NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
1 Diverted flight:
A Southwest Airlines flight traveling from Las Vegas to Milwaukee was diverted to Denver after reporting “a pressurization issue,” officials said. Denver International Airport spokeswoman Laura Coale said Flight 100, which departed Las Vegas at 6 p.m. Friday, diverted to Denver after about 90 minutes. Fire department crews evaluated passengers, but just one person required medical aid and that for a slip and fall injury. Denver’s KMGH-TV reported that Southwest referred to the “pressurization issue,” but did not elaborate. The statement said 175 passengers and six crew members were aboard the Boeing 737-800, which will be taken out of service and inspected.
2 Embezzlement:
Two former Buena Park (Orange County) officials who worked in the parks department have pleaded guilty to embezzling $1.3 million from the city. The former parks chief, Rudolph Juarez, was sentenced to 10 years in prison Friday, and former parks supervisor, Gabriel Garcia, was sentenced to six years. Prosecutors said among the schemes, Juarez reduced the hours of employees but kept them on the books as full time. Authorities said he also used the names of family members to hire phony employees and get their paychecks sent to bank accounts he controlled.
3 Smoking age:
A bill that would make Hawaii the first state to raise the legal smoking age to 21 cleared the Legislature on Friday and is headed to the governor. The bill would prevent adolescents from smoking, buying or possessing both traditional and electronic cigarettes. Gov. David Ige said he hasn’t yet decided whether he will sign the bill. Violators would be fined $10 for the first offense, and subsequent violations would lead to a $50 fine or mandatory community service. Dozens of local governments have similar bans, including Hawaii County and New York City.
4 Student slain:
Preliminary murder charges have been filed against a man in the death of an Indiana University student whose body was found Friday in a rural area after she was reported missing. State Police Sgt. Curt Durnil said Daniel Messel, 49, of Bloomington, was arrested in the death of IU senior Hannah Wilson, 22. Police have not disclosed a possible motive. Wilson’s body was found near Lake Lemon. An autopsy Saturday found she died from trauma injuries to her head.
5 Coyote caught:
A wily coyote was no match for the NYPD. Police collared the creature near a sidewalk cafe in downtown Manhattan on Saturday. The coyote was spotted in the Battery Park City neighborhood. Officers tailed her up and down a marina and a Hudson River park for about an hour before using a tranquilizer dart to subdue her. She is being cared for at the Center for Animal Care and Control. Police said there were no injuries to humans or animals. It is unclear if the coyote was the same one that was spotted in Riverside Park on Wednesday. At least four coyote sightings have been reported in Manhattan this year.