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Al Sharpton blames systemic flaws at funeral of Florida mother killed by neighbor

June 12, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(OCALA, Fla.) — At the funeral Monday for Ajike Owens, the Black mother of four who was shot and killed by a white woman, the Rev. Al Sharpton directed his ire at a judicial system he said laid the path for Owens’ death.

“They said, ‘I hope y’all won’t bring race in,’ when this woman called them [the victim’s children] the N-word,” Sharpton said of the suspected killer who was arrested four days after Ajike Owens was shot and killed in front of two of her children, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). “If it was the other way around, and a Black woman had shot through a door at a white kid you would have arrested her that night.”

Susan Lorincz, 58, is currently detained at the Marion County Jail, where her bond is set at $150,000, according MCSO. She is accused of shooting Owens, 35, on June 2 in Ocala, Florida, on the doorstep of Lorincz’s home.

“A racist white woman fatally murdered Ajika through a locked, closed metal door,” Pamela Dias, Owens’ mother, said to the congregation attending the funeral at Meadowbrook Church in Ocala. “Many say, ‘Wow, you are so strong. How do you do it?’ It is simply by the grace of God you see me in front of the cameras. I’m simply just a voice for my daughter and my four children.”

The incident happened after Owens went to Lorincz’s home to address an alleged dispute between the suspect and the victim’s children, according to MCSO. Lorincz admitted to calling children in the neighborhood the N-word and other derogatory terms in the past, according to a police report.

According to a police report, Lorincz claimed Owens threatened her while banging on her locked door. According to police interviews, other witnesses said Owens was yelling at Lorincz to open the door. Lorincz also said she did not intend to hit Owens, according to the report.

“Oh my God, this lady just tried to break down my door,” Lorincz told the emergency dispatcher on a 911 call ABC News obtained from the sheriff’s department. “I shot through the door.”

Through their investigation, the sheriff’s office said it determined Lorincz’s actions were not justified under Florida’s self-defense statutes, commonly known at Stand Your Ground laws.

“They say the killer of AJ is claiming [Florida] Stand Your Ground law as her defense,” Ben Crump, who is representing Owens’ family, said of Owens, affectionately known as AJ, during the eulogy. “Our call to justice today is that we’re going to stand our ground for respect for AJ. We’re gonna stand our ground for the dignity of AJ.”

Lorincz was arrested last week and charged with first-degree manslaughter, punishable by up to 30 years in prison, if convicted, the sheriff’s office said in a statement. She was also charged with culpable negligence, battery and two counts of assault.

In a statement, MCSO explained they conducted interviews with witnesses, Owens’ children and Lorincz.

“Ms. Lorincz’s fate is now in the hands of the judicial system, which I trust will deliver justice in due course,” Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said in a statement. “As I go to bed tonight, I will be saying a prayer for Ms. Owens’ children and the rest of her family. I’d ask all of you to do the same.”

Woods said there was an ongoing feud between Lorincz and Owens. On the day of the shooting, the children were playing in a field adjacent to the property where the suspect’s home is located. At that point, the suspect allegedly engaged in an argument with the children, the sheriff’s department said.

Lorincz allegedly threw a pair of skates at Owens’ 9-year-old son and hit the child in the toe, according to MCSO. Afterwards, the minor and his 12-year-old brother went to Lorincz’s home to speak to her. Lorincz swung an umbrella at them, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.

The children notified Owens, resulting in Owens going to the suspect’s home and demanding that she come out. That’s when Lorincz shot Owens through her closed door, striking her in the upper chest, according to MCSO. Owens’ 9-year-old son was beside her, police said.

“Our 12-year-old blames himself for the death of his mother because he couldn’t save her,” Dias said at a press conference last week. “He couldn’t give her CPR. His words, ‘Grandma, grandma, I couldn’t save her! I tried to give her CPR! I tried to give her CPR!'”

According to police records, when officers arrived on the scene, they found Owens under a nearby tree with a gunshot wound. She had a faint pulse as the officers applied medical aid. Owens was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased later that evening.

In a press conference last week, Woods said that Florida Stand Your Ground laws made it harder to execute an immediate arrest. The sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit was able to arrest Lorincz on June 6 after gathering enough evidence, the sheriff’s department said. Lorincz’s next court date will be on July 11, according to Judge Lori Cotton, who presided over Lorincz’s first court appearance.

Sharpton took the opportunity to point out what he said were inconsistencies of outrage among Florida political officials who have given their voice for particular social issues but haven’t said anything about Owens’ murder.

“They get outraged about certain things taught in school. You get outraged about migrants coming. You get outraged about those that have a different lifestyle,” Sharpton said in front of a roaring congregation.

Utah mom accused of fatally poisoning husband with fentanyl denied bail ahead of trial

June 12, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(SALT LAKE CITY) — A Utah woman who is accused of poisoning her husband with a lethal dose of fentanyl was denied bail in a court appearance Monday as she awaits trial.

Kouri Richins, 33, was arrested in May and charged with aggravated murder and multiple counts of drug possession in connection with the death of her husband, Eric Richins, 39, who was found dead at the foot of their bed last year, according to the probable cause statement in the charging document. The mom of three authored a children’s book on grief in the wake of her husband’s death.

A month prior to her arrest, Kouri Richins appeared on a “Good Things Utah” segment on Salt Lake City ABC affiliate KTVX to promote the book. In the segment, Kouri Richins said her husband of nine years died “unexpectedly” and that his death “completely took us all by shock.”

Three witnesses were called at the detention hearing that saw Kouri Richins occasionally wipe tears from her eyes. The first witness was lead detective on the case, Jeff O’Driscoll, who answered questions from the defense and prosecutors. A digital forensics and financial forensics investigator also testified in the hearing.

Kouri Richins was visibly emotional as O’Driscoll described the scene where her husband’s body was found. O’Driscoll testified that Kouri Richins said she had attempted CPR on her husband, but an emergency medical technician told O’Driscoll on scene that Eric Richins began foaming at the mouth when they attempted CPR — a sign no one else had tried to resuscitate him.

Eric’s sister, Amy Richins, also gave a victim impact statement at the hearing, saying if Kouri is guilty it is the “ultimate act of betrayal.” She said he was a family man who “loved fully, laughed loudly, lived life with reckless abandon,” and got emotional as she thought about what Kouri Richins may have said to him in his last moments, how long he was conscious and wondered did his boys “catch a glimpse of their father taking his last breath.”

Amy Richins also pleaded with the judge not to let Kouri Richins out on bail. The judge agreed, saying “the circumstances of this case weigh soundly against pretrial release.”

Ahead of the detention hearing in Park City, Richins’ attorneys argued in recent court filings that the realtor should be eligible for bail because there is “no substantial evidence to support the charges.”

Prosecutors allege that Eric Richins was poisoned by a lethal dose of fentanyl on the night of March 3, 2022, according to the charging document.

Kouri Richins allegedly told police following his death that they were celebrating her closing on a house for her business that night and she “made Eric a Moscow Mule in the kitchen and brought it to their bedroom where Eric consumed it while sitting in bed,” according to the probable cause statement.

She allegedly said she went to sleep with one of their children who was having a night terror and returned to her and her husband’s bedroom around 3 a.m., where she found him “cold to the touch,” according to the charging document.

An autopsy determined that Eric Richins died from a fentanyl overdose, and that the level of fentanyl in his system was five times the lethal dosage, according to the charging document. The medical examiner indicated the fentanyl was “illicit fentanyl,” not medical grade, and that it was likely ingested orally, according to the charging document.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for their residence following the toxicology report, including for electronics, and alleged that a search of Kouri Richins’ phone uncovered “several communications” with an acquaintance of hers who had various drug counts, according to the initial charging document. The acquaintance reportedly told authorities they sold Kouri Richins fentanyl pills six days before Eric Richins was found dead, prosecutors allege.

Kouri Richins’ lawyers argued in the new filings that law enforcement never found fentanyl in their family home, and that there are “inconsistencies” in witness statements from someone reported to have been present at the alleged drug deal, including regarding dates and payments of the alleged pill transactions, between the initial and amended charging documents.

Regarding the alleged fatal poisoning, her lawyers said Kouri Richins made her husband a drink that he “consumed two sips of” and that he continued to use his phone for more than two hours. They stated that Kouri Richins had slept in one of her children’s rooms because their child was having a nightmare and when she woke up around 3 a.m. she discovered her husband “cold and not breathing” and called 911, the filings stated.

Her lawyers also addressed various financial dealings involving the couple that were detailed in the amended charging document.

Among them, prosecutors alleged that “unknown to Eric Richins,” Kouri Richins allegedly purchased four life insurance policies on her husband’s life between 2015 and 2017 amounting to nearly $2 million in death benefits. Kouri Richins’ lawyers refuted the allegations that she took out life insurance policies without her husband’s knowledge, arguing in new court filings that he would have known about them.

Her lawyers also responded to claims in the amended charging document that Eric Richins “broke out in hives” after eating a sandwich his wife had prepared for him on Valentine’s Day last year and reportedly used an EpiPen. Her lawyers argued that their nanny did not witness him acting ill or use an EpiPen.

A judge issued a partial gag order earlier this month, limiting what the prosecutors and defense can discuss, amid national interest in the case.

ABC News’ Alyssa Pone contributed to this report.

Democrats, shocked by Supreme Court’s minority voter ruling, see opportunity as House fight looms

June 12, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Democrats are celebrating Thursday’s Supreme Court decision bolstering the Voting Rights Act — and the power of minority voters — which they say also bolsters the party’s chances to take back the House from Republicans next year.

The Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision ruled that Alabama’s congressional map violates Section 2 of the VRA by packing many of the state’s Black voters into one congressional district, thereby diluting their power to elect lawmakers relative to their share of the overall population.

The high court affirmed a lower court finding that the current map, which only has one majority-Black district, disenfranchised African Americans, who make up more than a quarter of the population in the state.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, both appointed by Republicans, joined the court’s three liberal-leaning justices in the majority — a surprise to most observers, in part because Roberts authored a 2013 opinion invalidating the VRA’s Section 4.

As a result of Thursday’s ruling, Alabama will likely have to draw another majority-Black district, which Democrats see as an opportunity to win another House seat. They are similarly optimistic of victories in cases regarding congressional maps in Georgia and Louisiana that are currently making their way through the courts.

“Even though it’s really only going to amount to one seat in Alabama, it’s a major boon for Democrats going into 2024 and the House elections,” said one House Democratic strategist, who was not authorized to speak on the record about the ruling.

“It feels great on a democracy level that people are not going to be silenced,” this strategist said, adding, “On the other on hand, electorally, you can’t help but be happy about it. It’s always a good thing when you’re going to know you’re going to pick up more seats at the end of the day.”

Democrats are eager to retake the House after the GOP won a narrow five-seat majority in the 2022 midterms. Eighteen Republicans hold districts that President Joe Biden won in 2020, and Democrats are already targeting several seats in California and New York.

Party strategists and outside experts now say the ruling in Alabama and the cases in Louisiana — where Black people make up a third of the population — and in Georgia, which has a similar share of Black residents, could net the party at least three more seats, potentially offsetting a new map Republicans are set to draw in North Carolina that is anticipated to give the GOP a hefty advantage there.

A federal judge in Georgia on Thursday asked asked both parties in the case over that state’s map to offer supplemental materials after the Supreme Court ruling.

“The landmark decision in Allen v. Milligan could reverberate across the Deep South, leading to the creation of new Black-majority, strongly Democratic seats in multiple states,” election analyst Dave Wasserman wrote in The Cook Political Report.

Another case regarding South Carolina’s map could also be a boon to Democrats. The case is based on the 14th and 15th Amendments, rather than the VRA, and will not be heard until the Supreme Court’s next term, but Democrats hope the court will rule similarly in that case as it did in the Alabama decision.

Democrats told ABC News they were shocked by the ruling, saying they were not expecting such a result from a court dominated by six conservative-leaning jurists.

“I think Democrats knew we’d presented a good case, but when the deck is kind of stacked against you, it can’t help but be a little shocking,” said the House Democratic strategist.

Antjuan Seawright, another Democratic strategist, was blunt: “I wouldn’t have bet anything I have on this decision going this way, to be honest with you.”

But, in light of the court’s position, operatives also urged Democrats not to rest on their laurels and instead find other states where they can file lawsuits over allegations of racial gerrymandering.

One state mentioned was Texas, where Democrats said similar rulings could produce at least five new Democratic-leaning districts. A tracker maintained by the Brennan Center for Justice indicates nine federal cases in Texas could be impacted by the Thursday decision.

FiveThirtyEight forecast what the map changes in each state could look like.

“This also shines a light on how important challenging the system continues to be. We can’t just roll over and give up. Had this fight not gone on to this point, I’m not sure we would have gotten this result,” said Seawright.

Roberts, in his majority opinion for the Supreme Court, acknowledged concerns raised by Alabama Republicans that consideration of race in the drawing of election maps may itself “elevate race in the allocation of political power” but concluded “a faithful application of our precedents and a fair reading of the record before us do not bear them out here.”

Conservatives said they were disappointed by the ruling — with Alabama GOP Chair John Wahl saying the state would comply with the decision “regardless of our disagreement.”

Thursday’s ruling bucks a pattern in recent years of Democrats struggling to make changes to voting rights and gerrymandering.

Democrats were unable to pass sprawling legislation combating gerrymandering and expanding access to the ballot when they controlled Congress from 2021 until earlier this year, because they lacked enough votes to either overcome Senate filibusters or to change the rules in the chamber. And activists have grumbled that the party did not put enough muscle to get the bill over the finish line. That compounded past setbacks such as the 2013 Supreme Court decision that removed the VRA requirement for states with histories of voter restrictions to get federal approval before changing their voting laws.

Now, though, Democrats are voicing hope that Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling will at least serve as an obstacle to what they view as the most extreme racial gerrymanders that state legislatures can pursue moving forward.

“Representation matters,” Seawright said, “and what this does is just solidify the position of that.”

ABC News’ Devin Dwyer contributed to this report.

Music notes: 5 Seconds of Summer, Jessie J and mor

June 12, 2023 by WDNY Radio

5 Seconds of Summer guitarist Michael Clifford is expecting his first child with wife Crystal Leigh. The couple confirms the news to People with a pregnancy photoshoot. “I’m filled with excitement and also with nerves,” Michael, 27, tells the mag. “I’ve been a dog dad for a long time, so I think I’m ready for a small human to take care of and communicate with conversationally after eight years of one-sided dog convos!”

In other baby news, Jessie J shared some adorable pictures of her 1-month-old baby boy Monday, June 12 – and revealed his name is Sky Safir Cornish Colman. It’s the first child for Jessie and her boyfriend, Chanan Safir Colman.

BLACKPINK‘s Jennie had to cut her Melbourne performance with the group short on Sunday, June 11, after feeling unwell. In a statement, YG Entertainment says that while Jennie wanted to continue, she received medical advice to take some time to rest and recover. “Jennie has conveyed her regrets for not being able to stay with the fans until the end, and assures that she will recover as soon as possible,” the statement reads.

Taylor Swift had “so much fun” performing in Detroit over the weekend. “First time I performed at Ford Field was singing the anthem there in 2006 and I remember thinking it felt impossible for a place to be that big, I was sooo insanely nervous,” she wrote on Instagram. “Thanks to those crowds this weekend for your endless energy and extremely loud scream-singing, you made us feel right at home.” Meanwhile, Taylor added three more dates to the Latin America leg of her Eras Tour.

Music notes: Ye, Lil Durk, Jermaine Dupri and more

June 12, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, celebrated his 46th birthday with a party, where sushi was served on a woman’s naked body. Ty Dolla $ign, Freddie Gibbs and Chlöe attended the event, and Ye was captured rapping his Playboi Carti and Fivio Foreign-assisted song, “Off The Grid.”

Lil Durk‘s verse on Drake‘s “Search & Rescue” was scrapped but still managed to make its way to the internet. On it, he raps, “I’m worse than Kevin Gates, I’m me/ India know I’m down to drink pee.” Following accusations he was referring to urine, Durk clarified the meaning of his bars. “Down to drink p—— op (pop) as in soda mix it with the lean … Just sometimes,” he wrote, per Akademiks. The star has been added to the lineup for Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash Festival.

Jermaine Dupri got wind of the Rap Radar episode where Tyler, the Creator dubbed him “one of our greats” and said he “has so much knowledge.” “Yo!!! @feliciathegoat I was contemplating back-and-forth,” he captioned a clip from the episode. “If I should even post this, but what I feel is what I write and I felt the need to let everybody know I truly appreciate your amazing words. Thank You. I’m in the studio right now waiting for you to tell me when you’re ready. lol.”

Teddy Riley offered his support to Donald Trump, who claimed he’s innocent despite being indicted on conspiracy charges and violating the espionage act. After much backlash, the producer explained that the former president helped to pardon his brother, who was serving two life prison sentences.

Nashville notes: Kameron Marlowe’s rootsy song + Restless Road’s “Last Rodeo”

June 12, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Kameron Marlowe‘s revisiting his country roots in the neotraditional-leaning “I Can Lie (The Truth Is).” Of his new rootsy track, Kameron says, “When people hear it, I want them to be taken back in time to the 1970s when western outlaw country was taking over.”

Country group Restless Road has dropped a new song, “Last Rodeo.” The anthemic breakup number was penned by the trio’s Colton Pack, Garrett Nichols and Zach Beeken alongside Lindsay Rimes and Trannie Anderson.

Former Runaway June lead vocalist Naomi Cooke Johnson has inked a record deal with BMG/BBR Music Group. Her debut song as a solo artist, “Girls of Summer,” arrives June 23 and can be presaved now.

Wage War announces concert celebrating 10th anniversary

June 12, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Wage War has announced a concert celebrating the band’s 10th anniversary.

The show takes place December 15 at the House of Blues in Orlando, Florida. The bill also includes Zero 9:36 and ERRA.

“We’re very excited to be marking 10 years of Wage War at a venue where we all grew up watching our favorite bands,” Wage War says. “Join us this December at HOB Orlando to celebrate this special moment.”

Tickets go on sale Friday, June 16, at 10 a.m. ET. For more info, visit WageWarBand.com.

Wage War released their latest album, Manic, in 2021. It includes the singles “Circle the Drain” and “Godspeed.”

Music notes: Taylor Swift, Sara Bareilles and more

June 12, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Sara Bareilles may not have won a Tony, but she’s grateful nonetheless. In an Instagram post Monday, June 12, she gave a “thank you” speech of sorts, thanking her Into the Woods team and the theater community. “I realize that I don’t need an award to want to say thank you for this experience,” she wrote. “I loved every second.” Monday also marks the world premiere of Waitress, the Musical – Live on Broadway! at the Tribeca Festival.

On Instagram, Kelly Clarkson shared a snippet of “skip this part,” the opening track off her upcoming album, chemistry, due out June 23. She also participated in the TikTok trend that picks three of your “red flags” as her song “red flag collector” played in the background. But instead of naming her own red flags, she shared the red flags she finds in others: “a liar, somebody that projects their own issues on you and someone that doesn’t have friends.”

‘Wakanda Forever’ star Tenoch Huerta denies sex assault allegations in Instagram post

June 12, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star Tenoch Huerta took to Instagram to rebut accusations of sexual assault that were made about him by musician María Elena Ríos.

Rios, a musician and activist, had posted her accusations on Twitter in Spanish Sunday, June 11, explaining, “It is very difficult to talk about the emotional abuse and abuse of power of a sexual predator who is loved around the world for playing a character in a movie like @TenochHuerta.” She added, “Charming in appearance, the great hallmark of a narcissist + a good helping of victimization.”

Huerta responded Monday to what he called the “false and completely unsubstantiated accusation,” saying “I cannot let it go unchallenged any longer.”

The Mexican actor, who played Namor/the Sub-Mariner in the Marvel hit, explained, “About a year ago, I dated Elena for several months. It was entirely consensual at all times, as countless others can attest. And throughout it was a loving, warm and mutually supportive relationship.”

He added, “After it ended, however, Elena began to misrepresent our interactions both privately and in front of groups of mutual friends. As a result, a few months ago, I engaged a legal team to commence the appropriate actions to protect my reputation and refute these irresponsible and false accusations that can cause great…damage.”

Huerta expressed, “Although I am by no means perfect, I know that these allegations are simply untrue.”

He concluded by expressing gratitude to his family and supporters, saying he greatly appreciates “everyone who is willing to look at the facts and reflect before rushing to an untrue and unjust conclusion.”

The allegations come months after another Marvel movie star, Jonathan Majors, was charged with domestic violence after an incident in New York City. He has maintained his innocence.

One dead after boat capsizes during underground cave tour in upstate New York

June 12, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) —

One person has died after a tour boat capsized Monday morning at the Lockport Cave, a historical, underground boat ride by the Erie Canal in upstate New York, the local fire chief said.

Twenty-nine adults — 28 of whom were Niagara County hospitality employees — were on the small boat, which can handle 40 passengers, Lockport Fire Department Chief Luca Quagliano said at a news conference. At one point the boat became unbalanced and capsized, throwing everyone into the water, he said.

The man who died may have been stuck under the capsized boat, Quagliano said.

BREAKING: Multiple agencies are responding to a boat that capsized in the Lockport Cave Tours.

Working to learn more right now. Not sure how many people were on board/if they’re OK. @WKBW pic.twitter.com/89eiNQp6ye

— Kristen Mirand WKBW (@kristen_mirand) June 12, 2023

About 16 people were rescued by fire and EMS personnel, Quagliano said. Everyone else was able to get themselves to safety, he said, noting that the water is about 6 feet deep.

Eleven people were taken to hospitals for minor injuries, Quagliano said.

No one on board was wearing a life jacket, Quagliano said.

My team is in close contact with local officials and emergency operations teams who have responded to a capsized boat along the Erie Canal in Lockport.@nyspolice, @NYSDHSES, @NYstateparks, and @HealthNYGov are on site to assist local officials in the response.

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) June 12, 2023

It’s not clear why the boat capsized, the fire chief said.

The victim, who was not identified, was believed to be about 60 years old, Quagliano said, noting that his wife was among the people taken to a hospital.

Lockport is about 30 miles northeast of Buffalo.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul tweeted that her “team is in close contact with local officials and emergency operations teams.”

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