In 1979 and 1980, former Charlotte County Sheriff’s Deputy John Greer was implicated in the deaths of his wife, Jackie Greer, and store clerk Adele Easterly, both victims of fatal shootings. Decades later, in 2023, Greer confessed to killing both women during an interview at a Tennessee care facility, though the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death remain unclear. Greer, who died in 2024, had resigned from the sheriff’s office amid an internal investigation involving another woman. The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate Greer’s potential involvement in other crimes.
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A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck a remote region of Tibet, causing at least 126 deaths and 188 injuries, with over 3,600 houses damaged. Tremors were felt across the Himalayas in Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of India, prompting evacuations at Everest Base Camp. Rescue efforts are underway, with teams deployed from the Chinese air force and military, focusing on sparsely populated areas with limited accessibility. The Dalai Lama expressed his sadness and offered prayers for the victims.
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Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old Guatemalan citizen, pleaded not guilty to murder and arson charges stemming from the Dec. 22 death of Debrina Kawam. Prosecutors allege Zapeta set Kawam on fire on a stopped F train in Brooklyn, then watched as she burned. Zapeta reportedly admitted to being in surveillance footage but claimed he doesn’t remember the incident due to alcohol consumption. The top charge carries a life sentence without parole.
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Two deceased males were discovered in the wheel well of a JetBlue plane following its arrival at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport from New York City. The bodies, found during a post-flight inspection, were significantly decomposed, and their identities remain unknown. Authorities are investigating how the individuals accessed the aircraft, with the incident prompting renewed concerns about airport security following similar recent occurrences. The National Transportation Safety Board is not investigating as the flight crew and aircraft operation were not involved.
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A 22-year-old Spanish woman, Blanca Ojanguren Garcia, died Friday after being gored by an elephant while bathing it at a Koh Yao Elephant Care center in Thailand. The incident occurred during a tourist activity popular in the country, which also faces a dwindling wild elephant population and a rising captive elephant population used for tourism. Police are investigating the incident, and the elephant sanctuary and Spanish embassy have been contacted for comment. The tragedy underscores concerns about the risks of close human-elephant interaction within the Thai tourism industry.
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Meta is significantly altering its content moderation policies on Facebook and Instagram, eliminating third-party fact-checkers in favor of user-generated “community notes,” mirroring X’s approach. This shift, announced by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, follows criticism of alleged bias against conservative voices and aims to prioritize free expression, though it acknowledges a potential increase in harmful content. The changes include adjustments to automated content-removal systems, focusing on high-severity violations, and relocating content moderation teams. This represents a major reversal from Meta’s previous commitment to independent fact-checking and more stringent content moderation.
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A Tennessee law mandating age verification for pornographic websites was largely blocked by a federal judge who ruled it violated First Amendment rights and would be ineffective at preventing minors’ access. The judge cited the effectiveness of parental controls and the potential for circumvention via VPNs. While the state is appealing, the ruling follows similar legal challenges in other states, with the Supreme Court set to hear arguments on a related Texas law. The law’s opponents argue it is unconstitutional and ineffective, while supporters maintain it protects children.
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Louisiana reported the first U.S. death from bird flu, a person over 65 with underlying health conditions who had contact with infected birds. The CDC confirmed the death and noted a genetic mutation in the virus within the patient. While 66 U.S. cases have been reported since March, most were mild, unlike this severe case. Although human-to-human transmission isn’t currently evident, the virus’s widespread presence in animals necessitates continued caution and preventative measures.
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Freelance journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, known for his anti-corruption reporting, was found murdered in a septic tank on a construction contractor’s property in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. Police have arrested three suspects, with one still at large, and believe his recent report on a road construction scam led to his death. The killing sparked outrage among Indian media groups and calls for a thorough investigation into the journalist’s death. This incident underscores the ongoing dangers faced by journalists in India, highlighting the need for greater protection.
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John Q. Hosedrinker