LAWMAKER ACCUSED OF SEX ASSAULT DEAD IN APPARENT SUICIDE
Dan Johnson, a Republican state lawmaker who defiantly denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl in the basement of his home, died in an apparent suicide Wednesday night, the county coroner said. He was 57.
Bullitt County Coroner Dave Billings said Johnson died of a single gunshot wound on Greenwell Ford Road in Mount Washington. Billings said Johnson stopped his car at the end of a bridge in a secluded area, got out and walked to the front of the car. Billings said an autopsy is scheduled for Thursday morning.
“I would say it is probably suicide,” he said.
Johnson was elected to the Legislature in 2016, part of a wave of Republican victories that gave the GOP control of the state House of Representatives for the first time in nearly 100 years.
The Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting published an account Monday from a woman saying Johnson sexually assaulted her in the basement of his home in 2013.
Presidential adviser leaving White House.
Omarosa Manigault Newman — the former “Apprentice” contestant who became one of President Donald Trump’s most prominent African-American supporters — was escorted off the White House grounds after resigning her post as a presidential adviser.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Wednesday that Manigault Newman’s last day will be Jan. 20.
Manigault Newman was an assistant to the president and director of communications for the White House Office of Public Liaison, working on outreach to various constituency groups. But the office languished under her watch, and White House chief of staff John Kelly had indicated changes were forthcoming, including her dismissal, according to two White House officials who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about personnel matters.
Repair of Puerto Rico’s power grid won’t be complete until May, Army Corps of Engineers says.
WASHINGTON» Puerto Rico’s electrical grid is unlikely to be fully restored until the end of May — months longer than the timeline offered by the island’s governor — the head of the Army Corps of Engineers said Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, commanding general and chief engineer for the Corps, said he expects Puerto Rico’s electric grid to reach 75 percent of customers by the end of January, 95 percent by the end of February and 100 percent by the end of May, more than eight months after Hurricane Maria hit.
Smiley talk show suspended amid sexual-misconduct allegations.
PBS is “indefinitely” suspending distribution of the late-night talk show “Tavis Smiley” after multiple misconduct allegations emerged against the show’s 53-year-old host, PBS said Wednesday.
While a statement from a PBS spokeswoman did not say what sort of misconduct was alleged, “PBS News Hour” on its website said the allegations involved “sexual misconduct.”
“PBS engaged an outside law firm to conduct an investigation immediately after learning of troubling allegations regarding Mr. Smiley,” a PBS spokesperson said. “This investigation included interviews with witnesses as well as with Mr. Smiley.
“The inquiry uncovered multiple, credible allegations of conduct that is inconsistent with the values and standards of PBS, and the totality of this information led to (Wednesday’s) decision.”
The news was first reported by Variety on Wednesday afternoon.
California firefighters gain on blaze amid wind threat.
LOS ANGELES»
Firefighters on Wednesday continued working to contain the fifth-largest fire in California history but warned that some communities are still at risk and could be in greater danger if unpredictable winds whip up and fan the flames.
Warnings of ideal conditions for wildfires were extended because of Santa Ana winds and lack of moisture, with a possible increase in wind gusts at the end of the week.
Evacuations continued for the seaside enclaves of Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria and the inland agricultural town of Fillmore.