Indiana
Lawmakers seek possible special session on abortion
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The vast majority of Indiana’s Republican state legislators have signed a letter asking the governor to call them back into special session later this year if the U.S. Supreme Court rolls back the limits states can place on abortion.
The letter was sent to Gov. Eric Holcomb on Tuesday as lawmakers were wrapping up work on this year’s nine-week regular legislative session that ended early Wednesday.
Anti-abortion legislators decided to hold off on major action during the session until they see the Supreme Court’s decision on a Mississippi law that they hope will overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that affirmed the constitutional right to an abortion. That ruling isn’t expected until perhaps June.
“We have a responsibility to Hoosiers to ensure that our state laws are aligned with the Supreme Court’s decision if Roe v. Wade is wholly, or partially, overturned,” said the letter signed by 100 of the 110 Republican legislators.
Holcomb “is absolutely considering” the option of a special legislative session while awaiting the court ruling, said his press secretary, Erin Murphy.
Democratic state Sens. Jean Breaux of Indianapolis and Shelli Yoder of Bloomington said such a special session would put women’s lives in danger by reducing access to safe abortions.
“The notion that our 76% male state Legislature should be able to make decisions about women’s own bodies and livelihoods on their behalf is ludicrous,” they said in a statement.
West Virginia
Lawmakers OK changes to judicial special elections
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A bill that would allow a pending West Virginia Supreme Court appointee to remain on the bench has passed the Legislature.
The Senate approved the bill Tuesday. The House of Delegates, which passed the bill last month, agreed Wednesday to a technical change made by the Senate. The bill is in response to the February resignation of Justice Evan Jenkins, who returned to private law practice.
Some lawmakers said they favored the bill because it would allow Jenkins’ successor to serve longer than a short stint until a special election in November. A judicial commission will recommend candidates to Republican Gov. Jim Justice to be appointed to replace Jenkins, whose term ends in 2024.
Current state law triggers a special election when an elected judge or magistrate who resigns had at least two years remaining in their term. The bill would extend that period to at least three years.
Rhode Island
New information delays bond hearing for man in gun case
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A federal judge has continued a bond hearing for a Rhode Island man who authorities say had an arsenal of more than 200 guns at his home after prosecutors introduced “extensive” new information about the case.
Magistrate Judge Patricia Sullivan was supposed to set bail conditions for Ronald Andruchuk on Tuesday, but rescheduled the hearing for Friday in response to the new information, which remained under seal.
“I’ve looked at it and I’m satisfied that it has bearing on whether there are conditions of release,” Sullivan said at Tuesday’s hearing. Andruchuk’s lawyer said he needed more time to review the new information.
Andruchuk was arrested at his Burrillville home Feb. 24 by police investigating reports of gunfire. Police found the guns and ammunition all around the home. He faces several charges including possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, because of his alleged drug use.
Prosecutors objected to bail in the case, arguing that Andruchuk posed a danger to the community because he has the knowledge to get more weapons. But a judge on Monday ruled that Andruchuk could be released under certain conditions, which were supposed to be set Tuesday.
Andruchuk’s lawyer has said that his client is just a collector.
Massachusetts
Man who says he was wrongfully convicted freed from prison
BOSTON (AP) — Citing withheld evidence, a judge has freed a Boston man who spent 28 years in prison for a killing he says he did not commit, while the court weighs whether he deserves a new trial.
Stephen Pina, 54, hugged his 28-year-old son when he was released on Wednesday, The Boston Globe reported.
Pina was convicted of the 1993 fatal shooting of a man in Boston’s Mission Hill neighborhood.
Judge Peter Krupp, in releasing Pina, cited new revelations that prosecutors and Boston police withheld evidence that could have pointed to another suspect, and buried compromising information about a key witness. The judge said there was a “fairly high” likelihood that Pina would win a new trial.
Pina has not been exonerated. First, the court will hold a hearing next month to take a closer look at the evidence.
“We still have a fight ahead of us,” said Ira Grant, Pina’s attorney. “This is not a full exoneration yet, but this is a giant step forward. Not only does he get to be with his family, but it is the court announcing we have very favorable grounds for a new trial.”
The office of Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden in a statement said it had agreed to the additional hearing “to provide a more substantive review of the facts surrounding this case.”
Boston police declined comment.
“My main goal from day one has always been to prove my innocence and get exonerated,” Pina said. “All I want to do is clear my name and let it be known that I’m innocent. That vindication is not only for me, it’s for my mother and my son and his mother.”
Arkansas
Men sentenced for fraudulent wind farm project
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Two Arkansas men have been sentenced to federal prison for fraud and money laundering related to a proposed wind farm project in Elm Springs, Arkansas, that was never built.
Jody Douglas Davis, 47, of Searcy was sentenced to 12 years and Phillip Vincent Ridings, 64, to eight years. The two, who had pleaded innocent, were convicted in September.
Both were also ordered to pay more than $1.1 million in restitution during Tuesday’s sentencing, prosecutors said.
The two formed companies in Springdale, Arkansas, and Frisco, Texas, and fraudulently told investors they would develop a new wind turbine that was approved for a $10 million grant, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors say Davis also failed to tell investors he was convicted in 2009 in Oklahoma of wire fraud and money laundering.
“These defendants developed a scheme for the purposed of stealing large sums of money from innocent investors,” according to U.S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes.
