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Politico
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Politico
DeSantis set to pick Florida's new LG — and a possible 2026 governor candidate
Gov. DeSantis plans to make his announcement Tuesday, according to four people familiar with the planning, granted anonymity to relay private conversations. Two of the people confirmed the press conference is scheduled to occur at the Tampa Green Beret Association. The location is symbolic given Collins' military service; he served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan during his 23 years in the military, and he had part of his leg amputated during his military service. Collins then requalified and spent five additional years with the Green Berets. Collins is one of the governor's top allies in the state Legislature. In recent months, he has publicly defended Hope Florida — the effort spearheaded by Casey DeSantis — as it came under scrutiny by the Republican-supermajority House. Collins also traveled to the Middle East in June to help organize DeSantis' rescue flights to help Americans fleeing Israel. Several possible contenders had been bandied about in the months since Nuñez left, but Collins shot to the top of the list due in part to his never-wavering interest in the position. 'If the governor asks me to do that, you serve your state. How do you say no to that?' Collins previously told POLITICO. The governor had considered two former Florida House speakers for the job: Republicans Jose Oliva and Richard Corcoran. The governor's office declined to share information about the event, but POLITICO previously reported that DeSantis waffled on Collins because he thought he was treating an appointment like a foregone conclusion.
UPI
6 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
On This Day, Aug. 6: U.S. drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima
1 of 6 | An unidentified newsman stands amid the rubble of Hiroshima in September 1945. On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on the city. UPI File Photo | License Photo Aug. 6 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1890, the first execution by electric chair was carried out. William Kemmler was put to death at Auburn Prison in New York for the ax murder of his girlfriend. In 1926, Gertrude Ederle of New York became the first American to swim the English Channel. In 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later an atomic bomb hit Nagasaki and Japan soon surrendered, ending World War II. In 1965, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law. The measure barred states from conducting discriminatory voting practices. UPI File Photo In 1969, Robert Rheault, commander of the Green Berets during the Vietnam War, and seven of his subordinates were arrested for summarily executing Thai Khac Chuyen, a Vietnamese civilian they suspected of being a double agent. The charges were later dropped, the Army said, in the interests of national security. In 1978, Pope Paul VI died at the age of 80 after a heart attack. He had led the Roman Catholic Church for 15 years. In 1986, William Schroeder died of a stroke in Louisville, Ky., after 620 days with the Jarvik-7 mechanical heart. At the time, he had been the longest-living permanent artificial heart patient. In 1997, a Korean Air jetliner crashed in Guam's capital city of Adana, killing 228 people. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that pilot error, fatigue and poor training were the causes of the crash involving the Boeing 747-300. Twenty-six people survived. File Photo courtesy of Michael A. Meyers/Department of Defense In 2009, the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor for the U.S. Supreme Court on a 68-31 vote. In 2011, Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan shot down a Chinook transport helicopter, killing 30 Americans and eight Afghans. Officials said it was the highest U.S. death toll in a single incident in the decade-old war. In 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama signed legislation that bans protests within 300 feet of military funerals 2 hours before or after the services. In 2018, rival leaders in South Sudan signed a power-sharing agreement to end a five-year civil war and form a transitional government. In 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz would be her running mate in her presidential campaign against former President Donald Trump. Trump won the election. File Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI
01-08-2025
Texas man indicted for fatally shooting Afghan refugee who had helped US defuse bombs
HOUSTON -- The brother of an Afghan refugee who helped U.S. forces defuse bombs during the war in Afghanistan expressed frustration Thursday that it took more than three months for the Texas man accused of fatally shooting his sibling over a parking dispute to be indicted in the case. When Abdul Rahman Waziri, 31, was shot while getting his mail at his Houston apartment complex on April 27, police knew who the alleged shooter was as the man had identified himself to officers at the scene, according to authorities. Katia Trevon Bougere, 31, told officers 'he and Waziri were arguing over parking,' police said. 'After consulting with the Harris County District Attorney's Office, the male was released and the investigation continued,' Houston police said in a statement a day after the shooting. On June 17, police said the case would be referred to a grand jury. Bougere was indicted on Monday on a murder charge. Bougere was not arrested after his murder indictment but issued a summons to appear in court on Aug. 5. Abdullah Khan, Waziri's older brother, said he and his family were upset that months had passed without any developments in the case. 'It was heartbreaking … it was really hopeless. I couldn't imagine if someone is killing someone senselessly. And then the person walking free for months and months. It's just terrible,' Khan, 36, told The Associated Press during a phone interview. Waziri and his brother had worked for the Afghan National Mine Reduction Group, a highly trained unit that cleared improvised explosive devices and mines for U.S. Army Special Forces and Afghan commandos. A group of Green Berets who had worked with the National Mine Reduction Group had sent a letter in May to Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare asking for action in the case. A petition by the 1208 Foundation that asked for the alleged shooter to be charged has received more than 86,000 signatures. The foundation provides aid to Afghans who worked with U.S. Special Forces to clear explosives. The Harris County District Attorney's Office declined to comment on the case. 'As the case is pending, it's not our office's policy to discuss facts related to the investigation,' spokesperson Courtney Fischer said in an email. Court records did not list an attorney for Bougere. He did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment. Omar Khawaja, an attorney for Waziri's family, said Bougere has claimed that he shot Waziri in self-defense. Waziri 'was known as a gentle giant ... not someone who is going to lose his cool over a dispute in a parking lot,' Khawaja said. Khan said his brother had parked his car in front of the mailboxes at his apartment complex and was getting his mail when he was confronted by Bougere. A witness who saw the physical confrontation between Waziri and Bougere indicated Waziri was not the aggressor and had raised his hands and told Bougere, 'Don't shoot,' Khan said. Khan had worked with the National Mine Reduction Group from 2008 until coming to the U.S. in 2020. Waziri worked for the unit from 2016 until U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021. Khan settled in Tampa, Florida. Waziri lived with his brother before coming to Houston about two years ago. Khan said his brother had planned to return to Tampa with his wife and two daughters after his apartment lease in Houston had ended. 'When he came and we were feeling safe, we were like, 'Oh, thank God. We got out of Afghanistan and no more gunfire, no more bombs.' But unfortunately for my brother, it happened to him,' Khan said.
San Francisco Chronicle
31-07-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Texas man indicted for fatally shooting Afghan refugee who had helped US troops defuse bombs
HOUSTON (AP) — The brother of an Afghan refugee who helped U.S. forces defuse bombs during the war in Afghanistan expressed frustration Thursday that it took more than three months for the Texas man accused of fatally shooting his sibling over a parking dispute to be indicted in the case. When Abdul Rahman Waziri, 31, was shot while getting his mail at his Houston apartment complex on April 27, police knew who the alleged shooter was as the man had identified himself to officers at the scene, according to authorities. Katia Trevon Bougere, 31, told officers 'he and Waziri were arguing over parking,' police said. 'After consulting with the Harris County District Attorney's Office, the male was released and the investigation continued,' Houston police said in a statement a day after the shooting. On June 17, police said the case would be referred to a grand jury. Bougere was indicted on Monday on a murder charge. Bougere was not arrested after his murder indictment but issued a summons to appear in court on Aug. 5. Abdullah Khan, Waziri's older brother, said he and his family were upset that months had passed without any developments in the case. 'It was heartbreaking … it was really hopeless. I couldn't imagine if someone is killing someone senselessly. And then the person walking free for months and months. It's just terrible,' Khan, 36, told The Associated Press during a phone interview. Waziri and his brother had worked for the Afghan National Mine Reduction Group, a highly trained unit that cleared improvised explosive devices and mines for U.S. Army Special Forces and Afghan commandos. A group of Green Berets who had worked with the National Mine Reduction Group had sent a letter in May to Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare asking for action in the case. A petition by the 1208 Foundation that asked for the alleged shooter to be charged has received more than 86,000 signatures. The foundation provides aid to Afghans who worked with U.S. Special Forces to clear explosives. The Harris County District Attorney's Office declined to comment on the case. 'As the case is pending, it's not our office's policy to discuss facts related to the investigation,' spokesperson Courtney Fischer said in an email. Court records did not list an attorney for Bougere. He did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment. Omar Khawaja, an attorney for Waziri's family, said Bougere has claimed that he shot Waziri in self-defense. Waziri 'was known as a gentle giant ... not someone who is going to lose his cool over a dispute in a parking lot,' Khawaja said. Khan said his brother had parked his car in front of the mailboxes at his apartment complex and was getting his mail when he was confronted by Bougere. A witness who saw the physical confrontation between Waziri and Bougere indicated Waziri was not the aggressor and had raised his hands and told Bougere, 'Don't shoot,' Khan said. Khan had worked with the National Mine Reduction Group from 2008 until coming to the U.S. in 2020. Waziri worked for the unit from 2016 until U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021. Khan settled in Tampa, Florida. Waziri lived with his brother before coming to Houston about two years ago. Khan said his brother had planned to return to Tampa with his wife and two daughters after his apartment lease in Houston had ended. 'When he came and we were feeling safe, we were like, 'Oh, thank God. We got out of Afghanistan and no more gunfire, no more bombs.' But unfortunately for my brother, it happened to him,' Khan said. ___
Winnipeg Free Press
31-07-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Texas man indicted for fatally shooting Afghan refugee who had helped US troops defuse bombs
HOUSTON (AP) — The brother of an Afghan refugee who helped U.S. forces defuse bombs during the war in Afghanistan expressed frustration Thursday that it took more than three months for the Texas man accused of fatally shooting his sibling over a parking dispute to be indicted in the case. When Abdul Rahman Waziri, 31, was shot while getting his mail at his Houston apartment complex on April 27, police knew who the alleged shooter was as the man had identified himself to officers at the scene, according to authorities. Katia Trevon Bougere, 31, told officers 'he and Waziri were arguing over parking,' police said. 'After consulting with the Harris County District Attorney's Office, the male was released and the investigation continued,' Houston police said in a statement a day after the shooting. On June 17, police said the case would be referred to a grand jury. Bougere was indicted on Monday on a murder charge. Bougere was not arrested after his murder indictment but issued a summons to appear in court on Aug. 5. Abdullah Khan, Waziri's older brother, said he and his family were upset that months had passed without any developments in the case. 'It was heartbreaking … it was really hopeless. I couldn't imagine if someone is killing someone senselessly. And then the person walking free for months and months. It's just terrible,' Khan, 36, told The Associated Press during a phone interview. Waziri and his brother had worked for the Afghan National Mine Reduction Group, a highly trained unit that cleared improvised explosive devices and mines for U.S. Army Special Forces and Afghan commandos. A group of Green Berets who had worked with the National Mine Reduction Group had sent a letter in May to Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare asking for action in the case. A petition by the 1208 Foundation that asked for the alleged shooter to be charged has received more than 86,000 signatures. The foundation provides aid to Afghans who worked with U.S. Special Forces to clear explosives. The Harris County District Attorney's Office declined to comment on the case. 'As the case is pending, it's not our office's policy to discuss facts related to the investigation,' spokesperson Courtney Fischer said in an email. Court records did not list an attorney for Bougere. He did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment. Omar Khawaja, an attorney for Waziri's family, said Bougere has claimed that he shot Waziri in self-defense. Waziri 'was known as a gentle giant … not someone who is going to lose his cool over a dispute in a parking lot,' Khawaja said. Khan said his brother had parked his car in front of the mailboxes at his apartment complex and was getting his mail when he was confronted by Bougere. A witness who saw the physical confrontation between Waziri and Bougere indicated Waziri was not the aggressor and had raised his hands and told Bougere, 'Don't shoot,' Khan said. Khan had worked with the National Mine Reduction Group from 2008 until coming to the U.S. in 2020. Waziri worked for the unit from 2016 until U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021. Khan settled in Tampa, Florida. Waziri lived with his brother before coming to Houston about two years ago. Khan said his brother had planned to return to Tampa with his wife and two daughters after his apartment lease in Houston had ended. 'When he came and we were feeling safe, we were like, 'Oh, thank God. We got out of Afghanistan and no more gunfire, no more bombs.' But unfortunately for my brother, it happened to him,' Khan said. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano:
