Camarillo, California – The California State Auditor’s Office will soon be seeking eligible registered voters to form California’s 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission.
If you have you been waiting for a once in a decade opportunity to shape California’s future, this may be your chance. The California State Auditor’s Office will soon be forming California’s 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission and you may be eligible to apply.
The Commission will be comprised of 14 members; five members who are Democrats, five members who are Republicans and four members who are either Decline to State or with another party. Registered voters are eligible to serve on the Commission, so long as they have been continuously registered in California with the same political party, or with no political party, for the five years immediately prior to being appointed to the Commission; and they must have voted in at least two of the last three statewide general elections. A voter may not serve on the Commission if the voter, or a member of their immediate family, has been appointed to, elected to, or been a candidate for a California congressional or state office; served as an officer, employee, or paid consultant of a California political party or of the campaign committee of a candidate for California congressional or elective state office; or has been a registered lobbyist.
VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Tyler Ostertag (DOB 10/16/1994), of Camarillo, was found guilty of second-degree murder for the stabbing death of Daniel Morales, of Camarillo, and dissuading a witness to the murder. Daniel was 16 years old when he was killed. The murder occurred on August 31, 2015.
Daniel Morales was outside of a fast-food restaurant in Camarillo when Ostertag started a fist fight with Daniel’s friend, Joseph Hunt. After Ostertag lost the fist fight, he walked back to a vehicle parked 80 feet away and retrieved a knife. He returned to exact revenge on Joseph; however, Daniel jumped in front of his friend and Ostertag stabbed Daniel once in the heart. Daniel died later that day. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Deputies were able to apprehend Ostertag in Riverside approximately 11 hours after the murder.
Ostertag will remain in custody at the Ventura County jail pending sentencing, which is scheduled May 10, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 26 of the Ventura Superior Court, County of Ventura. Ostertag faces a maximum sentence of 54 years to life in prison.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is the public prosecutor for the county’s 850,000 residents. The office employs approximately 280 employees including attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and other professional support staff who strive to seek justice, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of crime victims.
Follow the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office on Twitter @VenturaDAOffice
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Simi Valley Police Department – Incident Press Release
On April 10, 2019, at approximately 9:48 PM, a carjacking occurred in the 1600 Blk. of Los Angeles Ave. The victim was stopped at the intersection of Hubbard St. and Los Angeles Ave. when two suspects approached his vehicle. According to the victim, he exited his vehicle and one of the suspects assaulted him while the other entered his vehicle. After the assault, both suspects fled in the vehicle. The victim had minor injuries.
SVPD officers took a position on the 118 Freeway at Tapo Canyon Rd. and located the victim’s vehicle travelling E/B with two occupants. SVPD officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop but the vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit ensued. The vehicle continued E/B on the 118 freeway and exited at Topanga Canyon Rd. After exiting the freeway they travelled N/B into a residential neighborhood. While fleeing through the neighborhood, the vehicle came to a dead-end street and both occupants fled on foot. A quick perimeter was established and both suspects were taken into custody. The suspects were identified as, Alex Lopez DOB 7/12/94 and Alejandro Novoa DOB 3/20/89. Both suspects are Simi Valley residents and have gang ties. Neither suspect was injured.
The suspects were booked at Ventura Main Jail for 212.5 PC and 2800.2 VC (Carjacking and Felony Pursuit)
The public is reminded that if a carjacker threatens you verbally or with a weapon, GIVE UP YOUR CAR !!. Don’t argue. Your life is definitely worth more than a car!
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The U.S. government charged Wikileaks founder Julian Assange with conspiracy to commit computer hacking on a classified computer relating to his role in helping Chelsea Manning steal tens of thousands of diplomatic cables in 2010.
“The charge relates to Assange’s alleged role in one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States,” the Justice Department wrote. The charges come hours after Assange was arrested by British authorities on a U.S. extradition request in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
Assange has lived inside the embassy for seven years after being granted political asylum by Ecuador.
The DOJ outlined Assange’s role in assisting Manning in stealing documents and classified information from government computers in 2010, which he subsequently released to several news organizations in 2010. The releases caused diplomatic shockwaves throughout the world and revealed the innermost workings of the U.S. Department of State.
“Let’s be clear. This disclosure is not just an attack on America — it’s an attack on the international community,” former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at the time, adding, “There is nothing laudable about endangering innocent people, and there is nothing brave about sabotaging the peaceful relations between nations.
DOJ is alleging that “Assange engaged in a conspiracy with Chelsea Manning, a former intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army, to assist Manning in cracking a password stored on U.S. Department of Defense computers connected to the Secret Internet Protocol Network (SIPRNet), a U.S. government network used for classified documents and communications.”
The indictment shows that Assange actively encouraged Manning to continue searching for classified information noting one chat exchange in which Manning told Assange, “After this upload, that’s all I really have got left,” to which Assange replied, “Curious eyes never run dry in my experience.” (RELATED: ‘American Traitor’ Chelsea Manning Loses Harvard Fellowship)
Manning was sentenced to 35 years in military prison in 2013, though was released by former President Barack Obama in the waning days of his presidency.
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Smart spacesuits and solar surfing may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but they are just two of the technology concepts NASA has selected for further research as part of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program. The program will fund 18 studies to determine the feasibility of early-stage technologies that could go on to change what’s possible in space.
The funded technologies have the potential to transform human and robotic exploration of other worlds, including the Moon and Mars. One researcher, for example, will study an affordable way to mine the ample ice at the Moon’s polar regions. NASA aims to send astronauts to land on the Moon’s South Pole in five years.
“Our NIAC program nurtures visionary ideas that could transform future NASA missions by investing in revolutionary technologies,” said Jim Reuter, acting associate administrator of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. “We look to America’s innovators to help us push the boundaries of space exploration with new technology.”
The latest NIAC selections include Phase I and Phase II awards. The selected Phase I studies cover a wide range of innovations. Each Phase I award is valued at approximately $125,000, helping researchers define and analyze their proposed concepts over nine months. If the initial feasibility studies are successful, awardees can apply for Phase II awards.
SmartSuit: An intelligent spacesuit design with soft-robotics, self-healing skin and data collection for extravehicular activity in extreme environments that allows for greater mobility for exploration missions Ana Diaz Artiles, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, College Station
Dual Use Exoplanet Telescope (DUET): A novel telescope design to find and characterize planetary systems outside the solar system Tom Ditto, 3DeWitt LLC, Ancramdale, New York
Swarm-Probe Enabled ATEG Reactor (SPEAR) Probe: An ultra-lightweight nuclear electric propulsion probe for deep space exploration, designed to keep mass and volume low for commercial launch Troy Howe, Howe Industries LLC, Tempe, Arizona
Ripcord Innovative Power System (RIPS): An investigation of a drag using ripcord unspooling power system for descent probes into planets with atmospheres, such as Saturn Noam Izenberg, Johns Hopkins University, Laurel, Maryland
Power for Interstellar Fly-by: Power harvesting from ultra-miniature probes to enable interstellar missions Geoffrey Landis, NASA’s Glenn Research Center, Cleveland
Thermal Mining of Ices on Cold Solar System Bodies: Proposes using a unique heat application on frozen volatiles and other materials for resource extraction George Sowers, Colorado School of Mines, Golden
Phase II studies allow researchers to further develop concepts, refine designs and start considering how the new technology would be implemented. This year’s Phase II selections address a range of cutting-edge concepts from flexible telescopes to new heat-withstanding materials. Awards under Phase II can be worth as much as $500,000 for two-year studies.
Diffractive LightSails: A study to design and advance passive and electro-optically active diffractive films for missions in low-Earth orbit, inner solar orbits and to distant stars Grover Swartzlander, Rochester Institute of Technology, New York
Solar Surfing: A materials-science study to determine the best protective materials to enable heliophysics missions closer to the Sun Doug Willard, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida
NASA selected Phase I and II proposals through a peer-review process that evaluates innovativeness and technical viability. All projects are still in the early stages of development, most requiring a decade or more of concept maturation and technology development.
For the first time this summer, the NIAC program will select one Phase III research study. The award will be up to $2 million for as long as two years. This final phase is designed to strategically transition a NIAC concept with the highest potential impact to NASA, other government agencies or commercial companies.
“NIAC is about going to the edge of science fiction, but not over,” said Jason Derleth, NIAC program executive. “We are supporting high impact technology concepts that could change how we explore within the solar system and beyond.”
NIAC partners with forward-thinking scientists, engineers and citizen inventors from across the nation to help maintain America’s leadership in aeronautics and space research. NIAC is funded by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is responsible for developing the cross-cutting, pioneering new technologies and capabilities needed by the agency to achieve its current and future missions.
The Simi Valley Police Department has recently experienced a pattern of wallet thefts from woman’s purses while shopping at local grocery stores.
Distraction crimes are committed by both men and women and sometimes work in pairs. A thief will ask the victim a seemingly harmless question; possibly for an opinion on a product, that will divert the victim’s attention for a few seconds. During that short amount of time, the thieves’ accomplice will dip into the shopper’s purse and remove the wallet. Most victims never see the accomplice. By the time a victim realizes the loss, both thieves are long gone.
Shortly after, thieves are using your credit cards to make large purchases at retail stores. Some purchases are gift cards which are untraceable. Most stores use point-of-sale terminals where the customer swipes a credit card and clerks never actually see it.
The SVPD would like to remind you:
• NEVER leave your purse or backpack unattended in the shopping cart • Always zip your purse or backpack closed to prevent any thefts • Don’t carry your wallet in your back pocket or side pocket in a jacket • Beware of other shoppers who may distract you while their accomplice steals your wallet/purse • Watch out for other shoppers who may be vulnerable • Secure your property to the cart’s safety belt or use a carabineer to attach your purse or backpack. • Create alerts with your bank debit and credit cards which notify you when large purchases are being made. Contact your bank and Credit Card Company immediately to file a report. • Report suspicious subjects to the store’s management • Carry small amounts of cash and only bring credit cards you plan to use
SVPD is giving away FREE key chain carabineers from the front desk, located at 3901 Alamo Street, Simi Valley.
STAY ALERT! BE AWARE! DON’T BECOME A VICTIM!
Additional tips on Crime Prevention can be obtained from Simi Valley Police Department’s Crime Analysis & Prevention Unit’s Crime Prevention Coordinator Jean-Marie Maroshek at (805)583-6276.
Simi Valley Police Department
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Ventura County Council, Boy Scouts of America (BSA) celebrates their 43rd Annual Gala Dinner and Auction on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at the Camarillo Ranch House.
For 43 years, over 200 community leaders, parents, and friends of Scouting have come together to celebrate each successful year of Character, Citizenship, and Leadership Development delivered to over 8,000 youth in and around Ventura County. Our 2019 ‘Denim & Diamonds’ themed Gala Dinner and Auction starts at 4pm in gardens of the historical venue with Cocktails, Hors d’oeuvres, a Silent Auction, and a live band featuring Justin Honsinger. Guests will then be ushered into the barn at around 5:30pm by our Scouts and Explorers to partake in a fantastic dinner prepared by Pierre’s Catering, wine service by Opolo Winery, desserts, and a Live Auction with Auctioneer Todd Ventura.
The Boy Scouts of America is our Nation’s oldest and most revered youth leadership organization, and our local Council, founded in 1921, hosts its Gala Dinner and Auction as one of three annual fundraisers including our Golf Classic at Spanish Hills Golf Club each August, and our Shootout for Scouting at Oak Tree Gun Club each October. The Ventura County Council, BSA offers proven Character Based Programs to boys and girls ages 5 – 21 which inculcate Citizenship, Leadership, Career Development and Community Service. Many community service projects are realized through roughly 200 annual Eagle Scout projects, along with over 10.5 hours of service that every other Scout provides each year.
Thank you to our Partners for the 2019 Gala which include Opolo Wine, Premier America Credit Union, Logix Credit Union, Great Wolf Lodge, Hampton Inn & Suites – Thousand Oaks, and many anonymous donors.
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Westlake Village, CA – The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the 2019 honorees for this year’s 40 Under Forty. These 40 young professionals will be recognized on Thursday, May 2, 2019 at the Canyon in Agoura Hills for their professional and community contributions to the Greater Conejo Valley region. Past 40 Under Forty honoree, Senator Henry Stern will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the awards dinner.
40 Under Forty Honorees
Alex Villafuerte, Regus Westlake Village
Amber Coleman, M.D., Anesthesiologist
Andrew Mooney, Conejo Recreation and Park District
Anthony Occhipinti, Ventura County Fire Department
Brianna Battles, Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism
Caitlin Pieh, Elysian Media Group
Christine Trunick, American Cancer Society
Colin Doyle, Doyle Tax Corp
Cordelia Miller, Art Trek
Danielle Barraza, Hyatt Regency Westlake
Dawn Megli-Thuna, Acorn Newspapers
Ekta Kumar, Psy.D., California Lutheran University
Eric Widmer, Peak Surveys Inc.
Garrett Crawford, City of Thousand Oaks
Hayley Penrose, Office Evolution
Iris Van Dyke, LVUSD, White Oak Elementary School
Jacqueline Kerns, Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village
Jenny Fitzgerald, CVUSD School Board Trustee
Jeremy Wolf, State Senator Henry Stern’s Office
Jessica Arden, City of Westlake Village
Jessica Lancaster, Homewood Suites by Hilton Agoura Hills
Joe Markiewicz, Coldwell Banker
Johnathan Franklin, Los Angeles Rams
Julian Espinosa, Papi Digital
Kathryn Clunen, Esq., Dion Law Group
Lauren Shaffer, Hair Impressions / Conejo Community Outreach
Lindsay Samaniego, California Lutheran University
Mackenzie Spears, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office
Manny Bujold, Agoura Hills World Champion Karate
Marissa Buss, Pinnacle Estate Properties Inc. / The Tooth Fairy Box
Mayra R. Garcia, Express Employment Professionals
Na Shen, M.D., UCLA Health
Nimira Alibhoy, D.C., Upper Cervical Chiropractor
Philippe Eskandar, City of Westlake Village
Rudy Davila, Palm Garden Hotel
Sarah Buxbaum, Celebrate with Sarah
Shannon Baranski, Sequoia M.S., Conejo Valley U.S.D.
Tim Velasquez, Keller Williams Realty World Class
Tracie Karasik, TLKmultimedia
Weston Valdillez, Ventura County Fire Department
Pre-sale tickets to the 40 Under Forty awards on Thursday, May 2, 2019 are available for
$75 per person available online at www.conejochamber.org through Monday, April 30, 2019.
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VENTURA — The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will host four public meetings on April 16, 17, 18 and 22 in Ventura, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and Camarillo as part of the planning for proposed improvements on U.S. Highway 101 in Ventura County.
Caltrans, in coordination with the Ventura County Transportation Commission, is proposing to widen Highway 101 approximately between State Route 33 and State Route 23 to add High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV, or carpool) lanes in each direction and potential auxiliary lanes.
Four public scoping meetings will be held to gather comments on the scope of the environmental studies being conducted for the project. All meetings will cover similar material, with one presentation available online. Meetings are planned as follows:
Ventura City Hall – Community Room – 501 Poli St., Ventura. April 16, 6-8 p.m.
Oxnard Performing Arts Center – Ventura Room – 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard. April 17, 6-8 p.m.
Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza – Founders Room – 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. April 18, 6-8 p.m.
Camarillo Library – Community Room – 4101 Las Posas Road, Camarillo. April 22, 6-8 p.m.
Scoping meetings are an opportunity for the public to talk about the project with Caltrans staff and provide comments about the environmental process and project design. Comments may be submitted in person at any of the meetings or by email to [email protected] with “US 101 Improvement Project” in the subject line.
Individuals who require special accommodation are requested to contact, at least three days prior to the public hearing date, the District 7 Office of Public Affairs at (213) 897-9092, or TDD users may contact the California Relay Service at (800) 735-2929 (TTY to Voice), (800) 735-2922 (Voice to TTY), (800) 854-7784 (From or to Speech to Speech), or dial 711.
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Simi Valley Police Department – Incident Press Release
On April 10, 2019 Detectives from the Special Operations Unit of the Simi Valley Police Department executed a Search Warrant in the 9500 block of Cortada St., El Monte. This investigation was based upon information received that an individual, Jimmy Arellano, 23 yrs, was selling Ecstasy in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Arellano was taken into custody and arrested after leaving his residence. During the execution of the Search Warrant, SOU Detectives recovered Cocaine, Ecstasy, MDMA, LSD, packaging material consistent with the sales of narcotics, and $452,406 in US currency. Arellano was subsequently booked at the Ventura County Sheriffs East Valley Jail for two counts of Sale of Ecstasy, two counts of Possession for Sale of Ecstasy, and one count of Possession for Sale of Cocaine.
If you have information to report regarding sales of narcotics, or any crime or criminal activity, please contact the Simi Valley Police Department at 805-583-6950
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Simi Valley Police Department – Incident Press Release