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Iowa teen on trial for killing of 2 fellow students says he feared for his life

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:33 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa teenager feared for his life when he fatally shot two fellow students at an alternative educational program for at-risk youth, his lawyer said Thursday, rebutting a claim by prosecutors that the shooting was a premeditated attack on rival gang members.Preston Walls, 19, is one of two students charged in the shooting at the Starts Right Here program on Jan. 23, which killed 18-year-old Gionni Dameron and 16-year-old Rashad Carr. The victims’ families have denied they were involved in gangs. The school’s founder Will Keeps, himself an ex-gang member, was wounded trying to intervene to stop the violence. He still has lingering injuries. As Walls’ trial began Thursday, attorney Glen Downey said his client admits he pulled the trigger but did so because “he didn’t want to die.” “Preston decided he didn’t want to go home to his family in a pine box,” Downey said.Prosecutor Stephanie Cox told jurors they would hear testimo...

Retired Denver officer has a cop car collection in the thousands

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:33 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — A recently retired Denver Police officer now has time to pursue his passion full-time. That would be collecting diecast police cars. He has turned his home into a museum.These days, you will find Henry Jones continuing his ongoing investigation — into where he'll purchase his next diecast cruiser, that is. Jones retired from the Denver Police Department last year after 33 years of service. High-tech wheelchair allows police officer to pursue his passion Every single room, except the bathroom, in his 3,800-square-foot home is an homage to law enforcement and the military. Jones started collecting when he was 5 years old."So here’s my very first car. It is a Corgi. This is over 60-some some years old," Jones said.9,000 cop cars in the collectionJones has diecast police cars from just about every country on earth. If you were lucky enough to be an "FOH" — a friend of Henry — you will see model cop cars, motorcycles and helicopters, over 9,000 of them in his hom...

Hang gliding lets man fly like a bird

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:33 GMT

GOLDEN, Colo. (KDVR) — It's the closest thing to flying like a bird. No engine, no runway — just a pair of wings and a little bit of courage.The cooler temperature and cloudless sky were simply too much for Jim Yokom and Kevin Carter to ignore. The conditions were perfect for them to fly. Retired police officer has a cop car collection in the thousands High atop Lookout Mountain has been a popular spot to catch the wind for over 50 years."It’s very magical," Carter said. "We are so lucky to have this," Yokom said.Man has wanted to take flight since he gazed up into the sky with envy, watching other creatures soar the heavens. Thanks to Brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright, now he can.Jim Yokom hang glides from Lookout Mountain in Colorado. (KDVR)'Spreading my arms and flying'Yokom has been hang gliding since 1978."All my life, I've had dreams about flying. Since I was a little kid, I would have dreams about spreading my arms and flying," Yokom said. "The dissecting, the invisible en...

Fulton County judge gives green light for Trump Georgia 2020 election case to be televised

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:33 GMT

(CNN) — The Fulton County, Georgia, judge overseeing the sprawling 2020 election interference racketeering case against former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants says that all proceedings in his courtroom related to the case will be livestreamed and allowed to be televised.The ruling, however, would be subject to change and would not apply to any portions of the case moved to federal court.In a court hearing Thursday, Superior Court of Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee, who was assigned the case, said he would make all hearings and possible trials available to be broadcast on the Fulton County Court YouTube channel.McAfee also said that he will allow broadcast news media to have “pool” cameras, where groups of news organizations combine their resources and share camera access, in the courtroom.Neither defense attorneys nor prosecutors appeared in court Thursday to oppose the news media’s request for cameras.Thursday, McAfee also ruled to allow members of the media to us...

Chris Getz is promoted to Chicago White Sox general manager after 7 seasons heading minor-league operations: ‘There’s a lot of work to do’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:33 GMT

Chris Getz was drafted and began his big-league career with the Chicago White Sox.Now he’s tasked with getting the team headed in the right direction after being named the franchise’s senior vice president and general manager.“This is an opportunity I do not take lightly, and there’s a lot of work to do,” Getz said during his introductory news conference Thursday at Guaranteed Rate Field. “I am not naïve to the expectation that things need to change. To that I will say the fans deserve different, I am different, we will be different.”It’s a promotion for Getz, who was in his seventh season overseeing the team’s minor-league operations and player development system and his third as assistant general manager.“One of the things I owe the fans is to get better as fast as we can possibly get better,” Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in an interview with a group of reporters. “Speed is of the essence. I don’t ...

Mets’ directors Kevin Howard, Jeff Lebow included in front office firings: source

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:33 GMT

The Mets aren’t waiting until the end of the season to make front office moves. The club let go of director of development Kevin Howard on Thursday, according to a source. The club also parted ways with director of pro scouting Jeff Lebow, performance coordinator Jim Cavallini and development assistant Bryan Hayes, according to reports. More changes are expected as the club gears up to hire a president of baseball operations during the offseason.Howard was hired as the executive director of player development in 2021 to replace Jared Banner, who was let go when the sale of the franchise went through and new owner Steve Cohen cleaned house. He also worked as an assistant hitting coach in 2021 after hitting coaches Chili Davis and Tom Slater were fired a little over a month into the season. He returned to his position as the farm director when the season concluded and remained there until Thursday.Howard, who grew up in the Los Angeles area but is now based in Arizona, visited t...

‘I don’t see any way in the world’ gunfire came from inside White Sox park, Jerry Reinsdorf says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:33 GMT

Nearly a week after two women were injured by gunfire while attending a White Sox game, team Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf dismissed the notion that someone could get a firearm into Guaranteed Rate Field.Addressing the media Thursday about team issues, Reinsdorf took up the shooting mystery that has perplexed Chicago for days. He said he has spoken to police leaders and they told him they have not ruled out that gunshots fired outside the stadium landed in the bleachers and injured the women.“They’re still investigating. I don’t want to get into specific facts while they’re investigating but have really done a deep dive into this and I don’t see any way in the world that the shots could have come from inside the ballpark,” Reinsdorf said. “Let’s let the police continue with their investigation. At this point all the superintendent is prepared to say is they have not ruled out that they came from outside the ballpark.”Police were expec...

Patriots sign ex-Eagles WR to practice squad before opener vs. Philadelphia

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:33 GMT

The Patriots are signing former Eagles and Vikings wide receiver Jalen Reagor to the last spot on their practice squad Thursday, a source confirmed to the Herald.Reagor, 24, was recently cut by the Vikings and cleared waivers. The Eagles selected him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft and released him after two disappointing seasons. Reagor resurfaced in Minnesota, where he caught eight passes for 104 yards and a touchdown last year.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots WR Demario Douglas aiming to ‘make a statement’ in NFL debut New England Patriots | Source: Patriots claiming QB Matt Corral off waivers from Panthers New England Patriots | Patriots WR DeVante Parker misses second straight practice Thursday New England Patriots | Callahan: Bailey Zappe’s release another reminder the Patriots have no sacred cows New England Patriots | Patriots sign 15 to practice squad, includ...

A look inside Donald Trump’s deposition: Defiance, deflection and the ‘hottest brand in the world’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:33 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — In newly public testimony, Donald Trump boasts about building a multibillion-dollar brand and saving “millions of lives” as president.He spars with the New York attorney general suing him for fraud, telling Letitia James “the whole case is crazy” and accusing her staff of trying to trip him up like TV lawyer Perry Mason.Trump gave seven hours of sworn testimony in April as part of James’ lawsuit, which accused the Republican and his company of defrauded banks, insurers and others with annual financial statements that inflated the value of assets and boosted his net worth by more than $2 billion in some years.Trump’s lawyers posted a transcript of his deposition in a flurry of court filings Wednesday, ahead of a possible October trial.Here are the highlights:A ‘TERRIBLE THING’Trump decried James’ lawsuit as a “terrible thing,” telling her and her staff “you don’t have a case.”He insisted the banks she alleges were snookered with lof...

California panel votes to increase storage capacity at site of worst US methane leak despite risks

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:33 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California regulators on Thursday approved a controversial proposal to greatly increase storage capacity at the site of the nation’s largest known methane leak, which sickened thousands of families and forced them from their Los Angeles homes in 2015.Despite opposition from lawmakers and nearby residents, the California Public Utilities Commission voted 5-0 to to permit underground storage of up to 68.6 billion cubic feet of gas at the vast Aliso Canyon field on the northern edge of Los Angeles County as a way to guard against fuel price spikes.That’s more than a 50% increase over the current cap at the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Facility, which is slated to be closed in 2027. It’s also near the maximum capacity of 86 billion cubic feet but within safety standards set by another state agency.“This vote is a slap in the face to the community members who have been living with the ongoing consequences of the worst gas blowout in American history,” And...