Prosecutors argued that Telles was motivated to kill German because he continued to write negative stories about him. The trial resumed on Tuesday as the jury continued their deliberations.During closing arguments, the defense presented a surprising image: a silhouette of a person driving a maroon SUV who did not resemble Telles, the accused.Telles lost in the Democratic primary for re-election after German’s stories were published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal in May 2022. Those reports shed light on turmoil and bullying at Telles’ office and exposed a romantic relationship between Telles and a female employee.The prosecution presented evidence, including a timeline and videos of Telles’ maroon SUV near German’s home on the day of the murder. They also highlighted a text message from Telles’ wife, to which he did not respond, asking about his whereabouts around the time of the murder.Telles’ DNA was found beneath German’s fingernails, and prosecutors claimed that German fought for his life during the attack. However, the murder weapon was never found, and German’s blood or DNA was not discovered on Telles, in his vehicle, or at his home.Telles, who maintained his innocence, testified that various individuals were framing him as retaliation for his efforts to

Trump’s lawyers argue that the prosecution violated his constitutional rights and the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent presidential immunity ruling. They want the case moved to federal court for an “unbiased forum, free from local hostilities.”If the case stays in state court, Trump’s lawyers claim it would amount to election interference as his sentencing is scheduled just before Election Day. They also seek to have the verdict overturned and the case dismissed on immunity grounds if it is moved to federal court.The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted Trump’s case and fought his previous attempt to move it out of state court, declined to comment. Trump was convicted in May of 34 felony counts related to a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels.Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels and was reimbursed by Trump, who maintains that the stories were false and that the reimbursements were for legal work.Falsifying business records is punishable by up to four years behind bars, but Trump’s lawyers seek to delay his sentencing, citing the Supreme Court’s immunity decision.They argue that prosecutors rushed to trial instead of waiting for the Supreme Court’s immunity decision and that the prosecution was “tainted” by evidence that

The lawsuit, filed in Wake County Superior Court, claims that the board’s decision not to remove his name as a third-party presidential candidate violated state election law and his right to free speech.Kennedy suspended his campaign and endorsed former President Donald Trump in August. He is attempting to withdraw his name from states where the race could be close, such as North Carolina while staying on the ballot in states like New York, where his presence is unlikely to affect the outcome between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.Kennedy’s name will appear on the North Carolina ballot in November unless the court intervenes. The North Carolina board’s three Democrats rejected the request to remove Kennedy and his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, from the ballot’s “We The People” party line, citing printing deadlines and costs.The two Republicans on the board disagreed, suggesting that the deadline for absentee ballots could be delayed.

Contributions to traditional tax-deferred retirement accounts can be deducted from your taxable income, boosting your potential to grow your retirement savings.However, these tax advantages have limits. Eventually, taxes must be paid on these savings, which is where Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) come in.RMDs require individuals starting in their 70s to begin withdrawing from their tax-deferred accounts. Inherited IRAs may also be subject to RMDs; each withdrawal triggers tax obligations.Failing to comply with RMD requirements can lead to hefty penalties—up to 25% of the missed distribution. You must also take the required distribution and pay the associated taxes.Recent legislative changes have brought updates to RMD rules. In July, the IRS finalized regulations to clarify these new rules. Here are three key points to consider:1. **Inherited IRAs and RMDs:** If you inherited an IRA from someone who passed away after December 31, 2019, you might need to take RMDs. The Secure Act changed the rules significantly, requiring beneficiaries to deplete the account within ten years, with certain exceptions for specific beneficiaries like spouses or minor children.2. **Clarification on the 10-Year Rule:** The IRS waived RMD requirements for inherited IRAs for 2021-2024 due to initial confusion about the 10-year rule. However, starting in

The scam exploited the victim’s strong sense of duty and trust in authority. Posing as federal law enforcement officers, the perpetrators convinced him that his computer had been compromised and used for illegal activities. They presented convincing “evidence” and even enlisted unsuspecting couriers, potentially rideshare drivers, to aid in the scam.The scheme unraveled when an alert CVS employee in Huntington Beach, CA, over 400 miles away, noticed something was off and refused to release a package containing $8,500 in cash. However, by that time, the victim, Chester Frilich, had already lost nearly $200,000.Frilich first encountered the scammers in early March, when someone claiming to be from Xfinity told him his personal information had been used for illicit purposes. This led to a series of calls from an individual posing as an FTC agent, who convinced Frilich to move his funds to a “secure” account, leading to repeated cash withdrawals over several days.Despite intervention from Concord and Huntington Beach police, Frilich was unable to recover the $8,500 in the final package, which is now missing. Additionally, he fears the IRS may place a lien on his home due to the taxes owed on cashed-out CDs and an IRA.Reflecting on his experience,

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court on Tuesday sided with the Biden administration, allowing it to withhold federal family planning funds from Oklahoma. The dispute arose after Oklahoma refused to provide patients with a hotline number that offers neutral information about abortion, a requirement under the administration’s regulations.The court’s brief order noted that Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch supported granting Oklahoma’s application, but the majority did not provide reasoning for rejecting the state’s appeal.Under the federal law known as Title X, while state funding cannot be used for abortion, the Biden administration argues that it can mandate that providers ensure patients have access to comprehensive information. Upon taking office, the administration issued a regulation requiring states to offer non-directive counseling to pregnant patients on options such as prenatal care, adoption, and abortion, replacing a Trump-era rule that barred any abortion referrals.In 2022, Oklahoma initially complied with these requirements, receiving $4.5 million in funding. However, following the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, Oklahoma reversed its position. It refused to provide the required hotline number, leading to the termination of its federal funding for 2023.The state had previously challenged the regulation and filed a separate lawsuit

Former President Donald Trump has officially entered a not guilty plea to the charges outlined in special counsel Jack Smith’s revised election subversion indictment. The plea was submitted on Tuesday through a court filing in which Trump also requested to be excused from attending the upcoming court hearing in person.In his statement to the court, Trump declared, “I, President Donald J. Trump, the above-named defendant … do hereby waive my right to be present at Arraignment and I authorize my attorneys to enter a plea of not guilty on my behalf to each and every count of the superseding indictment,” Trump told the court in a one-page filing that included his bold, black signature. The filing, which included his bold signature, also confirmed that he has reviewed the indictment with his legal team.This Thursday marks the first court appearance before Judge Tanya Chutkan since the Supreme Court paused the case to address the extent of presidential immunity Trump might be entitled to. Judge Chutkan has confirmed that Trump is not required to attend the hearing, where his formal arraignment will take place. His legal team will be present.Judge Chutkan, of the DC District Court, will now decide on the next

Linda Sun, who previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and as an aide to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has been charged with acting as an agent for the Chinese government.U.S. Attorney Breon Peace announced the charges, which include violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, and money laundering conspiracy, among others.Her husband, Chris Hu, faces related charges, including money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Their Long Island home was raided by federal investigators in July, and both were arrested. They have pleaded not guilty to all charges.Prosecutors allege Sun acted as an undisclosed agent of the Chinese government, using her position in state government to further the interests of the Chinese Communist Party.The indictment details efforts to facilitate unauthorized travel for Chinese officials and to influence New York state policies to benefit the PRC. The couple is also accused of laundering money to purchase luxury real estate and vehicles.Sun held several significant government roles over the past decade, including in the administrations of both Hochul and Cuomo. She was terminated from her position in March 2023 after the discovery of alleged misconduct, which was reported to law enforcement.The next