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A retro blue VW van miraculously survives deadly Los Angeles fire [Video]
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A retro blue VW van miraculously survives deadly Los Angeles fire [Video]

TRAGICALLY. THAT WAS LOLITA LOPEZ REPORTING. WE KNOW MANY VOLUNTEERS FROM THE AMERICAN RED CROSS ARE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RIGHT NOW, HELPING THOSE FIRE VICTIMS. THERES SO MANY OF THEM, TOO. LETS TALK WITH SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS FIRSTHAND HOW THIS IS ALL PLAYING OUT RIGHT NOW. ADAM MAESTAS WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, GOLD COUNTRY REGION. ADAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US. HOW DO YOU EVEN BEGIN TO. I MEAN, SOMEONE SOMEONE WHOS JUST HAD THEIR LIFE FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN AND EVERYTHINGS GONE. WHERE DO YOU START? ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY? YEAH, THATS A LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY FOR JUST THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RIGHT NOW. OUR IMMEDIATE CONCERNS, OF COURSE, IS JUST SHELTERING AND FOOD AND KEEPING THESE PEOPLE SAFE. YOU KNOW, AS THESE FIRES CONTINUE TO BURN AND CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO GET WORSE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. BUT RIGHT NOW, WE ARE FOCUSED ON SHELTERING AND HELPING THESE PEOPLE NAVIGATE THAT REBUILDING PROCESS. RIGHT. ITS JUST JUST NAVIGATING, YOU KNOW, BUREAUCRACY AND THE PROCESS OF WHERE TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, WHO MIGHT GET A GRANT. HOW DO I REPLACE THIS, THAT OR THE OTHER. SO ITS A VERY LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY. BUT OUR WORKERS ARE IN SHELTERS ACROSS EIGHT SHELTERS, HELPING ABOUT 8900 PEOPLE RIGHT NOW. WITH THAT PROCESS. ADAM, WHAT ARE THE LONG TERM NEEDS WHEN IT COMES TO THE RECOVERY PROCESS RIGHT NOW? LIKE I SAID, JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IS TAKEN CARE OF ON THE GROUND FOR THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS. BUT THESE LONG TERM NEEDS ARE JUST GOING TO BE GETTING THESE PEOPLE ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY AND INTO THE NEXT THING, THE NEXT STEP IN THEIR LIVES, WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE. TO FACILITATE THAT, THE RED CROSS ALWAYS PLAYS A PART. WE CAN PLAY A PART WITH HELPING PEOPLE NAVIGATE THAT PROCESS, AS WELL AS FINANCIAL INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS THAT GO OUT TO PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THAT FIRE PERIMETER THAT WEVE PRE-IDENTIFIED, AND IF THEY QUALIFY, THEY CAN GET A CHECK, YOU KNOW, USUALLY RIGHT AWAY. SO THAT PROCESS IS STARTING THIS WEEK. AND AGAIN, THE TWO DRIVERS THAT MAKE THE RED CROSS SO EFFECTIVE AND MOBILIZING QUICKLY IN RESPONDING TO DISASTERS LIKE THESE ARE VOLUNTEERS, RIGHT. AND CASH DONATIONS. SO ITS ALWAYS A GOOD TIME TO PICK UP THE PHONE OR GO TO RED CROSS.ORG AND START EITHER OF THOSE JOURNEYS. RIGHT. WE SUBSIST ALMOST ENTIRELY ON PEOPLE AND DONATIONS FROM EVERYDAY PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I. ALL RIGHT, ADAM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME

New Orleans staged wrecks suspect enters plea in bombshell hearing [Video]
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New Orleans staged wrecks suspect enters plea in bombshell hearing [Video]

A suspect indicted in a wide-ranging staged wrecks investigation has pleaded guilty, and also revealed bombshell allegations in the case. Ryan Harris, who was indicted in connection with the staged wrecks as well as an investigation into the killing of a federal witness in the case, pleaded guilty to three charges Thursday. Harris pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, wire fraud, and causing death by use of a firearm. The factual basis of Harris’s plea agreement was read in court. Harris admitted his role in the killing of Cornelius Garrison, who was reportedly working with the federal government in the case against several high-profile New Orleans lawyers and their firms. According to court records, Harris said he assisted with the murder by providing a co-conspirator, Leon Parker, with the gun. However, Harris accused Parker of shooting and killing Garrison. Harris also accused Sean Alfortish, a well-known businessman and disbarred attorney in New Orleans, of paying Parker to kill Garrison, according to the court documents. Harris also admitted to working with Alfortish’s fianc, Vanessa Motta, and the King Firm to stage accidents and file false insurance claims. Judge Wendy Vitter accepted Harris’ admission of guilt, but not the proposed plea deal sentence of 35 years. Vitter is asking to review the pre-sentence investigation in the case due to the fact Harris’ third count carries a life in prison sentence.Vitter asked Harris why he was pleading guilty during the court hearing. “I’m taking responsibility for my actions,” Harris replied. Last month, Parker, the accused shooter, was in court for a detention hearing, during which new details about the scheme were revealed.He is being represented by Stephen Haedicke, who was assigned through the federal public defender’s office. An FBI agent testified, saying Parker played a part in the killing of Cornelius Garrison after New Orleans businessman Sean Alfortish tried to pay Garrison to go to the Bahamas instead of cooperate with the investigation. The FBI agent testified that Motta and Alfortish offered Garrison money to leave and also arranged for him to get an attorney. The agent said a burner phone was used in the killing of Garrison and was bought by Ryan Harris, who has been indicted in connection with the scheme and homicide. A second burner phone was also used during the crime, and whoever had both was connected to the location where the killing happened, according to the FBI agent. Parker referred to himself as Harris’ stepdad, and reportedly searched “Cornelius Garrett” on Google days before the killing. The FBI agent testified that they believed Parker was searching for details on Garrison. Less than a week before the homicide, the FBI agent said Parker and Harris sent photos of a 9 mm gun to each other. The same type of gun was used in the killing of Garrison, according to the FBI agent. One day before the killing, the agent said Parker withdrew more than $47,000 from his bank account and met with Harris.The agent said the first burner phone was purchased in New Orleans East shortly after, and Harris’ then-girlfriend, Jovanna Gardner, got the other burner phone from Harris. Gardner used the burner phone to contact Garrison. The agent said whoever had the second burner phone was “running the show” and contacting Gardner. The agent said Harris and Parker met the day of the homicide and had a 71-minute call at 7:55 p.m. Garrison was killed at 8:30 p.m., according to the FBI. The agent testified that investigators believe the call was meant to be “an alibi call.” Parker is then accused of going to Kenner after the homicide happened. The FBI agent said Alfortish lived in Kenner at the time, and Parker even searched Alfortish on Google days after the homicide. Alfortish is being held without bond, and Motto and Giles entered not-guilty pleas in connection with the investigation last week. More from the indictment:According to the indictment, Harris, also known as “Red,” conspired with Motta, Alfortish, Giles and three others named Leon M. Parker, also known as “Chunky,” Diaminike F. Stalbert, Carl G. Morgan and Timara N. Lawrence, to defraud insurance companies and commercial vehicle companies through false wreck claims.The indictment claims Motta, Giles and their firms knowingly pursued lawsuits for staged collisions.Giles and Alfortish, who is a disbarred attorney, worked with Motta by paying what the indictment calls “slammers,” or people who staged the collisions.Stalbert, Parker and Morgan are described as “slammers.” Lawrence was in a relationship with Harris and Morgan was a family member of Harris, according to the indictment.Parker was involved in at least three staged crashes, and Stalbert was involved in at least two. Morgan was involved in one staged wreck.The indictment claims Lawrence would provide stolen personal information to Harris as part of the scheme.Beginning in 2011, Damian Labeaud and Roderick Hickman began staging collisions for Giles, according to the indictment.Labeaud and Hickman are accused of working as slammers and spotters, helping find tractor-trailers to target for wrecks. They would also refer people involved in the wrecks to Giles’ law firm, the King Firm.The indictment accuses Giles of paying $1,000 per passenger in the collisions. To conceal their payments, the checks were often made out as loans or advances on future settlements.In 2017, another slammer introduced Garrison to the scheme by training him to stage collisions, according to the indictment.Garrison was then introduced to Alfortish, who is described as playing “an active role” in staging crashes for Motta’s law firm.The indictment claims Garrison would direct passengers to Alfortish and Motta’s law firm.Harris eventually began working with Garrison to stage wrecks. At some point, the two stopped working together, and Harris began staging wrecks for other people.Garrison began covertly working with the federal government in 2019 regarding the wrecks.Motta and Alfortish are accused of offering Garrison money to move out of the United States if he stopped cooperating with the federal government.Garrison received a subpoena for a deposition in the case.The indictment claims Harris, Alfortish, Motta and her firm conspired to stop Harris from participating in the deposition.Harris is accused of killing Garrison before he was able to testify in the probe.Alfortish is facing one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, three counts of obstruction of justice, and four counts of witness tampering.Motta is facing one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, three counts of obstruction of justice, and four counts of witness tampering. Her firm is also facing the same charges.Giles faces one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, five counts of obstruction of justice and six counts of witness tampering. His firm also faces the same counts.WDSU has reached out to the attorneys representing Giles, Motta and Alfortish. All are aware of the indictment against their clients.Motta’s attorney, Sean Toomey, a partner at New Orleans-based law firm Liskow & Lewis, issued the following statement regarding the allegations:”Vanessa Motta is completely innocent of any wrongdoing. The governments theory that a lawyer barely a year out of law school decided to participate in a sprawling conspiracy is terribly mistaken. If these accidents were in fact staged, my client was also a victim and taken advantage by others. Over the last five years Vanessa has been unjustly vilified in the press and so while we strongly believe this indictment is misguided, we are looking forward to the trial of this case where Vanessa will finally be vindicated.”At the time of this publication, responses had not yet been received from Giles and Alfortish’s attorneys.About the scheme:Motta represented two clients who have pleaded guilty to federal crimes, admitting to staging wrecks with tractor-trailers in New Orleans and then filing fraudulent insurance claims saying they were injured when they werent and that the wrecks were not their fault when they were.Alfortish is a disbarred lawyer who served jail time over a decade ago after pleading to unrelated fraud charges.Sources say the two are implicated in the death of a federal witness who was executed in 2020. To date, neither have been charged with any crimes.Garrison was gunned down in Gentilly in 2020, just days after he was charged with federal crimes for being a go-between for lawyers and those driving the vehicles used in the staged wrecks.Garrison was cooperating with the FBI and the United States Department of Justice on this matter.In May, WDSU Investigates broke the story of the arrest of two people in the homicide case.Harris, who is accused of killing Garrison, was arrested with his girlfriend, Gardner.Gardner cut a deal days after the arrest.The case had been cold for almost four years.In open court in May, at a hearing for Harris, the FBI said that he had documents at his home linking him to Motta’s law firm.The feds say Garrison was shot 10 times. All 10 shell casings were found at the scene.Pictures of his body were also shown in open court.Garrison, along with Gardner and Harris, were involved in Operation Sideswipe.That’s the name of the wide-ranging federal investigation into staged wrecks in New Orleans.The FBI said in open court that the probe started in early 2019, just months after WDSU Investigates first reported on how wrecks were being staged in New Orleans and how local lawyers cried foul on how suspect insurance claims were being filed.According to the lead FBI agent, who testified at the May detention hearing, Gardner and Harris were in a relationship and shared a child together.The FBI says the two would work with Garrison, helping to stage wrecks and then work to file false insurance claims.The FBI agent who testified in May told the court that in the fall of 2019, Garrison started working with the feds as a cooperating witness.He admitted that he was providing information on cases, including one involving Harris.Garrison was charged in 2020 and, days later, was killed.The FBI said Harris is on video buying a cellphone at a Family Dollar.They say that the cellphone was purchased one day before Garrison was killed, and it was used to send messages and make calls to him hours before he was killed.One call was made just two minutes before Garrison’s mother called 911, reporting his shooting death.Federal prosecutors showed a picture of Harris in court buying the cellphone.They say the phone used then went dead after Garrison was killed.Gardner was in court, wearing a navy blue prison jumpsuit.Several family members attended the court hearing, and all declined to comment afterward.This case is set to go to trial in January but is expected to be delayed.Almost 50 people have pleaded guilty in connection with the staged wrecks.The federal probe was launched months after WDSU’s initial report on this matter in 2018 and led to state lawmakers enhancing laws to protect tractor-trailer drivers in the state.

New Orleans UMC gives WDSU rare access to trauma care [Video]
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New Orleans UMC gives WDSU rare access to trauma care [Video]

After a terror attack suspect plowed through crowds on Bourbon Street on New Year’s Day, WDSU was allowed rare, exclusive access to the hospital that treated a majority of those injured in the tragedy. The level-one trauma center at University Medical Center in New Orleans treated many of the victims of the Bourbon Street terror attack.WDSU Investigates | Super Bowl 2025 guide | Latest on Bourbon Street terror attack With the 2025 Super Bowl less than a month away, WDSU investigative reporter Aubry Killion got a first-hand look at how they’re prepared to give world-class care.The UMC team demonstrated the crucial drills and scenarios they practice in preparing for mass casualty incidents. A team of 10 to 20 medical experts from all backgrounds are prepared for anyone who arrives. It can be chaotic, controlled chaos,” Alison Smith, MD, said. Related: Dr. Jeffrey Elder describes the injuries UMC treated after the Bourbon Street terror attack. You can subscribe to WDSU’s YouTube page and view that interview here. Smith is the UMC trauma medical director and a top trauma surgeon.Fortunately, we didnt have to add in something like a burn injury if there had been explosions as well. We prepare for all these unique scenarios here,” said Smith. Smith said before the patient arrives, care starts with EMS. A team at the hospital will then assess the patient before they walk through the door of “room number four.”Room number four is a nod to the hospital’s legacy dating back to Charity Hospital. When the trauma center opened in 1996, room four is where they would run all the trauma,” said Smith. If a patient needs to go straight to an operating room, it is staffed and ready to go. The trauma center is named after Dr. Norman McSwain. McSwain’s name can be seen by the patient before they enter the trauma center. McSwain spearheaded the planning and coordination efforts for what would become University Medical Center in New Orleans. Dr. McSwain used to say death is your competitor. You fight to win, Smith said. So thats how we approach everything. We are always fighting against death. We want you to go home. We want you to go back to your families. We will provide you with support along the way to get you there. Jeffrey Elder, MD, Chief Medical Officer said UMC is prepared for the Super Bowl and any rush of patients. “That could be anywhere from a handful of patients to hundreds of patients in a large scale or maybe more, Elder said. At UMC, its not just physical care. “People are always asking me, ‘How do you do this job,’ said Dr. Erika Rajo. Rajo is a trauma psychologist. She also helps with connecting families with resources for financing, housing, jobs, and more. Seeing the strength in these people really helps me energize, bottle it up, and bring it to the next patient, Rajo said. We have the Seeds of Nola trauma recovery center here at UMC. We offer therapy med management support groups to support that recovery, that emotional healing after something like this.To request an appointment regarding trauma recovery, UMC said call 504-702-4335.To view the simulation drill video, click the video above.