National Roundup

Oklahoma
Measure would suspend abortion doctor licenses
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Physicians who perform abortions would be prohibited from obtaining or renewing a license to practice medicine under legislation approved by the Oklahoma House.

Under the measure, Oklahoma medical licensure officials would be prohibited from renewing or granting a license to any physician who performs an abortion, except when an abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the mother.

The House voted 55-9 for the Senate-approved measure late Thursday and sent it back to the Senate for consideration of House amendments.

A spokeswoman for a New York-based abortion rights group called the legislation “a new low.”

Amanda Allen, senior state legislative counsel for the Center for Reproductive Rights, says Oklahoma politicians have made it their mission to restrict women’s access to health care services.

Pennsylvania
Police say woman aimed gun at motorist who flipped her off
UNIONTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A western Pennsylvania woman has been jailed on charges she pointed a gun at a man who gave her the finger after she cut him off in traffic.

Jesse Blackburn tells Uniontown police that 32-year-old Lindsey Diehl tracked his vehicle and confronted him outside his house on Friday night.

Police say Blackburn called 911 to report Diehl pointing a gun at him, during which she got out of her car and hit him with her cellphone.

Police say Diehl denied pointing either of two guns they found in her car at Diehl. Online court records don’t list an attorney for her.

Police say Diehl was upset because Blackburn wouldn’t apologize for the hand gesture.

She faces a preliminary hearing May 10 on charges of simple assault and reckless endangerment.

Texas
Woman charged in death of 5-month-old daughter
HOUSTON (AP) — A Houston woman has been charged in the death of her 5-month-old daughter who allegedly was bounced off a bed and onto a floor.

Harris County jail records show 22-year-old Tradezsha Bibbs was being held without bond Monday on a charge of capital murder of a person under age 6.

KPRC-TV reports Bibbs initially told investigators that Brielle Robinson on April 14 fell from a car seat onto some concrete.

Court documents indicate Bibbs later told Houston police that she dropped the crying girl onto a bed several times, causing the baby to bounce off and to the floor. Bibbs called 911 when Brielle stopped breathing.

An autopsy found the baby died of blunt-force trauma.

No attorney was listed to speak for Bibbs, who was arrested Sunday.

Massachusetts
Gangster’s ­girlfriend faces sentencing on contempt charge
BOSTON (AP) — A woman who spent 16 years on the run with Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger faces sentencing this week for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating whether other people helped Bulger as a fugitive.

Catherine Greig is already serving an eight-year prison term for helping Bulger avoid capture. She pleaded guilty to a criminal contempt charge in February for refusing to testify.

Greig is scheduled to be sentenced in U.S. District Court on Thursday. The contempt charge has no fixed maximum penalty.

Bulger fled Boston in late 1994 and remained a fugitive until he and Greig were captured in Santa Monica, California, in 2011.

The 86-year-old Bulger was convicted in 2013 for playing a role in 11 murders. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Idaho
Man convicted in fatal shooting of ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A man convicted in the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend will be sentenced June 24.

The Idaho Statesman reports jurors convicted 24-year-old Brandon Bahr on Friday of first-degree murder and three other charges in the case.

Court documents say Bahr had been arguing with his ex-girlfriend and 21-year-old Zacheriah Neil Peterson via text message before they agreed to meet at the Boise Depot on Sept. 23.

Prosecutors say Bahr stole a gun and used a shoplifted bandanna to hide his face.

Peterson was with two friends when Bahr shot him in the chest.

An Ada County prosecutor’s office news release says Bahr could be sentenced to life in prison for the first-degree murder conviction.

Massachusetts
State trooper accused of restraining, ­choking girlfriend
BOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Massachusetts State Police say they’ve arrested one of their own on domestic abuse charges.

State police say the unidentified 45-year-old trooper assaulted his girlfriend early Saturday morning at their Boxborough apartment. They say he restrained and choked her, and at one point put her in a chokehold before she was able to break free. State police say the woman then waited until the trooper fell asleep and fled the apartment.

The trooper has been charged with attempted strangulation and domestic abuse. He’s expected to be arraigned Monday in Ayer District Court.

State police say the trooper a 14-year veteran of the Massachusetts State Police, and is assigned to the Concord barracks. He has been relieved of duty.

Mississippi
Man gets 10 years for helping steal 52 guns from pawn shop
GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) — A federal judge has sentenced a 32-year-old Gulfport man to 10 years in prison for helping steal 52 firearms from a pawn shop.

The Sun Herald reports that U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden gave Octavia Jermaine Winters the maximum prison term Friday for stealing firearms from a licensed dealer.

The judge also fined Winters $4,000 and ordered him to help pay back $9,000 to Friendly Pawn and Auto in Saucier (SOH-shay).

Winters pleaded guilty in January. He was among six men accused in the burglary. One died in custody and four others have been sentenced. Two also got 10 years. The other two, including a former Columbia police officer, got shorter terms.