Category: Sacramento, California Local News

WASHINGTON — The U.S. women’s hockey gold medal-winning team has politely declined an invitation from President Donald Trump to attend his State of the Union address on Tuesday.

“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” the U.S. women’s team said in a statement released Monday. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”

Trump also invited the U.S. men’s gold medal-winning team.

Scheduling will be a challenge as the NHL regular season resumes with five games on Wednesday and the PWHL resumes on Thursday.

Logistics played a role in the decision, as many of the women players were not scheduled to arrive in North America until Monday evening. The men’s team flew by charter to Miami earlier Monday. The women took a commercial flight and were scheduled to land in Atlanta.

A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that the women’s players didn’t learn of the invite until late Sunday night, making it difficult to change their travel plans. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the team’s travel plans.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the status of both teams.

When extending the invitation to the men’s team on Sunday night, Trump said, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.” Trump joked that if he did not also invite the women’s team, “I do believe I probably would be impeached.”

The Olympic tournament featured two thrilling medal finals, both ending in overtime, with the American women beating Canada 2-1 in the gold medal game on Thursday. The U.S. men beat Canada on Sunday.

“It’s been a whirlwind, it’s been amazing. It’s a dream of ours, it was such an amazing way to unite the country,” Matthew Tkachuk of the U.S. men’s team said after arriving in Miami.

“We felt the support being across the Atlantic and now being back on home soil we could feel it the second the wheels hit the ground. So excited to be back in the greatest country in the world and so excited to celebrate.”

Tkachuk said it was an honor to hear from Trump after the win. “And so we are definitely honored to represent him and the millions and millions across the country.”

Vice President JD Vance attended two of the U.S. women’s preliminary round wins with his family over the first week of the Games.

AP writers John Wawrow, Stephen Whyno, Charles Odum in Atlanta, Melissa Goldin in Washington, and Freida Frisaro in Miami contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — A man who met a 10-year-old on Xbox Live was sentenced to decades in prison. 

A jury convicted Javier Arizmendi, 57, on Dec. 10, 2025, of two counts of lewd act upon a child, kidnapping for child molest, contacting a minor with intent to commit kidnapping, sexual assault or other related charges. 

Prosecutors said Arizmendi met the victim while playing Xbox Live and started grooming him by giving him access to features that cost money. He later sent the victim sexual messages and made plans for the child to join him in Los Angeles to engage in a sexual relationship.

According to a news release, Arizmendi drove to Sacramento, picked up the child in his car and began driving back to Los Angeles. Prosecutors said he eventually took the child back home after the victim became upset when Arizmendi touched him.

Authorities said Arizmendi later admitted that he intended to engage in a sexual relationship with the victim in Los Angeles.

Under current California law, Arizmendi will become eligible for release at an Elder Parole hearing after serving 20 years of his 54 years-to-life sentence. With in-custody credits, that eligibility could come in approximately 13 years, according to the DA’s office.

Roblox, Discord under fire after California child exploitation cases linked to gaming apps

TRACY, Calif. — A community in San Joaquin County is mourning after a longtime Sikh temple volunteer was abducted Tuesday. Temple leaders say he was later found dead in the Bay Area.

San Joaquin County deputies say 57-year-old Avtar Singh, a husband and father of newborn triplets, was taken Tuesday afternoon from the Tracy Sikh temple where he lived.

On Friday, deputies found a body near Lake Berryessa. Officials in Napa County told ABC News the person did not die there, and that the investigation was turned over to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office has not publicly identified the body, but temple leaders say it was Singh.

Between hymns and prayers on Sunday at the Tracy Sikh temple, friends described a deep sense of loss.

“The community is shocked,” said Deep Singh, a longtime friend of Avtar and the temple’s secretary. “Avtar has been part of this family since the last 23 years. He’s been serving as a cook. He was our plumber. He was our carpenter. He was our electrician.”

Beyond his many skills, Deep said, Avtar was a close friend.

“I’ve known him from back home in India, too,” Deep said. “He was a hard-working, passionate person.”

According to Deep, Avtar was watching his babies at the temple on Tuesday afternoon when sheriff’s deputies say three people dressed in dark clothing showed up.

Investigators say surveillance video shows Avtar Singh getting into a white SUV against his will. Deep believes it may have been a case of mistaken identity.

Family friend Rasleen Kaur said she called deputies after Avtar didn’t return home later in the day.

“Right away, you think, ‘who knows where he is and where he could have been taken,’” Kaur said. “Your mind just, right away, thinks, ‘oh my gosh, is he in danger? What can we do?”

The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to come forward. Investigators said they plan to release an update Monday morning.

As prayers continued Sunday, Kaur described the emptiness left behind in the temple kitchen where Singh once worked.

“They took an innocent man. He was so near and dear to us, so this was shocking, and it was just so unfortunate because he was innocent in all of this,” Kaur said. “I didn’t even go into the kitchen today, I couldn’t, and I think everyone is just hoping that he would just walk by because he’s always here, and so, it’s truly a void.”

Deep said Avtar’s family is struggling to cope. Community members have started a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral expenses and stability for Avtar’s family.

“His family is in shock,” Deep said. “Everyone is concerned. They are looking for justice.”

Watch more from ABC10: Deputies investigate possible abduction of Tracy man

WASHINGTON — Nearly 9,500 pounds of ready-to-eat meatballs were recalled after a report of someone finding metal inside the food, according to a recall.

The recall was issued Feb. 22 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service for the Rosina Food Products, Inc. products that were sold at Aldi stores nationwide. 

The meatballs, which are Bremer branded, were sold in 32-ounce bags of “family-size Italian-style meatballs.” They are fully cooked but frozen products with a best buy date of “10/30/26.” A total of 9,462 pounds were recalled nationwide. 

No injuries have been no reported in connection with this recall. The FSIS encouraged anyone with health concerns to contact their doctor. 

Customers are urged to throw the meatballs away or return them to the Aldi store they purchased them from. The recall alert does not mention if customers will be given a refund.  

Recalled products will have establishment number “EST. 4286B” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the label. 

Anyone with questions about the recall can contact Rosina Food Products’ customer service at 1-888-767-4621 or CService@rosina.com.

Bremer branded ready-to-eat “Family Size Italian Style Meatballs” were recalled after the FSIS got a report of “metal fragments ” being found inside the meatballs. 

• About 64 meatballs per package
• “Best By” date: Oct. 30, 2026
• Time stamps between 17:08 and 18:20 printed on the back label
• Establishment number: EST. 4286B inside the USDA inspection mark

SAN FRANCISCO — California Democrats ended their 2026 state endorsing convention in San Francisco without making an official endorsement in the crowded gubernatorial race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Delegates voted over the weekend but no candidate reached the 60% threshold required for the party’s formal backing ahead of the state’s June primary.

Rep. Eric Swalwell led the race receiving 24% of delegates’ votes. 

In a statement Sunday, Rep. Swalwell said, “I want to thank the California Democratic Party delegates for backing me to be California’s fighter and protector of working families. Together, we’ll defend all Californians against Donald Trump and lower every family’s costs.  I look forward to uniting our party and leading us to victories across the state in November.”

Former state controller Betty Yee followed Swalwell, receiving 17% of the votes. 

In a statement Sunday, Betty Yee’s campaign said, “This historic vote signals a major shake-up in the race governor as voters begin to assess this crowded Democratic field of candidates. Our campaign represents voters who’re tired of the billionaire boys club, who’re tired of political drama and who’re exhausted by the daily struggle of living in Donald Trump’s battered economy. They want a no-nonsense, no drama leader they can trust to lead California and deliver real change for families in every corner of the state. They know I am that leader and that together we will win the California governor’s race.”

Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra captured 14% of the vote, and billionaire Tom Steyer trailed closely with 13%.

California state democratic party delegates described the upcoming primary as “diluted,” with several top contenders potentially splitting the vote. “What’s going to be important is seeing where the candidates stand as far as how many votes they do get,” said Alfred Twu, an East Bay delegate supporting Yee.

Former Rep. Katie Porter, once considered a leading name in the race, received 9% of delegate support. 

Other candidates, including Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former Assemblymember Ian Calderon, also finished in the single digits. About 9% of delegates abstained from voting or did not state a preference.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan was not considered for endorsement because he entered the race after the convention schedule was set.

Following the vote, some delegates called for lower-polling candidates to step aside to help consolidate support before the June primary. “All our resources go behind one candidate,” said Cedric White, a delegate from Lancaster, California.

State Sen. John Laird, a democrat from Santa Cruz, said Democrats risk splitting the vote and allowing two Republicans to advance under California’s top-two primary system. “We can’t have the top two Republicans sneak in by accident,” he said.

Despite the lack of a formal endorsement, delegates left optimistic that the party will unite behind a strong nominee. “I will be supporting whoever it is that the party moves forward,” said Tomas Vera, a delegate from Placer County.

This is a developing story. Stay with ABC10 for updates.

MEXICO CITY, Mexico — The U.S. State Department issued a warning Sunday to U.S. citizens in certain parts of Mexico, encouraging people to shelter in place amid ongoing security operations and “criminal activity.” 

Regions listed under the advisory include the Mexican states of Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero and Nuevo Leon.

U.S. officials issued the warning after news broke Sunday that the Mexican army killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” during an operation. 

The move effectively decapitates what had become Mexico’s most powerful cartel and gives the government its biggest prize yet to show the Trump administration for its efforts.

The U.S. State Department is encouraging U.S. citizens in the region to take the following steps to ensure their safety: 

• Avoid areas around law enforcement activity.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Seek shelter and minimize unnecessary movements
• Monitor local media for updates.
• Follow the directions of local authorities and in case of emergency, call 911.
• Avoid crowds.
• Keep family and friends advised of your location and well-being via phone, text, and social media.

Puerto Vallarta International Airport said Sunday that all international and most national flights were canceled due to the ongoing unrest. The decision came as numerous airlines suspended operations to and from the airport.   

Air Canada issued a statement advising travelers not to go to the airport without first checking whether their flight is active. 

“We are monitoring the situation and in contact with local authorities who are working to resolve the issue,” the airline said in a post on X. “Customers are advised not to attempt to go to the airport unless their flight is shown as operating on http://aircanada.com, and will be directly notified of changes to their itineraries.”

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, a Mexican airport operator, said the Puerto Vallerta airport was under the protection of the National Guard and the Secretary of National Defense as part of ongoing efforts with federal authorities. 

GAP urged travelers to remain calm and follow airport staff instructions at all times. 

Roadblocks and other travel disruptions are expected to continue in the coming days.  

The killing of the powerful drug lord set off several hours of roadblocks with burning vehicles in Jalisco and other states. Such tactics are commonly used by the cartels to block military operations.

Videos circulating social media showed plumes of smoke billowing over the tourist city of Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, and people sprinting through the airport of the state’s capital in panic.

The official who shared details of the operation Sunday with the Associated Press requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, but said it happened during a military operation in the western state of Jalisco, where the cartel that traffics huge amounts of fentanyl and cocaine into the United States is based.

The Jalisco cartel has been one of the most aggressive cartels in its attacks on the military — including on helicopters — and is a pioneer in launching explosives from drones and installing mines. In 2020, it carried out a spectacular assassination attempt with grenades and high-powered rifles in the heart of Mexico City against the then head of the capital’s police force and now federal security secretary.

The DEA considers the cartel to be as powerful as the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico’s most infamous criminal groups, with a presence in all 50 U.S. states. It is one of the main suppliers of cocaine to the U.S. market and, like the Sinaloa cartel, earns billions from the production of fentanyl and methamphetamines. Sinaloa, however, has been weakened by infighting after the loss of its leaders Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, both in U.S. custody.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

WASHINGTON — Cities and towns along the East Coast scrambled to prepare for a bout with heavy snow and damaging winds after forecasters issued blizzard alerts for communities from Maryland to Massachusetts.

The National Weather Service warned that once the storm intensifies Sunday it could prove significantly more severe than projections made just a few days ago.

The weather service said 1 to 2 feet (about 30 to 61 centimeters) of snow was possible in many areas as it put out blizzard warnings for New York City and Long Island, Boston and coastal communities in New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Flooding was also possible in parts of New York and New Jersey, it said.

“While we do get plenty of these nor’easters that produce heavy snow and strong impacts, it’s been several years since we saw one of this magnitude across this large of a region in this very populated part of the country,” said Cody Snell, a meteorologist at the service’s Weather Prediction Center.

Snell said the storm would arrive Sunday morning in areas around Washington before stretching toward Philadelphia and New York City and reaching Boston in the evening.

Some of the heaviest snow was projected to fall overnight Sunday into Monday.

The weather service said the storm could begin as rainfall in some places before worsening. Some of the heaviest snow is projected to fall overnight Sunday, with as much as 2 inches (5 centimeters) of snow per hour at times in some areas, before tapering off by Monday afternoon.

The weather service warned that the storm, with gusts up to 55 mph (80 kph), could cause whiteout conditions that “will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. The strong winds and weight of snow on tree limbs may down power lines and could cause sporadic power outages.”

Officials scrambled to prepare for a storm that forecasters days ago believed would have a much more limited impact.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city would expand on efforts it used to deal with a major snowfall weeks ago. But officials held off on deciding whether to open schools Monday for the time being.

“We saw on Friday there was expectation that the likelihood was that we were going to face maybe 3 to 4 inches of snow. Quickly that then changed,” Mamdani said. “So we want to make sure that we make a decision based on up-to-date and accurate information.”

New York brought in additional snow-clearing equipment from outside the city and planned to increase use of geocoding to keep track of bus stops and crosswalks that need clearing, he said.

With the storm zeroing in, John Berlingieri scrapped plans for a family trip to Puerto Rico to prepare his company, Berrington Snow Management, for what could well be a mammoth task: Clearing snow from millions of square feet of asphalt surrounding shopping malls and industrial parks across Long Island.

Employees spent the last few days recharging batteries on the company’s 40 front-end loaders and replacing windshield wipers on snow-removal vehicles, before resting up Saturday.

“I’m anticipating at least one week of work around the clock,” Berlingieri said. “We’re going to work 24 to 36 hours straight, sleep for a few hours and then go back.”

The storm approached just as the icy remains of a snowstorm that struck the region weeks earlier were finally melting away.

Officials in Atlantic City, New Jersey, urged residents and casino visitors to stay off the streets, especially in low-lying neighborhoods prone to flooding.

“I could go on and on probably with a good two dozen streets where we know we will get water and there will be snow on top of that,” said Scott Evans, the city’s fire chief and emergency management coordinator. “So you won’t be able to see it until it’s too late. So therefore please stay at home.”

Many churches canceled Sunday services and other activities. To compensate, St. Veronica Parish in Howell, New Jersey, added an extra Mass on Saturday evening.

“Please stay safe, avoid unnecessary travel, and keep one another in prayer during the storm,” the Rev. Peter James Alindogan posted online.

Associated Press writers Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, Julie Walker in New York and Larry Neumeister in Brick Township, New Jersey, contributed.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.