AP-Newswatch

Gaza doctor says gunfire accounted for 80% of the wounds at his hospital from aid convoy bloodshed

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The head of a Gaza hospital where some of the wounded from bloodshed surrounding an aid convoy were taken says more than 80% percent had been struck by gunfire, suggesting heavy shooting by Israeli troops. At least 112 Palestinians were killed and more than 750 others were injured Thursday when witnesses said troops opened fire as crowds raced to pull goods off an aid convoy. Israel said many of the dead were trampled in a stampede and that its troops fired at some in the crowd who they believed threatened them. Dr. Mohammed Salha of Al-Awda Hospital said 176 wounded were brought to the facility of whom 142 had suffered gunshot wounds and 34 showed injuries from a stampede.

Putin foe Alexei Navalny is buried in Moscow as thousands attend under a heavy police presence

Under a heavy police presence, thousands of people bade farewell to Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at his funeral in Moscow. It came two weeks after his still-unexplained death in an Arctic penal colony. The crowds who thronged to honor Navalny outside a church and cemetery in a snowy southeastern suburb of the capital chanted slogans for the late opposition leader and against Russian President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine, turning the event into one of the largest recent displays of dissent. But police did not act against them. Elsewhere in Russia, at least 67 people were reported detained at events in Navalny’s memory. Navalny was buried after a short Russian Orthodox ceremony.

Alabama IVF ruling highlights importance of state supreme court races in this year’s US elections

CHICAGO (AP) — The recent ruling in Alabama that frozen embryos are legally considered children has created a political firestorm after the decision halted treatment for many couples trying to have families through fertility treatments. It’s also turned the spotlight on the importance of state supreme courts, which are poised to play a central in this year’s elections. Decisions by state high courts have become especially critical in the nearly two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a constitutional right to abortion. This year, campaigns for state supreme court seats are expected to be among the most expensive and bitterly contested races on the ballot.

Appeals court ruling that vacates Capitol rioter’s sentence could impact dozens of Jan. 6 cases

A federal appeals court in Washington has ordered a new sentence for a retired Air Force officer who stormed the U.S. Capitol dressed in combat gear, in a ruling that could impact dozens of other cases stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack. While a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld Larry Brock’s conviction, the court said Friday that a judge wrongly applied an enhancement that lengthened the recommended prison sentence range under federal guidelines. When asked whether prosecutors will appeal the ruling, a spokesperson for Washington’s U.S. attorney’s office said they are considering their options.

A Texas town watched helplessly as the largest wildfire in state history engulfed it

STINNETT, Texas (AP) — Officials say the largest wildfire in Texas history did not grow overnight and is 5% contained. The Texas A&M Forest Service said early Friday that some rain and snow has helped with firefighting efforts on the Texas Panhandle. But the National Weather Service says conditions favorable for wildfires are expected to extend through the weekend in some areas. Crews will continue to focus on the northern edge of the largest fire and areas around structures. The fires have killed two people and left behind a landscape of scorched prairie, dead cattle and burned-out homes in the Texas Panhandle.

Lawyer urges judge to disqualify Willis over relationship with prosecutor in Trump’s election case

ATLANTA (AP) — A lawyer says not removing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump and others over her romantic relationship with a top prosecutor would undermine public confidence in the legal system. After several days of extraordinary testimony, the judge began hearing arguments Friday over whether Willis’ relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade created a conflict of interest that should force both of them off one of four criminal criminal cases against the former president.

New York man who killed a woman after a wrong turn in his driveway gets 25 years to life

FORT EDWARD, N.Y. (AP) — A New York man has been sentenced to the maximum 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a 20-year-old woman after the SUV she was riding in mistakenly drove into his rural driveway. Kevin Monahan was convicted in January of killing Kaylin Gillis last April. She was riding in a caravan of two cars and a motorcycle that pulled into Monahan’s long, winding driveway in Hebron, New York while her friends were looking for another person’s house. Prosecutors argued that Monahan was motivated by irrational rage toward trespassers. Monahan said the gun went off by accident and he thought his home was “under siege” by intruders.

New Jersey businessman pleads guilty and agrees to cooperate in case against Sen. Bob Menendez

NEW YORK (AP) — A New Jersey businessman has pleaded guilty to trying to bribe U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez. Jose Uribe entered the plea in Manhattan federal court on Friday. Uribe was among three businessmen charged in the corruption case against the New Jersey Democrat and his wife. The other defendants have pleaded not guilty. Uribe had been charged with providing Menendez’s wife with a Mercedes-Benz convertible after the senator called a government official about another case involving an associate of Uribe. The senator and his wife are scheduled to go on trial in May.

U.S. health officials drop 5-day isolation time for COVID-19

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials say Americans with COVID-19 no longer need to stay in isolation for five days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its longstanding guidance on Friday. People can return to work or regular activities if their symptoms are mild and improving and it’s been a day since they’ve had a fever. COVID-19 is no longer the public health menace it once was and most people have some degree of immunity from vaccinations or from infections. And some experts note that many people are not following the five-day isolation guidance anyway.

Fanatics founder Michael Rubin says company unfairly blamed for new MLB uniforms

BOSTON (AP) — Fanatics founder Michael Rubin says his company is being unfairly blamed for new Major League Baseball uniforms that have see-through pants and other fit and design problems. Speaking at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, Rubin says “We’re purely doing exactly as we’ve been told, and we’ve been told we’re doing everything exactly right.” Since reporting to spring training this month, some players have complained about the fit of new uniforms. The white pants worn by some teams are also see-through enough to clearly show tucked-in jersey tops.