Legal proceedings

A private prison health care company accused of substandard care is awarded new contract in Illinois

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A private prison health care company accused of substandard care is awarded new contract in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois has awarded a more than $4 billion prison medical care contract to the same company it’s used for three decades, despite multimillion-dollar lawsuits against the firm and statewide complaints alleging substandard care. Pittsburgh-based Wexford Health Sources was one of two companies responding to a request for proposals from the Illinois Department … Read more

Judge green-lights narrowing of main road through Atlantic City despite opposition from casinos

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Judge green-lights narrowing of main road through Atlantic City despite opposition from casinos

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Atlantic City got a green light Friday to proceed with a project to reduce the width of its main street from four lanes to two, despite fears from casinos and a hospital that the plan could tie the city into gridlocked knots, scare away gamblers and delay emergency vehicles. Superior Court … Read more

Harry Connick Sr., longtime New Orleans district attorney and singer’s dad, dies at 97

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Harry Connick Sr., longtime New Orleans district attorney and singer’s dad, dies at 97

NEW ORLEANS — Harry Connick Sr., who was New Orleans’ district attorney for three decades and later faced allegations that his staff sometimes held back evidence that could have helped defendants, died Thursday at age 97. Connick died peacefully at his home in New Orleans with his wife, Londa, and children — Suzanna and musician … Read more

George Carlin estate sues over fake comedy special purportedly generated by AI

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George Carlin estate sues over fake comedy special purportedly generated by AI

LOS ANGELES — The estate of George Carlin has filed a lawsuit against the media company behind a fake hourlong comedy special that purportedly uses artificial intelligence to recreate the late standup comic’s style and material. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Los Angeles on Thursday asks that a judge order the podcast outlet, … Read more

Former federal agent sentenced to over 8 years for role in painkiller trafficking

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Former federal agent sentenced to over 8 years for role in painkiller trafficking

MIAMI — A former federal agent has been sentenced to over eight years in prison for his role in an illegal prescription painkiller operation in South Florida. Alberico Ahias Crespo, 48, was sentenced Wednesday in Miami federal court, according to court records. He was previously convicted at trial of witness tampering, conspiracy to commit witness … Read more

Former WWE employee files sex abuse lawsuit against the company and Vince McMahon

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Former WWE employee files sex abuse lawsuit against the company and Vince McMahon

A former WWE employee filed a federal lawsuit Thursday accusing executive Vince McMahon and another former executive of serious sexual misconduct, including offering her to a star wrestler for sex. The graphic 67-page suit from Janel Grant, who worked in the company’s legal and talent departments, also includes allegations that McMahon, now 78, forced her … Read more

HIV-positive inmate died after medicine denial

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Former federal agent sentenced to over 8 years for role in painkiller trafficking

PLACERVILLE, Calif. — A lawsuit filed by the family of a man who died after being held in a Northern California jail alleges he contracted a preventable viral infection there when its medical staff denied him critical HIV medication for two months. When Nicholas Overfield was arrested in Feb. 2022 for a failure to appear … Read more

Woman charged with killing Hollywood consultant Michael Latt pleads not guilty

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Woman charged with killing Hollywood consultant Michael Latt pleads not guilty

LOS ANGELES — A woman charged with killing a high-profile marketing consultant and social justice advocate in film pleaded not guilty Monday. Jameelah Elena Michl, 36, entered the plea in Los Angeles Superior Court to charges of murder and burglary, with additional allegations that she used a firearm to commit the felonies. Prosecutors say she … Read more

Former gang leader charged with killing Tupac Shakur gets new lawyer who points to ‘historic’ trial

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Former gang leader charged with killing Tupac Shakur gets new lawyer who points to ‘historic’ trial

LAS VEGAS — A former Los Angeles-area gang leader jailed in Las Vegas in the 1996 killing of hip-hop music icon Tupac Shakur has hired a private attorney who pointed Monday to what he expects will be a historic murder trial. Duane “Keffe D” Davis dismissed court-appointed lawyers and hired veteran criminal defense lawyer Carl … Read more

2 New Mexico Republican lawmakers seek to impeach Democratic governor over gun restrictions

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2 New Mexico Republican lawmakers seek to impeach Democratic governor over gun restrictions

SANTA FE, N.M. — Two Republican legislators filed a resolution Wednesday aimed at initiating impeachment proceedings against Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham over her emergency public health orders suspending the right to carry firearms in some public places in greater Albuquerque, such as parks and playgrounds. The resolution from Reps. Stefani Lord of Sandia Park … Read more