Today is
Saturday November 23, 2024
HOUSTON (AP) — An attorney said Tuesday he is representing 120 accusers who have come forward with sexual misconduct allegations against Sean “Diddy†Combs, the hip-hop mogul who is awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Houston attorney Tony Buzbee said he expects lawsuits to be filed within the next month, with most expected to be filed in New York and Los Angeles. Buzbee described the victims as 60 males and 60 females, and that 25 were minors at the time of the alleged misconduct. One individual alleged he was 9 years old when he was abused, Buzbee said. The allegations cover a period from 1991 to this year.
“This type of sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation should never happen in the United States or anywhere else. This should have never been allowed to go on for so long. This conduct has created a mass of individuals who are injured, scared and scarred,†Buzbee said at a news conference.
Following the announcement of the accusations in Texas, an attorney for Combs said the performer “cannot address every meritless allegation in what has become a reckless media circus.â€
“That said, Mr. Combs emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any claim that he sexually abused anyone, including minors,†attorney Erica Wolff said in a statement. “He looks forward to proving his innocence and vindicating himself in court if and when claims are filed and served, where the truth will be established based on evidence, not speculation.â€
Buzbee said more than 3,280 individuals contacted his firm and alleged they were victimized by Combs and that after vetting the allegations, his firm decided to represent 120 people. Other cases are still being reviewed. He said some of his clients have spoken with the FBI.
The individuals that Buzbee’s firm is representing are from more than 25 states, with the majority from California, New York, Georgia and Florida.
The abuse that’s being alleged took place mostly at parties held in New York, California and Florida where individuals were given drinks that were laced with drugs, Buzbee said.
Some of the alleged conduct took place at auditions where “many times, especially young people, people wanting to break into the industry were coerced into this type of conduct in the promise of being made a star,†Buzbee said.
Combs, 54, has been locked up at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since pleading not guilty Sept. 17 to federal charges that he used his “power and prestige†to induce female victims into drugged-up, elaborately produced sexual performances with male sex workers in events dubbed “Freak Offs.â€
Other alleged victims have already filed lawsuits against Combs that include allegations of sexual assault.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. His attorney said he is innocent and will fight to clear his name.
Combs is one of the best-known music executives, producers and performers across hip-hop, having won three Grammys and worked with artists such as Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112. He founded Bad Boy Records in 1993, the influential fashion line Sean John, a vodka brand and the Revolt TV network. He sold off his stake in the latter company in June of this year.
Buzbee has also represented women who accused NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault and misconduct.
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Dockworkers at ports from Maine to Texas began walking picket lines early Tuesday in a strike over wages and automation that could reignite inflation and cause shortages of goods if it goes on more than a few weeks.
The contract between the ports and about 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association expired at midnight, and even though progress was reported in talks on Monday, the workers went on strike. The strike affecting 36 ports is the first by the union since 1977.
Workers began picketing at the Port of Philadelphia shortly after midnight, walking in a circle at a rail crossing outside the port and chanting “No work without a fair contract.â€
The union had message boards on the side of a truck reading: “Automation Hurts Families: ILA Stands For Job Protection.â€
Local ILA president Boise Butler said workers want a fair contract that doesn’t allow automation of their jobs.
Shipping companies made billions during the pandemic by charging high prices, he said. “Now we want them to pay back. They’re going to pay back,†Butler said.
He said the union will strike for as long as it needs to get a fair deal, and it has leverage over the companies.
“This is not something that you start and you stop,†he said. “We’re not weak,†he added, pointing to the union’s importance to the nation’s economy
At Port Houston, at least 50 workers started picketing around midnight local time carrying signs saying “No Work Without a Fair Contract.”
The U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents the ports, said Monday evening that both sides had moved off of their previous wage offers. But no deal was reached.
The union’s opening offer in the talks was for a 77% pay raise over the six-year life of the contract, with President Harold Daggett saying it’s necessary to make up for inflation and years of small raises. ILA members make a base salary of about $81,000 per year, but some can pull in over $200,000 annually with large amounts of overtime.
But Monday evening, the alliance said it had increased its offer to 50% raises over six years, and it pledged to keep limits on automation in place from the old contract. The union wants a complete ban on automation. It wasn’t clear just how far apart both sides are.
“We are hopeful that this could allow us to fully resume collective bargaining around the other outstanding issues in an effort to reach an agreement,†the alliance statement said.
In a statement early Tuesday, the union said it rejected the alliance’s latest proposal because it “fell far short of what ILA rank-and-file members are demanding in wages and protections against automation.†The two sides had not held formal negotiations since June.
“We are prepared to fight as long as necessary, to stay out on strike for whatever period of time it takes, to get the wages and protections against automation our ILA members deserve,†Daggett said in the statement. “They must now meet our demands for this strike to end.â€
The alliance said its offer tripled employer contributions to retirement plans and strengthened health care options.
Supply chain experts say consumers won’t see an immediate impact from the strike because most retailers stocked up on goods, moving ahead shipments of holiday gift items.
But if it goes more than a few weeks, a work stoppage would significantly snarl the nation’s supply chain, potentially leading to higher prices and delays in goods reaching households and businesses.
If drawn out, the strike will force businesses to pay shippers for delays and cause some goods to arrive late for peak holiday shopping season — potentially impacting delivery of anything from toys or artificial Christmas trees to cars, coffee and fruit.
The strike will likely have an almost immediate impact on supplies of perishable imports like bananas, for example. The ports affected by the strike handle 3.8 million metric tons of bananas each year, or 75% of the nation’s supply, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
It also could snarl exports from East Coast ports and create traffic jams at ports on the West Coast, where workers are represented by a different union. Railroads say they can ramp up to carry more freight from the West Coast, but analysts say they can’t move enough to make up for the closed Eastern ports.
“If the strikes go ahead, they will cause enormous delays across the supply chain, a ripple effect which will no doubt roll into 2025 and cause chaos across the industry,†noted Jay Dhokia, founder of supply chain management and logistics firm Pro3PL.
J.P. Morgan estimated that a strike that shuts down East and Gulf coast ports could cost the economy $3.8 billion to $4.5 billion per day, with some of that recovered over time after normal operations resume.
The strike comes just weeks before the presidential election and could become a factor if there are shortages. Retailers, auto parts suppliers and produce importers had hoped for a settlement or that President Joe Biden would intervene and end the strike using the Taft-Hartley Act, which allows him to seek an 80-day cooling off period.
But during an exchange with reporters on Sunday, Biden, who has worked to court union votes for Democrats, said “no†when asked if he planned to intervene in the potential work stoppage.
A White House official said Monday that at Biden’s direction, the administration has been in regular communication with the ILA and the alliance to keep the negotiations moving forward. The president directed Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard to convene the alliance’s board members Monday afternoon and urge them to resolve the dispute fairly and quickly — in a way that accounts for the success of shipping companies in recent years and contributions of union workers.
TYLER – The City Of Tyler has announced street repairs in Tyler’s medical district beginning Monday, Oct. 7 and running through Friday, Oct. 18. East Dawson Street will be closed from the entrance of CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital and the parking garage to South Fleishel Avenue for street repairs. All hospital traffic will need to enter from South Beckham Avenue.
MARSHALL – The City of Marshall declared on Monday a stage four water conservation alert for residents and businesses that use the city’s water system. According to our news partner KETK, these conservation requirements were enacted due to a failed water pump. The release from the city said this is a conservation measure, it is not a boil water notice.
City officials laid out the water conservation requirements, asking residents to refrain from the following usage of water: Read the rest of this entry »
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GILMER – Nicole Hernandez, a former district clerk for Upshur County was arrested for tampering with government records on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, an investigation into Hernandez’s conduct as district clerk was first opened on Aug. 29. at the request of the Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd. She resigned her post with the county on the same day. According to The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, Hernandez was arraigned and later released from the county jail on a $3,500 bond.
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SMITH COUNTY – Chapel Hill ISD is grief-stricken after Bulldog Band member and 11th grade student, Diego Rodriguez, died of leukemia on Thursday. Diego was a junior trombone player in the Bulldog Band.
“We are deeply saddened at Chapel Hill High School with the loss of Diego. I was fortunate to have been Diego’s principal for the last three years. I will miss his infectious smile and kind heart the most,†said Linda Godwin, assistant principal at Chapel Hill High School.
There is information on services and visitation for Diego. You can find it here.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats looking to preserve their Senate majority in the face of a difficult election cycle announced Thursday they were making a “multi-million dollar investment†in television advertising in Texas and Florida races with the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee saying he’s “very confident there’s going to be more coming.â€
Sen. Gary Peters, chair of the DSCC, discussed the new spending during an appearance at the National Press Club. Peters declined to be more specific about the amount of money the committee will invest in the two Republican-leaning states, but emphasized that the investment won’t come at the expense of Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, who is viewed as the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent seeking office.
“There is no world that you can conceive of that I’m not going to be in the Montana race to the very end,†Peters said. “Jon Tester will have everything that he needs to win.â€
The Texas race features Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, who is seeking a third term against Rep. Colin Allred. Cruz won his last race by less than three percentage points with 51% of the vote. The Florida race features Sen. Rick Scott., who is seeking his second term against former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. Scott won his race six years ago with 50% of the vote.
Democrats hold a slim majority but are likely to lose a seat in West Virginia now that Sen. Joe Manchin is retiring. Republicans would only need to flip one more seat to take the majority and much of their focus is on Montana, which former President Donald Trump won by more than 16 percentage points four years ago. There, Republican Tim Sheehy is hoping to unseat Tester, who is completing his third term in the Senate.
Philip Letsou, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, responded to Peters’ announcement by saying it was “effectively an admission from Chuck Schumer and the DSCC that Jon Tester, who is polling very badly, looks like a lost cause.â€
He went on to criticize the two Democratic challengers, saying “Allred and Mucarsel-Powell are bad fits for Florida and Texas, and voters will reject them.â€
Peters cited the close wins that Cruz and Scott experienced six years ago in explaining the decision to go on the offense in the Republican-leaning states.
“Ted Cruz’s numbers are worse now than they were when he ran last time,†Peters said. “In Florida, Rick Scott has run several statewide races, and even when he has a wind at his back with a strong Republican year, he’s never won by just a hair over one point.â€
Democrats are also hoping a Florida referendum on abortion will benefit Democratic candidates on the ballot. Florida law currently bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, before many women even know they are pregnant. If approved by 60% of voters, the ballot initiative known as Amendment 4 would ensure that abortions are legal until the fetus is viable, as determined by the patient’s health care provider.
Peters said data was “definitely showing some great momentum†for Democrats in Florida.
“We expect there’s a lot of upside, particularly when folks get to know our candidates better,†Peters said. “It’s pretty powerful in terms of the numbers, so we made the decision that we’ve got to start investing.â€
Update: Boil water notice was rescinded late Saturday morning by Troup city officials.
TROUP – A water line break in Troup has put several residents in the southeast parts of the city under a boil water notice. That’s according to our news partner KETK.
While under a boil water notice, it is recommended that all residents under the notice bring water to a vigorous boil for at least two minutes before use and consumption. Alternatively, bottled water an be used instead of boiling water.
The City of Troup said that a public notice will be issued once the boil water notice is rescinded. Anyone with questions regarding the boil water notice can contact public works director John Odom at 903-842-3128.
To see the map of the area under the boil water notice. Go here. It’s provided by our news partner KETK.
LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department in multiple operations during the summer that revealed multiple stores sold alcohol and tobacco products to underage people. According to our news partner KETK, from June through August, police used underage people posing as customers in four “compliance operationsâ€.
Department spokesperson said that 20 businesses were visited for tobacco sales, two of them sold tobacco products to underage persons. With alcohol products, 37 stores were visited to obtain alcohol. 19 stores sold alcohol products to customers posing as underage individuals.
According to Longview PD, each violation had a citation issued or a case filed with the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office. Current law in Texas states that a person must be 21 or older to purchase or possess alcohol or tobacco products.
Update: The gas leak near Ricks Circle area and surrounding neighborhood, has been cleared Thursday evening and the area is now safe to return to normal activities. This is according to the City of Gladewater Facebook page.
GLADEWATER – Officials in Gladewater are advising residents to use caution in a part of town due to a gas leak. According to our news partner KETK, Gladewater Police said the leak is near Ricks Circle off Highway 271 in north Gladewater. People in the area are asked residents in the area to immediately extinguish burners and other flames. Anyone not in the area is asked to stay away, as roads may be blocked, barricaded or closed.
The Gladewater Police Department will furnish updates here.
HOUSTON (AP) — A Black high school student in Texas who was punished for nearly all of his junior year over his hairstyle has left his school district rather than spend another year of in-school suspension, according to his attorney.
But Darryl George, 18, would like to return to his Houston-area high school in the Barbers Hill school district for his senior year and has asked a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order that would prevent district officials from further punishing him for not cutting his hair. It would allow him to return to school while a federal lawsuit he filed proceeds.
George’s request comes after U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown in August dismissed most of the claims the student and his mother had filed in the federal lawsuit alleging school district officials committed racial and gender discrimination when they punished him.
The judge only let the gender discrimination claim stand and questioned whether the school district’s hair length rule causes more harm than good.
“Judge Brown please help us so that I can attend school like a normal teenage student during the pendency of this litigation,†George said in an affidavit filed last month.
Brown has scheduled an Oct. 3 court hearing in Galveston on George’s request.
In court documents filed last week, attorneys for the school district said the judge does not have jurisdiction to issue the restraining order because George is no longer a student in the district.
“And George’s withdrawal from the district does not deprive him of standing to seek past damages, although the district maintains that George has not suffered a constitutional injury and is not entitled to recover damages,†attorneys for the school district said.
The district defends its dress code, which says its policies for students are meant to “teach grooming and hygiene, instill discipline, prevent disruption, avoid safety hazards and teach respect for authority.â€
In court documents filed last week, Allie Booker, one of George’s attorneys, said the student was “forced to unenroll†from Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu and transfer to another high school in a different Houston area district because Barbers Hill officials placed him on in-school suspension on the first and second day of the new school year, which began last month.
This “caused him significant emotional distress, ultimately leading to a nervous breakdown. As a result, we had no choice but to remove him from the school environment,†Booker said.
George’s departure “was not a matter of choice but of survival†but he wishes to return, as his mother moved to the area because of the quality of the district’s schools, Booker said.
George was kept out of his regular high school classes for most of the 2023-24 school year, when he was a junior, because the school district said his hair length violated its dress code. George was forced to either serve in-school suspension or spend time at an off-site disciplinary program.
The district has argued that George’s long hair, which he wears to school in tied and twisted locs on top of his head, violates its policy because if let down, it would fall below his shirt collar, eyebrows or earlobes. The district has said other students with locs comply with the length policy.
George’s federal lawsuit also alleged that his punishment violates the CROWN Act, a recent state law prohibiting race-based discrimination of hair. The CROWN Act, which was being discussed before the dispute over George’s hair and which took effect in September 2023, bars employers and schools from penalizing people because of hair texture or protective hairstyles including Afros, braids, locs, twists or Bantu knots.
In February, a state judge ruled in a lawsuit filed by the school district that its punishment does not violate the CROWN Act.
Barbers Hill’s hair policy was also challenged in a May 2020 federal lawsuit filed by two other students. Both withdrew from the high school, but one returned after a federal judge granted a temporary injunction, saying there was “a substantial likelihood†that his rights to free speech and to be free from racial discrimination would be violated if he was barred. That lawsuit is still pending.