6th officer fired after beating death of Tyre Nichols
Officials say a sixth Memphis officer was fired Friday after an internal police investigation showed he violated multiple department policies in the violent arrest of Tyre Nichols, including rules surrounding the deployment of a stun gun. Preston Hemphill had previously been suspended as he was investigated for his role in the Jan. 7 of Nichols, who died three days later. Five Memphis officers have already been fired and charged with second-degree murder in Nichols’ death. Hemphill was the third officer at a traffic stop that preceded the violent arrest but was not where Nichols was beaten. Body camera footage from the initial stop has Hemphill saying that he stunned Nichols and “I hope they stomp his ass.”
Man arrested, but motive unknown in Dallas Zoo monkey theft
The arrest of a 24-year-old man accused of taking two monkeys from the Dallas Zoo after cutting their enclosure has shed some light on a mysterious string of events there. Police on Friday said that they’ve also linked him to the escape of a clouded leopard and the gash in the fence of another monkey habitat. Police say Davion Irvin, who was arrested Thursday, has been charged with six counts of animal cruelty and two counts of burglary. His arrest came after an employee at a downtown aquarium recognized him from news coverage of the missing monkeys.
Austin mayor apologizes as city struggles to restore power
The mayor of Austin, Texas, has apologized and says the city failed to communicate with its residents after a winter storm left thousands without power for days. Mayor Kirk Watson said at a news conference Friday that “the situation is unacceptable to the community, and it’s unacceptable to me.” Rising temperatures are offering some hope for frustrated Texans. Meanwhile, a new wave of frigid weather has begun rolling into the Northeast and led communities to close schools and open warming centers. Wind chills in some higher elevations of the New England could dive below minus 50.
Authorities: 2 arrested in California shooting that killed 6
A California sheriff says two gang members suspected in the massacre of six people last month in central California have been arrested, one after a gunbattle. Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said Friday that 25-year-old Noah David Beard was taken into custody without incident and 35-year-old Angel “Nanu” Uriarte was wounded in the shootout with federal agents. The six victims, including a teen mother and her baby, were gunned down on Jan. 16 in rural Goshen, a community of 3,000 in the San Joaquin Valley. Authorities say some of the victims were associated with a different gang.
California won’t require COVID vaccine to attend schools
California won’t make children get the coronavirus vaccine to attend schools. The California Department of Public Health said Friday it is not exploring emergency rules to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required school vaccinations. That’s a reversal from Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2021 announcement that the state would add the COVID-19 vaccine to its list of mandated vaccinations for kids to attend school. Last year, state officials delayed that requirement until at least the summer of 2023. Now public health officials say they are no longer moving ahead with the effort as the state prepares to end its coronavirus emergency on Feb. 28.
Israel probes legality of US giving artifact to Palestinians
Israel’s ultranationalist heritage minister has ordered officials to examine the legality of the U.S. government’s historic repatriation of an artifact to the Palestinian Authority. The artifact — a 2,700-year-old ivory cosmetic spoon — is believed to have been plundered from a site in the occupied West Bank. It was seized in late 2021 by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office as part of a deal with the New York billionaire hedge fund manager Michael Steinhardt. The Palestinians say the artifact is part of their cultural heritage. Israeli Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu’s office said last week that the legality of the repatriation “is being examined.” The case brings into focus the political sensitivities surrounding archaeology in the Middle East.
Indian gay couples begin legal battle for same-sex marriage
More than four years after India’s top court struck down a colonial-era law that had made homosexuality a criminal offense, it will hear arguments in March on whether to legalize same-sex marriage. LGBTQ couples in India, where being gay can still be considered taboo, are demanding the government grant them equal rights with married couples. If legalized, India would become the second economy in Asia after Taiwan to recognize same-sex marriage. A favorable ruling would also make India the biggest democracy with such rights for LGBTQ couples but run counter to the ruling Hindu nationalist government’s position, which opposes same-sex marriages.
US tells owners to park old Hondas until air bags are fixed
Honda and the U.S. government are urging owners of about 8,200 older vehicles not to drive them until dangerous air bag inflators are replaced. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Friday issued a “Do Not Drive” advisory for the 2001 through 2003 vehicles with Takata inflators that have a high possibility of exploding in a crash. The safety agency says the risk to drivers and passengers is dire because the so-called “Alpha” inflators have a 50% chance of exploding in a crash. They can shoot shrapnel toward a driver’s face that could kill them or cause serious injuries. The agency says the Honda and Acura vehicles were recalled previously but records show that repairs have not been made. Honda already has replaced 99% of the dangerous inflators.
By wire sources