Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
CHILDREN SWEPT AWAY-SEARCH
Authorities recover body of girl swept away by creek
TONTO BASIN, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities in rural Arizona have recovered the body of a 6-year-old girl who was swept away in surging creek waters two weeks ago. The body of Willa Rawlings was found shortly before 2:30 p.m. Friday in Roosevelt Lake about 20 miles south of Tonto Basin, where the girl initially went missing. The announcement from Gila County sheriff's officials comes on the same day that family members scheduled funeral services for Willa and her 5-year-old brother, Colby. Nine family members were in a military-style truck that became stuck Nov. 29 while trying to cross Tonto Creek.
POLICE SHOOTING VIDEO
Police release footage of chaotic, fatal friendly fire scene
NEW YORK (AP) — Video from cameras worn by New York City police officers involved in a September fatal friendly fire shooting shows a chaotic nighttime scene as officers struggled with an armed man before shots rang out. The video footage released by the New York Police Department on Friday shows Officer Brian Mulkeen grappling with Antonio Williams shouting frantically, “He's reaching for it! He's reaching for it!” Several gunshots are then heard. Police have said that a total of six officers fired 15 shots during the confrontation. Both Mulkeen and Williams were killed in the Sept. 29 confrontation.
AP-US-ABORTION-MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi 15-week abortion ban is blocked by appeals court
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A federal appeals court says Mississippi's ban on abortion at 15 weeks is unconstitutional. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued the ruling Friday. It says a lower court judge ruled correctly when he blocked the state law from taking effect in 2018. The only abortion clinic in Mississippi sued the state after Republican Gov. Phil Bryant signed the law. Mississippi legislators came back in 2019 and passed a more restrictive law to ban most abortions at about six weeks. The same federal district judge blocked that, too, and a legal fight over it continues.
TEXAS-OFFICER KILLED
Funeral set for Texas sergeant amid anger over initial bond
HOUSTON (AP) — Funeral arrangements have been set for a Houston-area police sergeant who was killed this week while trying to arrest a suspect during a traffic stop, officials announced Friday. The details of Nassau Bay police Sgt. Kaila Sullivan’s funeral come as law enforcement agencies and police unions expressed anger the suspect charged in her death was initially given a bond following his arrest. That bond was later revoked as the charge was upgraded to capital murder. Sullivan’s funeral service has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Grace Church Houston. It is the same church where the funeral service was held Thursday for a Houston police sergeant killed Dec. 7 while responding to a domestic violence call.
NEW ZEALAND-VOLCANO ERUPTS
New Zealand divers attempt to recover last 2 volcano victims
WHAKATANE, New Zealand (AP) — Police divers have returned to the waters around New Zealand's volcanic White Island to search for the remaining two victims of an eruption that left at least 16 dead and dozens severely burned. Military specialists on Friday recovered six bodies from the island in a carefully planned but risky operation. Two more bodies of victims known to have been on the island could not be located during the four-hour operation, carried out by bomb disposal experts _ six men and two women _ wearing yellow hazmat suits and breathing apparatuses. Police believe one of the missing bodies was sighted in the water close to the island and the location of the other is unknown.
VENEZUELA-ERIK PRINCE
Blackwater founder Prince visited Venezuela's sanctioned VP
MIAMI (AP) — The Associated Press has learned that the founder of controversial security firm formerly known as Blackwater traveled to Caracas last month for a secret meeting with Venezuela's vice president. It's not clear whether Erik Prince was carrying a message from the Trump administration. The U.S. has slapped severe sanctions on Venezuela preventing Americans from doing business with President Nicolas Maduro's socialist government. According to one of the people, Prince is believed to have urged the release of six employees of Houston-based Citgo. Two weeks after the meeting, the six men were granted house arrest.
TV REPORTER-SEXUAL BATTERY
Man videotaped slapping reporter's rear on live TV charged
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia man who was videotaped slapping a female reporter's rear on live TV has been arrested on a misdemeanor charge of sexual battery. Savannah police spokeswoman Bianca Johnson confirmed that Thomas Callaway was arrested Friday afternoon in connection with the incident involving a TV reporter covering a road race last Saturday. Callaway went to the television station and apologized on camera a few days later. He also said he did not touch the young woman's rear intentionally, but was trying to raise his hand to pat her on the back or shoulder. Callaway's attorney declined comment Friday.
MOSQUE ATTACKS-MONTANA ARREST
Man who discussed US attack gets nearly 5 years in prison
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — A 21-year-old New York man who pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI after authorities said he talked about joining the Islamic State and avenging the New Zealand mosque shootings has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison. Fabjan Alameti was sentenced in federal court in Missoula on Friday after previously pleading guilty to lying to a federal officer about making terrorism-related comments. Authorities first interviewed Alameti in 2018, and he later made pro-Islamic State social media posts. Alameti was arrested at a Montana gun range in April. His attorney argued the terrorism statements were protected under the First Amendment.
IMMIGRANT DRIVERS LICENSES
Challenge to immigration law is tossed on eve of enactment
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A law that will allow New Yorkers to get driver’s licenses without having to prove they are in the country legally has weathered a second court challenge. A federal district court judge ruled Friday against Rensselaer County Clerk Frank Merola, saying he lacked the legal capacity to bring the lawsuit. Starting Monday, license applicants without a valid Social Security number will be able to submit multiple alternative forms of ID that include valid passports and driver’s licenses issued in other countries
AP-US-SUPREME-COURT-TRUMP-TAXES
Justices to take up dispute over subpoenas for Trump records
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says it will hear President Donald Trump's pleas to keep his tax, bank and financial records private. The justices' decision Friday to hear cases involving demands for records from Trump's banks and accounting firm means the court is likely to issue final rulings in June, amid Trump's campaign for re-election. He is trying to prevent the records from being turned over to House of Representatives committees and the Manhattan District Attorney, who is seeking the president's tax returns as part of a criminal investigation.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
