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Experts question prosecutors’ strategy against weapons expert in Alec Baldwin case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:16 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — More than a year and a half after Alec Baldwin shot and killed a cinematographer while rehearsing a scene on set in New Mexico, prosecutors have yet to solve the biggest mystery in the tragic case: How did live rounds get on the set?Prosecutors said in their latest court filing that they have some evidence to support the theory that weapons expert Hannah Gutierrez-Reed may be responsible for the introduction of the rounds. But they have offered no details, and barring more evidence, they’re now basing part of their case against her on the idea that a night of drinking and marijuana use left her incapable of the judgment necessary to ensure the set was safe. Gutierrez-Reed’s attorneys argue that prosecutors are resorting to character assassination, and some legal experts are doubtful it will make for a winning strategy for prosecutors.Several lawyers who are not involved with the case but have been watching it closely said Wednesday that prosecuti...

Woman who fled to Thailand after hit-and-run crash killed Michigan student enters no-contest plea

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:16 GMT

A Detroit-area woman accused of fleeing to Thailand after killing a Michigan State University student in a hit-and-run crash pleaded no contest Wednesday to failing to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death.Tubtim “Sue” Howson, 57, of Oakland County, entered the plea in Oakland County Circuit Court in connection with the New Year’s Day hit-and-run that killed 22-year-old Ben Kable of Shelby Township, The Macomb Daily reported.Kable was walking on an Oakland County road before dawn on Jan 1. Kable was home from the university for the holidays.Howson is a dual U.S. and Thai citizen and left Michigan for Bangkok on Jan. 3. Authorities in Thailand took her into custody there. She was returned to the U.S. in February and extradited to Michigan.A no-contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes. Howson is scheduled to be sentenced on July 26 and faces up to five years in prison. She’s being held in the Oakland County Jail on a $1 mil...

Female Mexican gray wolf released into wild in Arizona in move to help wolf’s recovery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:16 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — A female Mexican gray wolf that a group of schoolchildren nicknamed Asha has been returned to the wilds of Arizona after she was found wandering in northern New Mexico outside of a zone set up for the recovery of her subspecies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Wednesday. The wolf was headed north into the southern Rocky Mountains of New Mexico in January when the wildlife service captured her outside the recovery area. The Fish and Wildlife Service says it does not anthropomorphize wild animals by using human or pet names favored by the public and nongovernmental groups and calls her Female Wolf 2745.“Wolves like Asha have shown, time and time again, that this purely political boundary is ecologically irrelevant.” said Cyndi Tuell, Arizona and New Mexico director of the nongovernmental Western Watersheds. Tuell and other environmentalists say the zone is arbitrary and that the animals should be able to roam freely, potentially introducing them to other wolves ...

Nigeria anti-graft boss in custody after being suspended by president

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:16 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has suspended the head of the West African nation’s anti-graft agency for alleged abuse of office, the presidency said Wednesday.Abdulrasheed Bawa was suspended indefinitely as chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission following the “weighty allegations of abuse of office leveled against him,” the Nigerian presidency said in a statement.Moments after he was suspended, Bawa was taken into custody by the country’s secret police in the capital of Abuja. The move was related to the investigations into his activities, according to Peter Afunanya, spokesman for Nigeria’s Department of State Services.Appointed in 2021 to lead the fight against the endemic corruption that has stifled the development of Africa’s top oil producer and largest economy, Bawa is the latest official suspended by Nigeria’s new president who took office last month after promising to make good use of the country’s rich resources to improv...

Sheriff: 2 inmates charged after being found with drug-soaked papers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:16 GMT

COOK COUNTY, Ill. — Two inmates at the Cook County Jail from Chicago have been indicted and charged by a grand jury after a Cook County Sheriff's investigation found them in possession of paper soaked in drugs, according to Sheriff Thomas J. Dart.Grand jurors issued their indictment Tuesday, charging 19-year-old Alexander Hansen and 22-year-old Kiante Byrd with possession of contraband in a penal institution, a class 1 felony.19-year-old Alexander Hansen (left) and 22-year-old Kiante Byrd (right), both from Chicago.On April 27, jail staff recovered strips of drug-soaked paper in the right sock of Hansen. The next day, jail staff recovered drug-soaked paper in a notebook being carried by Byrd. In each case, the papers recovered tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids.Hansen has been held in custody at the Cook County Jail without bail since Sept. 29, 2022, on charges of armed robbery with a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon/vehicle/no FOID. Byrd has been held at the...

Fox News issues statement on chyron calling Biden 'wannabe dictator'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:16 GMT

(The Hill) - Fox News sent out a statement acknowledging a chyron that ran late Tuesday during former President Trump's post-indictment remarks that called President Biden as "wannabe dictator." "WANNABE DICTATOR SPEAKS AT THE WHITE HOUSE AFTER HAVING HIS POLITICAL RIVAL ARRESTED,” the Fox News chyron read just before 9 p.m., as the network showed a split screen of both Biden speaking at the White House and Trump giving remarks at his New Jersey golf club. “The chyron was taken down immediately and was addressed," the network said in a statement to The Hill on Wednesday afternoon. Fox, unlike competitors CNN and MSNBC, provided live continuous coverage of Trump's remarks, during which he accused Biden of weaponizing the Department of Justice to "take out" his top political rival. Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, has been charged with more than 30 counts in connection to his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. H...

ERCOT launches new tool to support grid reliability

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Monday, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) said it launched the ERCOT Contingency Reserve Service (ECRS), a new daily procured ancillary service.An ancillary service is an additional tool ERCOT uses to manage uncertainty and variability on the grid.High summer temperatures have reached Texas, and ERCOT said it expects a high energy demand. RELATED: Keep on top of ERCOT grid conditions with new TXANs system ERCOT said that adding ECRS would support grid reliability and mitigate real-time operational issues to keep supply and demand balanced.“As summer temperatures begin to rise across Texas and with high demand forecasted, we will continue to use all operational tools available, including implementation of new programs like ECRS,” said ERCOT President and CEO Pablo Vegas.ERCOT said ECRS is the first daily procured Ancillary Service introduced to the ERCOT market in more than 20 years.

State boys golf: Spring Lake Park’s Jake Birdwell drives the green on the final hole to secure Class 3A crown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:16 GMT

Holding a one-stroke lead heading into the final hole of the Class 3A high school golf state tournament, the logical play may have been to take 3-wood off the tee to avoid any potential trouble.But Spring Lake Park junior Jake Birdwell hadn’t hit a 3-wood all day, and feels mighty comfortable with the driver in his hands.“It was just more of a confident play for me,” he said.So Birdwell gripped the big club and let it rip over the trees that protect the dogleg, with no real idea where his ball finished until he approached the green. Yes, the green.The tee shot on the par-4 found the putting surface, all but guaranteeing him a state title.“It was crazy. I didn’t think I was going to hit the green from the tee,” Birdwell said. “It was awesome. I was pumped walking down toward the green. He still could make birdie, so I just had to at least get (my putt) up by the hole.”The “he” in this instance was Cretin-Derham Hall sophomore Joe Honsa, who was in second-place. But when Honsa saw Bir...

State girls golf: Simley’s Reese McCauley wins Class 3A title with birdie on final hole

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:16 GMT

In contrast to past seasons, Simley junior Reese McCauley now makes a point to be aware of her positioning on the leader board within the tournament in which she’s playing.That wasn’t the case even when McCauley won the high school state tournament back in 2021. It’s part of the golfer’s general maturation within the sport.“It actually was kind of nice knowing the score going into 18 (on Wednesday),” McCauley admitted.She was trailing her friend Kathryn VanArragon of Blaine, the 2018 and 2022 state champion, by one shot heading into the final hole of the final round. So McCauley knew she had to make up ground. And she also knew the position she was in during the hole, as VanArragon finally flinched, hitting her tee shot into the fairway bunker. The senior then caught her bunker shot too cleanly, sending it over the green.An up-and-down from there is essentially impossible considering the back pin location. VanArragon went on to make double bogey. ...

New York extends postpartum Medicaid coverage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:16 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WETM) -- The New York State Department of Health has announced that postpartum coverage through Medicaid and Child Health Plus will now last for one year. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “The entire first year after childbirth can be a very vulnerable time,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. “The extension of postpartum coverage displays the Department’s commitment to ensure that all individuals who give birth have the vital resources and services they need to have safe pregnancies, no matter their race, where they live, or immigration status."Effective immediately, pregnant New Yorkers will receive postpartum coverage for 12 months following their pregnancy, regardless of how the pregnancy ended. Previously, enrollees would only be covered for 60 days postpartum. Rensselaer County leaders express worry over Burdett Birth Center closing plan New York's option to extend postpartum Medicaid c...