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Mississippi hostage-taker killed after fatally shooting officer in 8-hour standoff

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:26 GMT

BRANDON, Miss. (AP) — An intruder who went into a Mississippi home armed with three guns and wearing a bulletproof vest took a woman hostage and later shot two police officers, killing one and wounding the other during an eight-hour standoff Thursday that ended in his death, police said.The violence took place in the Jackson suburb of Brandon, where officers had called in backup from several law enforcement agencies; among them was Madison Police Department officer Randy Tyler, who was shot twice in the chest with a rifle, said Brandon Police Chief Wayne Dearman.Tyler had worked for eight years as an officer in Madison, another Jackson suburb. The Madison department said he was a member of its special response team and directed the training of newly hired officers. Tyler previously retired as police chief in nearby Ridgeland.The shooter was identified as 22-year-old Gabriel Matthew Wilson of Pearl, Mississippi, said Dearman at a news conference.Brandon police received a call at 1:20...

Big-name Texas attorneys hired to present impeachment case against Ken Paxton

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:26 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Two prominent Texas attorneys with a long list of famous clients will present the case for impeachment against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and called for transparency Thursday once the trial gets underway this summer in the state Capitol. The hiring of Dick DeGuerin and Rusty Hardin, announced by a state House committee that has accused Paxton of bribery and misuse of office, underlines how aggressively a Republican-led investigation is moving to oust the state’s top lawyer in the face of backlash from the GOP’s hard right.Over decades in Texas, DeGuerin and Hardin have become practically as recognizable in courtrooms as the politicians and famous figures they have represented. For DeGuerin, that includes former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom Delay on charges of money laundering and Branch Davidian leader David Koresh. Both told reporters they were alarmed by the findings against Paxton and said they will present the case to the jury — in ...

West’s 3-run homer, Rogers’ pitching help Tennessee top Alabama 10-5 in WCWS opener

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:26 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Rylie West hit a three-run homer and No. 4 seed Tennessee defeated No. 5 seed Alabama 10-5 on Thursday in the opening game of the Women’s College World Series.Jamison Brockenbrough and Katie Taylor had two hits and Kiki Milloy scored twice for the Lady Vols (50-8). Tennessee will play No. 1 seed Oklahoma on Saturday, with the winner of that game advancing to the semifinals in the double-elimination bracket.Tennessee’s Ashley Rogers, a first-team National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American, gave up two runs in four innings to improve to 19-1 this season.Jenna Johnson and Kenleigh Cahalan each had two hits and Marlie Giles hit a solo homer for Alabama (45-21). Jaala Torrence gave up six runs — two earned — in 2 1/3 innings for the Crimson Tide. Alabama’s Ashley Prange committed three errors that led to four unearned runs. She had six errors all season combined before Thursday.Tennessee opened the scoring in the second when Taylor doubled ...

Drag shows on US military bases canceled by Pentagon after Republican criticism

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:26 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration has stopped U.S. military bases from hosting drag shows after criticism from some Republicans, amid a broader push in conservative-led states targeting LGBTQ+ celebrations. Hosting drag shows is “inconsistent with regulations regarding the use of (Defense Department) resources,” said Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh in a statement Thursday.At least one show was canceled as a result. Organizers of an event at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada canceled a drag show timed to Pride Month, which began Thursday, according to a Facebook post quoted by Fox News. In her statement, Singh did not directly address LGBTQ+ rights but said the Defense Department was “proud to serve alongside any and every young American who takes the oath that puts their life on the line in defense of our country.” Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who sharply criticized top Pentagon leaders earlier this year and questioned them about drag shows, tweeted that the ...

Idaho hospitals working to resume full operations after cyberattack

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:26 GMT

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) — Two eastern Idaho hospitals and their clinics are working to resume full operations after a cyberattack on their computer systems. Officials with Idaho Falls Community Hospital said the attack happened Monday, causing some clinics to close, some ambulances to be diverted to nearby hospitals and their cafes to only accept cash. Mountain View Hospital, also located in Idaho Falls, was similarly affected by the computer virus, officials said. Hospital information technology staff identified the attack quickly and immediately acted to limit the impacts and keep all patient information safe and secure, officials said.Work to fully recover from the attack was ongoing on Wednesday.“Both hospitals remain open and are safely caring for all their patients and the vast majority of clinics are seeing patients as usual,” officials said in a blog post on the Idaho Falls Community Hospital website. Healthcare organizations have been an appealing target for cyber attackers...

US retaliates for Russia’s suspension of New START treaty by revoking visas of nuclear inspectors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:26 GMT

OSLO, Norway (AP) — The Biden administration is retaliating for Russia’s suspension of the New START nuclear treaty, announcing Thursday it is revoking the visas of Russian nuclear inspectors, denying pending applications for new monitors and canceling standard clearances for Russian aircraft to enter U.S. airspace.The State Department said it was taking those steps and others in response to Russia’s “ongoing violations” of New START, the last arms control treaty remaining between the two countries, which are currently at severe odds over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.“The United States is committed to full and mutual implementation of the New START treaty,” it said. “Consistent with that commitment, the United States has adopted lawful countermeasures in response to the Russian Federation’s ongoing violations of the New START treaty.”The department said the visa revocations and application denials, as well as a U.S. decision to stop sharing information on the status or locations ...

Federal appeals court overturns 1991 death sentence in Fresno double murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:26 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal appeals court in a rare move overturned the death sentence of a man who was convicted of robbing and killing two people in Fresno in 1988, saying prosecutors knowingly presented false testimony from a key witness. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in its Wednesday ruling upheld Colin Dickey’s robbery conviction and said prosecutors could decide whether to retry him for murder. Dickey remains in prison.“This is an exceptional case in which the prosecutor deliberately elicited, and then failed to correct, false and misleading testimony from the State’s star witness,” the court said in a ruling overturning Dickey’s 1991 death sentence. The Fresno County prosecutor elicited the testimony from key witness Gene Buchanan, who told the jury he had not met with prosecutors or accepted any benefits from them. In fact, the court said, they had met a dozen times during the investigation, and the district attorney’s office had dismissed drug charges aga...

American Taylor Fritz shushes booing French Open crowd after he beats French player

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:26 GMT

PARIS (AP) — The French Open crowd was not happy with American player Taylor Fritz after he beat one of their own — indeed, their last man in the bracket — so they booed and whistle relentlessly. Fritz’s response? He told them to shush. Over and over again.Fritz, a 25-year-old from California who is seeded No. 9 at Roland Garros, got into a back-and-forth with the fans at Court Suzanne Lenglen after his 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 comeback victory over 78th-ranked Arthur Rinderknech in the second round on Thursday night.Rinderknech attempted a lob that landed long on the last point, and Fritz, who had been running toward the baseline to chase the ball, immediately looked up into the stands and pressed his right index finger to his lips to say, essentially, “Hush!”He held that pose for a bit as he headed back toward the net for a postmatch handshake, then spread his arms wide, wind-milled them a bit as if to egg on the rowdiness, and yelled: “Come on! I want to hear it!”During the custo...

1 person injured in Aurora police shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:26 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) -- One person was injured in a police shooting Thursday afternoon in Aurora.Aurora Police Department does not believe any officers were injured.Multiple police vehicles and officers are in the area around East 8th Avenue and Dayton Street, including in the parking lot of a strip mall.No additional details have been released by police.FOX31 has a crew at the scene and will update this story with new details as they are released, with live coverage on FOX31 News at 5 p.m.

Escaped inmate taken into custody

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:26 GMT

BRIGHTON, Colo. (KDVR) — Update, 5:11 p.m. An Adams County Sheriff's spokesperson said the inmate was taken into custody.Original: Police were searching Thursday afternoon for an inmate who escaped from the Adams County jail in Brighton. 1 person injured in Aurora police shooting The inmate, Jared Sheppard, is described as a white man with brown hair and blue eyes. He stands 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 165 pounds, according to the Brighton Police Department. Sheppard, 39, was last seen wearing an orange and white striped jumpsuit with shackles. Police released the following photo just before 4:30 p.m.Police were searching Thursday afternoon for an inmate who escaped from the Adams County jail in Brighton. (Credit: Brighton Police Department)Police urged anyone who spots the man or something suspicious to stay away and call 911.Sheppard was being held on counts related to motor vehicle theft and narcotics, a police spokesperson said.