Ronald Gasser, the man who shot former NFL player Joe McKnight to death during a road-rage incident, has completed his prison sentence less than eight years after the killing. Gasser’s release marks the end of a complicated legal ordeal which included an overturned murder conviction, a subsequent guilty plea to manslaughter, and the Supreme Court ruling that non-unanimous jury verdicts are unconstitutional. The case spotlighted Louisiana’s “stand your ground” law. Gasser initially claimed he shot McKnight in self defense, and was initially given a 30-year sentence for manslaughter in 2018, a conviction later overturned because of a non-unanimous verdict. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter again in 2022 and received a 10-year sentence, a significant portion of which he’d already served.
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According to Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukrainian soldiers are defending against one of Russia’s strongest offensives since the war began. The Ukrainian military is currently under pressure, as Russia continues to conduct operations in Donetsk Oblast. The General Staff reported 126 clashes between the two forces on November 2. It was also revealed that Russia plans to involve over 7,000 North Korean troops in their offensive, a move that has drawn criticism from President Volodymyr Zelensky. He claims that if Ukraine had permission to use Western long-range weaponry, it could preemptively strike the locations where these troops are assembling.
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Michael Wolff, author of “Fire and Fury,” conducted periodic interviews with financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from the summer of 2016 through the first year of the Trump administration. Epstein, who died by apparent suicide in jail in 2019, expressed picklement over the quest for presidency by Donald Trump, whom he knew very well as his friend. Wolff said that Epstein was both fascinated and terrified by Trump. These conversations, which took place mainly in Epstein’s large Manhattan mansion, were first discussed in Wolff’s iHeart “Fire and Fury” podcast, in partnership with the Daily Beast. Listeners, keen to learn about the Trump-Epstein relationship, responded immediately and overwhelmingly to the podcast, leading Wolff to eventually disclose some of Epstein’s observations and experiences about his “fellow predator.”
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Twenty-nine minors, aged between 14 and 17, are facing the death penalty in Nigeria after participating in a protest against the country’s cost-of-living crisis. The protesters were charged with multiple felony counts, including treason. Other minors were also charged, but four collapsed in court due to exhaustion. The accused were each granted bail but have yet to meet the strict conditions set. Lawyers and advocates have drawn attention to the fact that the Child Rights Act does not allow children to be subject to criminal proceedings and sentenced to death.
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The newly appointed head of the Chicago school board, the Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson, resigned on the request of Chicago Mayor, Brandon Johnson, over alarming posts on social media. The posts, deemed antisemitic, sexist, and conspiratorial by city leaders, led to an outcry for his resignation. Notably, the board had already been shaken by the simultaneous resignation of every member earlier this month. One of Rev. Johnson’s posts suggested that the 9/11 attacks were an inside job, while another stereotype women in a negative light. He apologized for his comments, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
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During their first date, Leslie Reeves and Chris Smith were shot, with only Smith surviving. Smith was found in his Illinois home with a bullet in his brain and was placed in a medically induced coma after brain surgery. Pieces of the bullet are still in his brain, as removing them could cause further harm. Smith recovered and can now move his left leg from his knee up, although he has no recollections from the night of the shooting. Now he is back singing with his rock band and is engaged to his fiancée, despite his neurosurgeon saying he may never be able to walk again.
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A final poll before Election Day shows Vice President Kamala Harris leading former President Trump in Iowa by three points, a significant swing from the double-digit lead Trump had over Joe Biden in June. The survey suggests Harris’ popularity surge is partly due to support from older women and independent voters, with her lead among women aged 65 and older being more than two times. Meanwhile, Trump continues to lead among Iowans between 35 and 54 years of age. Democrats aren’t surprised by the poll’s findings, suggesting it aligns with sentiments heard from various voter groups in Iowa. However, the Trump Campaign and Iowa GOP Chair, Jeff Kauffman, dispute the accuracy of this poll, citing an Emerson College poll that shows Trump still leading.
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The FBI is investigating the death of Dennoriss Richardson, a Black man who was found hanged in an abandoned house in Alabama, following a request from the local sheriff amid community accusations of local law enforcement misconduct. Richardson’s death was ruled a suicide by the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office but his wife insists he would not kill himself and believes his death might be connected to a lawsuit he filed against local police, alleging assault and abuse while in custody. Widespread distrust of the local law enforcement reflects a history of excessive force incidents and lynchings in the area. The recent case is one among a series of lawsuits against the Sheffield Police Department. Sheriff Eric Balentine hopes the FBI investigation will help alleviate community concerns.
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North Korean soldiers who have been deployed to support Russia in the Ukraine are expected to suffer significant losses due to their lack of training for the geography and climate, according to Estonian Colonel Ants Kiviselg. North Korea has sent nearly 12,000 troops to Russia, including 500 officers and three generals, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) however these soldiers have typically been trained to fight in mountainous terrain, unlike the conditions in Ukraine. Kiviselg suggests that communication issues between North Korean and Russian troops could also cause difficulties. His comments come as the Ukrainian conflict increases in intensity, with Russian forces reportedly advancing at its fastest rate since the early months of the war.
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Vice President Kamala Harris has made an unexpected trip to New York to appear on “Saturday Night Live” (SNL), three days before the election. Harris left for New York after a campaign stop in North Carolina, with her aides confirming the change of plan after Air Force Two had taken off. Harris’ appearance on the show was confirmed by three unidentified sources. Actor Maya Rudolph has been playing Harris on SNL since 2019, a performance that has received critical acclaim, including from Harris herself. Harris’ husband is played by former SNL cast member Andy Samberg, while Dana Carvey portrays President Joe Biden.
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John Q. Hosedrinker