Top 5 Live-WURD Tuesday May 26

1. Cleveland Officer Acquitted In 2012 Fatal Shooting Of Unarmed Suspects

A judge handed down a verdict of not guilty on two counts of voluntary manslaughter against a Cleveland officer charged in the 2012 deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams — unarmed suspects who were caught in a 137-shot hail of police gunfire following a high-speed chase.

Small protests quickly erupted in Cleveland, but they appeared to be peaceful.

“In summary, I find that the state did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant Michael Brelo caused the deaths Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams because the essential element of causation was not proved for both counts,” said Judge John O’Donnell.

In a nearly hour-long verdict, O’Donnell cited testimony from doctors for the prosecution and defense, saying he believed that while Brelo had delivered at least one fatal shot to both Russell and Williams, it was impossible to determine beyond a reasonable doubt that Brelo’s shots — and not those of a dozen other officers — were the ones that killed.

 

2. B.B. King’s Daughters Allege He Was Poisoned

Two B.B. King heirs who’ve been most outspoken about the blues legend’s final days are accusing King’s two closest aides of poisoning him.

Daughters Karen Williams and Patty King allege in documents provided by their lawyer to The Associated Press that King’s business manager, LaVerne Toney, and his personal assistant, Myron Johnson, killed their father.

Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg (FYOU’-den-berg) said Monday that an autopsy was performed Sunday on King’s embalmed body, and test results will take up to eight weeks.

Las Vegas police Lt. Ray Steiber confirmed that homicide detectives are investigating.

Toney and Johnson each declined to comment.

 

3. Chicago Bears Release Ray McDonald After Arrest For Domestic Violence

The Chicago Bears released defensive end Ray McDonald today after he was arrested for domestic violence in California – his second arrest in the past nine months.

The Chicago Tribune adds:

“McDonald was arrested for misdemeanor domestic violence and child endangerment, the Santa Clara, Calif., police department said. It’s the second time since Aug. 31 that he’s been arrested as a result of women claiming he assaulted them.

“According to police, McDonald was arrested Monday after officers learned “he physically assaulted the victim while she was holding a baby.” Police responded to a disturbance at McDonald’s residence at 3:48 a.m. PDT, but McDonald had left the scene.

“He was located at a house owned by former San Francisco 49ers teammate Justin Smith, and he was arrested there, police and property records show.”

 

4. Three dead after record storms in Texas, Oklahoma; 12 missing in one county

Record-setting rains left officials in Texas and Oklahoma scrambling to assess the scope of the damage and destruction Monday as an emergency coordinator told reporters that a dozen people were missing in one county.

The 12 people missing in Hays County, Texas, come from families who had gathered for the long weekend, said Ken Bell, emergency coordinator for San Marcos, one of the cities hardest hit by the storms and flooding.

The group likely includes children, Bell said.

A day after severe weather left three people dead and washed away hundreds of homes in Texas and Oklahoma, the storms are easing up.

But it doesn’t mean the threat is gone.

 

5. School District must open the books

As the parent of a Philadelphia School District student, and a graduate of our school system, it grieves me to see the state of education in our city.

Classrooms that are perpetually in need of basic supplies, teachers who are demonized as they pay for their own materials, administrators who don’t provide adequate supports, and too many politicians pointing fingers.

All this as the schools face an $85 million deficit, and students become unwitting pawns in a game that no one wins.

That is the backdrop for today’s hearing in which School Superintendent Dr. William Hite will present the School District’s budget to City Council. There will be tough questions and blunt answers. There will be sharp analysis and intricate explanations. Then Dr. Hite will do what Philadelphia’s superintendents have always done. He will call on City Council to support our children, knowing that they can’t refuse.

Click here to read these stories on 900amWURD.

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Solomon Jones is an Essence bestselling author and award-winning columnist. He is the creator and editor of Solomonjones.com and morning host on 900 am WURD radio. Click here to learn more about Solomon