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DeSantis sets execution for ‘ninja killer’ in 1989 murders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:17 GMT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A man convicted of a 1989 double slaying in Florida for which he was dubbed the “ninja killer” is set for execution next month under a death warrant signed Monday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.Barring delays on appeal, the execution of Louis Bernard Gaskin is set for April 12 at 6 p.m., according to the governor’s office. It would mark the second execution in Florida this year after a long pause dating back to 2019.The execution would be only the fourth under DeSantis, a far slower pace than recent Florida governors — and ahead of his widely expected presidential campaign.Gaskin was convicted of first-degree murder for killing Robert Sturmfels, 56, and Georgette Sturmfels, 55, on Dec. 20, 1989 in their Flagler County home on Florida’s northeast coast. He was also convicted of armed robbery, burglary and the attempted murder of another couple that same night nearby.He was dubbed the “ninja killer” because he wore all-black ninja clo...

Jurors see cellphone data of XXXTentacion’s accused killers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:17 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Jurors in the trial of three men accused of murdering rising rap star XXXTentacion concluded their fourth day of deliberations Monday by reviewing almost 1,200 text messages and several videos and photos seized from two of their cellphones.Some of the videos and photos showed the defendants flashing fistfuls of $100 bills hours after the June 18, 2018, shooting of XXXTentacion outside a suburban Fort Lauderdale motorcycle dealership. He was killed by two armed robbers who stole $50,000 he was carrying in a Louis Vuitton bag.There was also a photo of a story from a news website about the shooting, photos from shopping and dating apps, an apparently random photo of then-first lady Melania Trump, videos of one defendant in a pedicab with a woman and a Father’s Day greeting.The jurors made their request in the afternoon, asking to see the data from the phones of alleged shooter Michael Boatwright, 28, and the accused getaway driver and ringleader Dedri...

Police investigate train station stabbings in Hollywood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:17 GMT

There were two train station stabbings in Hollywood. Detectives actively worked the scene at a parking lot near the Tri-Rail station along Hollywood Boulevard, Monday. They took witnesses’ statements to try and piece together more information as the suspect remains on the loose. The two victims were transported to the hospital, and their condition remains unknown.

Vandals desecrate grave at historic Miami City Cemetery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:17 GMT

Police are investigating after some vandals opened an above-ground crypt at historic Miami City Cemetery over the weekend.The damage was found on Sunday by a local historian who volunteers at the cemetery cleaning up graves and learning about the people who are buried there.“I’ve never seen this happen here at the cemetery,” said Ronnie Hurwitz on a video he recorded at the scene.Hurwitz said he found a plywood board covering an above-ground crypt. “I knew it was vandalized right away,” he said. “They had a piece of wood over it, but I could tell they opened it up throughout the evening, probably went through it.”City of Miami Police later responded to investigate.According to officials, nothing was taken, and by Monday the grave cover was back in place.Hurwitz said what happened here is a disgrace for a place that is so important when it comes to preserving the city’s history, especially local Black history.“If you’re a Mi...

US to sell nuke-powered subs to Australia in unprecedented new deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:17 GMT

The U.S. is preparing to sell three to five nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, an unprecedented step that’s expected to pave the way for Canberra to co-develop and then eventually build its own attack boats in the decades ahead.President Joe Biden on Monday will announce the results of an 18-month review into the Australia-U.K.-U.S. agreement known as AUKUS alongside his counterparts in San Diego. He’s expected to detail a three-phrase approach which ultimately ends with London and Canberra creating advanced versions of the highly sensitive vessel for their navies.The goal of the deal is “safeguarding peace and stability” in the Indo-Pacific, “not to provoke, not to go try to fight wars, but rather to deter conflict and to promote peace and stability,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Monday.According to three senior administration officials who briefed the media on the condition that their names be withheld, Phase 1 involves American and British submarin...

Europe’s civil war over car engine ban

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:17 GMT

BRUSSELS — The future of the internal combustion engine is turning into a Franco-German war. An alliance of car-friendly countries led by Germany on Monday dialed up the temperature in a fight against EU legislation that would consign the engine to the scrapheap as part of landmark efforts to slash greenhouse gas emissions from transport.Following a meeting in Strasbourg, key ministers from a gang of car-loving countries said rules ending the sale of new combustion-engine cars and vans by 2035 — already accepted by the European Parliament and agreed in principle by member countries — needed changes. Or else.“There is no [European Commission] proposal that corresponds to what we expect, and that is why we have not yet reached our goal,” German Transport Minister Volker Wissing said after the meeting,But France isn’t planning to surrender. Paris signalled it will stand behind the EU’s 2035 zero emissions plan, as has Madrid, putting two of the bloc’s larg...

Boston prepares for upcoming winter storm

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:17 GMT

Students in the Boston Public Schools can’t yet count on a snow day, Mayor Michelle Wu said Monday as expected winter weather approaches the region. Wu discussed storm preparations hours before rain is forecast to arrive in the area Monday night. Forecasts currently call for a changeover from rain to snow on Tuesday, with between three and six inches of total accumulation in Boston itself. Wu said officials have been watching the forecasts, keeping an eye out for other factors in addition to snow.“What all the forecasts have across the various estimates is very high winds,” Wu said.Boston could get hit with wind gusts topping out between 40 and 50 miles per hour. Outside of the city, the wind could blow even faster, with gusts between 50 and 60 miles per hour on Cape Ann and the South Shore as well as the Cape and the Islands.In Boston, Wu said officials have been in contact with companies with cranes or other large scale construction projects in progress, discussing ...

Nor’easter Update

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:17 GMT

Light rain has started to fall across New England. This rain is the leading edge of our storm but for now the precipitation is light. There’s two storms that will merge and that’s when our storm will really ramp up in intensity. That merge has not happened yet. Not much has changed in our thinking from this morning as far as impacts and timing of the storm. So first things first, I’m going to talk about the CHANGES we made from this morning. Then at the end, I’ll link to the blog from this morning where we went pretty in depth with timing and impacts if you’d like to read more.SNOW MAP CHANGES:The only change to the snow map was pulling the 6-12″ back to 495. It’s combination of the rain/snow line holding tight for several hours plus the quick elevation gain that will cause the sharp cut off from manageable snow and a foot or more or snow!WINTER STORM WARNING/WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIESThis is more of a technical change as the winter storm wat...

NCAA Tournament Predictions: 8. Memphis vs. 9. Florida Atlantic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:17 GMT

8. Memphis (24-8, 13-5/AAC)- It hasn’t been as easy as it seemed when Penny Hardaway took over and brought with him the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in the country in 2019. But the former NBA All-Star has built a solid program with the Tigers, and has them in the NCAA field for the second year in a row, this time earning the automatic bid by toppling No. 1 Houston, 75-65, in the American Athletic Conference title game.Memphis is led by explosive senior guard Kendric Davis, an SMU transfer who averages 21.8 points, 5.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game. 6-9 senior forward DeAndre Williams averages 17.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game and is another force to be reckoned with. Scoring depth is an issue as no other player averages in double figures, so stopping those two will be high on opposing coaches’ radar. All told though, the Tigers can fill it up with anyone, averaging 79.5 points per game this season, w...

Cohen testifies before grand jury in Trump hush money probe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:17 GMT

By MICHAEL R. SISAK (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen testified Monday before a Manhattan grand jury investigating hush money payments he arranged and made on the former president’s behalf.A Trump loyalist turned adversary, Cohen spent around three hours answering questions in the secret proceeding. He is scheduled to return again for more testimony Wednesday, his lawyer said as the pair emerged from the courthouse.“Michael has spent a long and productive afternoon answering all questions, all facts, and completely responsive,” said Cohen’s lawyer, Lanny Davis.The testimony comes at a critical time, as the Manhattan district attorney’s office weighs whether to seek charges against Trump over payments made during his 2016 campaign to two women who alleged affairs or sexual encounters with him.Before entering the courthouse for the session, Cohen, who orchestrated those payoffs, said his goa...