News
Columbian Newspaper
|
Bryan Kohberger’s attorneys challenge array of evidence in Idaho murder case
BOISE, Idaho — Attorneys for the man charged with killing four Idaho college students in Moscow followed through on their pledge to challenge evidence they assert was improperly obtained by police to prevent its use at trial. |
|
Speaker Johnson says Gaetz ethics report should not be released, rebuffing senators
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday that he will “strongly request” that the House Ethics Committee not release the results of its investigation into ex-Rep. Matt Gaetz, rebuffing senators who are demanding access now that Gaetz is President-elect Donald Trump ‘s nominee for attorney general. |
|
Regulators approve North Dakota section of planned 5-state Midwest carbon dioxide pipeline
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota utility regulators granted approval on Friday for a span of a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline that would cross five Midwestern states — a key victory for the company that has faced vociferous landowner objections and various hurdles and setbacks in its plans. |
|
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long record of promoting anti-vaccine views
Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was building up a following with his anti-vaccine nonprofit group, Children’s Health Defense, and becoming one of the world’s most influential spreaders of fear and distrust around vaccines. |
Portland Business News
|
Housing, retail eyed for long-vacant Northwest 23rd lot
CE John, the developer behind the project, first acquired the Northwest lot in 2019.
|
The Chronicle - Centralia
|
Former Chehalis West employee pleads guilty to forgery and theft after stealing from the assisted living facility in 2022
Former Chehalis West Assisted Living Community employee Robin M. Selstad, 50, of Chehalis, pleaded guilty to one felony count each of forgery and first-degree theft on Wednesday, Nov. 13, after investigators discovered she had deposited fraudulent work checks into her own bank account in 2022. First-degree theft is a class B felony while the forgery charge is a class C felony. Per the plea deal, Selstad will remain in the Lewis County Jail for 15 days before being released into community custody, where she will spend 12 months on probation for each felony. Selstad was also ordered to undergo an evaluation for substance abuse disorder. A no-contact order with the Chehalis West Assisted Living Community was issued. She was originally arrested last July after the Chehalis Police Department completed an investigation started on Dec. 27, 2022, after another Chehalis West employee reported Selstad had deposited four “fraudulent checks made to appear as employer checks from Chehalis West,” according to court documents. Four checks, each for $1,262.86 totalling $5,051.44, had been deposited into Selstad’s personal bank account, each with the issue date Dec. 14, 2022. Investigators discovered a check had been made out to Selstad in March of 2022 for the same amount of $1,262.86, and, “it appeared as if it was modified to pass off the subsequent fraudulent checks,” according to court documents. When Chehalis West contacted Selstad about the checks, she stated she didn’t know anything about them and made no effort to return the money. In a subsequent interview with the Chehalis Police Department, Selstad admitted to using her mobile banking app during the time the fraudulent checks were deposited, but claimed she had been “hacked” by someone who scammed her by offering to teach her how to invest in Bitcoin, according to court documents. She could not explain how the scammer would have access to the check template and admitted nobody else had access to her mobile phone. Selstad also denied having been contacted by Chehalis West about the fraudulent checks. Investigators confirmed the checks were deposited into her account via the mobile banking app, along with discovering Selstad had a worker’s compensation claim denied by Chehalis West during the investigation period for “an injury that did not happen at work,” according to court documents. |
|
Rochester church giving away 200 frozen turkeys to families in need on Nov. 23
The local church Ministerios Hogar De Fe will be giving out free frozen Thanksgiving Day turkeys — one per family — church secretary Reyna Morales said. “Ministerios Hogar De Fe is going to give away 200 frozen turkeys this November 23rd as a gift for the people in need in the community,” Morales said to The Chronicle in an email. Last year, church members gave out more than 100 turkeys at the church’s Centralia location on Harrison Avenue. This year, the turkey giveaway will begin at noon on Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Grand Mound Baptist Hogar De Fe Church, located at 20140 Grand Mound Way SW. It will end once all the turkeys have been given away. For more information, contact the church by calling 360-800-7572, or message on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mhogardefe/.
|
|
Proclamation made celebrating Arbor Day in Centralia on Nov. 22
While, internationally, Arbor Day may still be months away in April, a proclamation celebrating Arbor Day and trees within the city was made during the Centralia City Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Centralia city staff will also be holding a tree-planting ceremony commemorating Arbor Day at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, at the Fort Borst Park Arboretum. While mayors typically read proclamations into the record during city council meetings, Centralia Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston allowed Councilor Max Vogt to read the proclamation as it is “near and dear to his heart.” “Trees are givers of life, producing vital oxygen, nourishing food and homes for wildlife,” Vogt said. “Trees are environmental workers, moderating the extremes of weather, slowing down the wind, keeping the soils from eroding away (and) reducing air and water pollution.” He added the city is currently working on ordinances and programs promoting tree protection, maintenance and planting. “Trees beautify the city in which we live, work and play, increase property values and enhance the economic vitality of business areas,” Vogt added. “I … do hereby proclaim Friday, November 22nd, 2024, as Arbor Day in Centralia, and do hereby encourage all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day.” With the entrance to Fort Borst Park located at the intersection of Belmont and Borst avenues in Centralia, the Fort Borst Park Arboretum can be found at the park’s south end near the Historic Fort Borst Home and banks of the Chehalis River. To access a map of the park, visit the City of Centralia’s website at https://tinyurl.com/3fk3am8z. |
|
Prosecutors seek death penalty for man charged with murdering North Idaho resident while on the run after a brazen prison escape
Nez Perce County prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty for Nicholas Umphenour, the man who helped coordinate an Idaho prison escape and hospital ambush that led to the killing of 83-year-old Juliaetta resident James Mauney. “Seeking the death penalty is appropriate in this case considering the defendant’s complete lack of regard for the life of Mr. Mauney,” Prosecutor Justin Coleman said in a news release. “We’ll continue to fight in both this case and the co-defendant’s case to get justice for the victim.” In a hearing Thursday, a judge decided Umphenour would not be given the option for bond. Umphenour, a 29-year-old Orofino man, was already sentenced to life in prison in Ada County last month for his role in helping his accomplice, 32-year-old Skylar Meade, escape from the Idaho State Correctional Facility in March. While on the run for 36 hours following a shootout with police at a Boise hospital, the two drove up and down the state of Idaho committing crimes, Idaho State Police said at the time. Meade was sentenced to life in prison for the attempted escape and also faces the death penalty in connection with Mauney’s death. Mauney was last seen alive in March while walking his dogs in Juliaetta, a small town northeast of Lewiston. Meade and Umphenour drove Mauney and his dogs to a spot near Leland, police say, where his body was later found in an area of farm fields in the Nez Perce County town. Both men were indicted for the killing in June. Police also believe the two are responsible for the killing of 72-year-old Gerald “Don” Henderson, whose body was found in his Orofino cabin, along with Mauney’s dogs and Meade’s prison shackles. Henderson was an acquaintance of Umphenour at one point, according to previous reporting from The Spokesman-Review. Mauney and Henderson’s killings took place during the two-day manhunt that began when Meade started cutting himself at the maximum-security prison south of Boise where he was serving a minimum 10-year sentence for shooting at a member of law enforcement during a police chase. Under guard by corrections officers, Meade was transported to Boise’s Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center for treatment. This was all part of a plan to break Meade out of prison — Umphenour and Meade were texting each other, planning the escape, according to reporting from the Idaho Statesman. When Meade was escorted back outside, Umphenour began firing at police in the ambulance bay. One officer was injured in the shootout. Umphenour’s next hearing is set for Dec. 12. Meade has retained death penalty-certified lawyer Anne Taylor, who has been in the public spotlight for defending Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students two years ago. It’s unclear whether Taylor will also represent Umphenour |
NYT Politics
|
Biden Discusses With Allies ‘Dangerous’ Cooperation Between Russia and North Korea
The president said stronger ties with South Korea and Japan are working, but did not address whether President-elect Donald J. Trump would continue his approach when he takes office in January.
|
