National Roundup

Vermont
U.S. attorney: State seeing disturbing trend of meth sales
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Federal prosecutors are seeing increasing amounts of the drug methamphetamine in the state, the U.S. attorney says.

Hamza Sharifshoble was sentenced to five years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute the drug, federal prosecutors said.

The Vermont Drug Task Force started investigating the distribution of meth in the Chittenden County area in April 2019, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

The task force and Homeland Security Investigations arranged purchases of the drug from two of Sharifshoble’s co-defendants and later from Sharifshoble himself, prosecutor said.

Sharifshoble conspired to distribute over 90 grams of high-purity methamphetamine, prosecutors said.

“We are seeing the disturbing trend of increasing amounts of pure methamphetamine in Vermont,” U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan said in a written statement. “This case reflects our determination and ongoing efforts to keep this highly addictive and potentially deadly substance out of Vermont and to punish those who profit from dealing it.”

Washington
Senate schedules confirmation hearing for Merrick Garland
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Judiciary Committee has set a confirmation hearing for Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden’s nominee for attorney general.

Garland’s confirmation hearing will begin on Feb. 22. The two-day hearing will include Garland’s testimony and a second day for outside witnesses to testify.

The committee’s chair, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, said Garland’s hearing was particularly urgent after the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, when hundreds of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol as Congress was meeting to vote to certify Biden’s electoral win.

Garland is a federal appeals court judge who in 2016 was snubbed by Republicans for a seat on the Supreme Court. He held senior positions at the Justice Department decades ago, including as a supervisor of the prosecution of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

The pick will force Senate Republicans to contend with the nomination of someone they spurned four years ago — refusing even to hold hearings when a Supreme Court vacancy arose — but Biden is banking on Garland’s credentials and reputation for moderation to ensure confirmation.

“Judge Garland will serve the Justice Department and our country with honor and integrity,” Durbin said. “He is a consensus pick who should be confirmed swiftly on his merits.”

The committee is set to vote on Garland’s nomination on March 1.

Alabama
Lawmakers would ban drug treatment for transgender kids
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it a felony for doctors to treat transgender youth with hormonal therapy, puberty blockers and surgery to help their transition.

The House Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing Wednesday afternoon on the bill  by Republican Rep. Wes Allen.

The bill would prohibit the use of puberty blocking drugs, hormonal therapy and surgery to treat transgender minors. Violators could face up to 10 years in prison.

Advocacy groups, including the Human Rights Campaign, are opposing the bill that they say will prevent doctors from providing the best medical care to transgender youth.

Alabama is one of at least eight states where conservative lawmakers are pushing such measures, arguing such decisions should wait until adulthood. The bill calls the treatments a “public health risk.”

The committee meeting begins at 1:45 p.m. The public hearing and meeting can be watched online on the Legislature’s website.

Arizona
Police: Woman assaults boyfriend who left TV on
BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. (AP) — Police in Bullhead City police arrested a 74-year-old woman accused of hitting her sleeping boyfriend in the head with a hammer because he left the television on during the night.

They said Marilyn Kepler told officers she was upset with her boyfriend because she couldn’t sleep with the TV on.

Kepler was booked into the Mohave County Jail on suspicion of aggravated assault and domestic violence, according to police.

It was unclear Tuesday if she had a lawyer yet for her case.

Police said the 74-year-old victim was treated at a Kingman hospital for head injuries.

His name wasn’t immediately released.

The man told police he was able to convince Kepler to drive him to the hospital after the assault.

But instead of taking him to get medical attention, Kepler drove past the hospital and allegedly pulled a gun on him while she was driving.

The man was able to wrestle the gun away and get out of the car before Kepler drove off.

People driving by saw the victim and took him to the nearest hospital.

New York
Attorney General James sues 2 anti-abortion protesters
NEW YORK (AP) — New York state Attorney General Letitia James on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against two anti-abortion protesters, accusing them of repeated “obstructive, threatening, harassing, and violent activity” at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Manhattan.

In the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, James said that Bevelyn Beatty and Edmee Chavannes repeatedly blocked patients’ entrance to the clinic in violation of access laws, and threatened violence against patients and staff.

James’ suit accuses Chavannes of making threats, and Beatty of physical acts including shoving and slapping patient escorts as well as slamming the hand of a staff worker in a door.

The women’s continued their behavior during the pandemic, without wearing masks, according to the lawsuit.

An email was sent to the women’s web site seeking comment.

The lawsuit asks for the women to be barred from protesting within a certain distance from the clinic entrance, as well as requiring them to stop using threats or physical intimidation.