K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For June 16th, 2017 – Morning

BEIRUT (AP) - RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEY LAVROV SAYS HE CAN'T DEFINITIVELY CONFIRM THE DEATH OF THE ISLAMIC STATE GROUP'S LEADER IN A RUSSIAN AIRSTRIKE. THE RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY CLAIMED EARLIER FRIDAY THAT IS LEADER ABU BAKR AL-BAGHDADI WAS KILLED IN A RUSSIAN STRIKE IN LATE MAY, ADDING THAT THE INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DEATH WAS STILL "BEING VERIFIED THROUGH VARIOUS CHANNELS."

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S END-OF-TERM WIND-DOWN OF THE AMERICAN MILITARY COMMITMENT IN AFGHANISTAN IS BEING REVERSED. CONFIRMATION OF AN ESCALATING INVOLVEMENT IN THE DRAWN-OUT CONFLICT COMES IN A REVELATION BY A TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL THAT THE PENTAGON WILL SEND ALMOST 4,000 ADDITIONAL U.S. FORCES THERE. WASHINGTON HAS BEEN STRIVING TO BREAK THE STALEMATE AND THE DEPLOYMENT WILL BE THE LARGEST OF AMERICAN MANPOWER UNDER DONALD TRUMP'S YOUNG PRESIDENCY.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS READY TO REVEAL A CHANGE IN CUBA POLICY DESIGNED TO SEVER THE FLOW OF U.S. CASH TO THE COUNTRY'S MILITARY AND SECURITY SERVICES. THAT'S ACCORDING TO SENIOR WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS WHO HAVE BRIEFED REPORTERS ON THE PENDING ANNOUNCEMENT. THE PARTIAL REVERSAL OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S OPENING TO HAVANA MIDWAY THROUGH HIS SECOND TERM WILL MAINTAIN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AND ALLOW U.S. AIRLINES AND CRUISE SHIPS TO CONTINUE SERVICING THE ISLAND.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS LASHING OUT AT THE INVESTIGATORS DRIVING THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION AS "VERY BAD AND CONFLICTED PEOPLE," RESPONDING ANGRILY TO REPORTS THAT THE SPECIAL COUNSEL IS LOOKING INTO WHETHER TRUMP OBSTRUCTED JUSTICE. IN A SERIES OF STATEMENTS ON TWITTER, TRUMP CALLS ROBERT MUELLER'S INVESTIGATION INTO RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE IN THE 2016 CAMPAIGN A "WITCH HUNT" BASED ON THE "PHONY" PREMISE OF POSSIBLE COLLUSION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND TRUMP CAMPAIGN ASSOCIATES.
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TWO MEN WERE BOUND OVER FOR TRIAL ON ARSON AND BURGLARY CHARGES, NATRONA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE MICHAEL PATCHEN RULED AT A PRELIMINARY HEARING THURSDAY.

ISAIAH MONTIANO-LIKE AND STACY CLARK COULD FACE UP TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON IF CONVICTED ON BOTH COUNTS.

POLICE DETECTIVE ANTHONY STEDILLIE WAS THE ONLY WITNESS CALLED TO TESTIFY DURING THE PRELIMINARY HEARING.

STEDILLIE TOLD DISTRICT ATTORNEY MIKE BLONIGEN THE HOUSE THAT BURNED IS ON NORTH JEFFERSON STREET WHERE A SECURITY COMPANY STORES EQUIPMENT AND REGIONAL SALES PEOPLE SOMETIMES STAY.

NO ONE WAS THERE ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 30.

MONTIANO-LIKE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE HOUSE BECAUSE HE BRIEFLY WORKED FOR THE SECURITY COMPANY.

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE OUTSIDE THE HOUSE SHOWED HE AND CLARK ARRIVED ABOUT 9 P.M. WITH A GAS CAN AND A SMALL COOLER.

THEY SAT ON THE PORCH, TALKED AND ABOUT AN HOUR LATER ONE GOT UP, REMOVED A SWAMP COOLER FROM A WINDOW, CRAWLED IN AND OPENED THE DOOR FOR THE OTHER MAN.

DURING THE NEXT HOUR, MONTIANO-LIKE BROUGHT OUT A FLAT-SCREEN TELEVISION, A BOX WITH A DRONE, AND GOLF CLUBS.

FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE VIDEO SHOWS SMOKE POURING FROM THE HOUSE.

THE NEXT MORNING, AN EMPLOYEE WENT TO THE HOUSE AND SAW SMOKE WHEN HE OPENED THE DOOR.

INVESTIGATORS FOUND GASOLINE HAD BEEN SPLASHED AND IGNITED IN THE BASEMENT.

WHEN INTERVIEWED BY POLICE, STEDILLIE SAID THE MEN ADMITTED ENTERING THE HOUSE, WITH MONTIANO-LIKE SAYING HE KNEW A RESIDENT THERE.

CLARK SAID HE HAD SLEPT WHEN HE WAS IN THE HOUSE AND DIDN'T TAKE ANYTHING, AND HIS DEFENSE ATTORNEY SAID HE WAS JUST IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME.

THE SUSPECTS REMAIN IN CUSTODY ON $200,000 BONDS EACH.

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A BUS DRIVER HAS PROVED THAT A RUNAWAY TRUCK SYSTEM ON A HIGHWAY IN WESTERN WYOMING WORKS AS INTENDED.

ANDREW WILLIAMS OF JACKSON SAYS THE NEWLY INSTALLED SYSTEM SAVED HIS LIFE WHEN HE LOST ALL ABILITY TO BRAKE ON TETON PASS RECENTLY.

WILLIAMS SAYS HIS BRAKES FAILED AND HIS EMERGENCY BRAKE SNAPPED, FORCING HIM TO STEER INTO A GUARDRAIL TO SLOW DOWN.

HE THEN DROVE INTO A SERIES OF NETS DESIGNED TO STOP RUNAWAY TRUCKS ON THE STEEP PASS.

ONLY ONE OF THE EIGHT NETS WAS NEEDED TO STOP THE BUS. WILLIAMS WASN'T HURT AND HIS BUS HAD LITTLE DAMAGE.

THE SYSTEM BECAME OPERATIONAL IN MARCH.