Santa Barbara County News and Events

Una morgue desbordada con más bolsas para cadáveres que respuestas: la represión se intensifica contra la disidencia en Irán

Kraig Pakulski 0 26 Article rating: No rating

Por Hira Humayun, CNN

Los iraníes gritaban de angustia y lloraban confundidos mientras se reunían junto a cuerpos envueltos en bolsas negras en una morgue improvisada en el Centro Médico Forense de Kahrizak y sobre el suelo fuera de las instalaciones al sur de Teherán.

Videos que lograron superar el apagón de internet en Irán circularon durante el fin de semana, revelando escenas desgarradoras. Personas intentaban identificar a sus seres queridos entre decenas de cuerpos dentro de habitaciones similares a almacenes y en el suelo fuera del centro forense, víctimas de la más reciente ola de represión brutal contra la disidencia en Irán. Protestas masivas antigubernamentales, causadas por el deterioro de las condiciones económicas, han sacudido el país, presentando al régimen iraní su mayor desafío en años.

Videos obtenidos por CNN muestran a una multitud reunida frente a un monitor que exhibe fotos de personas fallecidas mientras sus seres queridos se agolpan alrededor, tratando de identificarlas. Según la información mostrada en la pantalla e imágenes recibidas por la Agencia de Noticias de Activistas de Derechos Humanos (HRANA), con sede en EE.UU., se estima que hay alrededor de 250 cuerpos en la instalación.

Otro video, del centro forense, muestra bolsas negras en un pasillo fuera del edificio, con personas reunidas alrededor. Algunos cuerpos están esparcidos por lo que parece ser el patio del centro. Otros yacen sobre tierra sin pavimentar. Algunos están a pocos metros de autos estacionados, mientras las familias buscan desesperadamente los restos de sus seres queridos.

El grupo activista Mamlekate dijo el sábado que la cantidad de cuerpos llevados al instituto forense es tan alta que los están ubicando en el patio.

Otro video, grabado el viernes, muestra el interior de un almacén cerca del centro forense.
La sala, convertida en morgue improvisada, está repleta de cuerpos en bolsas negras, puestos en filas sobre el suelo y sobre mesas metálicas.

Los medios estatales iraníes reconocieron las escenas en la instalación médica, pero insistieron en que la mayoría de los cuerpos vistos son de “personas comunes”, transeúntes que se vieron arrastrados a las protestas. Los medios estatales culparon de sus muertes a “agitadores”.

La agencia de noticias Tasnim, afiliada al Estado, y la Agencia de Noticias Estudiantil publicaron un video con escenas de las inmediaciones del centro forense. El reportero de los medios estatales dice que estuvo en la oficina del forense y habló con las familias. El video muestra sus conversaciones con seres queridos en duelo que le dicen que sus familiares no eran manifestantes ni tenían inclinación a protestar.

Un hombre afligido, sentado en el suelo junto a un cuerpo en una bolsa negra, le cuenta al reportero estatal entre lágrimas que su ser querido fue golpeado en la cabeza por una piedra lanzada por una persona desconocida desde lo alto de un edificio. El hombre dice que su familiar estaba a favor del Gobierno.

El reportero estatal luego se dirige a la cámara y dice que manifestantes que “buscaban enfrentarse” con las fuerzas de seguridad o “querían tomar una base (militar) o algo así y pudieron haber usado armas” también están entre los muertos.

“Pero la mayoría de estas personas eran personas comunes, y (sus) familias son familias comunes”, dice.

Los reportes reflejan un esfuerzo concertado del Gobierno iraní para culpar a los manifestantes por la violencia en el país y advertir a otros que no se sumen a las manifestaciones. Con el historial de represión violenta por parte de las fuerzas de seguridad estatales en Irán y los relatos que han surgido en los últimos días, los grupos de derechos humanos afirman que la evidencia supera cualquier contranarrativa del Gobierno.

Las autoridades iraníes son responsables de las muertes y heridas de transeúntes en las protestas, dijo Mich

Zarbab Ali sentenced to life in prison for the 2022 murder of his estranged wife Rachael Castillo

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VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – Zarbab Ali of Hawthorne was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the first-degree murder of his estranged wife Rachael Castillo.

On Nov. 21, 2025, Ali was convicted of the murder of his wife just before they finalized their divorce in November of 2022 and he admitted to a felony charge of sexual contact with her remains before his trial noted the Ventura County District Attorney's Office in a press release Monday.

Zarbab Ali in court moments after hearing the guilty verdict.

On Nov. 10, 2022, Ali dropped off the two sons he and Rachael Castillo had together at his parents' home in Victorville and arrived later that night at the Simi Valley Apartment they all shared with Rachael's sister knowing his estranged wife would be alone noted the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

Ali then went inside of the apartment, turned off the lights, and waited for Castillo to leave a bedroom stated the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

He then confronted Castillo in a dark hallway before stabbing her 11 times in the neck and chest detailed the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

According to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, Ali then wrapped Castillo's body in a blanket and attempted to clean the scene before putting her wrapped body into the trunk of his car.

He then drove to Littlerock, California where he buried Castillo in a shallow grave with a shovel he had recently purchased before returning to his parents' Victorville home where he children were waiting shared the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

When Castillo's sister returned to her apartment, she discovered signs of a violent attack and called 911 and although her sister was officially reported as missing, her personal belongings including her keys, phone, and car were all still at the home detailed the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

Responding officers located bloody items in a nearby dumpster and witnesses reported seeing Ali at the apartment complex noted the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

After his children and parents went to sleep, Ali returned to Castillo's grave site after 2 a.m. and, "engaged in sexual conduct with her remains" before reburying her shared the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

Zarbab Ali rising to hear the verdict in his murder trial. Image courtesy of the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

"Rachael was more than a victim," shared Castillo's family in a victim impact statement during the trial. She was, "a devoted mother, loving sister, a daughter, and a friend," who had a, "soft-spoken voice that would make anyone smile."

Family members shared that Rachael had recently started a Master's degree program at Pepperdine University and, "had dreams for her and her boys' future" before she was murdered.

"You are here because you are a coward," noted one speaker while directly addressing Ali. "[Y

Bessent unhappy with criminal investigation of Fed Chair Jerome Powell

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President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell tour the Federal Reserve’s billion headquarters renovation project on July 24.


CNN

By Kristen Holmes, CNN

(CNN) — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has told people that he is unhappy with the decision to criminally investigate Fed Chair Jerome Powell, a source with knowledge of the matter told CNN.

Bessent has expressed concern that the decision will negatively impact the markets. He has warned President Donald Trump in the past that firing Powell would also cause volatility in the markets – though that did not appear to be the case Monday.

The investigation – which drew bi-partisan criticism after it was first revealed on Sunday evening – centers on Powell’s June testimony before Congress about the central bank’s $2.5 billion renovation of its headquarters in Washington, DC. Powell himself responded with an extraordinary video statement in which he revealed the Federal Reserve had been served Friday with grand jury subpoenas “threatening a criminal indictment” and alleged the probe was sparked by his ongoing battle with the president over interest rates.

“The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President,” Powell said in a statement.

Bessent’s frustration was first reported by Axios, which said he had told Trump late Sunday that the federal investigation into Powell “made a mess.” CNN has reached out to the Treasury Department for comment. Some administration officials insisted the Department of Justice’s unprecedented move was not political — and stressed that there was more investigating to do into Powell’s testimony. Jeanine Pirro, the US Attorney for the District of Columbia, said in a post on X that her office had “contacted the Federal Reserve on multiple occasions to discuss cost overruns and the chairman’s congressional testimony, but were ignored, necessitating the use of legal process—which is not a threat.”

“The word ‘indictment’ has come out of Mr. Powell’s mouth, no one else’s,” Pirro wrote. “None of this would have happened if they had just responded to our outreach. This office makes decisions based on the merits, nothing more and nothing less. We agree with the chairman of the Federal Reserve that no one is above the law, and that is why we expect his full cooperation.”

Trump and Powell have long sparred over interest rates, and the president has publicly toyed with firing his Fed chair – a move economists worried would undermine the institution’s historic independence and have potentially serious economic consequences. In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Trump denied knowledge of the investigation, saying, “I don’t know an

Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras respaldan los resultados ya anunciados de las elecciones presidenciales

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Por EFE

Las Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras anunciaron este lunes que continúan “respaldando la declaratoria del Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE)” sobre los resultados de las elecciones presidenciales del pasado 30 de noviembre, que dieron como vencedor al conservador Nasry “Tito” Asfura, apoyado públicamente por el mandatario estadounidense, Donald Trump, ante peticiones de un nuevo conteo “voto por voto”.

El anuncio lo hizo el jefe del Estado Mayor Conjunto del instituto castrense, Héctor Valerio, y se produce después de que el presidente de la junta directiva del Parlamento, Luis Redondo, promoviera una iniciativa para que el CNE haga un nuevo conteo “voto por voto” de las elecciones, aún cuando el ente electoral dio a conocer los resultados oficiales en diciembre.

Valerio indicó a periodistas que las Fuerzas Armadas están “en el cumplimiento de la Constitución de la República” y que, a raíz de la petición de Redondo, cuya iniciativa aprobada en el Parlamento por una minoría de diputados del gobernante Partido Libertad y Refundación (Libre, izquierda) fue sancionada por la presidenta hondureña, Xiomara Castro, “continuamos respaldando la declaratoria del Consejo Nacional Electoral y actualmente (están) con el Tribunal de Justicia Electoral (TJE)”.

Redondo advirtió el sábado, después de una reunión del Consejo de Ministros, al que asistió como invitado por Xiomara Castro, que si el CNE no hace el recuento “voto por voto”, entonces lo hará el Parlamento, desconociendo que el ente electoral es autónomo e independiente.

Luego de las últimas declaraciones de Redondo, las Fuerzas Armadas reforzaron la seguridad del Centro Logístico Electoral del CNE en el Instituto Nacional de Formación Profesional, cuyas instalaciones están resguardadas por más de 600 efectivos militares, según informó el domingo un alto oficial al frente de la operación.

“Estamos en apoyo permanente custodiando, vigilando el material electoral que se encuentra en las instalaciones del Instituto Nacional de Formación Profesional. La señora presidenta de la República en ningún momento me ha dado una orden de ese tipo (de entregar el material electoral), al contrario, ella ha sido muy respetuosa con las Fuerzas Armadas y nosotros estamos cumpliendo lo que manda el artículo 272 de la Constitución de la República”, enfatizó Valerio.

El artículo constitucional 272 establece que las Fuerzas Armadas son apolíticas, obedientes y no deliberantes, y son las responsables del traslado, vigilancia y custodia del material electoral.

“Actualmente las Fuerzas Armadas estamos en alerta constante para poder demostrar y hacer que la declaratoria del Consejo Nacional Electoral pueda ser cumplida y el 27 de enero, igual, la señora presidenta de la República, ella misma lo ha mencionado, que no va a estar ni un día más ni un día menos en su mandato. Y nosotros igual, estamos encaminados en la misma dirección”, acotó Valerio, quien también estuvo en la reunión del Consejo de Ministros del pasado sábado.

El CNE declaró el 24 de diciembre presidente electo al candidato presidencial del conservador Partido Nacional, Nasry “Tito” Asfura.

Asfura, quien como presidente electo inició hoy una visita a Estados Unidos para reunirse con funcionarios del Gobierno de Trump, sucederá el 27 de enero a Xiomara Castro, quien concluirá su mandato de cuatro años.

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The post Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras respaldan los resultados ya anunciados de las elecciones presidenciales appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

Waterwise Video Contest Open to Santa Barbara County High School Students

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SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) The Santa Barbara County Water Agency is hosting its 27th Annual Waterwise High School Video Contest.

This years theme is "Grow Beyond the Grass: Replace Your Lawn to Save Water, Support Nature and Keep Yards Cool."

The lengthy theme was selected to highlight the importance of sustainable outdoor water use and the benefits of transitioning away from thirsty lawns.

The Santa Barbara County Public Works Department Public Information Officer Lael Wagerneck said students are encouraged to enter 30 second videos in English or Spanish.

"The Santa Barbara County water agency works with different donors to provide cash prizes to the schools and the students and so it is great that the students can do something creative and is both a benefit to community by promoting conservation and there is a little prize with it."

Prizes range from $150-$500 for student award and $300-$1,000 for school awards.

Sponsors include Corollo Engineers, La Buena 105.1 FM, Geosyntec, Enviroscaping and Dudek.

The recent rainfall may have washed drought worries away, but Wagerneck said that doesn't mean people should relax their conservation efforts.

"While Cachuma is spilling right now it is important to conserve water all year and every year because Cachuma spilled in 2011 and by 2016 it was down to 6 percent capacity so even though we have a lot of water right now without five years we could be back down to single digits so it is important that people conserve water and that is why this contest is so important because it supports conserving all year," said Wagerneck.

Wagerneck conserves water at home by have drought tolerant plants and an artificial lawn.

He said he also takes quick showers and turns the tap off while brushing his teeth.

Some of those concepts have been promoted in past contests.

Past winners includes students from Dos Pueblos High, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School and Pioneer Valley High School.

They included animation, musicals, parodies, mysteries and thrillers.

When the contest first began students used VHS tapes, now they can use their Iphones and edit on their phones or laptops.

Organizers hope more schools and students will enter this year.

The winning vidoes are likely to be shown in local movie theaters before films and on local TV and video monitors at gas stations.

Students may find a link to application packets, award winning videos examples and a how-to-video by logging onto, https://waterwisesb.org

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. March 6th.

Winners will be announced in the Spring.

Your News Channel will have more on the Waterwise contest tonight on the news.

The post Waterwise Video Contest Open to Santa Barbara County High School Students appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

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