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Even Nebraska’s nonpartisan Legislature is divided from acrimonious 2023 session

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:10:42 GMT

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Legislature has long prided itself on being a paragon of collegiality and function, as the only single-chamber, nonpartisan Legislature in the country.But after a vicious 2023 session in which the body of 49 lawmakers remained irreconcilably split, Nebraska’s statehouse is beginning to reflect broad, national discord.The acrimony was on full display as a handful of progressive lawmakers carried out an epic filibuster of nearly every bill that came up for debate — even ones they supported — to protest a bill targeting transgender minors. The filibuster drew national media attention, revealing lawmakers’ deep divide over political ideology — which was expressed through yelling, name-calling, crying and the refusal of some to even speak to other lawmakers.“I never saw anything even close to what we witnessed this year,” said Patrick O’Donnell, who served for 45 years as clerk of the Nebraska Legislature until his retirement in Decembe...

Money laundering trial ends for former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:10:42 GMT

PANAMA CITY (AP) — The trial of former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli and 14 others for alleged money laundering related to their purchase of a publishing company concluded on Friday, starting the clock on the 30 days the judge has to issue a verdict.Martinelli, a 71-year-old supermarket magnate who hopes to seek re-election next year, had back surgery the week before the trial started and was not present.The case, known locally as “New Business,” dates back to 2017 and concerns the 2010 purchase of a publishing company that owns national newspapers.Prosecutors maintain that through a complex series of foreign money transfers totaling $43 million, companies that had won lucrative government contracts during Martinelli’s presidency, funneled money to a front company that was then used to purchase the publisher. The front company collecting the money was called “New Business.”In closing statements, prosecutor Emeldo Márquez requested the maximum sentence for Martinelli, which...

Serial killer Paul Bernardo moved to medium-security prison in Quebec

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:10:42 GMT

Canadian child serial killer Paul Bernardo has moved to a medium-security prison in Quebec.Correctional Service Canada does not usually comment on offender transfers, but officials from the Union of Canadian correctional officers confirmed Bernardo’s move.A statement provided by spokesperson Kevin Antonucci says, “While we cannot comment on the specifics of an offender’s case, we assure the public that this offender continues to be incarcerated in a secure institution, with appropriate security perimeters and controls in place.”According to the union, Bernardo was transferred to medium-security La Macaza Institution near Mont-Tremblant on Monday.“Public Safety is the paramount consideration in every decision made by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC).”Family lawyer Tim Danson said he and his clients were “surprised and disappointed by the decision.”“We need far more transparency in our corrections and parole system,” ...

Mexico arrests 2nd migrant in detention center fire that killed 40

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:10:42 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican authorities have arrested a second migrant for his alleged involvement in a March fire set inside a border detention center that left 40 migrants dead and dozens injured, two federal officials said Friday.One of the officials, who both requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the arrest publicly, said the Venezuelan man was arrested Thursday night at a hotel in Ciudad Juarez where federal authorities had been housing migrants discharged from hospitals.On March 27, a small number of the migrants being held in the detention facility across the border from El Paso, Texas, started a fire in their cell apparently to protest conditions. Their highly flammable mattresses quickly filled the area with smoke and guards fled without unlocking their cell.Most of the victims were Central Americans and Venezuelans.The head of Mexico’s National Immigration Institute Francisco Garduño and another high-ranking official face charges related to a f...

Lawsuit alleging ex-deputy falsified arrest report settled for $250K

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:10:42 GMT

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) — A lawsuit filed by a Washington oyster farmer accusing a former county deputy of falsifying an arrest report and urging a person to lie during a domestic-violence investigation has been settled for $250,000. Gerardo Rodarte, the owner of Samish Gold Seafoods, sued Skagit County and former deputy Joseph Gutierrez in 2020, after Rodarte was acquitted by a jury of domestic-violence assault charges, The Seattle Times reported.The charges were based on the deputy’s sworn statement and reports. Court documents show Gutierrez, who was fired in 2018 over allegations of having sex while on duty and failing to aid other officers during a jail escape, refused to testify at trial. Rodarte’s lawsuit alleged that Gutierrez conspired with Rodarte’s niece, who was also an oyster farm employee, to falsely accuse her uncle of assaulting her in exchange for help with her immigration status.The niece called the Sheriff’s Office on June 7, 2017, and claimed she had been assaul...

Report: Buffalo’s snow-removal equipment, communications fell short during deadly blizzard

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:10:42 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo’s snow-removal fleet was no match for the historic Christmas week blizzard that left 31 people dead in the city, and officials fell short in issuing warnings and providing shelter, according to a report released Friday. The 175-page review of the city’s response by New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service found shortcomings in snow-removal resources, utilities and communications as hurricane-force winds and whiteout conditions raged for 37 hours, trapping people in freezing homes and cars.“Rescue vehicles got stuck in the snow or frozen to the ground, rescuers became disoriented and lost, emergency vehicles couldn’t get through, and motorists got stranded,” according to the report, which said the blizzard lasted longer than any prior storm below 5,000 feet of elevation in continental U.S. history.A total of 46 people died across Erie County, which is home to Buffalo. Mayor Byron Brown commissioned the report amid q...

Washington man climbing Mount Rainier dies near summit

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:10:42 GMT

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, Wash. (AP) — A Washington state man who was trying to summit Mount Rainier this week collapsed and died near the top of the mountain in the national park, officials said.National Park Service officials said Friday that Brian Harper, of Bremerton, collapsed about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday near the top of the 14,441-foot (4,402-meter) mountain while on a guided climb led by Alpine Ascents International. Guides could not detect a pulse and CPR on the 41-year-old was unsuccessful, officials said.Climbing guides with Alpine Ascents and Rainier Mountaineering worked with National Park Service climbing and aviation rangers to bring Harper’s body down from the summit. Weather conditions were “finally favorable” for a park helicopter to complete the mission around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, official said. The Pierce County Medical Examiner will determine a cause of death. The Associated Press

Lawsuit shows how murdered man came to live with his alleged killer, Raul Meza Jr.

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:10:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Court records reveal new details about how a convicted killer -- accused of more murders -- was able to move into the home of one of his suspected victims. TIMELINE: What we know of Raul Meza’s criminal history KXAN investigators discovered a 2012 lawsuit filed by Jesse Fraga, a former probation officer, along with his wife and a third plaintiff listed as “John Doe.” KXAN has learned Doe was a pseudonym for Raul Meza Jr. – who police believe brutally killed Fraga in May and committed a separate murder in 2019. Police are investigating Meza in connection to other cold cases, as well.Meza pleaded guilty to murdering 8-year-old Kendra Page in 1982. After Meza was released from prison in 1993, Fraga and his wife befriended Meza through their church, along with other couples from the congregation.Court records state the Fragas invited Meza “to Bible studies, which he attended, and helped him find housing and employment. The Fragas even allowed [Meza] to live in their ...

Records: Man gets 7 years for manslaughter related to motorcycle crash that killed 2 in Leander

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:10:42 GMT

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — A man was sentenced to serve seven years in state prison following a September 2022 crash that killed two people in Williamson County.Cody James Landrum, 25 at the time of the crash, pleaded guilty to two manslaughter charges May 18, according to Williamson County court documents. RELATED: Man arrested in connection with fatal Leander motorcycle crash According to past KXAN coverage, Police said Landrum’s vehicle struck a motorcycle near the intersection of RM 2243 and 183A Toll Road in Leander around 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30, 2022.Jeremy Moore, 49, and Angela Barry, 46, were on the motorcycle when they were hit from behind by Landrum, according to police. Both Moore and Barry died at the scene of the crash.Records showed Landrum had a jail credit of 231 days going toward his sentence.

Twins’ Byron Buxton bruised but nothing broken after painful plunking

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:10:42 GMT

Byron Buxton was not able to dodge the fastball that caught him square in the ribs during Thursday’s game, but a day later he feels as though he dodged a bullet.With X-rays showing no broken ribs, Buxton is considered to be day to day as he deals with the pain that had him sleeping in a chair Thursday night. It was not a quality night’s sleep, partly due to the uncertainty of the extent of the injury.“A little bit,” he said when asked if he felt better the day after. “I think, too, not knowing puts a lot in your head, too. To know nothing is wrong, just bruises, for me that’s a big positive. Most of the time I’m on the other end of that kind of deal.”Buxton, one of the best defensive center fielders in the game, is a full-time designated hitter this season, the move made in hopes of helping to keep him in the lineup.Buxton has dealt with a number of injuries since making his major league debut in 2015. He has managed to play as many as 140 games in a season only once, in 2017, and h...