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Neighbor arrested at nudist resort in disappearance of Redlands couple – NBC Los Angeles

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Neighbor arrested at nudist resort in disappearance of Redlands couple – NBC Los Angeles


What to Know

  • Seventy-three-year-old Stephanie and Daniel Menard, 79 were reported missing Sunday by a friend after their unlocked car was discovered near their Redlands home.
  • A tip led investigators to a neighbor of the Menards at a nudist resort, who was arrested after his home was torn down in a SWAT operation.
  • Authorities said human remains were found in bags in a concrete bunker Friday under the home.

Human remains were found Friday under the house of a 62-year-old man who was arrested a day earlier at a San Bernardino County nudist resort on suspicion of murder in connection with the disappearance of his neighbors over the weekend.

The remains, which have not been identified, were found by a fire department confined space search-and-rescue team in bags in a concrete bunker under the house of Michael Royce Sparks, who was arrested Thursday night after a search at and SWAT operation at the home. Sparks was found underneath the home, which was torn down by an armored sheriff’s department vehicle when the suspect was armed and barricaded inside, Redlands public information officer Carl Baker said, adding that a tip from someone at the resort led authorities to the suspect.

The arrest comes nearly a week after the disappearance of 73-year-old Stephanie and Daniel Menard, 79, who were reported missing Sunday by a friend. They were last seen at 10 a.m. Saturday at their home in the 26000 block of Keissel Road. Their unlocked car was found nearby. Stephanie Menard’s purse was found at their home, as were the couple’s cellphone.

Their dog Cuddles also was missing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky8eonC3N6w

Baker said there was evidence that led authorities to believe the couple’s remains were still on Sparks’ property about 70 miles east of Los Angeles. A cadaver dog “alerted” on at least one body at the property, Baker said at a midday news conference.

“We are confident that they are deceased and that they are still here on the property,” Baker said.

Baker said Thursday’s arrest came after several attempts to contact Sparks inside his home. When there was no response, law enforcement officers used an armored SWAT vehicle to tear down the house.

Michael Royce Sparks, 62, is pictured in this photos provided by the Redlands Police Department.

“There was significant damage to suspect’s residence when we broke in to search it,” Baker said. “We had to secure the scene overnight to make sure it’s safe to enter. We have cadaver dogs we’ll be using to located victims’ remains.”

Sparks was found at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Baker said.

Details about a motive were not immediately available. Residents said they believe Sparks lived alone.

A woman who said she called 911 Sunday to report the missing couple said she was concerned after they didn’t show up for a regular Friday potluck and karaoke night at a neighbor’s house. On Sunday, Irene Engkraf said she was on her way to church when they noticed the abandoned car. They checked the house and went to church, but there were no signs of the Menards at either location.

She then entered the Menard’s house and, after finding the purse and cellphones, called 911, she said. There were no signs of a disturbance.

The Olive Dell website describes the ranch as a residential RV park and family friendly nudist resort.



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How to add California driver’s license to iPhone, Apple Watch – NBC Los Angeles

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How to add California driver’s license to iPhone, Apple Watch – NBC Los Angeles


California driver’s license holders can now add their state ID to Apple Wallet on their IPhone and Apple Watch, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday.

The digital IDs will be accepted at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) check points, including Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco Airport, as well as select businesses. 

“With this new integration, we’re working to better serve the people of California in the 21st Century,” Newsom said in a statement.

Here’s how to add your ID to Apple Wallet

  1. Go to Apple Wallet
  2. Click the + button on the top right-hand corner
  3. Under the “Add to Wallet” section, tap “Driver’s License or State ID” to select “California mDL Pilot.
  4. Scan the front and back sides of your California ID
  5. Scan your face
  6. Take a picture
  7. Wait for verification from the California DMV.

But there’s a catch

The mobile driver’s license (mDL) pilot program is currently only limited to 1.5 million participants. 

If your license is expired or suspended, your mDL will be rejected.

Other factors that could impact your mDL applications are:

  • Wearing headwear
  • Not using plain background
  • Lack of consistent lighting
  • Other faces in the frame
  • Wearing sunglasses

More tips can be found here.

Last month, the state announced the DMV addition of Google Wallet as an option to hold driver’s licenses and identification cards. 



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New LA City Council president begins leadership role – NBC Los Angeles

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New LA City Council president begins leadership role – NBC Los Angeles


Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian will hand over the position Friday to Council President Pro Tem Marqueece Harris-Dawson in a leadership shakeup for the 15-member panel.

First elected to in 2015, the 54-year-old Harris-Dawson represents Council District 8, where he won his first election with 62-percent of the vote in an area that includes Baldwin Hills, Chesterfield Square, Crenshaw, Jefferson Park and other communities.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Harris-Dawson won his bid for the top council post in May and vowed to focus on the city’s homeless crisis. The chair of the city’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee co-authored Prop HHH, which was a $1.2 million bond measure to provide permanent supportive housing.

The council voted 14-0 to name Harris-Dawson as Krekorian’s successor as president.

As president, Harris-Dawson will preside as chair over council meetings, have the power to assign council committees and handle parliamentary duties such as ruling motions in or out of order. He was elected president pro tempore to replace Curren Price, who stepped down after he was charged in June 2023 with embezzlement, perjury and conflict of interest.

Harris-Dawson is expected to serve as president through mid-December. Following November’s election and once new council members assume their offices, another election will be held to elect a council president for a new term.

Krekorian received an ovation Thursday at his final meeting as council president. The Council District 2 representative will leave the body in December due to term limits. Councilman Bob Blumenfield unveiled plans to rename two sites in honor of Krekorian — the Victory Valley Child Care Center at 6451 Saint Clair Ave., and the Valley Plaza Sports Fields at 6980 Whitsett Ave. in North Hollywood.

Krekorian, whose district includes east San Fernando Valley neighborhoods, was first elected to the council in late 2009. He was elected council president in the wake of a leaked audio recording of colleagues, including then-President Nury Martinez, that shook City Hall.

Martinez resigned in 2022 after being heard in a recorded racially charged conversation with two other council members and a county labor official discussing the council’s redistricting process. The recorded conversation included racist comments about a colleague’s young Black adopted son.

Krekorian stepped into the council presidency during the tumultuous time at City Hall.

“I couldn’t do the work for the next 79 days and I couldn’t do the work as council president, and I couldn’t have done the work as an Assembly member or anything else without the support, guidance and love that I’ve received from my wife, Tamar, for the last quarter of the century almost,” Krekorian said.

He also thanked his staff.

“To all my staff, I hope you noticed that a number of members of this council specifically recognized you and that’s because you do extraordinary work — not only for me, our constituents, but for the entire city of Los Angeles,” Krekorian said.





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Find Riverside County Airport Fire recovery assistance – NBC Los Angeles

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Find Riverside County Airport Fire recovery assistance – NBC Los Angeles


Residents impacted by the Airport Fire in Riverside County can visit a local assistance center in Lake Elsinore.

Residents seeking assistance with food, health care support and more are welcomed to visit the one-stop resource center located at the Lake Community Center. The center will be open from noon to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Riverside County Department of Public Social Services, Public Health, Housing & Workforce Solutions and other local agencies will be joined by representatives from the California Office of Emergency Services and several nonprofit organizations to provide information on how to get financial, medical and related aid.

Residents seeking help also can click here.

On Tuesday, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved an emergency declaration, enabling the county to seek state and federal allocations for infrastructure repairs or improvements and general recovery of expenses stemming from the blaze.

As of Thursday, the Airport Fire was 41% contained at more than 23,500 acres in Orange and Riverside counties.

For information about Orange County recovery resources, click here.



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