Judge overturns Mississippi death penalty case, says racial bias in picking jury wasn’t fully argued

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:40:55 GMT

Judge overturns Mississippi death penalty case, says racial bias in picking jury wasn’t fully argued GREENVILLE, Miss. (AP) — A federal judge has overturned the death penalty conviction of a Mississippi man, finding a trial judge didn’t give the man’s lawyer enough chance to argue that the prosecution was dismissing Black jurors for discriminatory reasons.U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills ruled Tuesday that the state of Mississippi must give Terry Pitchford a new trial on capital murder charges.Mills wrote that his ruling is partially motivated by what he called former District Attorney Doug Evans ‘ history of discriminating against Black jurors.A spokesperson for Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said Sunday that the state intends to appeal. Online prison records show Pitchford remained on death row Sunday at Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman.Mills ordered the state to retry the 37-year-old man within six months, and said he must be released from custody if he is not retried by then.Pitchford was indicted on a murder charge in the fatal 2004 rob...

Search underway after bank robbery in Elmhurst

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:40:55 GMT

Search underway after bank robbery in Elmhurst ELMHURST, Ill. — A search is underway for a man who robbed a bank in Elmhurst on Saturday, FBI agents say.According to the FBI, the robbery happened just before noon at a US Bank branch located in the 500 block of South York Street. Migrants arriving in Chicago face uncertainty as communication with border cities deteriorates Agents say after the man entered the bank, he handed an employee a note demanding money and implying that he had a gun. Authorities believe the person responsible is between 25 and 30 years of age and stands about 6 feet tall. During the robbery, the man was spotted wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, a baseball cap, and a black surgical mask.Agents released photos from the bank on Saturday in hopes of catching the person responsible.  Man accused of shooting victim 5 times after argument in Tinley Park charged Nobody was injured in the robbery and an investigation by the FBI is underway. Anyone with information that could help authorities can repor...

Chicago man accused of concealing death of woman found in Auburn Gresham

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:40:55 GMT

Chicago man accused of concealing death of woman found in Auburn Gresham CHICAGO — A Chicago man accused of concealing the death of a woman on the South Side has been charged, according to police.Chicago police say 58-year-old John Evans, an Auburn Gresham resident, has been charged with one felony count of concealment of a homicidal death.Authorities say the charges stem from Evans' alleged role in concealing the death of a 43-year-old woman whose body was found on Tuesday, in the 8500 block of South Vincennes Avenue. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Authors have not provided details on what led to the woman's death, but say it is being investigated as a homicide.According to police, Evans was located in the 8500 block of South Wallace Street on Thursday and was taken into custody.The suspect appeared in court on Saturday for a detention hearing.

NBA G League player, girlfriend accused of killing woman: Las Vegas police

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:40:55 GMT

NBA G League player, girlfriend accused of killing woman: Las Vegas police LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — An NBA G League player and his girlfriend are accused of killing a woman who had been reported missing earlier this month, according to Las Vegas Metro Police. Chance Comanche, 27, and Sakari Harnden, 19, were both taken into custody in recent days in connection with the disappearance of Marayna Rodgers, 23. Rodgers, a medical assistant from Washington state, had been visiting Las Vegas with friends in early December, her family told KLAS. She hadn’t been seen since Dec. 6. Human remains found in a desert area of Henderson, just outside of Las Vegas, have been identified as Rodgers. Comanche and Harnden are now expected to face an open murder charge, Las Vegas Metro Police said Sunday after detectives determined they "were responsible for the murder of Rodgers."Photo of Chance Comanche (left) provided by Associated Press. Photo of Sakari Harnden (right) provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police DepartmentPolice learned that Rodgers was...

Gophers add TCU cornerback Jaionte McMillan in transfer portal

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:40:55 GMT

Gophers add TCU cornerback Jaionte McMillan in transfer portal The Gophers football program added a transfer commitment from Texas Christian cornerback Jaionte McMillan on Sunday.“Thank You to all the coaches that reached out and given me an opportunity,” McWilliams wrote on X. “I am committed to The University of Minnesota. Go Gophers!”McMillan, who is listed 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, had 15 total tackles in 32 career games at TCU. He has two years of eligibility remaining for the U.McMillan played 80 snaps on defense last season and 133 on special teams. He gave up four receptions on nine targets last season and had a grade of 60.3, according to Pro Football Focus.McMillan, out of Atlanta, is the second corner the Gophers have added in the NCAA transfer portal, following Ethan Robinson from Bucknell last weekend.Transfer portal trackerIncoming players (Previous school)Dec. 3QB Max Brosmer (New Hampshire)Dec. 10DT Jordan Guerad (Fla. International)RB Trent Howland (Indiana)DE Eddy Toussom (Navarro JC)CB Ethan Robinson (Bucknell)SundayQB Logan ...

Timberwolves’ offense starts slow, then revs up. Why is that?

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:40:55 GMT

Timberwolves’ offense starts slow, then revs up. Why is that? The Timberwolves may have won again Saturday at home over the Pacers after pulling away in the second half. But Wolves coach Chris Finch, ever the perfectionist, lamented the team’s slow offensive start, which has been a trend of late.“We have this habit of starting games just not taking great shots,” Finch said. “Offensively, we’re kind of easing our way into games. I’d like to see cleaner starts.”Over their last eight games, the Wolves are scoring just 101.5 points per 100 possessions in the first quarter, the fifth-worst mark in the NBA over that time.That’s a full 24 points per 100 possessions lower than Minnesota’s third-quarter offensive rating in that same span. Lately, the Wolves’ offense looks disjointed to open the game and like a smooth sailing ship after the half.Why is that the case? Star guard Anthony Edwards said it’s as simple as “coming in (the locker room) and getting cussed out” at halftime.But there’s likely more to it than that. Finch said at the outset of games...

Man arrested in Warren County on weapon charges

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:40:55 GMT

Man arrested in Warren County on weapon charges WARREN COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Manhattan man was arrested for illegal weapon possession following a traffic stop, according to the Warren County Sheriff's Office. Novashawn Bannister, 28, is facing multiple charges. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Police say that Bannister was allegedly found with a loaded .380 caliber handgun concealed on his person during a traffic stop. He was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Bannister was arraigned at the Warren County CAP Court. He was then remanded to the Warren County Correctional Facility due to prior criminal history.

Submerged vehicle tied to 2013 missing person's case

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:40:55 GMT

Submerged vehicle tied to 2013 missing person's case CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. - A freelance videographer and drone pilot led authorities in central Missouri to discover a submerged vehicle tied to a decade-old missing person's case.On Saturday afternoon, the Camden County Sheriff's Office was called to a property in south county regarding the December 2013 disappearance of Donnie Erwin.Erwin was last seen on the morning of Dec. 29, 2013, driving a silver Hyundai Elantra with Missouri license plate MK6-E3P.James Hinkle, who was operating a drone in the area, approached the property owner and asked for permission to search the property owner's pond after spotting something that looked like a submerged vehicle. Hinkle and the property owner searched the grounds on foot and with a kayak. They found a light-colored car in the pond.The sheriff's office requested assistance from the Mid-County Fire Protection District Dive Team. Divers searched the pond and discovered the submerged vehicle was, in fact, Erwin's Hyundai Elantra. Erwin, however, was...

Jefferson County inmate dies in custody, cause of death unknown

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:40:55 GMT

Jefferson County inmate dies in custody, cause of death unknown An investigation is underway after a 27-year-old inmate died in Jefferson County Jail Saturday, sheriff’s deputies said.Ashley Jo Raisbeck, 27, was serving a 28-day sentence in the county jail and was on a detox protocol when she died, according to a Saturday news release from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.When medical staff at the jail were conducting routine rounds and check-ins on detox-program inmates Saturday, Raisbeck appeared disoriented and was immediately taken to the medical unit, where she collapsed, according to the news release.Medical staff administered three rounds of Narcan, but when Raisbeck stopped breathing, staff began administrating CPR, the release stated.Paramedics transported Raisbeck to the hospital, where she died. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office will determine Raisbeck’s cause of death.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Bomb threat sent to Boulder Jewish synagogue Congregation Har HaShem Crime an...

Teen expectant father dead after being hit by car in Sun Valley

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:40:55 GMT

Teen expectant father dead after being hit by car in Sun Valley A 15-year-old dad-to-be is dead after he was hit by a car that lost control in Sun Valley Saturday night.The teen, identified as Carlos in a GoFundMe set up by his family, was standing in the roadway near cars parked at Strathern and White streets when a vehicle headed east on Strathern lost control, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a news release.The vehicle, which was driven by a 22-year-old man, hit the parked cars and Carlos, who was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, LAPD officials said.A 15-year-old died after he was hit by a car in Sun Valley on Dec. 17, 2023. (RMG News)The driver was taken into custody, though his identity and possible charges have not been released.Carlos' family, meanwhile, is mourning the teen, who "was excited to be a dad to his little boy but unfortunately he passed away."Flowers were left at the scene of the crash.Luis Zuniga contributed to this report.