Ingested Articles

A key witness in the trial of an ex-Minneapolis police officer in the death of George Floyd used videos, animations and other imagery to argue that Floyd died of a lack of oxygen that damaged his brain and stopped his heart. He also used them in an effort to debunk some of the key defense arguments. Dr. Martin Tobin, a lung and critical care specialist from Illinois, testified as a prosecution expert in the trial of Derek Chauvin. He said he watched many bystander and police body camera videos — some clips hundreds of times — to help develop the materials he presented to jurors.

Shane Griffith recently captured the 165-pound title at the NCAA wrestling championships wearing a black singlet minus the Stanford logo. This was his way of making a statement after the school announced in July that wrestling and 10 other sports would be dropped to save money. In an open letter sent to the school community, Stanford leaders announced  they face “the reality that significant change is needed to create fiscal stability for Stanford Athletics.” Many in the community questioned the legitimacy of the administration’s arguments. The group “Keep Stanford Wrestling” has organized fundraising efforts to help save the program. It's raised about $12.5 million so far. 

California plans to authorize $536 million toward forest management projects and efforts to reduce wildfires before the worst of fire season strikes later this year. Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders said Thursday that they intend to add the money to this fiscal year’s budget before considering even more in the new spending plan that takes effect July 1. Advocates say the spending will more than double $200 million in recent annual spending. State officials are rushing to thin forests, build fuel breaks around vulnerable communities and allow for planned burns before a dry winter turns into a tinder-dry summer. Last year’s record-setting wildfire season charred more than 4% of the state. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is giving himself lots of latitude when he defines infrastructure for the purpose of spending money on it. It’s not just steel, but home health care workers. Not just excavating dirt, but building “dignity.”…

Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is backing Terry McAuliffe in the race to succeed him, handing his predecessor one of the contest’s most coveted endorsements. Northam says McAuliffe’s accomplishments during his previous term in the governor’s mansion show he's the right person for the job. Northam and McAuliffe shared the news with The Associated Press ahead of a formal announcement Thursday. McAuliffe was Virginia governor from 2014 to 2018 and is widely seen as the front-runner in the five-way Democratic primary in June. He's previously rolled out an unmatched number of endorsements from key Virginia power brokers. 

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey on Thursday strongly rejected accusations that it snubbed Ursula von der Leyen — one of the European Union’s most powerful executives — because of her gender after a protocol gaffe during a meeting at the…

Howard Weitzman, an attorney whose clients included Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, and auto maker John DeLorean, has died.  Weitzman's wife says he died Wednesday after a brief illness. He was 81. Weitzman came to national fame as defense attorney for DeLorean, who was accused of cocaine trafficking in 1982. Weitzman argued that the FBI had entrapped DeLorean and got a not guilty verdict. He defended Jackson both during his life and after, serving as the lead lawyer overseeing the pop superstar's estate. And he defended Bieber in a 2011 paternity suit and several subsequent lawsuits. 

Brooks Koepka’s surgically repaired knee wasn’t the problem in the opening round of the Masters. His swing was. Koepka never got clicking Thursday at Augusta National. He shot a 2-over 74, putting him squarely in the middle of the Masters pack. Koepka started with six pars and then the adventure began -- with just four more pars in his final 12 holes, including a five-hole stretch that went bogey-bogey-bogey-birdie-birdie. It was Koepka’s worst round at Augusta National in his last 12 tries and snapped a streak of 10 straight rounds under par.

New York lawmakers have created a $2.1 billion fund to aid workers who lost jobs or income during the coronavirus pandemic but were excluded from other government relief programs because of their immigration status. The program is the largest of its kind in the U.S. It passed this week as part of the state budget. The fund will give payments of up to $15,600 to unauthorized immigrant workers who weren’t eligible for federal stimulus checks, unemployment aid, or other benefits.

Phillip Adams was a journeyman NFL player whose career was cut short by injuries. That disappointment apparently stuck with him during his post-football life. Authorities in Rock Hill, South Carolina, say the 32-year-old Adams fatally shot five people including a doctor, his wife and their two grandchildren before later killing himself. Adams' agent, Scott Casterline, says an injury during his rookie year prevented Adams from reaching his potential and that “weighed on him heavily.” Casterline says Adams “would isolate.” Former Cowboys cornerback Kevin Smith, who trained with Adams, says Adams often worked too hard on his body. Smith adds that Adams was curt in his recent communications.

The state of Florida has filed a lawsuit against the federal government to demand cruise ships be allowed to start sailing immediately. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis says the no-sail order is outdated and hurts the state as the industry generates billions for the economy. The CDC issued new guidelines last week for companies on how to respond in the event of COVID-19 cases but has so far not lifted its no-sail order. DeSantis says cruising has resumed in much of the world, forcing Americans to fly to other ports. White House press secretary Jen Psaki says the CDC's guidance is “based on data and health and medical guidelines.”

The Miss America organization says it plans to crown its 100th winner in December before a live audience at the Mohegan Sun casino's arena in Connecticut. The announcement Thursday was made after a year of virtual appearances and delayed competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Miss America and Mohegan Sun announced a three-year partnership to hold the finale and associated events at the southeastern Connecticut facility. The competition and broadcast are to be held sometime in December. COVID-19 forced organizers to postpone the 2020 competitions and extend the reign of 2019 Miss America, Camille Schrier, for a second year. Schrier represented Virginia.

Keri Hilson is projected to have a busy year, but it doesn’t include releasing new music. The two-time Grammy nominee is preparing for the release of several film projects, and if that surprises you, you’re not alone. “It took even…