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Tenth Circuit vacates sentence over unexplained lifetime internet ban

18Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

U.S.

Tenth Circuit vacates sentence over unexplained lifetime internet ban

DENVER, CO, October 16, 2025 — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit vacated the sentence of Jason Cory Bycroft, ruling that the district court plainly erred by imposing a lifetime ban on internet use without explaining its reasoning or conducting the required statutory analysis. Bycroft was convicted in the Eastern District of Oklahoma on two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and two counts of possession of child pornography. His supervised release included a condition barring internet access without prior written approval from his probation officer. Judge David M. Ebel, writing for the panel, found that the district court failed to analyze whether the condition met the requirements under 18 U.S.C. § 3583(d), which governs special conditions of supervised releas...

Two De Queen men arrested in connection with dealership arson

18Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Arkansas

Two De Queen men arrested in connection with dealership arson

DE QUEEN, AR, October 17, 2025 — Special Agents of the Arkansas State Police, with assistance from the De Queen Police Department and the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department, have arrested two De Queen men in connection with a September 3 fire at Gentry Chevrolet that investigators determined was intentionally set. File Photo (October 2025) On October 16, Special Agents executed arrest warrants for Trent Gentry, 27, and Charlie Moss, 39, both of De Queen. The arrests followed a joint investigation conducted by Arkansas State Police Company C, the Fire Marshal Section, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the De Queen Police Department. Both men were taken into custody and booked into the Sevier County Detention Center. Each has been charged with felony...

Governor Abbott deploys Texas emergency management personnel to assist Alaska flood recovery

18Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Alaska, Texas

Governor Abbott deploys Texas emergency management personnel to assist Alaska flood recovery

AUSTIN, TX, October 17, 2025 — Governor Greg Abbott announced the deployment of Texas emergency management personnel to Alaska to support recovery efforts following severe flooding caused by a recent typhoon. The deployment follows a request for assistance from Alaska’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. File Photo (September 2025) “Our hearts are with all Americans in Alaska who have been devastated by a typhoon that led to days of flooding,” said Governor Abbott. “Texas will continue to help ensure the safety and well-being of those impacted by the typhoon and flooding. I thank all first responders and emergency management personnel who are working around the clock to support their fellow Americans in need.” At the Governor’s direction, the Texas Division of...

Governor Abbott mobilizes additional wildfire response resources amid ongoing fire danger

18Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Texas

Governor Abbott mobilizes additional wildfire response resources amid ongoing fire danger

AUSTIN, TX, October 17, 2025 — Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to mobilize additional state wildfire response resources as elevated fire danger continues across large portions of the state. File Photo (September 2025) “Texas is taking swift action against potential wildfire threats across our state,” said Governor Abbott. “I strongly urge Texans to create an emergency plan, limit any activities that can cause a spark, and heed the guidance of local officials to keep yourself and your family safe.” According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, drought conditions, high winds, and above-average temperatures have increased wildfire risks statewide, particularly across West Texas, the Panhandle, South Plains, Big Country, Texoma, Cen...

Man killed in head-on crash on Lewes-Georgetown Highway

18Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Delaware

Man killed in head-on crash on Lewes-Georgetown Highway

GEORGETOWN, DE, October 17, 2025 — Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash that occurred Thursday evening on Lewes-Georgetown Highway east of Gravel Hill Road. According to investigators, a Honda Civic traveling westbound crossed the center line around 6:15 p.m. and entered the eastbound lane, striking an Audi A4 head-on. The 25-year-old man from Laurel who was driving the Honda was not properly restrained and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died. His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The driver of the Audi, an 18-year-old woman from Hockessin, was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Lewes-Georgetown Highway was closed for several hours while the Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision...

Court allows excessive force lawsuit to proceed against one officer in fatal Nashville shooting

18Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee

Court allows excessive force lawsuit to proceed against one officer in fatal Nashville shooting

NASHVILLE, TN, October 17, 2025 — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has ruled that a lawsuit filed by the widow of Landon Eastep may proceed against one Metropolitan Nashville Police Department officer accused of using excessive force, while granting qualified immunity to eight other officers involved in the fatal 2022 highway shooting. The case stems from a 35-minute standoff on Interstate 65, where nine officers from multiple agencies fired approximately 33 rounds at Eastep, striking him 12 times. Video evidence confirmed that Eastep, who had initially displayed a box cutter, was shot after raising an unidentified object that officers mistook for a firearm. According to court documents, the Sixth Circuit found that most officers acted reasonably in using deadly fo...

Court upholds search of Cleveland man’s home in drug and firearms case

18Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee

Court upholds search of Cleveland man’s home in drug and firearms case

CLEVELAND, OH, October 17, 2025 — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has affirmed the denial of a motion to suppress evidence filed by Devin Long, who pleaded guilty to federal drug and firearms charges after officers recovered narcotics and weapons from his home. According to court records, Drug Enforcement Administration task force officers began investigating a drug trafficking network involving methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. During multiple controlled buys, investigators observed Long coordinating with other suspects and engaging in what they believed to be drug transactions. Surveillance linked Long to a residence on East 35th Street, which he had registered with the Ohio Adult Parole Authority as his home address. A federal magistrate judge authorized ...

Court upholds dismissal of former Michigan corrections officer’s lawsuit over termination

18Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee

Court upholds dismissal of former Michigan corrections officer’s lawsuit over termination

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, October 17, 2025 — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by former Michigan Department of Corrections officer Charles Bozzo, who alleged that his firing in 2019 violated his constitutional right to due process. Bozzo sued MDOC Director Heidi Washington and Discipline Coordinator Jennifer Nanasy under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming that the department relied on false allegations and an unfair arbitration process to terminate him following workplace misconduct complaints. The district court dismissed the suit as time-barred and for failure to state a claim. According to the ruling, Bozzo was terminated on July 31, 2019, after a coworker accused him of making harassing remarks. He pursued arbitration through his u...

Court denies Guatemalan man’s appeal to reopen immigration case for voluntary departure

18Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee

Court denies Guatemalan man’s appeal to reopen immigration case for voluntary departure

CINCINNATI, OH, October 17, 2025 — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has denied a petition from Guatemalan national Juan Carlos Pastor-Hernandez, who sought to reopen his removal proceedings in order to apply for voluntary departure from the United States. According to court records, Pastor-Hernandez entered the country illegally in 2014 and was ordered removed after his applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture were denied. He later sought to reopen his case following the Supreme Court’s decision in Niz-Chavez v. Garland, arguing that the ruling allowed him to pursue voluntary departure because his initial notice to appear did not meet statutory requirements. To qualify for voluntary departure, immigrants m...

Court upholds dismissal of Cincinnati homeowner’s discrimination lawsuit over redevelopment plan

18Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Ohio

Court upholds dismissal of Cincinnati homeowner’s discrimination lawsuit over redevelopment plan

CINCINNATI, OH, October 17, 2025 — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has upheld a lower court’s dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Cincinnati homeowner April Norman, who alleged that the city and several private organizations targeted her property as part of a discriminatory redevelopment effort in the Mt. Auburn neighborhood. Norman claimed that the City of Cincinnati, Christ Hospital Network, the Mt. Auburn Community Development Corporation, and other partners violated her civil rights through the Auburn Avenue Corridor Strategic Development Plan, which she alleged was designed to push African American residents out of the area. She also accused the city of selectively enforcing building codes to pressure her to sell her home. According to court records, Norman purch...