Tickets for all shows start at $13.42-$27.75. Tickets are now available at ocfair.com/thehangar

Friday, July 19

Start Making Sense: The Talking Heads tribute. The 10-piece tribute band will play hits like “Psycho Killer,” “This Must Be The Place” and “Burning Down The House.”

Saturday, July 20

Hollywood U2: Based in Los Angeles, Hollywood U2 was founded by lead singer Joe Hier in 2003. Considered the world’s greatest U2 tribute band, they’ve recently played for the US Marines in Japan.

Sunday, July 21

One More Night: Phil Collins and Genesis Tribute. One More Night’s performances are a heartfelt homage to the songs of Phil Collins and Genesis. The band brings hybrid versions that capture the essence of the studio releases along with the magic of live renditions, creating an experience that is both familiar and fresh.

Wednesday, July 24

Dead Man’s Party: An Oingo Boingo and Danny Elfman tribute playing hits like “Only a Lad,” “Weird Science” and more.

Thursday, July 25

Ticket to the Moon: Electric Light Orchestra Tribute. Known as one of the best ELO tribute groups, fans will be pleased to hear “Mr. Blue Sky” and “Don’t Bring Me Down.”

Friday, July 26

Red Corvette: A tribute to the music icon Prince as they play almost four decades worth of music.

Saturday, July 27

Atomic Punks: The Tribute to Early Van Halen. In the heart of Pasadena, California, where the iconic Van Halen first ignited their rise to stardom, a tribute band emerged that would come to embody the very nature of the legendary rock group’s early years.

Sunday, July 28

24K Magic: A tribute to Bruno Mars. The funk group will dive into Mars’ catalog of hits like “Uptown Funk” and “That’s What I Like.”

Wednesday, July 31

Elton: The Early Years. Kenny Metcalf recreates Elton John’s eccentric fits and dynamic stage presence while performing all the early hits.

Thursday, Aug. 1

Don’t Look Back: The Boston Experience. The tribute band will sing all of Boston’s greatest hits.

Friday, Aug. 2

Listen To The Music: A Tribue to the Doobie Brothers. The tribute group meticulously reproduces each and every hit song to give audiences a true experience of seeing and hearing the Doobie Brothers band perform live.

Saturday, Aug. 3

Live From Earth: Pat Benatar and Beyond. Live From Earth celebrates the music of rock legend and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Pat Benatar.

Sunday, Aug. 4

Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez. The mariachi band will serenade fans for the night to iconic mariachi tunes.

Thursday, Aug. 8

Queen Nation: A tribute to the music of Queen. Vocalist Gregory Finsley channels his best Freddie Mercury while singing his way through Queen’s biggest hits from the ’70s and ’80s.

Friday, Aug. 9

No Duh: The Ultimate Tribute to No Doubt. This particular No Doubt tribute mixes the experience and energy of a live No Doubt concert with nostalgic visuals and styling. Fans can jam out to “Just A Girl” and “Hella Good.”

Saturday, Aug. 10

Which One’s Pink?: Pink Floyd tribute. A celebration of the 51st anniversary of “Dark Side of the Moon.”

Sunday, Aug. 11

I Am King: The Michael Jackson Experience. The top nationally touring tribute to “Michael Jackson…Live From Las Vegas” comes to Orange County.

Thursday, Aug. 15

The Long Run: Experience the Eagles. The live tribute experience pays homage to The Eagles’ greatest hits.

Friday, Aug. 16

Devotional: The Depeche Mode Experience. Covering songs from the band’s 15-record repertoire, such as “Enjoy The Silence” and “Personal Jesus.”

Saturday, Aug. 16

Twisted Gypsy: A tribute to the music of rock band Fleetwood Mac that’ll take fans back to the heyday of ’70s rock ‘n roll.

Sunday, Aug. 17

Zeppelin Live: A Led Zeppelin tribute act performing the greatest hits of the ’70s & ’80s.

Monday, Aug. 18

Tupua: The Spirit of Aloha. This show will showcase the best of Polynesian tunes and experiences. Witness the Samoan flaming fire knife dance, the rhythmic Tahitian drums, and the Tupua Hula Maidens with their hulas.

​ Orange County Register 

Person found dead in San Juan Capistrano after deputies respond to domestic violence call

• July 9, 2024

Orange County sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic violence call in San Juan Capistrano on Tuesday morning and found that a homicide had occurred, authorities said.

The deputies were called to the 32000 block of Alipaz Street, near Del Obispo Street, just past 7:30 a.m. on a call of domestic violence. Upon arrival at the scene, they found a homicide had occurred, officials said.

During the subsequent response, a deputy-involved shooting occurred, but exactly what led to the shooting was not immediately known. Whether anyone was struck by the deputies’ gunfire also was not immediately known.

Further details were not immediately available.

This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.

​ Orange County Register 

How can homicide ever be justifiable? Ask the lawyer

• July 9, 2024

Q: A homicide means someone is killed.  It is very hard for me to understand how that can ever be justified.

T. B., Bellflower

Ron Sokol

A:  You are correct that homicide is the act of killing another person. Under California Penal Code Section 197, there are certain instances where taking a life may be justified: (a) When you are acting in actual self-defense, (b) when you are defending your home or property, or (c) when you are either trying to make a citizen’s arrest, or seeking to keep the peace. Each of these defenses are subject to very careful assessment.

Self-defense means you were in imminent danger of great bodily injury, and further that you only employed the level of force necessary to defend yourself.

With regard to defending your home or property, there was an intruder who was intending to commit a violent crime, you reasonably believed the threat of harm was imminent, and it was both reasonable that you believed deadly force was necessary, and the amount of force you employed was reasonable.

The defense of citizen’s arrest means a felony was involved which created a risk of death or great bodily injury, and the wrongdoer posed a future danger to society. As to keeping the peace, you were trying by lawful means to prevent a riot or violence from occurring.

Q: A homicide can really be excusable or accidental? The D.A. is telling us no criminal charges are going to be brought because my friend’s death was “excusable.”

F.S., Lomita

A: You did not set forth the circumstances that the D.A. evaluated. Keep in mind that a prosecutor has a clear edict: He or she is not to bring a criminal case against anyone without a genuine belief that the crime can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

An example of taking the life of another which may be deemed excusable or accidental would be at a shooting range, and (sadly) someone wanders into the target area.

California Penal Code Section 195 sets forth that homicide is excusable (or may be deemed accidental) when it is done by accident and misfortune, or occurs in the performance of a lawful act by lawful means, with usual and ordinary care, and without any unlawful intent.

A further example: A swimming instructor is teaching a young student, takes a brief restroom break and returns to find the student has drowned. It turns out the student had an unexpected aneurysm, that no one would have anticipated or predicted. Tragic indeed, but accidental.

Ron Sokol has been a practicing attorney for over 40 years, and has also served many times as a judge pro tem, mediator, and arbitrator. It is important to keep in mind that this column presents a summary of the law, and is not to be treated or considered legal advice, let alone a substitute for actual consultation with a qualified professional.

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​ Orange County Register 

What’s Southern California’s best city for renters?

• July 9, 2024

“How expensive?” tracks measurements of California’s totally unaffordable housing market.

The pain: Southern California’s best cities to be a renter cost an average 12% more than lower-ranked places.

The source: My trusty spreadsheet reviewed WalletHub’s grades scoring the value of being a tenant in 182 US cities – including 18 in Southern California. This metric compares a benchmark for costs with a yardstick for livability to create an overall ranking. Then we contrasted those grades with typical rents for 2024’s first half as tabulated by Zillow.

The pinch

Ponder how WalletHub’s scorecard ranks the 18 Southern California cities – the best 9 in overall score compared to the worst 9. Then let’s look at cost vs. quality of life.

Now, no renter should be surprised that local pricing ranked poorly on a national basis.

Southern California’s top 9 cities averaged a No. 137 national ranking for “affordability” – that’s far below the 182-city midpoint. And the bottom 9 averaged even worse at 167.

Conversely, Southern California’s quality of rental life graded well.

The top 9 cities averaged a high No. 27 ranking for livability. And even the bottom 9 averaged an above-average 60.

But there’s a real cost to the region’s rental upper crust.

Using Zillow rents, tenants in these top 9 Southern California cities pay the landlord an average $2,186 compared to $1,950 in the bottom 9. That’s an extra $236 a month for what one scorecard saw as the “best” locally.

Pressure points

Irvine was Southern California’s top rental spot, by WalletHub’s math, ranking No. 22 overall nationally.

The city was graded a below-par No. 109 for affordability out of the 182 US cities but 10th-highest nationwide for quality of life. And if Irvine’s your place, Zillow says typical rents run $2,390 a month.

At the other end of the spectrum, San Bernardino had the region’s worst rental grades. It ranked 19th worst nationally – 167th for affordability and 118th for quality. But note the city’s typical rent of $1,327 was 45% below Irvine!

Southern California’s other rankings …

No. 35 nationally was Huntington Beach, ranking 129th for affordability and sixth for quality. Rent? $2,376.

No. 57 San Diego: 155th for affordability, 13th for quality. Rent? $2,230.

No. 58 Fontana: 114th for affordability, 34th for quality. Rent? $2,257.

No. 67 Oxnard: 86th for affordability, 65th for quality. Rent? $2,108.

No. 76 Rancho Cucamonga: 161th for affordability, 12th for quality. Rent? $2,089.

No. 85 Garden Grove: 163rd for affordability, 11th for quality. Rent? $1,999.

No. 95 Santa Clarita: 165th for affordability, 26th for quality. Rent? $2,170.

No. 121 Anaheim: 149th for affordability, 66th for quality. Rent? $2,052.

No. 126 Chula Vista: 152nd for affordability, 61th for quality. Rent? $2,131.

No. 127 Santa Ana: 164th for affordability, 54th for quality. Rent? $2,128.

No. 129 Riverside: 145th for affordability, 72nd for quality. Rent? $1,776.

No. 132 Glendale: 178th for affordability, 17th for quality. Rent? $2,295.

No. 133 Los Angeles: 169th for affordability, 50th for quality. Rent? $2,411.

No. 137 Long Beach: 166th for affordability, 69th for quality. Rent? $1,848.

No. 144 Ontario: 176th for affordability, 41th for quality. Rent? $1,838.

No. 149 Moreno Valley: 172nd for affordability, 63rd for quality. Rent? $1,690.

No. 156 Oceanside: 179th for affordability, 53rd for quality. Rent? $2,054.

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com

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​ Orange County Register 

Tour de France: Jasper Philipsen breaks through in Stage 10

• July 9, 2024

SAINT-AMAND-MONTROND, France — Jasper Philipsen edged a thrilling sprint to win his first stage of this Tour de France on Tuesday after finishing runner-up twice last week.

Biniam Girmay, winner of two stages already, was runner-up a second time, and Pascal Ackermann was third.

The overall leaders stayed the same. Tadej Pogacar retained the yellow jersey with the same 33 second gap on Remco Evenepoel and more than a minute on two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard.

The 10th stage from Orléans to Saint-Amand-Montrond in central France was a flat 187 kilometers (116 miles) without classified climbs, and set the stage for a mass sprint.

Philipsen, the Belgian rider known for his powerful finishes, finally capitalized. This was his seventh career stage in the last three Tours.

“Today everything worked according to plan,” Philipsen said. “We came to the Tour de France with the goal of winning at least one stage. I’m really happy that we can now tick that box and go further in the Tour with more confidence in the team.”

Following the first rest day, the race unfolded without major disruptions despite intermittent showers. The peloton enjoyed a picturesque route, passing the 500-year-old Château de Chambord.

Stage 11 on Wednesday will get the riders back climbing again in the Massif Central mountains.

​ Orange County Register 

Beachwood Brewing is celebrating a milestone anniversary with several parties on July 13

• July 9, 2024

Beachwood Brewing is celebrating 13 years of making beer by throwing a big daylong birthday party.

“It’s surreal and it’s humbling. It’s been a pretty amazing journey,” said Julian Shrago, founder, co-owner and brewmaster of Beachwood Brewing.

The award-winning brewery will be holding celebrations at its five locations on July 13. The birthday celebration will include beer releases, food specials, live music, even a magic show.

“I think it’s going to be a fun and busy day,” Shrago said.

Gabriel Gordon and wife Lena Perelman opened Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Seal Beach in 2006 as one of Orange County’s first gastropubs. But Beachwood didn’t make its own beer until 2011 when the couple teamed up with Shrago to open Beachwood Brewery in Long Beach.

Since then the brewery has won several prestigious awards including the 2013 prize for Mid-Sized Brewpub of the Year at the Great American Beer Festival in Colorado, the World Beer Cup Champion Large Brewpub at the World Beer Cup Awards in 2016, and the silver and bronze at the Great American Beer Festival in 2023.

“We’re fortunate to live in an area where there is a strong beer culture,” Shrago said.

“We’ve been able to create a continuous passionate culture at Beachwood where people are really enthusiastic about the products and getting behind the products. We’re also always seeking to make things better,” he said.

While the original Long Beach brewery and restaurant in downtown Long Beach, as well as the Seal Beach spot, have closed, Beachwood has expanded through the years opening other locations in Long Beach, Huntington Beach and Garden Grove.

Here’s how the parties will roll out on July 13

Beer release

Beachwood will Introduce the new Hyperspeed IPA at all its locations. If you love hops, this is the beer for you, and it comes in at a 7.1% ABV too, so yeah, it’s a good party beer.

Special sour beer releases

These will only be available at Beachwood Brewing & Blendery at 247 N. Long Beach Blvd. in downtown Long Beach. The five new sours include the Funk Yeah Batch 6, a Gueuze-inspired sour ale, the City of Chaos, which is fermented and aged in bourbon barrels and the Pineapple Dragon OG. It’s fermented and aged in oak barrels with pineapple and dragon fruit.

The magic of pizza

The Beachwood Pizzeria and Taproom at  5205 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach will have a new 16-inch sourdough pie on the menu, plus magicians performing tricks from 6 to 8 p.m.

Cornhole tournament

Show off your cornhole skills at the Bixby Knolls taproom located at 3630 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, during a tournament hosted by Long Beach Cornhole. The competition starts at 11:30 a.m. There  will also be live music at 7 p.m.

Get tatted

Don’t worry, they’re just temporary Beachwood tattoos offered at the 2nd & PCH taproom at 6430 Pacific Coast Highway and the Garden Grove location at 12900 Euclid St. The Garden Grove taproom will also have a craft market and DJs spinning tunes.

For more information go to beachwoodbrewing.com

​ Orange County Register 

When the economy satisfies like comfort food, could be time to exit your comfort zone

• July 9, 2024

The latest numbers on unemployment remind me of our family’s normal dinner routine.

That’s because we don’t have a normal dinner routine. Our daughter does four sports, one of them year-round. There is dance, homework and — sacred of sacreds — Family Movie Night. Sure, some nights end in a delicious pot roast served the minute the soccer cleats come off. We’d like to think that’s normal. But what about the other nights (OK, many other nights) that end with peanut butter and banana sandwiches eaten in the car?

The employment numbers feel like that pot roast dinner —  an economic comfort food moment  in a time where the political news is going from weird to weirder.

We added 206,000 jobs in June, which is about right for an economy growing at a normal pace. The unemployment rate rose to 4.1%, which is close to what the Congressional Budget Office calls the “natural” rate of unemployment.

Another important number — one that deserves more attention — is the “JOLT rate”,  which is a cool name for the ratio of unemployed to job openings. The latest number from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that there are about 125 job openings for every 100 people looking for a job. At the height of the pandemic there were 250 people unemployed for every 100 openings. That was not, to state the obvious, normal. People need jobs. For most of 2022, there were about 50 unemployed to fill 100 openings. That wasn’t normal either, employers need workers. The current JOLT rate is very close to what we see during times when the economy is ”normal.”

I’ve also been curious lately about whether workers and employers have come to some understanding on the hot-button issue of working from home. It’s hard to tell since everybody has a story, but the a sequence of monthly surveys  taken by the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that for the past year or more about 15% of total hours worked were worked remotely. We all said that after the Pandemic there would be a new normal. Maybe this is it.

Ok, so if the job market is more or less normal, what should we do?

Since I’m a Ph.D. economist — which means I’m full of myself — the temptation is to offer sage advice on macroeconomic policy. The truth, of course, is that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell doesn’t care what I think about the timing of interest rate cuts. You shouldn’t either. But you should think more about what this normal employment news means for your own job.

First, it means that if you don’t have a job, go get a job. And, yes, I’m looking at you recent graduates. I know a lot of you heard a commencement speech delivered by some blowhard who told you to follow your heart, or your muse, or your passion. Whatever. That’s terrible advice. Sure, one or two of you may become successful Tik-Tok influencers. And some of you may have life-changing experiences on a gap year spent traveling around Europe with a backpack and Mom’s credit card. But for most of you that’s a waste of a valuable year.

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An economy doing what it’s doing right now is the perfect time to take that all important first step on the career ladder.

If you’re kind of good at math and like computers, you can find a bank or an insurance company that will train you be an underwriter. If you’re a people person, you can find a company making stuff people want to buy that will set you up in their sales trainee program where you can learn everything you can about what the customers really want and then let you go sell, sell, sell.

And if you already have a job, make sure you’re doing it well. Normal is not forever, especially in the world of work. When things get tight, you want to be the one the boss can’t do without, not the one with a name the boss can’t quite remember.

To go back to my observation about “normal” dinnertime routines, good parents stay humble. We don’t know what’s going to happen next. We enjoy the pot roast and the random family conversation, but we make sure there’s an extra jar of peanut butter in the pantry.

Michael L. Davis is an economics professor at the Cox School of Business, SMU Dallas.

​ Orange County Register