National Roundup

Rhode Island Costume theft can't stop 'The Nutcracker' show PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A Rhode Island ballet company says its annual production of "The Nutcracker" will go on as scheduled despite the theft the title character's mask and costume, the Sugar Plum Fairy's tutu and other costumes. The Festival Ballet Providence's costumes were discovered missing from a Pawtucket warehouse last week. Artistic Director Mihailo Djuric says while "a significant blow," the theft has made the dancers determined to make this year's performance extra special. He has contacted ballet companies across the nation to see what is available to borrow, and several have stepped up. The value of the stolen costumes hasn't been determined, but is estimated to be in the thousands of dollars. Police are investigating. Alabama Ex-astronaut charged in traffic deaths can drive TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - A former astronaut charged in the traffic deaths of two girls can continue driving while awaiting trial, but only with restrictions, a judge ruled. Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge Bradley Almond, in a decision released Friday afternoon, ruled that former space shuttle commander James Halsell Jr. can't consume any alcohol, illegal drugs or medication unless he has a prescription. Almond also ruled that Halsell, 60, must have a special locking device installed on his car's ignition, and the Huntsville man must undergo twice-weekly testing. Halsell, who is free on bond, fought to keep his driver's license after being charged with murder and assault in the traffic deaths of two young girls in Tuscaloosa County in June. While he hasn't entered a plea, his attorneys filed a document in a civil lawsuit casting blame on another driving. Authorities said alcohol was a possible factor in the case, but Halsell refused to be tested for the presence of alcohol or drugs following the crash, leading to a two-year-old suspension of his license. Halsell appealed and a court postponed the license suspension. Court documents show Halsell was on probation after receiving a DUI ticket in Los Angeles in 2014. Halsell was arrested after a wreck in June that killed 11-year-old Niomi James and 13-year-old Jayla Parler on a rural highway. The assault charges stemmed from injuries suffered by the girls' father, Pernell James of Brent, who was driving, and his female friend, Shontel Cutts. Relatives of the children have filed suit over the crash. Halsell's attorneys filed a document in one of the suits saying the driver of the car carrying the girls failed to yield and contributed to the wreck. A hearing is set for Dec. 2. Montana State lawmaker appeals 'dark money' fine BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) - A state lawmaker who was found to have accepted illegal corporate campaign contributions has appealed his $68,000 fine to the Montana Supreme Court. The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports Republican Rep. Art Wittich of Bozeman filed the appeal on Nov. 17 and posted a $105,000 bond so that he does not have to pay his fine until the appeal is complete. In April, 10 of 12 jurors found Wittich violated campaign finance laws during his 2010 state Senate campaign by accepting nearly $20,000 in in-kind contributions from the National Right to Work Committee. Wittich filed a motion for a new trial in July, arguing that jurors relied on faulty evidence and cost estimates provided by a witness. The motion also argued the state's definition of a campaign contribution is unconstitutional. The motion was rejected in September. Colorado @ROUND UP Briefs Headline:Man overheard confessing to DUI gets jail ASPEN, Colo. (AP) - A Glen­wood Springs man who was overheard by an Aspen police detective laughing about being drunk at the time of a car accident he had pleaded not guilty to has been sentenced to more than a year in jail. The Aspen Daily News reports that 21-year-old Colin Buchanan was sentenced Monday to nearly 400 days in jail after previously changing his plea to guilty in connection to a head-on collision near Emma. Buchanan pleaded guilty to vehicular assault and misdemeanor DUI. Buchanan's attorneys had been working to have the legal proceedings dismissed but a detective who was going to testify at trial overheard Buchanan telling a pot-shop employee that he was drunk at the time of the crash. Arizona Trial set for man in improvised explosives case PHOENIX (AP) - An October 2017 trial has been set for a Syrian man charged with supplying components of improvised explosive devices to a jihadist group in Iraq that mounted attacks against the U.S. military. Ahmed Alahmedalabdaloklah has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. He is accused of supplying the group with IED components that were used against U.S. soldiers in Iraq. The FBI said his fingerprints were found on items uncovered during the 2006 discovery of one of the largest IED caches in Iraq. The U.S. government determined that the materials seized were associated with IED attacks in which U.S. forces suffered casualties. The indictment said certain parts in IEDs that were used against the U.S. military were manufactured by a company headquartered in Arizona. California Court: Agent had duty to disclose discrepancy SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A real estate agent who represented the seller of a Malibu mansion and worked for the same firm as the buyer's agent had a responsibility to disclose a discrepancy in the home's size, the California Supreme Court said Monday. The court ruled unanimously that salespeople working for so-called dual agent brokers have a responsibility to disclose all information affecting the value of the property regardless of which party they represent. Dual-agent brokers represent both the buyer and seller of a property. The California Association of Realtors had raised concerns that requiring such disclosures would force agents to turn over confidential information that they had learned from the buyer or seller. The California Supreme Court said the lawsuit it ruled on did not raise that problem. The ruling came in a lawsuit against Coldwell Banker and one of its agents representing the seller of a Malibu home. The plaintiff, Hiroshi Horiike, was represented by another Coldwell Banker agent. He purchased the home, but alleged in a subsequent lawsuit that the seller's agent had misrepresented its size. The trial court concluded that the agent for the seller had no fiduciary duty to the buyer, and a jury found in favor of Coldwell Banker. An appeals court overturned that decision. Published: Thu, Nov 24, 2016