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Consultant in Ramsey case found liable for falsifying evidence in unrelated killing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:55 GMT

Famed forensic scientist Henry Lee defended his work and reputation Wednesday after a federal judge found him liable last week in a lawsuit for fabricating evidence in a murder trial that sent two innocent men to prison for decades.Lee also served as a consultant in other high-profile investigations, including the 1996 slaying of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey in Colorado; the 2004 murder trial of Scott Peterson, who was accused of killing his pregnant wife Laci; and the 2007 murder trial of record producer Phil Spector. 3 found dead at campsite were family members who planned to live ‘off grid’ In the case at hand, Ralph “Ricky” Birch and Shawn Henning were convicted in the Dec. 1, 1985, slaying of Everett Carr, based in part on testimony about what Lee said were bloodstains on a towel found in the 65-year-old victim's home in New Milford, 55 miles (88 kilometers) southwest of Hartford.A judge vacated the felony murder convictions in 2020, and the men filed a federal wrongful convict...

3 hospitalized following wrong-way crash on I-95 in Oakland Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:55 GMT

At least three people were transported to Broward Health Medical Center following a wrong-way crash in Oakland Park. Officials said the collision, which occurred on the southbound lanes of Interstate 95, happened just before 3 a.m. Wednesday. “This operation is via [Florida Highway Patrol] in reference to a vehicle going the wrong way, and is a head-on collision with another vehicle,” said a dispatcher on Broadcastify police scanner. Video footage of the scene showed two cars with heavy front-end damage. Approximately an hour later, tow trucks were on the scene to clear the wreckage of the vehicles. According to officials, a female driver involved in the crash appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Pending the results of a blood test, they will be arrested if the results proved they were intoxicated at the the time of the crash. First responders were heard requesting a third ambulance. An Oakland Fire Rescue ambulance transported three people to the hos...

DeSantis appointees reach deal with Disney World’s firefighters, capping years of negotiations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:55 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — After years of contentious negotiations, the board of Walt Disney World’s governing district now made up of Gov. Ron DeSantis appointees approved a contract for its firefighters on Wednesday and also proposed reducing property taxes.The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District voted unanimously to approve the three-year contract that covers 200 firefighters and paramedics in the Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters’ Association.The contract, among other provisions, would increase wages by 5%, including raising the starting annual wage for firefighter and paramedics from $55,000 to $66,000. It also would provide $5,000 signing bonuses for workers with three or more years working for the department and $2,500 bonuses for everyone else.“This issue has been around for some time … and there have been some contentious negotiations,” Martin Garcia, chairman of the oversight district’s board, said at a meeting. “We feel this is a fair, generous and ...

Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa talks Herbert’s record-breaking contract, expectations for this season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:55 GMT

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — As the NFL quarterback market continues to surge, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa knows that his pay day is coming.Justin Herbert became the latest signal-caller to ink a record-breaking deal when he agreed to a five-year, $262.5 million extension with the Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday. Herbert is the second member of the 2020 draft class — which includes Tagovailoa — to sign a big extension, after Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts signed a five-year extension worth $255 million in April.“It’s really good for the quarterback market,” Tagovailoa said Wednesday after Miami’s first full-team practice of training camp. “It gets me excited, gets me going. But at the same time, they got what they deserve.”Even after setting career-highs in passing touchdowns, passing yards and passer rating in a breakout 2022 season, Tagovailoa said he wants to continue to earn a big contract extension.“I’m always a person that wants to prove to myself that I de...

Judge orders North End restaurant owner be held for 120 days following shooting arrest, dangerousness hearing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:55 GMT

A Boston restaurant owner accused of shooting at a man in the North End was ordered to be held in custody for 120 days, according to officials.A spokesperson for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said Patrick Mendoza, 54, was found to be a danger to the public by a judge during his dangerousness hearing on Wednesday.Mendoza, the owner of Monica’s Trattoria in the North End, faces multiple assault charges in connection with a July 12 shooting on Hanover Street in which prosecutors say the 54 year old rode a bicycle up to another man and opened fire.“[He] fired multiple shots at this individual, stating ‘it’s going to be quick, I’m going to kill you,” prosecutor Daniel Nucci told the court during Mendoza’s arraignment on Friday, July 21.No injuries were reported, but the shooting ended up leaving a bullet hole in the window of the business, Modern Pastry. It also led to a warrant being issued for Mendoza’s arrest. The suspect was later taken into custody after ...

Sinéad O’Connor, Irish singer behind ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ and more, dead at 56, Irish media says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:55 GMT

(CNN) — Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor, who became as well known for her remarkable music as her personal life, has died, according to RTE, Ireland’s public broadcaster. She was 56. The news of her death was confirmed by RTE, who shared a family statement:“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”No cause of death was immediately available. CNN has reached out to representatives and family members for O’Connor.Her first album, “The Lion and the Cobra,” was released to critical acclaim in 1987, but it was O’Connor’s 1990 sophomore album, “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” which broke her through as a well-known artist.Her rendition of the Prince song “Nothing Compares 2 U” shot to No. 1 in 1990, buoyed by the music video which featured O’Connor, with close-cropped hair and a dark turtleneck. The song was nominated for multiple Grammys and...

114th NAACP National Convention kicks off in Boston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:55 GMT

The NAACP’s National Convention kicks off in Boston this week, running from July 26 to Aug. 1 as it features speakers that include Vice President Kamala Harris and Former First Lady Hillary Clinton.Held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, the convention is being held in the city for this first time since 1982, bringing NAACP members and supporters to the city for numerous panels, discussions and receptions focused on the work of the NAACP, its members, and more.“The NAACP National Convention is an empowering and immersive experience held each year to celebrate our community’s collective power,” the organization said on its website. “We gather, collectively, to foster our intergenerational approach to advocacy.”Other speakers during the week-long convention will include Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn, rapper and activist Meek Mill and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.A full s...

Tyson Foods to distribute 40,000 pounds of meat to Vermonters dealing with flood damage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:55 GMT

BRATTLEBORO, Vermont (WPTZ) — Tyson Foods is donating 40,000 pounds of meat to help Vermonters affected by recent flooding.The Arkansas-based company will donate the food, which they said is equivalent to 160,000 servings, to the Vermont Food Bank in Brattleboro on Thursday, July 27.Tyson is the world’s second-largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork.The donation is the latest in a string of corporate donations to help Vermonters affected by catastrophic flood waters, including a recent donation of box fans and dehumidifiers from Amazon that were distributed by the Vermont National Guard earlier this month.

Patrice Bergeron a classy leader by example until the end

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:55 GMT

For 20 years, Patrice Bergeron met the physical demands of a brutal sport with grace, dignity and an unparalleled professionalism.He retired pretty much the same way.In a press availability at the Garden’s Legend club that was of the no-frills variety by request of the guest of honor – no tearful opening statement, no teammates ringing the room, no bon voyage cake – Bergeron nevertheless grinded through it in workmanlike fashion. He answered questions in English for nearly a half hour. He went almost as long in French. Then he took care of various broadcast hits. In fact, Bergeron was one of the last stragglers left in the cavernous room, shaking hands with long-time media acquaintances and various team personnel.One could almost get the sense he was already missing it all, but he was just doing his job, to the very end. Bergeron was more than convincing when he said he knew the time was right for him to hang ’em up.That 2022-23 was to be Bergeron’s last season see...

Mitch McConnell briefly leaves news conference after freezing up mid-sentence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell briefly left his own press conference on Wednesday after stopping his remarks mid-sentence and staring off into space for several seconds.McConnell approached the podium for his weekly press conference and began speaking about the annual defense bill on the floor, which he said was proceeding with “good bipartisan cooperation.” But he then appeared to lose his train of thought, trailing off with a drawn-out “uh.”He then appeared to freeze up and stared vacantly for around 20 seconds before his colleagues in Republican leadership, who were standing behind him and could not see his face, grabbed his elbows and asked if he wanted to go back to his office.He did not answer, but slowly walked back to his office with an aide and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, a former orthopedic surgeon who is the No. 3 Republican in the Senate. McConnell later returned to the press conference and answered questions from the p...