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Judge rules man who spent 50 years in prison is innocent of murder

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

By Ken Miller | Associated PressOKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma judge has exonerated a man who spent nearly 50 years in prison for murder, the longest serving inmate to be declared innocent of a crime.Glynn Simmons, 71, who was released in July after prosecutors agreed that key evidence in his case was not turned over to his defense lawyers, was ruled innocent Tuesday.“This court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the offense for which Mr. Simmons was convicted, sentenced and imprisoned… was not committed by Mr. Simmons,” according to the ruling by Oklahoma County District Judge Amy Palumbo.Simmons served 48 years, one month and 18 days since his conviction, making him the longest imprisoned U.S. inmate to be exonerated, according to data kept by The National Registry of Exonerations.Simmons said afterward that he feels vindicated after his time in prison that included initially being sentenced to death row.“It’s a lesson in resilience and tenacity...

What to watch: ‘Iron Claw’ is a masterpiece, and 1 performance is for the ages

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

The end of the year finds awards-hungry film studios wrapping up and stuffing into theaters some some of their best goodies for audiences to unwrap over the holiday break.For the most part, you’ll be thrilled with what you’ll be given, particularly “The Iron Claw,” “American Fiction,” “The Color Purple” and “All of Us Strangers.”Here’s our roundup.“The Iron Claw”: Four brothers (Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson and Stanley Simons) deep in the heart of Texas sacrifice their dreams, careers and even their lives for their domineering manager/coach father (Holt McCallany) who aims to create a wrestling dynasty.Director/screenwriter Sean Durkin treats this portrait of the real-life Von Erich family — a dominant force in sport in the late ‘70s and ‘80s — as if it were an American and a Shakespearean tragedy. It makes for a potent combination, a knockout in every way.As he’s done with all the works that bear his imprint — “Martha Marcy May Marlene,” “...

One of 2023’s best new Christmas songs comes courtesy of church in Aptos

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

The Christmas season playlist is dominated by songs that have been around for decades — and, in come cases, for centuries.We’re talking about such classics as “Silent Night,” “O Holy Night,” “White Christmas” and, of course, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” a carol that has been around since at least the early 1700s.Yet contrary to what the Muzak played at shopping malls this time of year might lead you to believe, people are still writing new Christmas tunes.And one of the very best of 2023 comes courtesy of a church in the Santa Cruz area.So, those looking for a good jolt of holiday cheer should push play on the cool tune “Good News Great Joy” from Twin Lakes Church in Aptos.“Hey everyone! Twin Lakes Worship has a brand new Christmas song out on all streaming platforms!” Twin Lakes’ worship pastor Trent Smith posted on social media. “I’m going to go out on a limb and say I think this wil...

High School freshman dies after having stroke during swim practice

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

By Evelyn Holmes | WLSGENEVA, Illinois (WLS) — A suburban high school freshman has died after having a stroke during swim practice.A swim coach for James Oliver, 14, said that the teen collapsed at West Chicago High School Dec. 8.In a letter to parents, the principal at Geneva High School said Oliver suffered an AVM stroke and brain hemorrhage and was in critical condition until he died Sunday night.A neurosurgeon at Northwestern Medicine explained that this very rare condition is usually congenital.“It’s thought that most AVMs are present from birth, and so we see a lot of AVMs either being diagnosed incidentally or being diagnosed because they bleed. We see a lot of that in children, and teenagers and young adults,” Dr. Matthew Potts said.Oliver was a freshman at Geneva High School, and no one expected him to be gone so soon.“He just brought me so much joy, as he did many other people,” swim coach Jennifer Heyer-Olson said. “And I think wh...

Will 49ers’ next MVP be Purdy, McCaffrey or neither? What to know about the award process

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

Five things to know about the Associated Press Most Valuable Player Award, which will be announced on NFL Honors Night Thursday night, Feb. 8 in Las Vegas with 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey as prime candidates:1. It’s a quarterback-driven awardQuarterbacks have won 38 of 57 MVP awards and the last 10 in succession including Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City in 2022. The last non-quarterback to win was Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson in 2012. Peterson rushed for 2,097 yards on 348 carries and scored 13 touchdowns and got 36 first-place votes to eight for second-place finisher Peyton Manning. Quarterbacks for the 49ers have been responsible for five MVPs, with Steve Young winning in 1992 and 1994, Joe Montana in 1989 and 1990 and John Brodie in 1970. Only three players who weren’t a quarterback or a running back have won  — Minnesota defensive tackle Alan Page in 1971, Washington placekicker Mark Moseley in 1982 and Giants lin...

Art or evidence? Closest U.S. Supreme Court has looked at rap lyrics is for ‘true threat’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

Grethel Aguila | Miami Herald (TNS)The closest the U.S. Supreme Court has come to assessing whether rap lyrics can be used in prosecutions was in a case where it looked at whether they were a “true threat” that made someone believe they would be seriously harmed.In 2014, the nation’s highest court heard the case of Anthony Elonis, marking the first time the justices reviewed a true threats case involving lyrics.Elonis had been found guilty of posting on Facebook rap lyrics containing violent language and imagery concerning his ex-wife, coworkers and law enforcement. The U.S. Supreme Court reversed Elonis’ conviction and ruled that prosecutors must prove that a defendant intended to carry out alleged threats.Another Supreme Court decision from June of this year will likely influence how these types of cases are handled in the future, said Clay Calvert, a professor of law and the former director of the Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project at the University of Florida. The court ...

Lawsuit alleges State Bar of Wisconsin minority program is unconstitutional

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A conservative law firm filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday alleging that the State Bar of Wisconsin’s “diversity clerkship program” unconstitutionally discriminates based on race. The program offers summer internships for first-year law school students at top law firms, private companies and government offices. Past participants have included Alliant Energy, Froedrert Health, the Kohler Co., the city of Madison, the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the state Department of Corrections. The lawsuit is the latest of its kind to be filed across the country targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the private and public sectors after the U.S. Supreme Court in June struck down affirmative action in college admissions, declaring that race cannot be a factor.The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty filed the latest lawsuit targeting the bar association’s internship program. It argues that the bar is violating the equal protection rights of ...

Eric Haase agrees to deal with Brewers as they attempt to add catching depth

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Catcher Eric Haase and the Milwaukee Brewers agreed Wednesday to a one-year contract.The 31-year-old hit .201 with a .247 on-base percentage, four homers, 26 RBIs and four steals in 89 games with the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians last season. He played 86 games for Detroit and three for Cleveland.Haase batted .254 with 14 homers and 44 RBIs in 110 games for Detroit in 2022 and .231 with 22 homers and 26 RBIs in 98 games with the Tigers in 2021.The Brewers were seeking a backup catcher as they attempt to replace Victor Caratini, who signed a $12 million, two-year contract with the Houston Astros. Haase also played 23 games in left field last season.Milwaukee returns William Contreras as its starting catcher after he hit .289 with 17 homers, 78 RBIs and an .825 OPS.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbSource

Trevor Lawrence still in concussion protocol, leaving the Jags preparing to play without star QB

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence was in the facility but still in the NFL’s concussion protocol Wednesday, leaving the Jacksonville Jaguars preparing to play without their star quarterback for the first time in three seasons.Coach Doug Pederson said Lawrence is “progressing well” but declined to speculate on Lawrence’s chances of gaining clearance before Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay (7-7).“Still in the protocol,” Pederson said. “Progressing well, but we have to follow the steps; we can’t skip anything.”The Jaguars (8-6) believe Lawrence sustained a head injury while scrambling up the middle on the team’s final drive in a 23-7 loss to Baltimore on Sunday. Lawrence misfired on seven of his final eight passes after the hit, a stretch that raised concerns on the sideline about his health. Lawrence reported symptoms after the game.“He’s doing better,” backup quarterback C.J. Beathard said. “He’s been in the building today. I go...

Congo’s presidential vote is extended as delays and smudged ballots lead to fears about credibility

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:11 GMT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Lengthy delays at the polls led voting in Congo’s presidential election to be extended Wednesday as the West African nation faced steep logistical and security challenges that raised questions about credibility.It was not clear whether balloting would extend into Thursday after the election commission said it would continue “to allow every voter until the last.”Some 44 million people — almost half the population — were expected to vote, but many, including several million displaced by conflict in the vast country’s east, struggled to cast ballots. The fighting prevented 1.5 million people from registering to vote.At stake is the future of one of Africa’s largest nations and one whose mineral resources are increasingly crucial to the global economy. Congo has a history of disputed elections that can turn violent, and there’s little confidence among many Congolese in the country’s institutions.“In time of coup d’état and autocracy in Afri...