National Roundup

Illinois
Mother awarded $350K in teen’s killing by police
CHICAGO (AP) — The mother of a black teenager killed by Chicago police in July 2013 has been awarded $350,000.

The Chicago Tribune reports that a jury awarded the damages Tuesday after finding that the shooting of 17-year-old Christian Green was unjustified.

Attorney Victor Henderson, representing Green’s mother, told jurors that the teen had tried to throw a weapon into a trash can and was shot in the back as he ran away from Officer Robert Gonzalez. Jurors found that Gonzalez didn’t “reasonably believe” his life was in danger when he fired 11 shots at Green.

A bullet struck Green in the left side of his back, piercing his lung and heart. Court records show Green’s gun was found in a vacant lot about 75 feet (22 meters) from his body.

Florida
Namaste: Judge teaches yoga on courthouse lawn
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida judge sometimes wears yoga clothes under her black robe.

At noon on the last Friday of every month, Duval County Judge Eleni Derkie strips off the robe and heads to the front lawn of Jacksonville’s courthouse where she leads a yoga class that’s free to anyone who shows up.

The Florida Times-Union reports Derke has taught yoga since 2014 but says her counterparts in the legal profession aren’t always the easiest converts.

Courtroom bailiffs sometimes tease her, but Derke says yoga provides a few moments of peace during an otherwise stressful day. Sometimes, she’s even been known to urge jurors to stretch and take deep breaths during lengthy trials.

She’ll continue the classes this year until the weather gets too hot.

Florida
Death penalty looms for man accused of killing 2, injuring 4
SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — Prosecutors in Florida say they’ll seek the death penalty against a 31-year-old man accused of killing his girlfriend and her 8-year-old son.

State Attorney Phil Archer issued a statement Tuesday, a day after a Seminole County grand jury indicted Alan Cashe on two counts of first-degree murder.

Investigators say Cashe kicked his way into 35-year-old Latina Herring’s house March 27, shooting her and her son, Brandon Christian, who was sleeping on a couch. Four other people, including Herring’s 7-year-old son and her father, were wounded.

The Orlando Sentinel reports Cashe also wounded two strangers on a nearby street.

Authorities say the couple argued before the shooting and Herring ordered Cashe to move out. An arrest report says he returned with an assault rifle and more than a dozen shots were fired.

Ohio
Defense lawyers ask court to reject lethal injection review
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Attorneys for death row inmates have asked a federal appeals court not to review a challenge to Ohio’s lethal injection process as the state struggles to resume executions.

The lawyers say there’s no need for the full 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati to consider a lower court decision finding the process unconstitutional.

Attorneys opposing the state’s lethal injection system filed the request with the appeals court Monday.

A three-judge panel of the court ruled 2-1 earlier this month that a lower court judge correctly rejected Ohio’s new three-drug process.

The state has asked the full court to hear the case.

At issue is the judge’s decision deeming the proposed use of a contested sedative called midazolam unconstitutional.

California
Shooter in killings gets 100 years in prison
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A transient who pleaded guilty to killing a Canadian tourist in a San Francisco park and a yoga teacher walking his dog on a popular hiking trail has been sentenced to 100 years to life in prison.

Morrison Lampley was charged with first-degree murder in the 2015 killings. Lila Alligood was sentenced to 50 years to life, while accomplice Sean Angold got 15 years. Angold received the lesser sentence for agreeing to testify against the others.

The trio admitted killing Audrey Carey in Golden Gate Park and Steve Carter two days later in Marin County north of San Francisco.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Isabelle Tremblay, Carey’s mother, said “She trusted you, you three unspeakable monsters,” in a statement read by a Marin County prosecutor.

South Dakota
Man brandishing weapons in video won’t be charged
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Police say a man asked to leave an anti-Muslim event in South Dakota who later appeared in a video on Facebook brandishing weapons will not face charges.

Sam Clemens, Sioux Falls Police Department spokesman, to the Argus Leader that security officers believed the man had a weapon and asked him to leave. The man left and went to his vehicle.

A video the appeared on Facebook showing him in a vehicle holding up weapons and ammunition and saying: “Be scared.”

He was wearing a t-shirt that said “I am Muslim,” ‘’I open carry ... And conceal carry,” and “I am only dangerous if you are stupid.”

Clemens said police and FBI determined he posed no threat and had done nothing illegal. Concealed carry is legal in South Dakota.

Illinois
Road project stung by judge’s bee ruling
CHICAGO (AP) — Bees have halted a multimillion-dollar suburban Chicago road project that’s designed to ease traffic congestion.

A Chicago federal judge ruled this week that the rusty patched bumblebee’s endangered status, which was declared in March, means that construction on the nearly 6-mile road has to stop.

The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reports court documents say the bee was found along the parkway’s route in the Brunner Family Forest Preserve.

The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin reports Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman issued a temporary restraining order Monday, in response to a filing by opponents of the Longmeadow project, who say officials didn’t consider how the bee would be affected.

The order is in place at least until April 25. The Kane County Department of Transportation says the delay could increase project costs.