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Man sentenced to 30 years after officer shot friend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:10 GMT

WETUMPKA, Ala. (AP) — LaKeith Smith was 15 when a police officer shot and killed his friend when the teens were caught burglarizing homes in Alabama, but it is Smith who will spend decades in prison for his friend’s death.A judge on Tuesday sentenced Smith, now 24, to 30 years in prison — a reduction from the more than 50 years he originally received — but a blow to Smith’s family and advocates who argued he should not spend decades in prison for a killing he did not commit.The new sentencing hearing was held after a judge ruled Smith’s original lawyer failed to present possible mitigating evidence about his home life and mental health.Circuit Judge Sibley Reynolds handed down the new sentence after a lengthy court hearing. Sibley gave Smith the same punishment he previously handed down — 30 years for the felony murder charge and 25 years for burglary and theft — but this time allowed the sentences to run concurrently, instead of stacked on top of one another. “What he receive...

Edmonton zoo says Lucy the elephant too sick to be moved to sanctuary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:10 GMT

EDMONTON — For the beloved and well-known elephant named Lucy, the Edmonton Valley Zoo says it will continue to be her home for the rest of her life based on medical assessments.The medical information released by the zoo on Tuesday showed the 47-year-old Asian elephant should not be moved, despite demands from animal rights groups over the past several years that she be transferred to a sanctuary in a warmer climate.The zoo has been working closely with the animal advocacy group Free the Wild, which co-operated in the assessment, since October.Gary Dewar, the zoo’s director, said the medical report stated that Lucy has “severe breathing issues” and three of four experts believe moving the lone elephant from the zoo could be life-threatening.Two visiting veterinarians said Lucy breathes solely from her mouth  — an unusual phenomenon for elephants, the zoo said. Dewar added that the veterinarians couldn’t diagnose the root cause of the animal’s breathing...

Puzzling highway death part of West Virginia police probe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:10 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A sweeping investigation into misconduct at the West Virginia State Police has brought new scrutiny to the mysterious roadside death of a man who was hit by a trooper’s Taser during a struggle with the officer that the governor labeled “very very concerning” in ordering a major shakeup of the agency.The death of Edmond Exline last month had received scant attention until Gov. Jim Justice cited it Monday as one of several alarming incidents involving State Police troopers. In one instance, a video camera secretly recorded women in their locker room. In another, a trooper allegedly stole an envelope of cash from a gambler at a casino. Justice accepted the resignation of the agency’s superintendent and named an interim chief.On Tuesday, a police official provided new details about Exline’s death, including a trooper’s use of a Taser on him along Interstate 81 near Martinsburg.A State Police news release cited by news outlets at the time said Exline ...

Officials: 8 dolphins dead after stranding in New Jersey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:10 GMT

SEA ISLE CITY, N.J. (AP) — Eight dolphins have died after they became stranded on a beach in New Jersey, marine animal welfare officials said. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center said on Facebook on Tuesday morning that a pod of eight dolphins known as “common dolphins” had become stranded in Sea Isle City and that staff and a veterinarian had responded with help from local officials. Officials said at the time that two of the dolphins had died. On Tuesday afternoon, officials said the remaining six dolphins were assessed by the veterinarian and the decision was made to euthanize them to prevent further suffering. Their conditions were rapidly deteriorating and returning them to the ocean would have prolonged their inevitable death, officials said.The dolphins have been taken to the New Jersey State Lab for necropsies. “We share in the public’s sorrow for these beautiful animals, and hope that the necropsies will help us understand the reason for their stranding,” the post on Faceboo...

2 men charged in fatal shooting outside Fairview Mall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:10 GMT

Two men are facing second-degree murder charges in the city’s latest homicide after a triple shooting turned fatal when a 21-year-old man died due to injuries sustained in the violent incident in a mall parking lot.Officers were called to the Sheppard Avenue East and Don Mills Road area just after 4 p.m. Monday for reports of a shooting just outside Fairview Mall in North York.Police initially located two 25-year-old men suffering from gunshot wounds. They were rushed to a trauma centre, one with life-threatening injuries and the other with non-life-threatening injuries.Investigators said a third man was dropped off at the hospital and later died from his injuries. That victim was identified as 21-year-old Madar Hassan of Toronto.On Tuesday, investigators arrested 25-year-old Ahmed Mohamad and 25-year-old Samir Mohamed Unoos, both of Toronto. The two men are facing several charges, including second-degree murder and unauthorized possession of a firearm in a vehicle.The pair ap...

Indiana House considering ban on gender transitioning care for youth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:10 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS -- A bill to ban gender transitioning care for anyone under age 18 is moving forward at the Statehouse.Senate Republicans passed Senate Bill 480 last month and on Tuesday it was approved by a House committee after hearing more than four hours of testimony."It would cause far less harm for these kids to wait, get the counseling they need, and then let them make these life-altering decisions as adults," said State Sen. Tyler Johnson (R-Leo), the bill's author.Johnson's bill would ban anyone under age 18 from receiving gender transitioning surgeries, hormone treatments and puberty blockers.During a committee meeting last month, representatives for IU Health testified that Riley Children's Hospital doesn't perform any gender transitioning surgeries on patients under 18. Several parents emotionally testified against the bill, raising concerns about the potential impact of stopping gender affirming care for transgender youth."According to this bill, I only have a few mon...

Vehicle riddled with bullets after road rage incident in Park Ridge, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:10 GMT

PARK RIDGE, Ill. — Gunfire followed an alleged road rage incident in Park Ridge, prompting an investigation by police, the department announced Tuesday.Around 3:45 p.m., police responded to the intersection of Cumberland and Talcott following reports of shots fired. The victim told police that a silver-colored sedan pointed a handgun at the victim while stopped on Cumberland. The offender allegedly fired multiple shots at the victim and sped off, police added. Illinois AG urges Hyundai, Kia to take ‘comprehensive action’ over car thefts The victim was not struck. However, the victim's vehicle was pierced by bullets and suffered glass damage.Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Park Ridge Police Department at (847) 318-5256.SkyCam9 flew above the scene.

Teen taken to hospital after vehicle-pedestrian crash in north Austin, ATCEMS says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County EMS responded Tuesday to a crash with a pedestrian in north Austin shortly after 5 p.m, ATCEMS said in a tweet.A teenager was taken to Dell Children's Medical Center with potentially serious injuries after the crash, ATCEMS said.ATCEMS said the crash happened on the 1000 block of East Rundberg Lane, which is just east of Interstate 35.According to the tweet, no other information is available and ATCEMS is no longer on scene. The crash remained under investigation Tuesday.

Minnesota BCA asks public’s help in search for missing woman last seen in Stillwater

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:10 GMT

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is asking for the public’s help locating a 36-year-old woman who has been missing since late February.Amanda DuBois was last known to be in Stillwater, but she also frequents other east metro communities and Minneapolis, according to information the BCA posted on Twitter. Investigators consider Dubois “missing and endangered,” and they believe she may still be in the Twin Cities metro area.DuBois is 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighs about 140 pounds, has brown or blond hair and green eyes, the BCA said.Although the agency reported earlier this month that Dubois was last seen at the Avid Hotel in Roseville on Feb. 26, officials said Tuesday that this information may be inaccurate.The BCA asked that anyone who has had contact with DuBois since Feb. 25 or knows where she is to call their tip line at 877-966-6222.Related ArticlesNews | Proponents step up push at Minnesota Capitol for paid family and medical leave ...

One of Derek Chauvin’s lead prosecutors named to Hennepin County judgeship

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:10 GMT

One of the state’s lead prosecutors who helped convict Derek Chauvin of murder in the May 2020 killing of George Floyd has been appointed as a judge in Hennepin County, Minnesota’s governor announced Tuesday.Gov. Tim Walz said Matthew Frank “will be a remarkable judge who will approach this position with the understanding that justice is a process, not a result.”Frank is an experienced attorney with the state Attorney General’s Office, and he helped lead the state’s prosecution of Chauvin and three other former Minneapolis police officers who were charged in Floyd’s killing.Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter and sentenced to 22½ years in prison. He later pleaded guilty to a federal count of violating Floyd’s rights and was sentenced to 21 years on that count, to be served concurrently.Frank also helped broker guilty pleas for two other former officers on charges of aiding and abetting manslaughter. A fourth former officer has decided...