National Roundup

California Thomas Kinkade's wife, girlfriend head to court SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Thomas Kinkade's widow and girlfriend are facing off in court over who will be executor of the late artist's $66.3 million estate. Amy Pinto-Walsh, who was living with Kinkade and found his body when the 54-year-old died in April, has submitted handwritten notes she says bequeath her his mansion in Monte Sereno and $10 million to establish a museum of his paintings there. Kinkade's wife of 30 years, Nanette Kinkade, disputes the claims by Pinto-Walsh and seeks full control of the estate. The couple had been legally separated for more than two years when Kinkade died. The self-described "Painter of Light" was known for sentimental scenes of country gardens and pastoral landscapes. His work led to a commercial empire of franchised galleries, reproduced artwork and spin-off products that was said to fetch some $100 million a year in sales. In recent years, however, he had run into personal difficulties, including a 2010 bankruptcy filing by one of his companies and an arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence that same year outside Carmel. Kinkade accidentally overdosed April 6 on alcohol and Valium. Nanette Kinkade's lawyers have requested that the probate proceedings be conducted behind closed doors, the Los Angeles Times reported. A ruling on that point is pending. Monday's hearing will determine the authenticity and legal weight of the notes, dated Nov. 18, 2011, and Dec. 11, 2011. The first, according to a transcription furnished earlier this month by Pinto-Walsh's lawyers, reads: "I, Thomas Kinkade, being of sound mind and body do hereby bequeath to Amy Pinto Walsh $10,000,000 in cash from my corporate policy and I give her the house at 16342 Ridgecrest Avenue for her security." The second note states that along with the house, Pinto-Walsh, 48, should be given $10 million to establish the "Thomas Kinkade Museum" at the mansion "for the public display in perpetuity of original art." Pinto-Walsh's lawyer, Sonia Agee, will ask the court to carry out those instructions. Agee will also seek legal authority for Pinto-Walsh to oversee $66.3 million from Kinkade's estate. Pinto-Walsh's lawyers filed court papers June 11 stating that she and Kinkade had planned to marry in Fiji as soon as his divorce went through. Nanette Kinkade has painted Pinto-Walsh in court papers as a gold-digger who is trying to cheat the artist's rightful heirs. After Kinkade's death, she obtained a restraining order prohibiting the other woman from talking publicly about the artist. That confidentiality agreement is also the subject of court proceedings. Nevada Video shows Reno Rodeo horses being shocked RENO, Nev. (AP) -- A national animal rights group has released video footage that it says shows Reno Rodeo horses getting shocked just before they leave chutes for competition in violation of the rodeo's policy. Representatives of Showing Animals Respect and Kindness, or SHARK, say the video shows someone clandestinely giving electric shocks to horses as they're released at the rodeo that was staged from June 14-23. "Literally, these animals have to be tortured to get them to perform, and that is animal cruelty pure and simple," said SHARK spokesman Stuart Chaifetz. After watching the video, rodeo spokesman Steve Schroeder acknowledged to the Reno Gazette-Journal (http://bit.ly/MH3bab ) that bucking horses were shocked. "It is true, that guy is shocking horses, and we're not OK with that," he said. Cowboys were found to be "messing" with overhead cameras the rodeo installed after SHARK released similar video in 2011, Schroeder added, and the man who administered the shocks worked "really hard to stay out of camera view." Schroeder wouldn't identify the man, but said he no longer would be allowed at the rodeo. He said he expects the man and the contractor to face fines. The man was identified as working for the livestock contractor Big Bend/Flying Five Rodeo Co. Attempts by The Associated Press to reach the company's owners were unsuccessful Sunday. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association allows electric shocks, but the Reno Rodeo doesn't want them, Schroeder said. The PRCA position on shocks -- or "hot shots" -- trumps the Reno Rodeo's policy when an animal won't leave a stall. Even so, Schroeder said, that situation was seen in only two of SHARKS' video clips. In seven other clips, "the horses were not in a situation where a shock would've been called for," he said. SHARK's video also showed two running calves that were roped around the neck and flipped over on their backs. One calf's rear leg was injured and the animal is seen hobbling out of the arena. The other calf's neck appeared to break as the contestant continues to tie its legs, and the animal was loaded into a pickup for removal. Schroeder said the two injuries in calf-roping competition were unfortunate incidents that sometimes happen at rodeos. SHARK maintains the video clips show "jerk downs," which the PRCA has prohibited for the 2012 season. A jerk down occurs "if a contestant jerks a calf over backwards in tie-down roping," according to PRCA's Website. Schroeder said the Reno Rodeo wants better enforcement with disqualifications and fines large enough to dissuade jerk downs in serious cases. "We want the public to know it's not acceptable. It's a sport but we're not here to hurt the animals," he told the Gazette-Journal. Pennsylvania Man, sentenced to life as teen, seeks release PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A Philadelphia man imprisoned since 1973 wants to be released in the wake of a Supreme Court ban on juvenile life terms. The Supreme Court ruling last week calls it unconstitutional to imprison a minor with no chance of parole. Tyrone Jones' petition appears to be the first filed in the wake of the court's 5-4 decision. The 56-year-old has served nearly four decades since his arrest at age 16 in the North Philadelphia street slaying. Innocence Project lawyers also hope to overturn Jones' conviction. They say he was convicted based solely on his police statement -- and despite contrary ballistics evidence and witness descriptions. The petition was filed Monday morning in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. Published: Tue, Jul 3, 2012