Patrick Crusius, the El Paso Walmart shooter, pleaded guilty to capital murder, receiving an automatic life sentence without parole. This decision, following the removal of the death penalty by prosecutors at the request of many victims’ families, concludes the state-level proceedings. Crusius, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, had previously been sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms federally for hate crimes and weapons charges. The judge emphasized that Crusius’s attempt to terrorize the community backfired, instead strengthening its unity.
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A Cessna C180G plane crashed in Trilla, Illinois on Saturday, killing all four occupants. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the accident, which occurred shortly after departure from Menomonie, Wisconsin. This incident follows a recent spate of fatal plane crashes across the country, including a Nebraska crash on Friday and several others earlier this month. The string of fatal aviation accidents this year has raised concerns. Governor Pritzker offered condolences and urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement at the crash site.
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El Salvador’s President Bukele proposed a prisoner exchange with Venezuela: 252 Venezuelan deportees held in El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center would be repatriated in exchange for the release of an equal number of Venezuelan political prisoners. This offer, made via social media, includes nearly 50 prisoners of other nationalities. The proposal follows recent mass deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members from the US to El Salvador under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a move condemned by Maduro as human rights abuse. Venezuela’s chief prosecutor criticized the offer, questioning the legal processes afforded the deportees.
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Jose Hermosillo, a 19-year-old US citizen, was wrongfully detained by border patrol agents in Nogales, Arizona, for nearly 10 days after being found without proper identification. Despite repeatedly asserting his citizenship, he was held until a federal judge dismissed the case on April 17th. This incident highlights a concerning trend of increased wrongful detentions of US citizens by immigration officials under the current administration, mirroring similar cases involving foreign nationals. His release came only after his family provided proof of his citizenship.
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A shooting at Florida State University resulted in two fatalities and six injuries, five from gunfire and one while fleeing. Twenty-year-old student Phoenix Ikner, son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy, is the identified suspect, apprehended after being shot by police. Ikner, who invoked his right to remain silent, used his stepmother’s handgun and a shotgun; he will face charges including first-degree murder following his hospital recovery. The victims were not students, and the university remains secure though under investigation.
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A Boeing 737 MAX destined for Xiamen Airlines returned to Seattle due to the escalating US-China trade war and resulting tariffs. The plane, valued at approximately $55 million, completed a lengthy journey back to the US after facing significant import duties. This incident highlights the disruption caused by the 125% tariff imposed by China on US goods, potentially impacting numerous other aircraft deliveries. Uncertainty surrounding tariff changes has left several aircraft deliveries in a state of flux, with some airlines considering delaying deliveries to avoid the substantial financial burden.
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Please provide the article text for “Beat of Hawaii’s Special Picks for You.” I need the article content to create a 3-5 sentence summary.
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Soaring cocoa prices, driven by climate-related crop failures in West Africa, have significantly increased the cost of chocolate. These increases, coupled with new tariffs imposed on imported goods, are further driving up prices for consumers. The limited domestic cocoa production in the US makes it impossible for manufacturers to avoid these tariffs, impacting businesses of all sizes. Consequently, the already elevated price of chocolate is expected to rise even higher, potentially squeezing smaller chocolate makers and altering consumer purchasing patterns. This unstable market environment threatens the viability of some chocolate businesses.
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Robert McDowell III, 42, faces felony charges after being apprehended in a child’s bedroom during a burglary in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. He was discovered by the homeowner and subsequently arrested. In addition to first-degree burglary, McDowell faces two counts of possession of child pornography following a search of his phone. Police reported McDowell exhibited erratic behavior and claimed methamphetamine use. He is currently held on an $80,000 bond.
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John Q. Hosedrinker