Life

Pharaoh’s Club Owner Convicted of Bribery and Trafficking, Faces Life Sentence

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CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — Peter Gerace Jr., the proprietor of Pharaoh’s Gentlemen’s Club, was found guilty by a jury on Friday of bribing a federal agent, drug trafficking, and sex trafficking. Despite the convictions, Gerace was acquitted of a charge of witness tampering. He now faces the possibility of a life sentence, with sentencing set for Aug. 15. The conviction concluded a lengthy seven-week trial that featured 20 days of testimony from 43 witnesses, including over a dozen former exotic dancers at the club. Throughout the trial, the courtroom scenes were often somber and charged with … Read more

California Ushers in a New Era: Diverse Laws Set to Transform Daily Life in 2025

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Sacramento, CA – As Californians ring in the New Year of 2025, they will also need to adjust to a slew of new laws affecting various aspects of life in the Golden State, from entertainment in Hollywood to the roads and beyond, reflecting broader societal shifts and regulatory adjustments. Among the significant changes, California introduces pioneering regulations on artificial intelligence within the entertainment industry. Two bills specifically targeting the digital replication of personas safeguard actors past and present. AB 2602 outlaws the unauthorized use of an actor’s voice or likeness, while AB 1836 ensures deceased … Read more

Louisiana to See Major Law Changes in 2025: New Rules on Voting, Taxes, and Hemp Sales to Reshape Daily Life

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BATON ROUGE, La. — A range of new legislation will redefine the way Louisianians vote, handle taxes, and more, with several new bills slated to take effect in 2025. These changes arrive after state lawmakers deliberated extensively during the regular legislative session and three special sessions focused on redistricting, criminal justice, and tax reform. One notable law, Act 317 (SB218), is set to impose new constraints on absentee voting in Louisiana. Under this law, only immediate relatives will be permitted to hand in mail-in ballots for another voter, and absentee ballot applications cannot be distributed … Read more

Judge Upholds Guilty Plea and Life Sentence for Oxford High School Shooter, Affirms Decisions Are ‘Right Under Law’

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Oxford, Mich. – In recent judicial decisions, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Kwamé Rowe rejected two appeals from the individual convicted in the Oxford High School shooting. The court upheld the original guilty plea and sentence, relegating any possibility of a retrial or altered sentencing for the shooter. On Thursday, Judge Rowe addressed the shooter’s request to withdraw his guilty plea, asserting that the plea was entered knowingly, voluntarily, and without any procedural flaw. In a subsequent ruling, the judge also dismissed a motion for resentencing, stating the constitutionality and appropriateness of the life sentence … Read more