Shooting of hostage was premeditated, Kalamazoo prosecutor argues as murder trial begins
KALAMAZOO, MI – Attorneys presented two different accounts during opening statements as to why Christopher Neal was fatally shot inside his home. After about 40 minutes, Neal was fatally shot and Jones was arrested by police outside the house, Koches said. Related: Jury selection underway in trial for man accused of killing hostage, shooting 3 officersCoe and their 2-year-old daughter were upstairs in the house while Jones held Neal hostage downstairs that night, Koches said. “Police are called but they do not announce themselves as police to Mr. Jones,” Innes said. Ultimately, in fear for his safety, there are shots.”A total of 23 shots are fired, all from Jones, Koches said.
mlive.comWoman who helped murderer escape Kansas prison in 2006 says she empathizes with missing Alabama officer
LANSING, Kan. (WDAF) – The search for a missing inmate in Alabama and the corrections officer accused of helping him escape continues days after he fled the prison. While no one knows where Casey White and Vicky White, no relation, are, Toby Dorr said she knows exactly what that corrections officer is going through. “People were…
news.yahoo.comCNN suspends Chris Cuomo ‘indefinitely’ after documents detail help he gave his brother
“When Chris admitted to us that he had offered advice to his brother’s staff, he broke our rules and we acknowledged that publicly,” the statement read. “But we also appreciated the unique position he was in and understood his need to put family first and job second. However, these documents point to a greater level of involvement in his brother’s efforts than we previously knew. As a result, we have suspended Chris indefinitely, pending further evaluation.”
washingtonpost.comKalamazoo nonprofit Urban Alliance lifts interim tag from Chris Pompey’s executive director title
KALAMAZOO, MI — After five months as interim executive director of Urban Alliance, the organization is dropping the interim tag from Gadson “Chris” Pompey’s title, effective immediately. Pompey, who has been with the Kalamazoo nonprofit since 2018, previously served as the organization’s director of prevention prior to moving into the interim executive director role in May, according to a news release from Urban Alliance. Pompey succeeds former executive director Luke Kujacznski. “Urban Alliance is thrilled to announce Chris’ appointment as our new executive director,” said Terra Bautista, the organization’s board president, in a statement. Urban Alliance, Inc. was founded in 1999.
mlive.comKevin Root hired as new Swartz Creek boys basketball coach
FLINT – Kevin Root won’t have to look far if he needs any advice or guidance as a first-year head basketball coach at Swartz Creek. And Kevin Root worked under Carman-Ainsworth coach Jay Witham for the past six years – three as the head freshman coach and the last three as a varsity assistant. “I think my dad is going to be helping me out a little bit,” said Kevin Root, 29. Root has aspired to be a head basketball coach since watching his father coach as a youngster. He has also coached girls tennis at Swartz Creek for five years and plans to continue doing that.
mlive.comBronson Methodist Hospital endowment honors doctors who saved 9-year-old’s life 35 years ago
Now, 35 years later, her parents Chris and Barbara Christoffersen created an endowment through the Bronson Health Foundation to thank the hospital that saved Rachel’s life. They donated $200,000 for the Christoffersen Family Trauma and Emergency Services Endowment, which will help supply new technology, equipment and education, a news release said. He and partner Paul Dickens rushed Olsen and the other occupants of the car to Bronson Methodist Hospital. “Less than 1% of the people in my condition make it to the hospital,” Olsen said. The care she received from the hospital is what allows her to live her life, she said.
mlive.comAsk Amy: Wall builds up around long-held family secret
Dear Amy: I’m holding on to a longtime family friend’s secret, and it’s very upsetting. I was given a huge burden when my parents told me that Chris has a different father than the man who raised him and who he thought was his father. My parents told this to me, and I realize that I let it create a wall between us. I feel terrible about my own choice, but I honestly did not know how to handle it.”Dear Amy: I never feel like “family” at family gatherings. You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O.
mlive.comPets of the week: Chris loves belly rub. Callie is simply stunning
JACKSON, MI – Chris and Callie are just two of the many animals at the Cascade Humane Society that are looking for loving forever homes. Cascades Humane Society, 1515 Carmen Drive, is open to the public from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. CHS also has a Pet Food Pantry to help families going through financial hardship. CHS accepts cat or dog food donations, as long as the food is in its original packaging. The Pet Food Pantry is open from noon to 2 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month.
mlive.comReynolds, Odunze receive US call-ups but not Hoppe
(Laurence Griffiths/Pool via AP)CHICAGO – Defender Bryan Reynolds received his first call-up to the U.S. national team after the 19-year-old made his debut for Roma last weekend. Chituru Odunze, an 18-year-old goalkeeper with Leicester, also could debut in exhibitions against Jamaica on March 25 at Wiener Neustadt, Austria, or three days later at Northern Ireland. Forward Matthew Hoppe, who has scored five goals for Schalke this season, was not called in for a possible debut. Germany), Luca de la Torre (Heracles, Netherlands), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Yunus Musah (Valencia, Spain), Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton, England). Forwards: Daryl Dike (Barnsley, England), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen, France), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea, England), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen, Germany), Tim Weah (Lille, France).
Christopher J. Tusa
Former Grosse Pointe Farms resident Christopher J. Tusa, 67, died Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, in Newport, N.C., after he defied cancer more than a decade. He worked several years at the family business, Mike’s Marine Supply, in St. Clair Shores. After Chris recuperated, he bought a 38-foot sailboat he named Nomad and began sailing Lake St. Clair. Living aboard Nomad, Chris drew inspiration from the community of sailors he befriended up and down the Florida coast. Chris is survived by his brother, Michael Tusa Jr.; sister, Susan Tusa; and three nieces.
grossepointenews.comArtist adds touch of moon (tree) dust for Apollo 14 50th anniversary
Chris Calle puts the finishing touches on "Touched by the Moon," his moon tree-dust infused tribute painting for the 50th anniversary of NASA's Apollo 14 moon landing mission. A new tribute to the 50th anniversary of NASA's Apollo 14 lunar landing mission has grown out of a collaboration between two artists and a touch of moon dust, of sorts. Moon Mission's Living Monuments: Apollo 14's 'Moon Trees' live onScott Phillips with the remains of the Apollo 14 moon tree that stood at the Kennedy Space Center from 1976 to 2017. Related: NASA's 17 Apollo Moon Missions in PicturesDust-drivenWith the Apollo 14 moon tree sawdust in hand, Calle said that Earthrise became the natural choice for the 50th anniversary painting. (Image credit: Calle Space Art via collectSPACE.com)Adding the moon tree sawdust helped shape the way Calle painted the scene.
space.comChristopher Plummer, iconic "Sound of Music" star with 75-year career, has died at 91
Christopher Plummer, the legendary stage actor whose career spanned more than seven decades and who played Captain von Trapp in the film "The Sound of Music," has died, his manager confirmed. A veteran of the stage, Plummer became a household name in the 1965 megahit musical "The Sound of Music." Despite the film's runaway success and place in American film history, Plummer famously was never really a fan of it. He was known as a "bad boy" on set, and he famously called the film "The Sound of Mucus." Despite his personal dislike of the film, "The Sound of Music" was a runaway international success, and it set his career on a successful path.
cbsnews.comDear Abby: Husband threatens divorce over wife’s exercise schedule
DEAR ABBY: As a way to manage my stress and anxiety when COVID hit, I started to exercise. As the months have gone on, I have realized the power of being healthy, and I try to exercise every day. It not only would be a lot less expensive than a divorce, but your husband might even grow to enjoy it. DEAR ABBY: I am a divorced father of two, both over 18. -- ABBYDear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips.
mlive.comFormer Michigan State CB Chris Jackson transferring to Washington State
The former Michigan State cornerback announced Thursday evening he is transferring to Washington State. The redshirt sophomore entered the transfer portal on Dec. 24 after not being part of the team at the end of the season. Jackson had 10 tackles, including two for a loss, and one pass break-up in nine career games with two starts. “Chris hasn’t been with the team and I really don’t anticipate him being back with the team this season,” Tucker said on Dec. 15. Related Michigan State football stories:QB Hamp Fay, a ‘top target’ signee for Michigan State, ready for dream to become realityMichigan State kicker Matt Coghlin says he’s coming back for 2021 seasonMichigan State TE signee Kameron Allen ‘scrambling’ after earning late spot as early enrolleeMichigan State FB/TE Max Rosenthal transferring to IllinoisFormer Michigan State RB Anthony Williams Jr. transferring to Akron
mlive.comOnly make resolutions you know you’ll carry through
COVID has chosen to hang around, and one of my New Year’s resolutions is to take the vaccine as soon as it’s available. That’s the kind of New Year’s resolutions I always make: One I’m certain I’ll keep. Chris’ paper was now down to the ‘C’ level. Instead he put his arm around the boy’s shoulder and led him out of the room saying, "You’ll try harder next time. Only make those you know you’ll carry through.
monroenews.comMichigan State CB Chris Jackson enters transfer portal
Chris Jackson began the season as a starter but wasn’t with the team by the end. The Michigan State redshirt sophomore cornerback entered the transfer portal, a program spokesman confirmed on Thursday. “Chris hasn’t been with the team and I really don’t anticipate him being back with the team this season,” Tucker said. Entering the portal doesn’t mean a player has to transfer but allows them to be contacted by other schools. Related Michigan State football stories:Michigan State LS Jude Pedrozo enters transfer portalFinal grades for Michigan State football’s 2020 seasonMichigan State’s Antjuan Simmons, Shakur Brown named second team All-Big Ten by APSpartans in the NFL: Le’Veon Bell has most productive game since joining Chiefs as role could expandIntriguing Michigan State QB competition takes center stage heading into 2021
mlive.comAll-Star guard Chris Paul sent to Suns in blockbuster trade
A person with knowledge of the situation says All-Star guard Chris Paul is being traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Phoenix Suns, where he'll play alongside one of the league's most dynamic young scorers in fellow All-Star Devin Booker. The Phoenix Suns weren’t deterred. “We are excited to welcome Chris Paul and Abdel Nader to Phoenix,” Suns general manager James Jones said. That trade, along with the Paul trade, could give the Thunder as many as 17 first-round picks in the next seven drafts. The trade reunites him with Suns coach Monty Williams; Paul played for Williams in 2010-11 when Williams was in his first season coaching the New Orleans Hornets.
South Carolina restaurant owner gets 10 years for enslaving, torturing intellectually disabled black man
CONWAY, S.C. A South Carolina restaurant owner was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison for enslaving and torturing a black man with intellectual disabilities. Smith told WPDE that he started working at J&J Cafeteria as a dishwasher when he was 12 years old. Edwards allegedly told Smith that he was putting money into an account for him, but no such account ever existed. But I didnt have nobody I could go to, Smith told reporters in 2017. Chris came out of the kitchen and put some food down on the bar," Geneane Caines told WPDE.
This Is Nuts! Squirrels Pack More Than 200 Walnuts Under Hood of Woman's Car
Chris Persic's truck, only 2 months old, was headed for the shop. The now-viral image shows mounds of dead grass and more than 200 walnuts covering the engine of her KIA sedan. Meanwhile, at the dealership where Chris' truck was being examined, it turned out that squirrels had chewed through a wire going to the engine. "My car had dents in the hood," Chris said, referring to falling walnuts. Friday morning, Chris found another clump of dead grass on the engine of his wife's car.
Dad Surprised by Janet Jackson Still Can't Believe He Met Her
A Janet Jackson superfan was left stunned and speechless when the queen of pop surprised him as he was singing her praises after the concert. Jackson embraced Keith Strawder Sr. from behind as he raved about his experience following her Las Vegas concert over the weekend. She walked up behind me and whispers her sweet soft voice in my ear and puts her hands on my shoulder, Strawder of Houston told InsideEdition.com. It hasnt returned yet.Strawder explained that hes been a huge fan of Jackson ever since she started her musical career. The video they shared on social media of their dads heartwarming reaction quickly went viral and even gained the interest of Jackson and her team.
Chris Kraft, NASA's first flight director, dies at 95
Chris Kraft is seen here at his flight director console in the Mission Control Center during Gemini-Titan V flight simulation. Chris Kraft, NASA's first flight director, died Monday, two days after the agency celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, according to a NASA. "America has truly lost a national treasure today with the passing of one of NASA's earliest pioneers -- flight director Chris Kraft," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in a statement. He was a pioneer in his field and created the the concept of NASA's Mission Control. In 2011, NASA named its Building 30 Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center in his honor, "Christopher C. Kraft, Jr., Mission Control Center."