In brief: Mexican national pleads innocent in fatal shooting
SAN FRANCISCO – A Mexican national who has been deported multiple times for illegally entering the United States pleaded not guilty to a murder charge Tuesday in the shooting death of Kathryn Steinle, who was strolling on the tourist-friendly Embarcadero with her father last Wednesday when she was shot once in the back.
The case against the man whom prosecutors now identify as Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez (federal documents have cited another “true” name) has spurred outrage nationwide among critics of immigration policy.
San Francisco is among a number of counties and a handful of states that do not honor many requests by immigration authorities to hold inmates beyond their release date in order to hand them over for deportation. In this case, a request by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that they be notified of his release date was disregarded.
He was released to the streets of San Francisco in April when 20-year-old charges against him were dismissed.
Also Tuesday, a law enforcement official briefed on the matter said the gun used in the seemingly random slaying belonged to a federal agent.
The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the case and spoke on condition of anonymity, said a police check of the weapon’s serial number shows it belonged to a federal agent. The official declined to elaborate further. The San Francisco Police Department, which is investigating the case, declined to comment.
Flag bill passes Senate; on to House
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Senate gave its final approval Tuesday to removing the Confederate flag from the Capitol grounds, but in the House, Republicans quietly sought a way to make a last stand to preserve some kind of symbol honoring their Southern ancestors at the Statehouse.
The House is scheduled to begin debate today on the bill to take down the flag and its pole and send the banner to the state’s Confederate Relic Room. Gov. Nikki Haley and business leaders support the proposal.
If the House goes along with the Senate’s bill, the flag could be removed by the end of the week. But if the House changes the bill, either the Senate would have to agree with the changes or lawmakers would have to reconcile their differences in a conference committee, possibly delaying action for weeks.
WWII vet receives belated citation
WASHINGTON – At age 22, 2nd Lt. John Pedevillano was the youngest bombardier in the U.S. Army Air Corps’ 306th Bomb Group when he was shot down by Nazi fighter pilots in Germany in 1944.
Pedevillano and his crew were later taken as prisoners of war before being liberated by U.S. Army forces under Gen. George Patton in 1945.
More than 70 years later, Pedevillano has received the Presidential Unit Citation, with one Oak Leaf Cluster, for extraordinary heroism in combat.
F-16 collides with Cessna; two die
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – An F-16 fighter jet smashed into a small plane Tuesday over South Carolina, killing two people.
The two people aboard the smaller Cessna were killed, and the plane was destroyed, National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Peter Knudson said. The pilot of the F-16 ejected and “is apparently uninjured,” he said.
A news release from Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter said the pilot, Maj. Aaron Johnson from the 55th Fighter Squadron, was taken to Joint Base Charleston’s medical clinic for observation.
The NTSB is investigating the cause.
Right-to-die legislation pulled
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Legislation that would have allowed terminally ill patients to legally end their lives in California stalled Tuesday amid fierce opposition from religious groups.
The authors of the right-to-die bill did not present the legislation to the Assembly Health Committee as scheduled because it did not have enough votes to advance.
Religious groups say allowing doctors to prescribe life-ending drugs is assisted suicide and goes against God’s will.
Dangers of sexting added to curriculum
LOS ANGELES – Sext ed will be part of the curriculum for Los Angeles students this fall.
The LA Unified School District will roll out a broad plan to educate students on the dangers of sharing sexually explicit photos via texting and the Internet.
The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that schools will get video, lesson plans and handouts for students.
District Police Chief Steven Zipperman said the campaign will teach students about violations of child pornography and obscenity laws that can come with sexting along with the personal consequences.
Veteran ID measure headed to president
WASHINGTON – A bill allowing all veterans to receive official identification cards through the Department of Veterans Affairs is on its way to President Barack Obama’s desk.
The House approved the bill unanimously late Tuesday. Supporters said the bill should minimize the threat of identity theft and make it easier for veterans to prove their military service.