No. 25 Illinois rebounds in big way, blasts UMES 87-40Taramandal Technologies, a space-tech startup based in the Andhra University campus in Visakhapatnam, has found its name on the prestigious Forbes India Select 200 - DGEMS (Dynamic Growth Entrepreneurs and Market Shapers) list for 2024. This global recognition celebrates startups with global business potential, innovation and prospects for expansion.
Even at 15 years old, Synthia Elliott knew how to brighten a room. The sophomore at North High School was “the type of person to just give you hope,” Elliott’s longtime friend Malaya Wagner said on Wednesday. “She was very, very wonderful,” Wagner said. “She would always put a smile on your face.” Like many teenagers, Elliott loved music and often spent her time learning dances to post on the social media app TikTok. She was involved in school, serving on the Black Student Leadership Council and working as an athletic assistant for the wrestling and football teams. She thought about what her future might hold — maybe she would become a teacher, Wagner said — but figured she had plenty of time to figure it out. Instead, in late 2022, Elliott was shot in the head and killed inside of her North Omaha bedroom after four men unknown to her shot dozens of times into her home. Police and prosecutors would come to believe that the men meant to target a different house nearby, but couldn’t find it on Google Maps and went instead to the nearest valid address, where Elliott lived with her sister, mother and grandmother. The senseless killing devastated Elliott’s family and friends, who showed up in droves to the Wednesday morning sentencing of 22-year-old Selassie Spencer, one of the four men charged with her murder and the first to be sentenced. Spencer pleaded no contest earlier this year to charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony. Spencer Prosecutors said Spencer deserves to spend “the majority, if not the entirety, of the rest of his life in prison” for shooting into the occupied home with no regard to who may be inside. His defense attorneys made no argument for or against a particular sentence. Douglas County District Court Judge Duane Dougherty sentenced Spencer to 50 to 60 years on the murder charge and 25 to 30 years on the gun charge. The sentences will be served consecutively for a total of 75 to 90 years in prison. Spencer will be eligible for parole in 40 years and will have a mandatory release date in about 47 years. On the evening of Nov. 30, 2022, two eyewitnesses saw a black Mini Cooper pull up outside of Elliott’s home near 37th and Pinkney Streets shortly before 8:30 p.m. Elliott was the only person home at the time. Witnesses would later tell police that they saw four men wearing surgical masks and coats exit the Mini Cooper before returning to the car to retrieve firearms. All four of the men fired into the house, detectives said, and 37 spent casings were later found outside of the home. Seventeen bullets were found inside of the house. One of those bullets struck Elliott in the head. By the time police arrived, she was dead. The men were later identified as Spencer and three others: Kash Davis, 21; Latrail Washington, 22; and Jarrious Hill, 21. The four were taken into custody within hours of Elliott’s killing. A detective would later testify that they initially fled to Davis’ sister’s apartment near North 93rd Avenue and Blair High Road before walking to a nearby apartment belonging to Davis’ mother. They were taken into custody in the apartment complex parking lot shortly before 10 p.m., and four firearms were recovered from the apartment. Hill Davis Washington An exact motive for the shooting remains unclear. Elliott is not believed to have been connected with the four men in any way. When Washington’s phone was searched, investigators found that he looked up two addresses on 37th Street — but the house numbers he searched did not exist. The next valid address was Elliott’s residence. Photos of her home from Google Maps street view were saved on Washington’s phone. “Somebody put them up to shooting up the house,” Cynthia Williams, Elliott’s grandmother, told the World-Herald in January 2023 . “Either that or they just totally got the wrong house.” Spencer’s defense attorneys and prosecutors agreed that Elliott’s killing was senseless, pointless and “stupid.” In a brief statement to the court, defense attorney Michael Bianchi outlined some of Spencer’s background. He is the oldest of four children, grew up in-and-out of foster care, and never had much of a relationship with his father. He has two prior felony convictions and spent time in state prison prior to Elliott’s killing. “While I can go ahead and say all these things about my client — what a wonderful mom he has, a tough childhood. ... We’re here today because this poor young lady is not here, because of the stupidity of our client,” Bianchi said. Deputy Douglas County Attorney Shawn Hagerty said Elliott’s killing was “so stupidly pointless.” He took issue with Spencer referring to the killing as “accidental” in his pre-sentence investigation. “There’s nothing accidental about what they were trying to do,” Hagerty said. “There’s an expectation that if you’re shooting into a house dozens of times, you’re going to hurt or kill someone. You’re shooting into a house for no reason. ... Because of something you heard on the street or read on your phone. “And this poor 15-year-old girl, I can only imagine the last moments of her life. Terrified at what was happening, and then she’s gone. For absolutely no reason.” Spencer addressed the court shortly before his sentence was announced. He asked for forgiveness and said he would spend his time in prison working to prevent other people from making the same mistakes. “Taking a life is a burden I will carry for the rest of my life,” he said. “Truly, my heart is not evil. My empathy is sincere. Although I am deeply saddened by my choices, I take full responsibility.” Spencer was the second of the four defendants to accept a plea deal, but the first to be sentenced. Hill pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony in January, but a sentencing date has not been set. Court documents indicate that Hill is undergoing additional examination of his “physical and mental fitness” to provide Dougherty more information at sentencing. Davis and Washington are set to go to trial in March. They will be tried together unless one of them accepts a plea deal. Spencer and Washington had both been previously convicted of felony gun charges and were released from prison in the two months prior to Elliott’s killing. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.
Seniors account for 78 of 83 Covid-19 deaths in 2024The Obama Democracy Forum kicks off Thursday in Chicago. The goal is to bridge the political divide and get people talking about issues together. The former president, along with actor Ryan Reynolds and country music singer Reyna Roberts, will be speaking. Obama Foundation CEO and longtime Barack Obama senior advisor Valerie Jarrett spoke with Scripps News about what to expect from the conference. "Part of what we're doing [Thursday] is inviting leaders in the community who can take these tools back to their local communities and help the people on the ground who are feeling helpless in this situation," Jarrett said. "I do think there is a hunger around our country and around the world to focus on what we have in common, to avoid the kind of polarization that we're seeing, to talk to each other in a way that's respectful, to disagree and have hard conversations without letting them break down into acrimony." RELATED STORY | South Korean parliament defies president by lifting declaration of martial law Jarrett also discussed recent threats to democracy, including in South Korea, where President Yoon Suk Yeol briefly declared martial law in an attempt to eliminate "anti-state" forces alleged to be sympathizing with North Korea. "We take a long view. We look at this as a way of building confidence in leaders that are moving forward, that will be leaders of tomorrow. They'll be confident because they'll have the necessary tools to avoid the kind of friction and combativeness that we are seeing all too often," Jarrett said. Watch the full interview with Jarrett in the video above.
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ORONO, Maine (AP) — Caleb Mead ran for 113 yards and a touchdown and New Hampshire beat Maine 27-9 on Saturday in a season-ending contest for both teams. The Wildcats (8-4, 6-2 Coastal Athletic Association) spotted Maine to a 9-0 lead when Joey Bryson kicked a 39-yard field and Carter Peevy threw an 8-yard touchdown to Montigo Moss, all in the first quarter. But midway through the second, the Wildcats took control and proceeded to score 27-straight points to clinch the win. Denzell Gibson ran it in from the 1 to end a 13-play, 81-yard drive that lasted 6:08 to reduce the deficit to 9-7 with 11 seconds left before halftime. On the first play from scrimmage after the break, Mead ran for a 57-yard touchdown for a 14-9 lead. Nick Mazzie kicked field goals of 21 and 22 yards and Seth Morgan ran it in from the 7 with 2:03 left to end it. Peevy threw for 168 yards for Maine (5-7, 3-5). ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP collegebasketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballRodgers Silicon Valley Acquisition Corp. ( OTCMKTS:RSVAU – Get Free Report ) dropped 5.3% during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $24.18 and last traded at $24.22. Approximately 17,000 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 75% from the average daily volume of 67,461 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.58. Rodgers Silicon Valley Acquisition Trading Down 5.3 % The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $24.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $24.22. Rodgers Silicon Valley Acquisition Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Rodgers Silicon Valley Acquisition Corp. intends to enter into a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The company was founded in 2020 and is based in Woodside, California. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Rodgers Silicon Valley Acquisition Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rodgers Silicon Valley Acquisition and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Longest-lived US president was always happy to speak his mind
TSB investigating rough plane landing in Halifax, passenger says flames were visibleChargers are expected to be without top RB Dobbins and could lean on QB Herbert against FalconsIncarnate Word beats East Texas A&M 38-24 to finish undefeated in conference playTributes pour in after death of Ex-President Jimmy Carter: ‘Humble and devoted public servant’
While My Gaze Was ElsewhereIf you're gearing up for the festive season or hunting for that elusive perfect present for a dad who won't drop any hints, you can't go wrong with a classic bottle of Jack Daniel's. Often praised and recognized as an emblematic tipple, its original Tennessee Whiskey is legendary, but whisper it, there's an alternative Jack that connoisseurs rave about. For a limited time, you can indulge your taste buds and snag yourself a 70cl bottle of Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack Tennessee Whiskey at Amazon for £20—a big drop from the standard £36. Lauded as the one and only double-mellowed whiskey in existence, Gentleman Jack brings a uniquely velvety character paired with a rich, premium taste. Ideal straight, on the rocks, or jazzing up a cocktail, this particular Jack undergoes the same initial crafting process as the iconic No 7, but gains an... (Image: (Image: Amazon))“They have pain” – Liverpool win comes at a cost as Slot drops double injury blow
Crosslink Capital sells $1.47 million in Weave Communications stock
