Arizona Rancher George Alan Kelly Will Not Face Retrial in Fatal Shooting Case

Phoenix prosecutors announced on Monday that they will not retry Arizona rancher George Alan Kelly, whose trial for the fatal shooting of a Mexican man on his property concluded with a deadlocked jury last week.

Jurors deliberated for over two days but were unable to reach a unanimous verdict, leading Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Thomas Fink to declare a mistrial on April 22.

Prosecutors alleged that Kelly recklessly discharged nine rounds from an AK-47 rifle towards a group of men on his cattle ranch, situated approximately 100 yards away. Despite these allegations, the jurors could not come to a consensus.

Following the mistrial, the Santa Cruz County Attorney’s Office had the option to retry Kelly or drop the case. On Monday, Deputy County Attorney Kimberly Hunley informed Judge Fink that they had decided against seeking a retrial.

Judge Fink agreed to dismiss the case, scheduling a later hearing to determine whether it would be dismissed with prejudice, which would prevent it from being brought back to court.

Kelly’s defense attorney, Brenna Larkin, indicated her intention to request the case be dismissed with prejudice.

Outside the courthouse, Kelly expressed his relief, stating, “The nightmare’s over,” while also extending his sympathy to the victim’s family.

Protesters followed Kelly, advocating for 48-year-old Gabriel Cuen-Buitimea, the man who was fatally shot.

For more updates on this case and other legal news, stay tuned to our latest reports and insights.

Philippines Accuses China of Harassment and Damage in South China Sea Dispute

On Tuesday, the Philippines accused China of harassment and damaging one of its boats in the contested South China Sea. The Philippines also refuted China’s claim that it had expelled two vessels from the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

The Philippine coast guard reported that its two vessels remained at the Scarborough Shoal, a key area in the South China Sea, despite pressure from two Chinese coast guard ships. One Philippine vessel sustained damage from water cannons deployed by the Chinese ships.

Philippine coast guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela commented, “This damage serves as evidence of the forceful water pressure used by the China coast guard in their harassment of the Philippine vessels.” He stressed that despite the incident, the Philippine vessels remained undeterred and committed to supporting Filipino fishermen and ensuring their safety.

The Scarborough Shoal, located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, is a strategic fishing ground utilized by multiple nations and lies near major shipping routes. Despite its significance, no single country holds sovereignty over the area.

For more updates on this developing story and other international news, stay tuned to our latest reports and insights.

Five Republican-Led States Sue Biden Administration Over Expanded Title IX Regulations

Five Republican-led states have launched a legal challenge against the Biden administration’s new regulations that expand Title IX—a federal civil rights statute that protects students from sex-based discrimination in federally funded educational institutions—to include protections for transgender students.

While some Republican officials in other states have publicly refused to enforce the new regulations, they have not filed lawsuits.

On Monday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, seeking to block the implementation of the expanded regulations. These rules prohibit educational institutions from preventing transgender students and teachers from using school facilities and pronouns that align with their gender identities, among other protections.

Paxton criticized the expanded regulations as an imposition of “radical gender ideology,” asserting that Texas will not allow President Biden to unilaterally alter Title IX, thereby jeopardizing legal safeguards for women in favor of what he described as a gender ideology agenda.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story and other legal and political news.