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Supreme Court will hear Alabama appeal in bid to execute man found to be intellectually disabled

Supreme Court will hear Alabama appeal in bid to execute man found to be intellectually disabled

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court will consider making it harder for convicted murderers to show their lives should be spared because they are intellectually disabled, according an order released early on Friday after an apparent technological glitch.
The justices' action comes in an appeal from Alabama, which is seeking to execute Joseph Clifton Smith. He was sentenced to death for killing a man in 1997. Lower federal courts found Smith is intellectually disabled and thus can't be executed.

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Thousands Fill Nation's Capital for WorldPride Parade With Reneé Rapp, Laverne Cox, Gay Men's Chorus & More
Thousands Fill Nation's Capital for WorldPride Parade With Reneé Rapp, Laverne Cox, Gay Men's Chorus & More

Yahoo

time25 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Thousands Fill Nation's Capital for WorldPride Parade With Reneé Rapp, Laverne Cox, Gay Men's Chorus & More

Gray skies and drizzle gave way to sunshine, multicolored flags and celebrations as the nation's capital held the WorldPride parade Saturday (June 7). Tens of thousands of people participated in parades and other festivities, in defiance of what activists say is an unprecedented assault on the LGBTQ+ community that challenges the rights for which many have fought over the years. More from Billboard Reneé Rapp Encourages Her Queer Fans to 'Find Your Community' During Political Turmoil WWE Money in the Bank 2025: How to Watch the Pro Wrestling Event Live Online If Benson Boone Didn't Hand You a JBL Speaker Out of the Trunk of His Car, You Can Score One Here Instead A rainbow flag the length of three football fields flowed through the streets, carried by 500 members of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C., to kick off the parade. Behind them, people waved Pride flags and flags representing the transgender, asexual and bisexual communities from atop a bus. Singer-songwriter and actor Reneé Rapp laughed and blew kisses from the back of a pickup truck draped with a transgender flag while Laverne Cox, a transgender actress and activist known for her role in Netflix's Orange is the New Black, waved from an open convertible. 'Pride means us looking out for each other no matter what,' she declared to the crowd as the convertible rolled to a stop. 'We know how to be there for each other.' Many LGBTQ+ travelers have expressed concerns or decided to skip WorldPride due to anxieties about safety, border policies and a hostile political climate that they say hearkens back to another time. But that did not keep international travelers and other participants away, with groups visible from Iran, Namibia, Kenya and the parade route, hundreds gathered outside the National City Christian Church as rainbow flags and balloons lined its steps and columns. A child with rainbow face paint blew bubbles at the base of the steps while Whitney Houston's 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' blared from loudspeakers. 'D.C. is already one of the biggest cities in the country for celebrating Pride,' said Cheo White, 33, from Annapolis, Maryland, 'But we are all collectively more united and turning out more because of what's happening in the White House.' Many have said the gathering has taken on a new meaning amid the Trump administration's aggressive policies against protections for transgender Americans and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. White's partner, Nick Kerver, 26, who was visiting from Toledo, Ohio, said Pride has 'always been a political tool' but has taken on more importance this year amid mounting threats to the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender and nonbinary Americans. 'It feels more important than ever,' Kerver said while wearing a rainbow hat, sunglasses and a T-shirt. 'But we also have to get involved in our local communities too.' David Begler, a 58-year-old gay man from Philadelphia, expressed disappointment that many international travelers felt unsafe visiting D.C. for WorldPride but said he appreciates its presence in the city during this political climate. 'It's the perfect time to have WorldPride in D.C.,' Begler said. 'We need it right now. I want us to send a message to the White House to focus on uplifting each other instead of dividing.' Stay DeRoux, 36, usually plans a day trip to D.C. Pride from her home in Fredericksburg, Virginia. But this year, she and her wife, Deenie DeRoux, planned a full weekend. 'This is a really big year,' Stay DeRoux said. 'There's been a lot of turmoil. So it's an amazing thing to be among allies, among people who love because we've experienced so much hate on a daily basis.' For the day, the idea of threats and opposition took a backseat to the celebration. Streets were closed, but filled with floats, and impromptu parties broke out with music and food in streets adjoining the parade route. Cynthia Erivo was set to perform on the Capitol Stag following the parade. Johnny Cervantes Jr., dressed in a black suit and top hat, headed to a grandstand at a church-themed float to marry his partner of 28 years, Freddie Lutz, owner of Freddie's Beach Bar and Restaurant in Arlington, Virginia. Events culminate Sunday with a rally and protest march and a giant street party and concert (headlined by Doechii) covering a multi-block stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue. 'This is WorldPride in the best city in the world,' Mayor Muriel Bowser declared as she walked the parade hand-in-hand with her daughter, Miranda. Best of Billboard Kelly Clarkson, Michael Buble, Pentatonix & Train Will Bring Their Holiday Hits to iHeart Christmas Concert Fox Plans NFT Debut With $20 'Masked Singer' Collectibles 14 Things That Changed (or Didn't) at Farm Aid 2021

Manhunt for Travis Decker reaches day 8 with heavy law enforcement presence in the North Cascades
Manhunt for Travis Decker reaches day 8 with heavy law enforcement presence in the North Cascades

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time25 minutes ago

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Manhunt for Travis Decker reaches day 8 with heavy law enforcement presence in the North Cascades

Saturday marks day eight in the search for Travis Decker. He is the Wenatchee man accused of kidnapping and killing his three young daughters. Authorities are focusing in on the Cascade Mountains. The Enchantments are shut down until further notice. As of Saturday afternoon, the National Guard is also joining the crews after emergency funding put in place by Governor Bob Ferguson. The search command center off Icicle Road is crawling with activity into the weekend as hundreds of law enforcement officers head into the mountains. Saturday morning was especially active as helicopters brought in dozens of crews from the Cascades and switched them out with new crews ready to get to work. Erik Hampton with East Cascade SWAT tells us they are heavily resourced and have the best of the best out there, but the steep terrain is not easy to search through. 'It's very steep it's very thick and it's big country there's a lot of it. There's a lot of ways in and out,' Hampton said. Icicle Road out of Leavenworth leads to dozens of trails and campgrounds. Normally on a hot June weekend, it's full of backpackers, hikers, and campers. Today, it's empty as the area is still shut down due to the search. 'We are hoping to exhaust this area for any sign of him we are not going to leave any stone unturned,' Hampton said. 'We are doing operations into the night, we have done them since Monday the same thing so we are working hard.' Federal, state, and local resources are flooding the Enchantments actively searching for Travis Decker. Right now, those resources include helicopters from Spokane, Chelan, and King County Sheriff's Offices along with the Coast Guard, National Guard, and Border Patrol. Deputies say there is also law enforcement officers and special teams from local, state, and federal resources combing every inch of the mountains. Hampton tells us they are also using special equipment to detect body heat levels as well. About 100 years away from the command center is Leavenworth Outdoor Center. The owner, David Johnson, said they have been listening to the helicopters fly just feet above their building since Tuesday. He tells us even the tourists know who Travis Decker is. 'Everyone seems to be bringing it up now, the first couple of days it was shocking and people weren't talking about it, but now it's all-over social media and customers are asking about it when they get here,' Johnson said. He tells us this is normally a packed area, but with the closure not that far down Icicle, it's been a bit slower. On Saturday, the closure turnaround spot was full of people who say they came out to hike but didn't realize they couldn't go back there. 'Well it is really disappointing I was really excited for this,' said Mayra Salgadl, a hiker trying to get to Colchuck Lake. Hampton said anyone they found inside the Okenagon Forest was asked to leave immediately. 'There were quite a few people when we started, I don't have an exact count for you on that, but it's blank in there right now,' Hampton said. He tells us that area takes a special expertise to look through properly. 'It's very steep, it's very thick and it's big country there's a lot of it. There's a lot of ways in and out,' Hampton said. But for those who live inside the search bubble, police are urging you to just call 911 if you think you see Decker. 'No do not approach, he is dangerous, he is a dangerous person,' Hampton said.

Coast Guard suspends search for missing 21-year-old
Coast Guard suspends search for missing 21-year-old

Yahoo

time25 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Coast Guard suspends search for missing 21-year-old

HONOLULU (KHON2) — The U.S. Coast Guard suspended their search for a missing woman on June 6. Khilye Hamadani, 21, was last seen at Daniel K. Inouye Internation Airport on the night of June 2. In total, search crews looked for Hamadani over 1,200 square miles and for over 100 combined hours. Coast Guard searching for missing woman, 21 Hamadani's mobile phone was traced to Spitting Cave, her bag was found near China Walls and shoes matching her outfit description were found in the ocean two miles off Waiʻalae Beach Park. 'Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions to make and only made after careful consideration of all available information,' Lt. Cmdr. Michelle Rice, search and rescue mission coordinator, said. 'We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Hamadani during this difficult time.' Coast Guard officials began their search on June 3 alongside the Honolulu Fire Department and the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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