Tennessee
Supervisor fired for alleged racist notes and speech
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A contractor has fired a cotton warehouse supervisor in Memphis, Tennessee, after two black employees accused him of saying that a microwave and a water fountain were for “whites only.”
Federal Compress said the Atkinson Cotton Warehouse supervisor was removed from the warehouse and is no longer employed by the company, according to a statement obtained Thursday by The Associated Press. Federal Compress provides workers for the warehouse.
According to WMC-TV, Antonio Harris and Mario Mangrum said they filed racial discrimination complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against the supervisor, who was not named by Federal Compress.
The EEOC does not make discrimination complaints public.
Harris recorded the supervisor, who said, “I need to put a sign here that says ‘White People Only’” on a water fountain.
Harris then asked the supervisor what would be done if he were caught drinking from the fountain.
“That’s when we hang you,” the supervisor said, according to the audio recording, which was obtained by the television station.
Pennsylvania
Man arrested for cursing cops files free-speech suit
HOUSTON, Pa. (AP) — A western Pennsylvania man arrested for cursing in front of police has filed a lawsuit saying his right to free speech was violated.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newspaper reported Thursday that Richard Pustovrh was arguing with his employers in September 2012 and they called the police. Pustovrh lives in Houston, 30 miles southwest of Pittsburgh.
A complaint says Pustovrh used an obscenity to voice his frustration after a Canonsburg police officer warned him not to.
He was handcuffed and later found guilty of disorderly conduct and obscene language. The obscene-language charge was withdrawn when he appealed.
Pustovrh wants a declaration the police actions were unconstitutional. He’s seeking punitive damages of $100,000.
Canonsburg Police Chief R.T. Bell can’t be reached for comment.
Oregon
Owner of tattoo parlor pleads guilty to attack
COQUILLE, Ore. (AP) — The owner of a tattoo shop in Coos County has pleaded guilty to accusations he tried to gun down a competitor.
Business at Bay Area Ink was dropping off, so owner Dave Wonnacott plotted in July to kill the owner of the rival Flying Chicken Tattoo shop in North Bend, prosecutors said.
But Brian Graham survived the attack outside his shop. He told police a man he knew as David Pierce came at him, wearing rubber gloves, pointing a handgun and telling him, “You’re in the wrong town.”
The gun jammed, the two struggled and the attacker fled, the police report said.
Police later found that Pierce was Wonnacott, who had moved to the coastal town after serving time in Nevada on an assault charge.
After he was arrested, Wonnacott plotted in jail to do harm to Graham to keep him from testifying, prosecutors said.
Wonnacott was sentenced Tuesday to more than 11 years in prison on charges that included attempted murder and conspiring to tamper with a witness, The World newspaper reported.
New York
NY mayor wants Obama’s library placed in his city
NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mayor Bill de Blasio wants his city to be the home of President Barack Obama’s future library.
Obama hasn’t decided which city will house his presidential library. Many observers believe the favorite to be Chicago, his hometown.
But New York may have received a lift thanks to a recent Politico story. It reported Obama is considering moving to New York after his term ends in 2016.
Obama received his undergraduate degree at Columbia University, which is making a bid for the library.
De Blasio said Thursday he’s supporting the Ivy League university’s efforts. The Democrat says Columbia would be “the perfect place” for the library.
He also says he’ll let Columbia and Obama’s team know the city would support any deal.
Washington
Police: robbery suspect addicted to game of golf
BREMERTON, Wash. (AP) — Police in Washington state say a man suspected of taking $9,200 worth of clubs and other merchandise from the pro shop at Gold Mountain Golf Course had no criminal history, but appears to be addicted to golf.
Bremerton police detectives spotted some of the stolen gear for sale online and arrested the suspect Wednesday in Kirkland.
Police Chief Steve Strachan said in a news release that robberies are often the result of addictions, but this is the first one police have seen “that looks like a golf addiction.”
The Kitsap Sun reports other property that was stolen from the pro shop on Memorial Day was recovered from the suspect’s apartment.
New York
Station closed 1 hour by suspect package probe
NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s Penn Station has reopened after a brief evacuation while authorities investigated a suspicious package.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority says the Manhattan station, one of the nation’s busiest transit hubs, was evacuated Thursday night after the suspicious package was reported about 10 p.m.
Police gave the all clear about an hour later.
While the station was closed, Long Island Railroad service was suspended between Penn Station and the Jamaica section of Queens. After it reopened, some residual delays were expected.
California
Nancy Reagan commemorates husband’s death
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Nancy Reagan has visited the California grave of her husband, President Ronald Reagan, on the 10th anniversary of his death.
The former first lady watched Thursday as flowers were laid on the headstone at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.
Reagan died in 2004 after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The Republican beat incumbent Jimmy Carter in the 1980 election and served two terms.
The 92-year-old Mrs. Reagan is in fragile health. Two years ago, she suffered broken ribs in a fall. She used a wheelchair Thursday.
She has visited her husband’s grave every year on the anniversary of his death.
