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Philadelphia judge vacates homicide conviction, freeing man after 34 years

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Philadelphia judge vacates homicide conviction, freeing man after 34 years

A man has been released from Pennsylvania prison after more than three decades following a judge’s decision to vacate his conviction in a 1990 murder.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that 61-year-old Ronald Johnson was released from State Correctional Institution-Phoenix on Monday night following a Philadelphia judge’s decision and the prosecutor’s move to dismiss charges, according to the nonprofit public interest law firm Phillips Black, which advocates for incarcerated individuals.

MINNESOTA MAN CLEARED IN WIFE’S DEATH SUES CORONER, OTHER OFFICIALS AFTER 25 YEARS IN PRISON

The law firm said on its website that Johnson and “three generations of his family” had “fought tirelessly to prove his innocence” for more than three decades. Stephen Lazar, a legal apprentice on the team, quoted Johnson as saying his “first plan as a free man” after 34 years was to visit the burial site of his mother, who “always believed” in his innocence.

The Philadelphia Energy Solutions oil refinery is seen in front of the Philadelphia skyline. (REUTERS/David M. Parrott  )

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Johnson was convicted in the murder of Joseph Goldsby, who police said was dealing drugs when he was shot to death in his car in the Tioga section of north Philadelphia in March 1990.

Defense attorneys argued that Johnson was convicted on the basis testimony offered by two men whose stories changed “considerably” over the course of police interviews, and the conviction was unsupported by fingerprint, DNA, or other forensic evidence.

Johnson’s lawyers said the witnesses initially said their client wasn’t present and later identified someone else as a potential suspect, but police and prosecutors at the time withheld that evidence.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s office’s conviction integrity unit said in November that the evidence “undermines confidence in the outcome of Johnson’s trial.”

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Boston, MA

2 MBTA operators taken to hospital after wire comes down on B Line train

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2 MBTA operators taken to hospital after wire comes down on B Line train


More than 100 feet of overhead catenary wire caught fire and went down on a Green Line train at the Boston College Yard on Sunday evening, disrupting regular service for several hours and sending two train operators to the hospital.

The Boston Fire Department and transit police responded to the scene around 5 p.m. and discovered approximately 110 feet of downed wire, with crews battlling flames for almost a half hour.

Two operators who were onboard the affected train were taken to a local hospital for smoke-related injuries. The MBTA wished them a speedy recovery in a statement and thanked Boston firefighters and transit police for their quick action and continued support on scene.

Shuttle service was being provided between Boston College and Babcock Street until the area could be deemed safe to resume rail service, according to the MBTA. Delays of about 25 minutes were reported early on.

Power was being turned off between Babcock and BC, and an emergency Power Department crew was enroute to assess the damage.

The delay cleared shortly before midnight.

The MBTA thanked riders for their patience following the service disruption on the B Branch.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Pittsburg, PA

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback suffers concussion against Chargers

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback suffers concussion against Chargers


LOS ANGELES — Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Darius Slay suffered a concussion against the Los Angeles Chargers in the second quarter and did not return.

It happened on a run play when Slay was slammed into by teammate Kyle Dugger. Dugger hit Slay right in the head on the backside of a tackle, and he stayed down.

After he walked off the field under his own power, Slay went into the blue medical tent and was immediately escorted to the locker room. He was initially ruled as questionable before being ruled out for the rest of the game with the injury. James Pierre came in and replaced him.

Slay has dealt with other injuries this year, including a dislocated finger, shoulder issue, and a self-described ‘tight calf’ at one point during the team’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

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Those injury issues have forced him to be in and out of the lineup at times, though he has yet to miss a game with an injury issue.

In order to play next week against the Indianapolis Colts, Slay will have to clear the concussion protocol in seven days. That is not impossible, but it will still be somewhat tough to climb uphill to play next week.

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Connecticut

Gov. Lamont responds to President Trump’s decision to “undo” full SNAP benefits

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Gov. Lamont responds to President Trump’s decision to “undo” full SNAP benefits


As some states, including Connecticut, are issuing full SNAP benefits to recipients, the Trump administration is now saying those efforts need to be rolled back.

That’s according to a Department of Agriculture memo during the ongoing government shutdown.

As the government shutdown continues to drag on, the court battle over the lapse in federal funding of SNAP benefits remains front and center.

“There has been no other time in which SNAP benefits have been suspended due to government shutdown,” Brian Marks, a University of New Haven business professor, said.

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As it plays out, Connecticut is among the few states moving ahead with using state funds to give full SNAP payments to recipients for November. Marks says the move by Governor Ned Lamont is notable, as he’s seen as a fiscal moderate.

“Governor Lamont is being thoughtful and considerate about those who need and trying to transfer funds where he can and where he has the authority,” he said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that needs to stop after the Supreme Court issued a pause on a federal district court order telling the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP.

In a memo issued late Saturday, the USDA says the extent states had sent full SNAP payments for this month was “unauthorized” and says they must “immediately undo” those steps. It says failure to comply could result in actions such as the USDA holding states financially responsible over sending the full payments and cancelling federal cost-sharing of SNAP with them.

Governor Lamont responded to the memo saying the state didn’t need to take back SNAP funds saying in a statement:

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“No, Connecticut does not need to take back SNAP benefits already sent to the 360,000 people who depend on them for food and who should have never been caught in the middle of this political fight. We continue to assess what impact this memo may have, but those who received their benefits should not worry about losing them. We have their back.”

Connecticut Republican Party chairman Ben Proto released a statement pushing for the government to reopen saying in part:

“It’s time for the Democrats to come to their senses, including Ned Lamont and other Democrat governors and to push their Democrat senators to vote for the continuing resolution and fund the government and SNAP & WIC and then sit down and negotiate a new budget. To paraphrase President Obama, it is irresponsible for the Democrats to threaten default, to threaten an economic shutdown, to suggest America not pay its bills to keep struggling families from being able to purchase groceries just to try to blackmail a president into giving them some concessions. The financial and economic problems the people of CT face are from the failed economic policies of CT Democrats and Senators Blumenthal and Murphy’s total failure to protect their constituents.”

Professor Marks says as the debate continues, SNAP recipients will remain caught in the middle.

“It’s clear our elective federal representatives need to come forward and figure out a way to eliminate the shutdown and get this government moving again,” he said.

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