‘Dances With Wolves’ actor arrested in Nevada sex abuse case
NORTH LAS VEGAS (AP) – Las Vegas police have arrested former actor Nathan Chasing Horse at his home after uncovering what they describe as two decades of sexual assault and human trafficking allegations. Chasing Horse is best known for his role in the Oscar-winning Kevin Costner film Dances With Wolves. Police say he made a name for himself among tribes in the United States and Canada as a so-called medicine man and used his position to abuse young Native American girls. Chasing Horse is accused of sexually assaulting girls as young as 13 and taking women as young as 15. Police say the assaults took place in several states, including Nevada, and Canada. No attorney was immediately listed for him in court filings Tuesday.
French Quarter Festival unveils 40th anniversary lineup
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Organizers have announced a lineup of more than 270 acts for New Orleans’ 40th annual French Quarter Festival, billed as Louisiana’s largest free showcase for music, food and culture. Artists set to perform at the April 13-16 event include Irma Thomas, Ani DiFranco, Tank and the Bangas, blues guitarist Samantha Fish and a collaboration between the Soul Rebels and bounce rap artist Big Freedia . Organizers say the annual event welcomes over 825,000 people and is a crucial economic engine for the city. To celebrate the milestone year, a special parade with marching bands and later fireworks over the Mississippi River are planned on opening day.
Monarch butterflies wintering in California are recovering
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Researchers say the population of western monarch butterflies wintering along the California coast has recovered for the second straight year. The orange-black insects experienced a precipitous decline in 2020 that brought them closer to extinction. Scientists from the Xerces Society said Tuesday that volunteers have counted more than 330,000 butterflies in California and Arizona, a promising recovery after the 2020 annual winter census recorded fewer than 2,000 butterflies. Researchers say monarchs in western states are at critically low levels due to destruction of their spurge habitat due to housing expansion and pesticides and herbicides. They say they don’t know what helps the insects reproduce.
Mississippi’s first black women legislature will not seek a new term
JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) – The first black woman elected to the Mississippi legislature 38 years ago says she will not seek another term. Democratic Rep. Alyce Clarke of Jackson announced her decision Tuesday, a day before the closing date for candidates to run for state, regional, legislative and county offices in Mississippi. The first black person to win a seat in the Mississippi legislature in the 20th century was Robert Clark, elected in 1967. Alyce Clarke – no relatives – won a special election in March 1985. Several other black women have been elected to Mississippi’s 122-seat House of Representatives and 52-seat Senate, but women generally remain a small minority in both houses.
After academy review, Riseborough will retain the Oscar nomination
NEW YORK (AP) — Andrea Riseborough is undone her Oscar nomination for Best Actress. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences said Tuesday that a review of the awards campaign for indie drama To Leslie found some concerns, but nothing to justify overturning Riseborough’s nomination. The star-studded grassroots campaign for the British actor had sparked skepticism from some academy voters and caused a stir in Hollywood. Shortly before the nominations, Riseborough was rushed into the running after a slew of celebrities hosted screenings of To Leslie and numerous A-listers promoted it on social media. However, the academy said some of the tactics used were worrying.
Standoff ‘solved’ with suspects in Oregon torture case
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) – Police say a standoff with a man suspected of a violent kidnapping in Oregon has been “resolved.” KTVL-TV reports that Jeff Hattersley, Lt. Grants Pass Police, on Tuesday night, said Benjamin Obadiah Foster was under the Grants Pass home where he was accused of torturing a woman. Hattersley said just before 8 p.m. that the situation was resolved but did not specify whether Foster was arrested. Police surrounded the home Tuesday afternoon after receiving a tip that he had gone inside. According to Hattersley, authorities received credible information that Foster entered the home where the woman was found unconscious, bound and near death on January 24.
Agent insists Alex Murdaugh suggested killing his son
A state agent insists he heard a possible confession from Alex Murdaugh, even after defense attorneys for the disgraced South Carolina attorney slowed the audio at his double murder trial. The question is whether Murdaugh said, “I did him that bad” or “They did him that bad,” as he sobbed while speaking to state agents during a taped interview three days after the murder of Murdaugh’s wife and son. State Law Enforcement Division Senior Special Agent Jeff Croft said Tuesday he was “100% confident” Murdaugh said “I am”. Croft and defense attorney Jim Griffin agreed that the jury could listen to the audio clip during deliberations and make their own decision.
US is investigating complaints about parts flying off Ford Explorers
DETROIT (AP) — The US government’s Transportation Safety Administration is investigating complaints that windshield trims on Ford Explorers can fly off while traveling at freeway speeds. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it has 164 complaints about the trim pieces coming off on 2011-2019 Explorer SUVs. The probe includes about 1.86 million vehicles. The pieces could hit the windshield of following vehicles or even a motorcyclist, potentially losing control and causing an accident, the agency said. The agency has no reports of accidents or injuries.
The Department of Justice is asking Tesla for automated driving documents
The US Department of Justice has requested documents from Tesla regarding its autopilot and “fully self-driving” capabilities. The electric vehicle maker warned in a regulatory filing on Tuesday that the government’s decision to pursue an enforcement action could potentially have a significant adverse impact on its business. Despite their names, Tesla still says on its website that the cars cannot drive themselves. Teslas using “Full Self-Driving” can navigate roads in many cases, but experts say the system can make mistakes, a fact even acknowledged by CEO Elon Musk. A message was left Tuesday asking the Justice Department for comment.
Broken statues of baby Jesus inundate restorers ahead of the feast day
MEXICO CITY (AP) — It’s peak season in Mexico City for handymen who can fix Catholic families’ beloved but broken Jesus figures. They must be in good shape for their annual pilgrimage to church to be blessed at Candlemas, which marks the end of Christmas celebrations. The Catholic feast day falls on February 2 and commemorates the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of Jesus in the temple. At a street market in Mexico City, scores of artisans worked to repair the statues in time. At one booth, Maximinio Vertiz meticulously retouched one of the sacred statue’s eyes while more than 20 others lay on his workbench awaiting repairs.
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