John Rice : “Vermont Flooding Claims Another Life”

PLAINFIELD, Vt. — Vermont has tragically reported a second death as a result of the flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Beryl, authorities announced on Thursday.

John Rice, aged 73, lost his life after attempting to drive through a flooded street in Lyndonville on Thursday morning, according to Police Chief Jack Harris. Ignoring warnings from bystanders, Rice’s vehicle was swept off the road by the strong current and submerged in a hayfield under 10 feet of water.

Lt. Charles Winn of the Vermont State Police stated that Rice’s body was recovered several hours later once the floodwaters had receded. Another individual, identified as Dylan Kempton, aged 33, was riding an all-terrain vehicle in Peacham when it was swept away by floodwaters on Wednesday night. His body was found on Thursday morning.

During the peak of the heavy rainfall, more than 100 people had to be rescued by swift-water teams, as the downpour persisted from Wednesday through to Thursday.

In Plainfield, the collapse of a concrete bridge that was carried downstream is believed to have caused significant damage, including the partial destruction of an apartment building with five units, as reported by Michael Billingsley, the town’s emergency management director.

Furthermore, a police cruiser in Monkton, south of Burlington, veered off a 30-foot embankment on Wednesday night while attempting to avoid a utility pole and power lines blocking the road. Fortunately, the officer sustained minor injuries, according to state police.

New York judge asked to reconsider Trump verdict

NEW YORK — Lawyers representing Donald Trump are urging the judge overseeing his hush money case in New York to review his conviction and dismiss the charges following a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.

In documents made public on Thursday, Trump’s legal team, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, criticized prosecutors for rushing to trial without waiting for guidance from the Supreme Court on the matter of presidential immunity. They highlighted the court’s obligation to address any injustices in light of the recent decision.

Originally scheduled for sentencing on Thursday, Trump’s case is now pending Judge Juan Merchan’s ruling on whether to set aside the felony conviction for falsifying records. Merchan has announced that a decision will be made on September 6, with a sentencing hearing set for September 18, if deemed necessary. Prosecutors have until July 24 to respond to the defense’s arguments.

Californian arrested in connection with family slayings

ALAMEDA, Calif. — A California man has been taken into custody after allegedly shooting and killing his wife, their 6-year-old son, and his parents-in-law, as confirmed by the Alameda Police Department in the San Francisco Bay Area on Thursday.

Tragically, a second son, aged 1, was also shot and is currently in critical condition, according to Alameda Police Department Chief Nishant Joshi during a news conference on Thursday.

Police responded to a call from a neighbor around 9 p.m. on Wednesday at an Alameda residence where the suspect’s father-in-law, who was also shot, sought assistance from the neighbor, as explained by Joshi.

Before succumbing to his injuries, the victim provided valuable information to the officers, shedding light on the tragic incident. Multiple firearms were recovered from the home, indicating that the shootings took place within the premises.

Shane Killian has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, as confirmed by police spokeswoman Sarah Henry. The motive behind the killings has not been disclosed, and investigations are ongoing.

Deliberations on Menendez case to commence on Friday

NEW YORK — A New York City jury has been informed that deliberations on the criminal charges against Senator Bob Menendez in his bribery trial will commence on Friday following a briefing on the legal aspects of the case.

Judge Sidney Stein began reading the instructions to the jurors after 3 p.m. on Thursday.

Prosecutors have alleged that Menendez, a Democratic senator from New Jersey, received nearly $150,000 in gold bars and substantial cash amounts from three businessmen in New Jersey between 2018 and 2022 in exchange for abusing his power as a senator for their benefit.

Menendez has pleaded not guilty to the various charges brought against him. As he left the Manhattan federal courthouse, he expressed his anticipation for the jury to receive the case the following day.

Menendez is standing trial alongside two of the businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, who have also pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, a third businessman, Jose Uribe, has pleaded guilty and testified against the others.

The trial of Menendez’s wife, Nadine, who has pleaded not guilty, has been postponed after she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery.

During a rebuttal argument on Thursday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Richenthal claimed that Menendez had facilitated the provision of sensitive information to Egyptian officials regarding the U.S. embassy in Egypt. Menendez’s lawyer, Adam Fee, countered by stating that the information was publicly available and within the senator’s responsibilities as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.