Texas inmate executed for abducting and killing 18-year-old woman in 2001 – 2024

HUNTSVILLE, Texas — A Texas man who admitted he kidnapped, sexually assaulted and fatally shot an 18-year-old woman in 2001 was executed Wednesday evening. Ramiro Gonzales, 41, was pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. CDT following a chemical injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville for the January 2001 killing of Bridget Townsend. Ramiro Gonzales.Texas Department of Criminal … Read more

Man who lost 3 relatives in North Las Vegas shooting spree says gunman was a neighbor – 2024

A heartbroken man from New Mexico can’t comprehend why a North Las Vegas, Nevada, man killed three of his family members this week and left his 13-year-old granddaughter in critical condition in a “senseless” shooting spree. Sal Muñoz, 59, of Albuquerque, made the nearly 600-mile drive to the Las Vegas Valley on Tuesday morning after … Read more

Julian Assange returns home to Australia a free man after U.S. plea deal – 2024

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange returned home to Australia a free man Wednesday after pleading guilty in a deal that ended his yearslong legal battle over the publication of U.S. military secrets. Assange’s plane, tracked online by thousands, touched down in the Australian capital of Canberra at 7:37 p.m. (5:37 a.m. ET), data from the flight-tracking … Read more

Defendant in July 4, 2022, mass shooting outside Chicago could change plea – 2024

The man accused of fatally shooting seven people during a July 4 parade outside Chicago in 2022 was expected to reconsider his across-the-board not guilty pleas Wednesday. Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a statement last week that the prosecution and the defense have requested a hearing Wednesday morning. “It is expected that … Read more

Olympic champion swimmers tell Congress U.S. athletes have lost faith in anti-doping regulator – 2024

WASHINGTON — U.S. Olympic athletes have lost faith in the World Anti-Doping Agency to rid their sports of cheaters ahead of next month’s Summer Games in Paris, two former gold medalists said Tuesday in prepared testimony before a House subcommittee. The comments by Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt followed revelations that 23 Chinese swimmers had … Read more

After losing home, family hopes for historic café’s survival as Rapidan Dam collapse looms in Minnesota – 2024

In Rapidan, Minnesota, the Barnes family is almost synonymous with the nearby dam in imminent danger of collapse.  Their family home is only feet away from the Blue Earth River, which has overpowered the dam’s west abutment and is causing mass flooding along the area.  A few minutes away, the Barneses run a café called … Read more

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange pleads guilty to conspiracy after 5 years in prison – 2024

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, ending a yearslong legal battle and allowing him to return home a free man for the first time since 2012. He entered the plea at a court in Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth north of Guam, on Wednesday morning, … Read more