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The priest sex-abuse scandal was the albatross around the neck of Pope Emeritus Benedict’s brief eight-year reign as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, according to Vatican analysts. Like his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, Benedict also apologized to the victims and then took some steps to punish the predators. They say Benedict should have known better, because, before he became pope, he ran, for 24 year, the Vatican department that dealt directly with priest sex abuse allegations — the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). “He had an inside view of what was going on,” said David Gibson, the director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University, who is the author of “The Rule of Benedict: Pope Benedict XVI and His Battle with the Modern World.” “His office dealt with these accusations. When John Paul II’s native Poland was part of the old Soviet bloc, accusations against priests were routinely dismissed as fabrications by the communist secret police to undermine the church.

☆ Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI dies at 95
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Corky Siemaszko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican," the statement said. Benedict was the longest-living pope, having surpassed Pope Leo XIII in September 2020. "We must think about what Pope Benedict said — 'It's the epoch of sin against God the Creator,'" Francis said at a gathering of Polish bishops. Unlike most priests, Benedict logged little time in parishes. In 2005, his first year as pope, he was accused in a lawsuit of having personally covered up a priest's abuse of three boys in Texas.

The Pennsylvania man charged in the killing of four University of Idaho students was a doctoral student at nearby Washington State University studying in the criminal justice and criminology department. Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28, was booked into custody on an arrest warrant out of Moscow, Idaho, charging him with first-degree murder, court records show. He was listed as a Ph.D. student in the department of criminal justice and criminology at Washington State University (WSU), which is 10 miles west and just across the state line from the University of Idaho. Kohberger graduated from nearby DeSales University in 2020 with a degree in psychology and earned a master of arts in criminal justice from DeSales in the spring, DeSales University said in a statement Friday. At the time, the person identified himself a "student investigator" at DeSales University and was using a school-issued email address.

“We were using Facebook Messenger to communicate with her parents and coached them through the delivery, so I watched her being delivered on my cellphone," Blackburn told NBC News. Davon Thomas with his wife, Erica Thomas, and their newborn, Devynn Brielle Thomas. Erica and Davon Thomas were trapped in their house by snow when Erica suddenly went into labor, Blackburn said. She had also instructed him to help his wife take a hot shower to ease her pain and help her move around “to get the gravity going,” Blackburn said. Moments later, Erica squatted down and when the baby came out, Davon Thomas was there to receive his daughter with towels in his arms.

Detectives probing the "targeted attacks" on two power stations last weekend that left thousands of North Carolina residents in the dark have been searching online for a possible motive, two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter told NBC News. Officials are also looking at other theories, such as the possibility that the attack was carried out by an ex-employee or another motive that has yet to present itself. Less than an hour later, Emily Rainey wrote on her Facebook page, "The power is out in Moore County and I know why." Patrons dine by candlelight at Red's Corner during the Moore County power outage on Dec. 5, 2022, in Southern Pines, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown / The News & Observer via APOfficials have announced that a $75,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the shooter or shooters. Meanwhile, Duke Energy reported Wednesday that power had been restored to all customers.

A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent accused of kidnapping and repeatedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Arizona was caught on police video saying what appears to be a threat against his accuser. “I cannot believe this s---,” Mitchell, who worked for CBP for 10 months and who is the son of two retired Florida police officers, could be heard saying, according to federal court papers. Mitchell worked for the CBP at a border post in Douglas, Arizona, according to the court papers. He tossed her backpack into a dumpster, the court papers state. Although Mitchell denied assaulting the teenager, “DNA recovered from the girl’s genitalia was consistent with Mitchell’s DNA,” the papers state.

A Florida sheriff stunned many of his constituents this week by appearing to endorse spanking students, his comments coming during a press conference in which county officials announced plans to tighten discipline in Brevard County schools. Sheriff Wayne Ivey spins the "Wheel of Fugitive" board at the Brevard County Sheriffs Office in 2017. And he is a Brevard County political powerbroker who helped get two Republicans, Megan Wright and Gene Trent, elected to the county school board. Shortly after they were sworn in Nov. 22, Wright and Trent teamed up with school board chair Matt Susin to oust longtime superintendent Mark Mullins. There was agreement among the Brevard County school officials interviewed that disruptive students are a problem in the system.

LOS ANGELES — The jury weighing the rape charges against “That ‘70s Show” star Danny Masterson announced Wednesday it was hopelessly deadlocked and a mistrial was declared. Masterson has also denied assaulting a fourth woman, identified as Jane Doe #4, who told the court she too had been raped by him. While the judge allowed testimony by Jane Doe #4, Masterson was not criminally charged with raping her. The panel, on Nov. 18, sent Olmedo a note saying they had been “unable to reach a unanimous decision” on any of the three forcible rape counts against Masterson. “You have been deliberating for an insufficient amount of time,” Olmedo said before excusing them for the holiday break.

The GVA includes any type of shooting in its analysis including domestic violence, shootings in private homes, gang violence among others. The GVA recorded 610 multiple victim shootings in 2020 and 690 last year, when the pandemic was already easing and the pace of deadly violence increased across the United States. It has been keeping a tally of mass shootings since 2014, when it recorded 273. The GVA counts injuries and deaths in each incident. “Scary to think that in 2016 we recorded 382 mass shootings and now we will probably end 2022 with an estimated 680 mass shootings,” said Herrmann, who based his estimate on the fact that there has been an average of 13 mass shootings a week this year.

LOS ANGELES — The jury weighing the rape charges against “That '70s Show” star Danny Masterson announced Friday it was deadlocked. Los Angeles County Superior Court Charlaine F. Olmedo told the panel to come back on Nov. 28 and try again. It was an unexpected twist in the closely-watched trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He has also denied assaulting a fourth woman, identified as Jane Doe #4, who told the court she too had been raped by Masterson. Dua Anjum and Diana Dasrath reported from Los Angeles and Corky Siemaszko from New York City.

LOS ANGELES — The fate of “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson is in the hands of a jury. Unlike his other accusers, Jane Doe #4 was never a member of the Church of Scientology, which Masterson still belongs to. But Jane Doe #4’s testimony mirrored in many ways the testimony of the three women Masterson is charged with raping. “That is going to be your power.”Mueller also took aim at Cohen’s suggestion that Masterson’s accusers colluded against him. “It became about Scientology,” Cohen said.

The Polish government convened an emergency security and defense meeting Tuesday and agreed to increase its military readiness, government spokesman Piotr Mueller said, after an explosion killed two people near the border with Ukraine. It was not clear what caused the explosion in the southeastern town of Hrubieszów, Mueller said after the emergency meeting was convened. The longer Russia feels impunity, the more threats there will be to anyone within reach of Russian missiles,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. We must act.”The prospect of Russian missiles possibly hitting Poland, a member of NATO, triggered fears that the war in Ukraine could intensify sharply. Estonia is ready to defend every inch of NATO territory,” the country’s foreign minister said via Twitter.

LOS ANGELES — “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson told the court Monday that he would not testify at his own rape trial. His announcement came after a fourth woman testified last week that he raped her twice, more than two decades ago after they had met on a movie set. Masterson is not charged with raping the woman, an actress identified in court as Jane Doe #4. Unlike the three women Masterson is charged with raping, Jane Doe #4 is not a former or current member of the Church of Scientology. Cohen made his third request for a mistrial after Jane Doe #4 finished testifying and was again rebuffed by the judge.

LOS ANGELES — The fourth woman to accuse “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson of rape told the court Thursday that she sent a supportive message to the actor’s brother two years before she told police that she, too, was a victim. Danny and you looked out for me.”Under questioning by defense attorney Philip Cohen, Jane Doe #4 confirmed that she had written the note. He is not charged with sexually assaulting Jane Doe #4. Smith, who said she also has known Masterson since he was a teenager, said Jane Doe #2 confided in her about the alleged assault in 2003. But two of the women Masterson is charged with raping have testified they were rebuffed when they told Scientology officials he sexually assaulted them.

Masterson has been charged with raping three women between 2001 and 2003 but has not been charged with sexually assaulting Jane Doe #4. On cross-examination, Jane Doe #4 said about a month later, Masterson assaulted her again at her home. Asked by Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller what happened the next morning, Jane Doe #4 said "Danny was there." Unlike the other accusers, Jane Doe #4 was not a Scientologist. Dua Anjum reported from Los Angeles and Corky Siemaszko from New York City.

Dan McCafferty, the longtime lead singer of the Scottish rock band Nazareth whose searing vocals propelled a cover of the ballad "Love Hurts" into a 1970s hit, has died, his longtime bandmate announced. McCafferty was 76, Nazareth bassist Pete Agnew said on the band's official Facebook page. "If it wasn’t for Dan McCafferty and Nazareth I wouldn’t be singing," Rose said in a 1988 interview. "Love Hurts," a ballad first made famous by The Everly Brothers and Roy Orbison as well, became an international hit for Nazareth in 1974. The band also scored several hits of their own, including "Hair of the Dog" which is a rock radio staple that continues to get airplay.

LOS ANGELES — The judge in the rape trial of “That ‘70s Show” star Danny Masterson dealt the defense a potential setback Monday by allowing a fourth woman who says she was assaulted by the actor to testify. Jane Doe #4 was not in cahoots with Masterson's accusers or a Scientologist, Mueller said. He said the jury should be aware there is another woman "out there with similar experience with Mr. Masterson who also was interviewed" by detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department. The judge had initially barred the testimony of Jane Doe #4, who told police she was sexually assaulted by Masterson in 1996. Dua Anjam and Diana Dasrath reported from Los Angeles, Corky Siemaszko from New York City

LOS ANGELES — One Hollywood star claimed he was arrested and charged on multiple counts of rape by police and prosecutors who are biased against his church. Another prominent Hollywood figure charged with rape contends he was set up by members of a church he has publicly renounced. In both cases, the church in question is the Church of Scientology. Haggis denied Breest’s rape allegation in a counter-complaint and accused her and her lawyer of trying to extort $9 million from him. “She decided she had to do something.”In the Masterson case, he and his accusers are all current or former members of the Church of Scientology.

☆ Leslie Jordan, 'Will & Grace' actor, dies at 67
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Diana Dasrath | Corky Siemaszko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

In this image released on April 18, Leslie Jordan speaks onstage at the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Grand Ole Opry on April 18, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. LOS ANGELES — Leslie Jordan, who won an Emmy playing the conniving Beverly Leslie on "Will & Grace" and became a social media sensation during the pandemic, died Monday after crashing his car into a wall while driving in Hollywood, his spokesman said. "The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan," the spokesperson said. Jordan, who was 67, was pronounced dead at the scene around 9:30 a.m. (PT) after officers responded to reports of a collision at Cahuenga Blvd. But he was best known to television audiences as Beverly Leslie, the Karen character's rival who comes out as Gay on the show in one of the most memorable episodes.

The young Russians who fled their country for neighboring Kazakhstan to avoid being conscripted to fight in Ukraine all want to go home one day. “I feel very sad, because, actually, I love Russia,” a 25-year-old Muscovite told NBC News in the biggest city in Kazakhstan, Almaty, a prime destination for Russians avoiding conscription. The young man, who was a juggler and a street performer before he left three weeks ago, said he already feels homesick for Mother Russia. Asked what drove him into exile, the Muscovite said: “Well, firstly, because of this conscription stuff happening now in Russia. Some of those who have left, he said, intend to stay in Kazakhstan, while others see the country as a “trampoline” to somewhere else in Europe.

DENVER — The businessman accused of swindling people out of their life savings by promising to build them tiny homes and not delivering is now the target of a police investigation. Matt Sowash, founder of the Colorado-based nonprofit Holy Ground Tiny Houses, has also filed for bankruptcy, court records revealed Wednesday. A 14' tiny home featured on the Holy Ground Tiny Homes YouTube channel. Tiny homes have been touted as a solution to homelessness and an affordable way for many to put a roof over their heads as home prices across the country have skyrocketed. Holy Ground Tiny Homes.

In the wake of Hurricane Ian, the living have struggled to account for all the dead. More than half of the victims drowned, the Florida Medical Examiners Commission has reported. A high-water vehicle with responders drives through a flooded neighborhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in North Port, Fla., on Oct. 3. Precisely how many have died as a result of Hurricane Ian is a point of contention. “The communities hit by Hurricane Ian were places that have many new residents who had never experienced a major storm,” he said.

TAMPA, Fla. — More than 2 million people in Florida were under orders to pack up and head east to safer ground Tuesday as Hurricane Ian barreled north from Cuba on a path toward Tampa. But Burks, who moved to Tampa in 2005 and has weathered several hurricanes since then, said he's not going far. Many Floridians in more rural areas like Polk County live in trailers that are especially vulnerable to high winds. “Just go straight across the state to Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach.”And "do not go north," because that's where Hurricane Ian is going, he said. Three bridges span Old Tampa Bay, two of which connect Tampa to St. Petersburg and the third of which links to northern Pinellas County.

Russians trying to avoid getting conscripted to fight in Ukraine appeared to be trying to cross the border into Georgia, Kazakhstan and even remote Mongolia, satellite imagery suggested Monday. Russian border guards didn’t appear to be trying to stop them. The Russians are fleeing to Georgia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and other countries because they don't require visas. Logvin said he waited 34 hours at the border before he was allowed to enter Georgia. According to Maxar, this satellite image appears to show a traffic jam near the Russian border with Georgia on Sunday.

☆ Brett Favre told Mississippi governor he would not ‘take No for answer’ over volleyball stadium, court filing shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Dilanianmug.Jpg | Ken Dilanian | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Phil Bryant on Sept. 4, 2019 about funding the volleyball center at the University of Southern Mississippi’s main campus in Hattiesburg. “Use of these funds (is) tightly controlled,” Bryant texted Favre on July 28, 2019, according to the filing. Favre also secured $3.2 million for a drug company in which he had invested, according to court records. Favre has also denied wrongdoing through his lawyer, who acknowledged that the ex-Packer has been interviewed by the FBI. He added that Favre behaved honorably and never knew the state grants he was seeking were from the federal welfare program.

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