Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

Former NFL star Antonio Brown is due to appear in a Miami court on Wednesday to enter a plea deal that would reduce an attempted murder charge to aggravated assault and keep him out of prison. Brown’s lawyer, Mark Eiglarsh, said his client is expected to plead no contest in the Miami-Dade County case. The agreement would reportedly bring three years of probation, with the possibility of early termination after half the term has been completed. Adjudication would be withheld, meaning Brown would not be classed as a convicted felon if he complies with the terms of the deal. The…

In-house staff will take over court security while private contractors transport people in custody under a $100 million staffing reshuffle aimed at ending a bitter standoff between police and the judiciary. The scheme will change how security and transport duties are managed across the courts, with the responsibilities split between court employees and external contractors. The reshuffle is intended to resolve the dispute between Western Australia’s police and judiciary.

Dakota Johnson appeared to lose patience at the New York premiere of Verity after Anne Hathaway took charge of the red-carpet photographs. Hathaway, who is pregnant, enthusiastically directed the photographers while posing alongside Johnson and co-star Josh Hartnett at the event on Tuesday. As Hathaway gave instructions about where the cast should look, Johnson performed a small jig before touching her co-star’s bump. Hathaway then began outlining how the group would pose. “OK everybody ready? We are going to start from the left and then we can make our way that way,” Hathaway said. Pointing across the carpet, she added:…

Holiday retail sales are expected to exceed $1 trillion for the first time, despite cautious consumers and mounting pressure from inflation, according to Bain & Company’s annual forecast. The consultancy expects spending to rise by 4.5% year on year, with about 70% of sales taking place in physical shops. Online retail is nevertheless continuing to increase its share of the market. Higher tax refunds are helping to support household spending. Refunds are up by $43 billion, or 17%, compared with last year, although Bank of America estimates that half of the additional money has already been absorbed by higher petrol…

Backpack has been crowned the Fat Bear Week champion after narrowly defeating Bear 910 in an online vote celebrating Alaska’s largest brown bears. The bear, officially known as Bear 89, secured more than 50 per cent of the poll, which attracted over 100,000 votes. He is recognised for his unusually calm nature and was described in his contestant profile as a “gentle giant”. Fat Bear Week is in its 12th year and highlights the resilience of the estimated 2,200 brown bears living in Katmai National Park and Preserve on Alaska’s Peninsula. The annual contest began in 2014 as an interactive…

WSSC Water has restored production at its Potomac Water Filtration Plant in Maryland, but an essential-water-use request remains in place for 1.9 million customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. The plant returned to full production at about 5.30pm on Tuesday, following a major electrical failure that disrupted operations for much of the day. However, the distribution system is still rebuilding its reserves and officials say the situation remains critical. Crews are operating the facility using a temporary internal power arrangement while work continues to restore its normal electrical configuration. WSSC Water said storage levels, which fell to critically low…

A woman and her boyfriend allegedly murdered her former lover during a drug-fuelled love triangle before hiding the victim’s body in a child’s wardrobe, the Western Australian Supreme Court has heard. Hannah Louise Glover, 30, and James Anthony Sorgiovanni, 29, deny murdering Tara Marie Morrison, 38, at their home in Busselton, about 220km south of Perth, in April 2024. Prosecutor Michael Cvetkoski said Ms Morrison had been repeatedly stabbed to her head, neck, body and hands. She suffered about 40 wounds, as well as grazes and bruising which could suggest she had been restrained. “The deceased didn’t have an opportunity…

A proposed $20 billion federal women’s health research strategy in the United States aims to address what campaigners describe as a longstanding gap in medical research, education and clinical care. The 10-year roadmap, backed by more than 60 health organisations, has been developed by the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR). Its president and chief executive, Katie Schubert, said greater investment would benefit women as well as the wider country. Research from Melinda French Gates’ Pivotal found that only five cents of every dollar spent globally on medical research and innovation goes towards women’s health. Why women’s health research remains…

Former American Idol contestant Caleb Flynn has been found guilty of murdering his wife, Ashley, while he was having an affair. Flynn is due to be sentenced on Monday and could receive life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith defended two criminal indictments against President Trump during an appearance on Capitol Hill. Mr Smith’s remarks focused on defending the investigations that led to the indictments.