JENNIFER REALI, COLO.’S “FATAL ATTRACTION” KILLER, DIES
Jennifer Reali, known as Colorado’s “fatal attraction” killer after fatally shooting the wife of her lover at point-blank range in what amounted to an execution, has died.
In 1990, Reali, then 28, dressed in camouflage and wearing a ski mask, gunned down her lover’s wife, Dianne Hood, as the victim was leaving a lupus support meeting in Colorado Springs. Reali testified that Brian Hood persuaded her to kill his wife, claiming it was “God’s plan.”
Reali, 55, was released from prison in December, according to the Colorado Department of Corrections, and was on parole in the southern metro area.
She died March 24, said Mark Fairbairn, a DOC spokesman.
Sentenced to life without parole in 1992 on a first-degree-murder conviction, her sentence was commuted in 2011 by Gov. Bill Ritter, making her eligible for parole. She was denied parole in 2014, 2015 and 2016 because she was considered a risk.
School board picks new superintendent.
Thomas S. Tucker, who was the first African-American to reach top education jobs in Ohio, was hired Thursday night as the new head of the Douglas County School District.
Tucker was named superintendent after a 7-0 vote by the board. He was hailed by board members as a “unifier” and “apolitical.” He also drew praise for being a staunch advocate for public school students.
“This man is truly a champion for public education,” board President Ray said. “He is an inspiration.”
Tucker was among three initial applicants for the Douglas job. Karen Brofft, superintendent of the Lewis-Palmer School District, north of Colorado Springs, also vied for the post. Daniel Clemens, superintendent of North Kansas City Schools in Kansas City, Mo., dropped out of consideration.
Tucker is the superintendent of Princeton City Schools in Cincinnati. He has 29 years of experience serving the Kansas and Ohio public school systems. He was named National Superintendent of the Year twice — by the American Association of School Administrators in 2016 and by the National Alliance of Black School Educators in 2013.
Falling beam kills construction worker.
A 25year-old construction worker was killed Wednesday morning when he was struck by a falling metal beam at a work site near Severance.
Hayden Dean Wood of Fort Collins was identified Thursday by the Weld County coroner’s office.
Wood was working at a site on County Road 23 when he was struck by the beam. He was taken to the Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, where he was pronounced dead Wednesday afternoon.
The incident is being investigated by local authorities and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
2018 hurricane season expected to be above average.
After the costliest Atlantic hurricane season in history last year, early forecasts indicate 2018 will be above average.
Fourteen named storms are expected, and there’s a greater-than-normal chance of a major system striking the U.S., according to ColoDavid rado State University.
CSU’s forecast is closely watched. It’s now in its 35th year, and comes after hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria helped drive total losses to more than $215 billion in 2017. However, because it comes so early, the April forecast can be the least accurate, according to Phil Klotzbach, lead author of the report.
“Spring is very volatile,” Klotzbach said. “The changes from April to June can be pretty dramatic.”
Seven storms could become hurricanes this year and three major systems may reach Category 3 or stronger on the five-step, Saffir-Simpson scale, according to the forecast.