Perhaps the state's solons have skimmed enough headlines in recent years to finally stick a thumb or two on the lopsided scales of justice. One story reported on the then-editor of the Albuquerque Journal serving 10 days in jail after pleading guilty to shoplifting $104 in merchandise from a Walmart. An earlier piece told of then-state Sen. Richard Martinez receiving a five-day jail sentence after seriously injuring two people in a car crash. State District Judge Francis Mathew convicted Martinez of reckless driving and aggravated drunken driving. Martinez, D-Ojo Caliente, could have been jailed for as long as 180 days for his two crimes, but judges in New Mexico typically dole out light punishment to first-offense drunken drivers. My purpose in highlighting these cases is not to seek sympathy for a well-paid thief. The point is one prominent, white-collar New Mexican served less time for inflicting terror and pain on innocents than another who stole some groceries. I wrote a column earlier this fall calling for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 days in jail for any first offender convicted of drunken driving. Many readers contacted me about that column. As the holidays approach and state legislators prepare for their 60-day session starting in January, they might be interested in a few of their comments. "This state continues to do what it has always done, and at this point it doesn't seem to care that the results are the same as they always have been. Sadly, that means increased death and injury," wrote Linda Atkinson, executive director of the DWI Resource Center and New Mexico Victims' Rights Project. "The most recent data (2022) from the New Mexico Department of Transportation indicates that DWI arrests were down almost 21% from 2018 to 2022. Convictions were also down by 24% over the same time. DWI crashes have gone from 113 fatalities in 2018 to 152 in 2022. "We could increase DWI penalties, similar to Scandinavian countries. Research tells us this would reduce death and injury caused by impaired driving," Atkinson stated. Another reader, Sheila McCarthy Grainger wrote me about her family's tragedy, fresh in her mind after 40 years. "In 1984, my husband was hit head-on by a drunk playing 'chicken' in Taos Canyon. My husband was airlifted to UNMH where he lay in a coma for 10 days, finally succumbing to his injuries. He died the day after Christmas. Our young son was left fatherless, and I was left without my best friend." Richie Grainger's death led to one of the more publicized and controversial DWI cases in New Mexico's history. The Taos News led the way in describing peculiar conduct by state police officers who'd investigated the defendant, Veto Vialpando. "Taosenos wondered why Vialpando was allowed to drive away from the scene of the tragedy after he failed to produce insurance and was charged with DWI," the weekly reported. Vialpando's family hired New Mexico's most famous defense attorney, Leon Taylor, to represent him. An early ruling boded well for Vialpando. A judge decided the jury in Raton could not be told 21-year-old Vialpando had refused to take a blood-alcohol test. Taylor offered a simple defense. He said Vialpando had been blinded by the sun. Richie Grainger, Taylor argued, died as the result of a terrible accident rather than a senseless crime. Jurors acquitted Vialpando. He died 30 years after his trial. Sheila Grainger for a time tried to repair what she believed was a broken system. "My friends who worked at the Legislature would invite me to go during the sessions to talk to various legislators about improving laws concerning drunken drivers. It was like I was talking to a blank wall. "One legislator in the House of Representatives even went so far as to tell me he had three rehab places [in his district] which brought in money. He wasn’t about to change any laws that would alter that moneymaking endeavor." She wearied of lawmakers. "It used to irk me seeing them in The Bull Ring and other eating and drinking places, laughing and slapping each other on the back for jobs well done. "My son and I endured. He has done well in his life, having two college degrees and a lovely little family. Me, I’m old now, never remarried, and I still miss Richie every day. I tell you this because your column just pointed out the fact that after 40 years nothing has improved." Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and legislators in her own party battled in springtime over a package of crime bills she coveted. Trouble was, Lujan Grisham's proposals were redundant or deemed unwise. Lawmakers rejected all of them. The Scandinavian model of stiff sentences for drunken drivers wasn't part of the package. The new year represents a fresh opportunity to change that. All the politicians read about the editor who spent 10 days in a cell for shoplifting. For all their interest in crime and punishment, they didn't find any account of a first-time drunken driver doing that much time. Call it New Mexico's legal system. Justice shouldn't be part of the description. Ringside Seat is an opinion column about people, politics and news. Contact Milan Simonich at msimonich@sfnewmexican.com or 505-986-3080.Hegseth meets with moderate Sen. Collins as he lobbies for key votes in the Senate

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BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 9, 2024-- Walker & Dunlop, Inc. announced today that it arranged the $185,000,000 sale of Preserve at Melrose, a suburban multifamily community built in 2015 that comprises 410 units in Vista, one of San Diego's most sought-after north county neighborhoods. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209891604/en/ Preserve at Melrose (Photo: Business Wire) This sale represents the 2 nd largest single-asset transaction in San Diego and the fifth largest in California year-to-date in 2024. The Walker & Dunlop Investment Sales team, led by Hunter Combs , represented the seller, a local San Diego based group, and buyer, Mesirow. "San Diego remains a top target nationally for investors, making up 10% of all U.S. multifamily transactions over $150 million and 23% of those in California, year-to-date since 2023," said Hunter Combs, managing director of Investment Sales at Walker & Dunlop. "San Diego's market strength is propelled by its historically consistent rent growth, strong fundamentals and high barriers to entry. The influx of life science surrounding UCSD and big tech companies establishing their presence here, in addition to the long-standing defense industry underscores San Diego's exceptional market resilience and attractiveness for investors." "We were pleased to collaborate with Walker & Dunlop in the purchase of the Preserve at Melrose,” stated Alasdair Cripps , chief executive officer of Mesirow Institutional Real Estate Direct Investments. “The Preserve’s expansive amenity set, transit-oriented location and proximity to key employment centers make it one of north county San Diego’s most attractive multifamily properties, and we look forward to serving this community.” Located in the Vista submarket of San Diego, Preserve at Melrose is minutes from downtown Vista and transit oriented being adjacent to the light rail stations. The property is located off State Route 78, providing residents with direct access to major employment hubs along the 78 corridor, including Vista, Oceanside, Carlsbad, San Marcos, and Escondido. The multifamily community offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments with resort-style amenities, all set within a serene, low-density garden-style setting. Walker & Dunlop is a leader in multifamily property sales, having completed over $51 billion in property sales volume since 2021. The firm is also one of the top providers of capital to the U.S. multifamily market. In 2023, Walker & Dunlop originated over $24 billion in debt financing volume, including lending over $20 billion for multifamily properties. To learn more about our capabilities and financing options, visit our website . About Walker & Dunlop Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD) is one of the largest commercial real estate finance and advisory services firms in the United States. Our ideas and capital create communities where people live, work, shop, and play. The diversity of our people, breadth of our brand and technological capabilities make us one of the most insightful and client-focused firms in the commercial real estate industry. About Mesirow Mesirow is an independent, employee-owned financial services firm founded in 1937. Headquartered in Chicago, with offices around the world, we serve clients through a personal, custom approach to reaching financial goals and acting as a force for social good. With capabilities spanning Global Investment Management, Capital Markets & Investment Banking, and Advisory Services, we invest in what matters: our clients, our communities and our culture. To learn more, visit mesirow.com , follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to Spark , our quarterly newsletter. Mesirow has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Chicago by Crain’s Chicago Business multiple times and is one of Barron’s Top 100 RIA firms. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209891604/en/ CONTACT: Investors: Kelsey Duffey Investor Relations Phone301.202.3207 investorrelations@walkeranddunlop.com Media: Nina H. von Waldegg VP, Public Relations Phone301.564.3291 info@walkeranddunlop.comPhone301.215.55007272 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1300 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA MARYLAND UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY FINANCE PUBLIC RELATIONS/INVESTOR RELATIONS URBAN PLANNING BANKING COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RESIDENTIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE SOURCE: Walker & Dunlop, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/09/2024 06:00 PM/DISC: 12/09/2024 06:00 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209891604/enLast month, the film adaptation of the popular Broadway musical, “ Wicked ,” released in theaters, breaking box office records. A viral post online prompts people to share photos they took while watching the movie. “Show ur ‘wicked part 1’ photos,” the post says. Although many people are aware that video recording inside the theater is illegal, others replied to the post with photos they took in their local movie theater, sparking a discussion online about whether it’s legal to take those pictures. Movie theater chain Alamo Drafthouse responded to the post calling for photos, writing “Or, don't do that.” Is it illegal to take pictures of movies at the theaters? United States Code 2319B Eisner Gorin LLP AMC Theaters Regal Yes, it is illegal to take pictures of movies at the theaters. Taking photos of a movie in theaters is illegal under federal copyright laws. Movie theaters also ban the practice. United States Code 2319B states that “any person who, without the authorization of the copyright owner, knowingly uses or attempts to use an audiovisual recording device to transmit or make a copy of a motion picture or other audiovisual work protected under title 17, or any part thereof, from a performance of such work in a motion picture exhibition facility” could face up to three years in prison, fines, or both. If it's a subsequent offense, prison time can increase to up to six years. Audiovisual recording devices are defined under the law to be “a digital or analog photographic or video camera, or any other technology or device capable of enabling the recording or transmission of a copyrighted motion picture or other audiovisual work.” By that definition, cell phones or any still image camera would be included. In addition, the crime is not limited to distributing or sharing illegal work. The very act of taking the picture is in itself illegal. While the law “emerged in response to the growing threat of piracy in the digital age,” Eisner Gorin LLP says it “targets the act of recording itself, regardless of whether the recorded content is distributed or used for personal gain.” Federal law gives theater employees the authority to detain anyone suspected of violating the law. Many movie theaters have outlined in their rules that filming or taking photos during a movie is strictly prohibited. For example, Regal’s admittance policy says , “No recording devices (cameras, video recorders, sound recorders, etc.) are permitted to be used within any Regal Entertainment Group facility.” AMC Theaters has a similar policy, with its code of conduct stating , “In support of federal law, camera use is not permitted in our auditoriums” Social media impersonation accounts are illegal in some states, if they’re intentionally deceitful No, T-Mobile is not fining customers over their text message content Are surprise restaurant fees illegal? It depends on where you are The VERIFY team works to separate fact from fiction so that you can understand what is true and false. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter , text alerts and our YouTube channel . You can also follow us on Snapchat , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . Learn More » YouTube Snapchat Instagram Facebook TikTok Text: 202-410-8808

Police arrested a 26-year-old man on Monday in the Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO after they say a Pennsylvania McDonald's worker alerted authorities to a customer who resembled the suspected gunman. The suspect, identified by police as Luigi Nicholas Mangione, had a gun believed to be the one used in Wednesday’s attack on Brian Thompson , as well as writings expressing anger at corporate America, police said. Here are some of the latest developments in the investigation: Where was the man captured? Mangione was taken into custody at around 9:15 a.m. after police received a tip that he was eating at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 85 miles (137 kilometers) east of Pittsburgh, police said. Mangione was being held in Pennsylvania on gun charges and will eventually be extradited to New York to face charges in connection with Thompson’s death , said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. What evidence did police find? In addition to a three-page, handwritten document that suggests he harbored “ill will toward corporate America,” Kenny said Mangione also had a ghost gun, a type of weapon that can be assembled at home and is difficult to trace. Officers questioned Mangione, who was acting suspiciously and carrying multiple fraudulent IDs, as well as a U.S. passport, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. Officers also found a sound suppressor, or silencer, “consistent with the weapon used in the murder,” the commissioner said. He had clothing and a mask similar to those worn by the shooter and a fraudulent New Jersey ID matching one the suspect used to check into a New York City hostel before the shooting, Tisch said. What do we know about Mangione? Kenny said Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco and that his last known address is in Honolulu. Mangione, who was valedictorian of his Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts also suggest that he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. Some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent people, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have had children attend the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things,” according to a post on the school website. He praised their collective inventiveness and pioneering mindset. Mangione took a software programming internship after high school at Maryland-based video game studio Firaxis, where he fixed bugs on the hit strategy game Civilization 6, according to a LinkedIn profile. Firaxis parent company Take-Two Interactive said Monday it would not comment on former employees. He more recently worked at the car-buying website TrueCar, according to the head of the Santa Monica, California-based company. “While we generally don’t comment on personnel matters, we confirm that Luigi Mangione has not been an employee of our company since 2023,” TrueCar CEO Jantoon Reigersman said by email. Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. Reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. Luigi Mangione is one of 37 grandchildren of Nick Mangione, according to the grandfather's obituary. Luigi Mangione's grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes ranging from Catholic organizations to colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesman for the lawmaker's office confirmed Monday. The shooting and a quick escape Police said the person who killed Thompson left a hostel on Manhattan's Upper West Side at 5:41 a.m. on Wednesday. Just 11 minutes later, he was seen on surveillance video walking back and forth in front of the New York Hilton Midtown, wearing a distinctive backpack. At 6:44 a.m., he shot Thompson at a side entrance to the hotel, fled on foot, then climbed aboard a bicycle and within four minutes had entered Central Park. Another security camera recorded the gunman leaving the park near the American Museum of Natural History at 6:56 a.m. still on the bicycle but without the backpack. After getting in a taxi, he headed north to a bus terminal near the George Washington Bridge, arriving at around 7:30 a.m. From there, the trail of video evidence runs cold. Police have not located video of the suspect exiting the building, leading them to believe he likely took a bus out of town. Police said they are still investigating the path the suspect took to Pennsylvania. “This just happened this morning," Kenny said. "We’ll be working, backtracking his steps from New York to Altoona, Pennsylvania,” Kenny said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore, Matt O'Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, and Cedar Attanasio in New York contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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Dallas HERO threatens to sue City of Dallas over failure to enforce law on homeless encampmentsThe UK and Germany have agreed a landmark deal that will see police crack down on smugglers storing small boats in warehouses. New laws to be brought in by the German government will see authorities seize vessels earmarked for dangerous Channel crossings. Gang members smuggling people into the UK will be prosecuted as a result of the agreement signed by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Germany's Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser. Ms Cooper said lives will be saved as a result, with new laws leading to a surge in prosecutions. It follows the arrest last month of a 44-year-old man who was allegedly supplying engines and boats to smugglers. The Turkish national is accused of shipping supplies from his homeland, storing them in Germany before transporting them to Northern France. These boats were used by smugglers to transport asylum seekers across the Channel, investigators believe. The agreement with Germany will also see intelligence and law enforcement services share expertise and stop people smugglers using social media to attract business. So far this year, more than 70 people have died attempting to cross the Channel, including children. Ms Cooper said: "We are clear that this cannot go on. Germany is already a key partner in our efforts to crack down on migrant smuggling, but there is always more we can do together. "Our new Joint Action Plan with deliver a strengthened partnership with Germany, boosting our respective border security as we work to fix the foundations, and ultimately saving lives.” Ms Faeser said: "By cramming people into inflatable boats under threats of violence and sending them across the Channel, these organisations put human lives at risk. Many of these crimes are planned in Germany. "Together, we are now countering this unscrupulous business with even more resolve." A crucial meeting of the Calais Group - which brings together leaders from Belgium, France, The Netherlands, the European Commission and its agencies, Europol and Frontex - will be held in London on Tuesday. The summit will cover the role of illicit finance and intelligence sharing to tackle irregular migration.Better Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock: Palantir vs. SoundHound AI

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VALPARAISO, Ind. (AP) — Valparaiso hired longtime Marietta coach Andy Waddle as its new football coach, athletic director Laurel Hosmer announced Monday. Waddle is scheduled to be formally introduced on campus Wednesday. He spent the last 12 seasons turning around the Division III program located in Southeastern Ohio. There, he went 55-61 after inheriting a winless team. He led the Pioneers to their first 8-0 start last season and matched the 1920 squad's school record with a 13-game winning streak that started in 2023. In 2024, Marietta made its first postseason appearance since 1973. Waddle went 16-5 over the past two seasons and produced seven winning records over the last eight seasons. The Pioneers had only two winning seasons in the previous 20 years. “I think there is a great group of young men on the (Valparaiso) roster, and we’re excited to invest in those student-athletes and continue to add more high-quality people and football players to the program,” Waddle said of the program located in Indiana's northwest corner. “I think Valpo is not only an outstanding fit for me professionally, but also an outstanding fit for me and my family.” Waddle spent eight seasons working with the defense as an assistant for his alma mater, Wittenberg, where he was an all-conference defensive back. He also has coached at Mansfield University in Pennsylvania and at Maryville College in Tennessee. “His experience building success and winning culture as a head coach, passion for developing student-athletes on and off the field and high character made it clear he was the right leader for our football program,” Hosmer said in a statement. The move comes two weeks after Hosmer announced the school would not give Landon Fox a contract extension after his deal expired. Fox was 21-42 in six seasons at Valparaiso. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football'Not Our Fight!': Trump Weighs In On Syria's Unraveling