K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For August 15th, 2017 – Morning

UNDATED (AP) - THE DEADLY WHITE NATIONALIST RALLY IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, IS FUELING ANOTHER RE-EVALUATION OF CONFEDERATE STATUES IN CITIES ACROSS THE NATION. IT'S HAPPENING IN MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT A MASS SHOOTING BY A WHITE SUPREMACIST INSIDE A SOUTH CAROLINA CHURCH ACCELERATED THE REMOVAL OF THE CONFEDERATE FLAG. STATUES ARE BEING REMOVED OR SLATED FOR REMOVAL IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA; BALTIMORE; SAN ANTONIO; DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA; AND ELSEWHERE.

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - ONE BYSTANDER IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA SAYS HE HOPES THAT THE TOPPLING OF A NEARLY CENTURY-OLD CONFEDERATE SOLDIER STATUE WILL "SEND SHOCKWAVES THROUGH THE COUNTRY AND HOPEFULLY THEY CAN BRING DOWN OTHER RACIST SYMBOLS." PROTESTERS AT A RALLY AGAINST RACISM TOPPLED THE STATUE MONDAY, AND THEN BEGAN KICKING IT AFTER THE CRUMPLED BRONZE STATUE FELL.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE LEADERS OF FOUR MINORITY HOUSE CAUCUS GROUPS HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP CALLING FOR THE REMOVAL OF WHITE HOUSE STAFF AIDES STEVE BANNON, STEPHEN MILLER AND SEBASTIAN GORKA. THE HEADS OF THE BLACK, HISPANIC, ASIAN AND PROGRESSIVE CAUCUSES ARE CALLING IN THE LETTER FOR THE FIRINGS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS IN THE WAKE OF A VIOLENT, RACIST RALLY IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - AFTER A WEEK OF UNUSUALLY COMBATIVE THREATS BETWEEN NORTH KOREA AND THE U.S., THOSE NATIONS AND SOUTH KOREA ARE SIGNALING INTEREST IN MOVING AWAY FROM CONFLICT AND TOWARD NEGOTIATIONS. EVEN AS NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG UN RECEIVED PLANS FOR LAUNCHING MISSILES NEAR GUAM AND THREATENED TO "WRING THE WINDPIPES OF THE YANKEES," HE LEFT OPEN THE DOOR FOR EASING TENSIONS IF THE U.S. AVOIDED WHAT HE CALLED "RECKLESS ACTIONS." U.S. AND SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR PEACE.

NORWOOD, OHIO (AP) - DONALD TRUMP WON THE PRESIDENCY IN PART BECAUSE HE PLEDGED TO STOP AMERICAN MANUFACTURING JOBS FROM GOING OVERSEAS. YET U.S. MANUFACTURERS HAVE ADDED NEARLY A MILLION JOBS IN THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, AND STATISTICS SHOW NEARLY 390,000 SUCH JOBS OPEN. THE PROBLEM? MANY ARE NOT THE SAME JOBS THAT LONG SUSTAINED THE WORKING CLASS. MORE FACTORY JOBS NOW DEMAND EDUCATION, TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW OR SPECIALIZED SKILLS. AND MANY WORKERS SET ADRIFT FROM LOW-TECH FACTORIES LACK SUCH QUALIFICATIONS.
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A CASPER MAN PLEADED NOT GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT ON FRIDAY TO DRUG AND ASSAULT CHARGES RELATED TO A HIGH-SPEED CHASE FROM CASPER TO GLENROCK AND BACK ENDING IN A NEARLY FOUR-HOUR STANDOFF IN EARLY JUNE.
COURT RECORDS SAY CHRISTOPHER EADS ENTERED HIS PLEA TO THE NINE COUNTS DURING HIS ARRAIGNMENT AND DETENTION HEARING.

EADS REMAINS IN CUSTODY BECAUSE HE REMAINS A DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY.

IF CONVICTED ON ALL COUNTS, EADS FACES 60 YEARS TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT.

HIS TRIAL IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN CASPER ON OCTOBER 16.

EADS AND HIS GIRLFRIEND SANTANA KEENER ORIGINALLY WERE CHARGED IN STATE DISTRICT COURT, WHICH LATER DISMISSED THOSE CHARGES AFTER FEDERAL PROSECUTORS TOOK OVER THE CASE.

EADS IS CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE HEROIN AND METHAMPHETAMINE, USING A GUN, CARJACKING, ASSAULTING A FEDERAL OFFICER, AND OTHER CRIMES.

COURT RECORDS SAY THE CASE STARTED IN APRIL WHEN AN AGENT WITH THE WYOMING DIVISION OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED A DRUG-TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION IN NATRONA COUNTY, AND IDENTIFIED EADS AS ITS MAIN SUPPLIER OF METHAMPHETAMINE AND HEROIN.

ON SATURDAY, JUNE 3, LAW ENFORCEMENT KNEW EADS AND KEENER WOULD BE RETURNING FROM DENVER AFTER A DRUG PURCHASE AND PLANNED TO STOP THEM ON INTERSTATE 25 BEFORE THEY REACHED CASPER.

KENNER AND EADS REALIZED THEY WERE BEING FOLLOWED AND A CHASE ENSUED.

THEY DROVE BACK TO GLENROCK WHERE EADS STOLE AND ABANDONED TWO CARS, AND ABANDONED KEENER BEFORE DRIVING TO CASPER WHERE HE ENGAGED IN AN ARMED STANDOFF WITH AUTHORITIES UNTIL HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ABOUT 2:30 A.M. SUNDAY, JUNE 4.
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OFFICIALS FROM THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ONLINE MARKETPLACE AIRBNB HAVE AGREED TO BEGIN COLLECTING LODGING TAXES ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OF WYOMING AS PART OF A NEW TAX AGREEMENT.

PRIOR TO THE AGREEMENT, AIRBNB HOSTS WERE EXPECTED TO COLLECT LODGING TAXES FROM USERS THEMSELVES AND SEND THE FUNDS TO THE STATE. STATE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE DIRECTOR DAN NOBLE SAYS THIS WAS RARELY CARRIED OUT. LAST YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT DECIDED TO ASK AIRBNB TO TAKE THE BURDEN UPON ITSELF.

NOBLE SAYS SINCE AUG. 1, THE COMPANY HAS BEEN COLLECTING LODGING TAXES FROM THE TOTAL ROOM COST.

THE MOVE COMES JUST AS AIRBNB IS EXPECTING A LARGE INFLUX OF NEW USERS VISITING VARIOUS STATES INCLUDING WYOMING FOR THE UPCOMING SOLAR ECLIPSE.