NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
1 R. Kelly accusation: Attorney Gloria Allred on Friday told the Associated Press that she has contacted law enforcement about concerns one of her clients may be the person in a VHS tape recently given to Chicago prosecutors that purportedly shows R&B star R. Kelly having sex with an underage girl. Allred represents multiple R. Kelly accusers, some of whom haven’t come forward publicly. Another attorney, Michael Avenatti, said Thursday he gave Chicago prosecutors the video. Kelly has been dogged for years with allegations of sexual misconduct. Through his lawyers, he has consistently denied them. CNN, which said it had viewed the footage, reported that the nearly 45-minute VHS tape shows a man who appears to be Kelly performing sex acts with a girl who refers to her body parts as 14 years old. Avenatti is best known for representing porn star Stormy Daniels in a lawsuit against President Trump. He said his office was retained by people regarding allegations of sexual assault of minors by Kelly, whose legal name is Robert Kelly.
2 Landfill fire: An unlicensed landfill just south of the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta has been burning for nearly five months, wafting sulfur-scented smoke throughout the area. State Environmental Protection Division spokesman Kevin Chambers said the property owner hasn’t cooperated with efforts to dampen the flames. South Fulton Mayor Bill Edwards said Tandy Ross Bullock already has been jailed twice over the 6-acre fire. The county has been fighting with Bullock over the landfill since at least 2007. State environmental officials and Democratic Rep. Debra Bazemore say emergency funds will be used to extinguish the fire. Federal health officials on Monday warned the smoke may cause headaches and respiratory irritation, but isn’t expected to cause long-term health issues.
3 Deputy burned: A man tossed a flammable liquid on an Ohio sheriff ’s deputy trying to arrest him and set him on fire, causing severe burns, authorities said. The Portage County Sheriff ’s Office said the deputy was injured Thursday night in Rootstown Township, about 55 miles south of Cleveland. The building where the deputy was trying to arrest the man also caught fire and was damaged. Jay Brannon, 45, has been charged with arson and attempted murder.
4 Justice Ginsburg: The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday announced that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has returned to work at the building for the first time since lung cancer surgery in late December. The court’s press office said the 85year-old attended the justices’ Friday closeddoor conference at which they’re weighing whether to add new cases and finalizing opinions in cases argued in the fall. Ginsburg missed six days of arguments and three private conferences as she recuperated from the December surgery. The court has said she participated in the court’s work despite her absence. Ginsburg made her first public appearance since the surgery last week when she attended a musical account of her life that was put on by her daughter-in-law and other musicians.
5 Hazing arrests: Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge arrested nine fraternity members for hazing-related crimes that included ordering pledges to lie in piles of broken glass, kicking pledges with steel-toed boots and urinating on them. The men, ages 19 to 23, were members of Delta Kappa Epsilon. The university said their charges range from misdemeanor hazing to felony second-degree battery and false imprisonment, as the university toughens its approach to such incidents after the death of a pledge in a fraternity drinking ritual more than a year ago.