Inside the Investigation: Why Texas might need more medical examiners
AUSTIN (KXAN) — After decades of justices of the peace with minimal training handling death investigations across the state, Texas lawmakers are advancing a bill that would create a new system. This week on Inside the Investigation, Senior Investigative Producer David Barer explains the challenges that could come with reform.
Bill to expand medical examiner access in Texas closer to law
A Hanging on Backbone Creek: A Catalyst Project
Join KXAN Investigative Reporter Kelly Wiley every Friday at 10:30 a.m. on YouTube, Facebook, or KXAN.com for a live recap of the latest headlines and in-depth reporting from the KXAN Investigates team. You can also listen to KXAN's investigative podcast, highlighting some of our award-winning team's latest reports exposing corruption, safety concerns, and system failures across Texas. We also feature audio versions of our weekly 'Inside the Investigation' discussion with the journalists working on those stories.
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Hamilton Spectator
12 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Historic New York lighthouse was vandalized and set on fire
A group of four men broke into a historic New York lighthouse along the Hudson River, set a fire and vandalized the interior, destroying valuable antiques, furniture and other items. The Tarrytown Lighthouse in Sleepy Hollow, built in 1883 and now on the National Register of Historic Places, had just undergone a two-year, $3.4 million renovation and reopened to the public last fall, Westchester County officials said. A county parks worker saw smoke coming from the conical, five-story lighthouse on Saturday morning, then discovered the damage, county police said. Police and firefighters responded and put out a small fire with extinguishers. The flooring on the first level was heavily damaged. Antiques, furniture and other historically significant items were destroyed. Thirty-five books dating to the 1800s and early 1900s were strewn on the floor and damaged. Multiple windows were broken. County officials say there is at least $100,000 in damage, and they expect that number to increase when an assessment is complete. 'The Tarrytown Lighthouse is one of our County's most iconic and cherished landmarks,' County Executive Ken Jenkins said in a statement. 'This was a truly despicable act, and we will do everything we can to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.' County police have posted surveillance photos on their Facebook page showing four young men near the lighthouse and are asking for the public's help in identifying them. No arrests have been made. As part of the renovation, interior and exterior sections were restored and repainted. Windows were replaced and the structure stabilized. Repairs were made to the cast iron exterior and masonry. Wood floors were repaired and restored. The fire burned nearly all the way through the wooden first floor, said Peter Tartaglia, first deputy commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation. 'It's disturbing what happened,' he said in a phone interview Wednesday. 'But we'll get it fixed. We'll get it back. It was historically reconstructed and it's a wonderful piece of history. It's iconic in Westchester County to see that on the Hudson River.' The 60-foot-tall (18-meter-tall) lighthouse, owned by the county, opened in 1883 to guide ships past dangerous shoals along that stretch of the river, according to the parks department. Its lantern could cast a beam of light visible for 10 miles (16 kilometers), and it had a bell that could warn mariners during foggy conditions, the department said. During its 74 years of operation, 14 lighthouse keepers lived in the structure, some with their families. It was rendered obsolete when the former Tappan Zee Bridge was completed in 1955 and taken out of service in 1961, officials said. It's located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Manhattan in a park in the village of Sleepy Hollow, made famous in Washington Irving's 1820 tale about the Headless Horseman. It's one of seven Hudson River lighthouses that remain. The arson and vandalism comes a little more than a month after a barge pushed by a tugboat struck the historic Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) upriver from Tarrytown. The April 29 crash severely damaged the dock of the 151-year-old lighthouse , which advocates have been trying to save from crumbling into the river. ____ Associated Press writer Michael Hill in Albany, New York, contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
USA Today
24 minutes ago
- USA Today
Who is 'Jane'? Upcoming witness faces battle for anonymity in Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial
Who is 'Jane'? Upcoming witness faces battle for anonymity in Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial Show Caption Hide Caption Security guard says Sean Combs offered cash for hotel video Eddy Garcia testified Sean Combs paid $100K for hotel footage showing him kick, hit and drag Cassie Ventura Fine, according to court testimony. As Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex-crimes trial stretches on in New York, another woman is expected to take the stand to testify to abuse and coercion at the hands of the music mogul. The witness, who is going simply by "Jane," will remain anonymous – a request granted by the judge, who has explicitly warned jurors and court attendees against sharing information that could reveal her identity. Jane is following in the footsteps of "Mia," a former employee of Combs, who has accused the rapper of assault and also testified under a pseudonym. Jane, a single mother who prosecutors claim was roped into Combs' empire of sex parties and abuse, faces an uphill battle, though, in keeping her true identity hidden. Diddy trial live updates: Diddy allegedly dangled woman over balcony, threatened to kill her Who is 'Mia'? Why you won't see photos of Diddy's ex-personal assistant during trial After her testimony wrapped up this week, several outlets published Mia's real name online, a practice generally avoided by newspapers and magazines at the urging of the courts. Prosecutors also alerted the judge that an individual inside the courtroom this week had broadcast the proceedings into his phone, using Mia's name and later outing her again on his YouTube channel. The person was banned from the courtroom. A witness' identity can be kept private for a host of reasons but, in the case of both Mia and Jane, it is likely being done to prevent online harassment by legions of Combs' loyal fans and to avoid the shame that can sometimes accompany admitting one has been sexually assaulted. Who is testifying in the Diddy trial? Cassie, Kid Cudi, more who have taken the stand Especially in a high-profile case like that of Combs, who is charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution, a victim may choose to remain anonymous to protect themselves from retaliation or harassment. Anonymity has emerged as a hot-button issue in recent years, particularly in the wake of the #MeToo movement, as one side argues that if a celebrity faces public allegations of assault, the accuser should be forced to come forward, too. Witnesses say Sean 'Diddy' Combs broke the law for decades. Why didn't they say anything? On the other side, advocates argue that, given the public shame that can come from revealing one has been assaulted, anonymity provides a necessary sense of security, so victims choose to come forward. "The reason the defense wants the victims to be identified is they think, and rightfully so, that that will discourage victims from coming forward," former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani previously told USA TODAY. "They've been victimized, (and) now they have to relive this trauma in a very public way," says Rahmani, president of personal injury law firm West Coast Trial Lawyers. "These cases draw a lot of attention. People on social media will call them liars. They'll say that this is just a money grab, that they're just seeking fame."
Associated Press
26 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Historic New York lighthouse was vandalized and set on fire
A group of four men broke into a historic New York lighthouse along the Hudson River, set a fire and vandalized the interior, destroying valuable antiques, furniture and other items. The Tarrytown Lighthouse in Sleepy Hollow, built in 1883 and now on the National Register of Historic Places, had just undergone a two-year, $3.4 million renovation and reopened to the public last fall, Westchester County officials said. A county parks worker saw smoke coming from the conical, five-story lighthouse on Saturday morning, then discovered the damage, county police said. Police and firefighters responded and put out a small fire with extinguishers. The flooring on the first level was heavily damaged. Antiques, furniture and other historically significant items were destroyed. Thirty-five books dating to the 1800s and early 1900s were strewn on the floor and damaged. Multiple windows were broken. County officials say there is at least $100,000 in damage, and they expect that number to increase when an assessment is complete. 'The Tarrytown Lighthouse is one of our County's most iconic and cherished landmarks,' County Executive Ken Jenkins said in a statement. 'This was a truly despicable act, and we will do everything we can to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.' County police have posted surveillance photos on their Facebook page showing four young men near the lighthouse and are asking for the public's help in identifying them. No arrests have been made. As part of the renovation, interior and exterior sections were restored and repainted. Windows were replaced and the structure stabilized. Repairs were made to the cast iron exterior and masonry. Wood floors were repaired and restored. The fire burned nearly all the way through the wooden first floor, said Peter Tartaglia, first deputy commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation. 'It's disturbing what happened,' he said in a phone interview Wednesday. 'But we'll get it fixed. We'll get it back. It was historically reconstructed and it's a wonderful piece of history. It's iconic in Westchester County to see that on the Hudson River.' The 60-foot-tall (18-meter-tall) lighthouse, owned by the county, opened in 1883 to guide ships past dangerous shoals along that stretch of the river, according to the parks department. Its lantern could cast a beam of light visible for 10 miles (16 kilometers), and it had a bell that could warn mariners during foggy conditions, the department said. During its 74 years of operation, 14 lighthouse keepers lived in the structure, some with their families. It was rendered obsolete when the former Tappan Zee Bridge was completed in 1955 and taken out of service in 1961, officials said. It's located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Manhattan in a park in the village of Sleepy Hollow, made famous in Washington Irving's 1820 tale about the Headless Horseman. It's one of seven Hudson River lighthouses that remain. The arson and vandalism comes a little more than a month after a barge pushed by a tugboat struck the historic Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) upriver from Tarrytown. The April 29 crash severely damaged the dock of the 151-year-old lighthouse, which advocates have been trying to save from crumbling into the river. ____ Associated Press writer Michael Hill in Albany, New York, contributed to this report.
