Arizona shooting accused pleads not guilty
ARIZONA: Jared Lee Loughner, the young assailant in the deadly January 8 mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona has pleaded not guilty to three charges of murder related to the attempt on the life of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and two of her aides, reports said on Monday.
As many as six people were killed and 13 injured including Giffords when Loughner went berserk during an open-invitation meeting at a Safeway grocery store in Tucson, arranged by Giffords. Loughner is believed to have nursed a grudge against Giffords after she had apparently failed to satisfactorily answer a question put to her by the youngman earlier.
Among those killed in cold blood were a Federal Judge and nine-year old Christina Taylor Green, who was born on 9/11, when the World Trade Center in New York was targeted.
Loughner appeared in the court of U.S. District Judge Larry A. Burns of San Diego accompanied by his counsel Judy Clarke. The defense did not raise any objection when prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Wallace Kleindienst, requested that court proceedings be moved to Tucson.
According to reports, the defendant clad in a bright orange prison jumpsuit and wearing glasses barely uttered a word during the hearing but remained smiling throughout the entire hearing process. He could be arraigned in both state and federal courts which could invite the death penalty if found guilty.
On being asked by the trial judge whether she had any real concerns regarding Loughner”s ability to grasp the trial proceedings, Clarke said she was not raising any issues at the moment. Also, some 25 tapes containing data downloaded from the defendant”s personal computer were handed over to the defense counsel by the prosecution.
Giffords, 40, has since been moved to a rehabilitation center in Houston as she proceeds on the path to recovery.
Obama urges US to pull together after Arizona rampage
WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama mourned victims of an Arizona gunman on Monday and steered clear of a debate on whether harsh U.S. political rhetoric inspired the attack on a U.S. congresswoman.
As many members of his own Democratic Party decried the often rabid level of political discourse in the country, Obama said he is grieving for the victims and their families and honoring those who apparently prevented more deaths.
Obama will travel to Arizona on Wednesday to attend a memorial service for the victims of the shooting attack on U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, a U.S. official said. Victims included a federal judge and a 9-year-old girl.
Giffords is in critical condition with a gunshot to the brain. She had been holding a “Congress on Your Corner” meeting with constituents near a grocery store when she was attacked.
US imposes new freeze on deepwater drilling
July 12, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
WASHINGTON: The US government issued Monday a new moratorium on deepwater drilling until November 30 to ensure oil companies implement safety measures following the Gulf of Mexico disaster.
“More than 80 days into the BP oil spill, a pause on deepwater drilling is essential and appropriate to protect communities, coasts, and wildlife from the risks that deepwater drilling currently pose,” said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in a statement.
“I am basing my decision on evidence that grows every day of the industry”s inability in the deepwater to contain a catastrophic blowout, respond to an oil spill, and to operate safely.”
The move comes days after an appeals court denied the government”s emergency request to stay a federal judge”s ruling to lift its previous six-month moritorium order.
Salazar had previously warned he would issue a new order to block deepwater drilling regardless of how the court ruled, as oil companies decided not to resume drilling due to the legal uncertainties.
Tony Alamo updates
Latest updates about Tony Alamo:- 175-Year Sentence For Evangelist Alamo On Sex Crimes Convictions.
“May (God) have mercy on your soul,” U.S. District Judge Harry Barnes told Alamo.
A federal judge sentenced evangelist Tony Alamo to 175 years in prison Friday following his conviction in July of 10 counts of taking underage girls across state lines for sex.
U.S. District Judge Harry Barnes imposed the maximum sentence after three women who Alamo took as child “brides” testified at Alamo’s sentencing hearing about the damage the convicted evangelist did to them and their families. Barnes indicated he took into account Alamo’s role as pastor and father figure to control the young girls.
Alamo, 75, is a one-time clothing entrepreneur. The victims testified they were taken as “child brides” by the evangelist.
Tony Alamo updates was first posted on November 14, 2009 at 12:28 am.
