K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For May 23rd, 2017 – Morning

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND (AP) - OFFICIALS IN THE UNITED STATES SAY BRITISH AUTHORITIES HAVE IDENTIFIED THE SUSPECT IN THE MANCHESTER SUICIDE BOMBING ATTACK AS SALMAN ABEDI. A U.S. OFFICIAL CONFIRMED THE IDENTITY TUESDAY TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

LONDON (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY 8-YEAR-OLD SAFFIE ROUSSOS WAS THE YOUNGEST OF THE 22 VICTIMS IDENTIFIED SO FAR IN THE BOMBING IN MANCHESTER AT AN ARIANA GRANDE CONCERT. THE HEAD TEACHER OF THE TARLETON COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL DESCRIBES SAFFIE "SIMPLY A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE WORD." THE TEACHER SAYS SAFFIE "WAS LOVED BY EVERYONE AND HER WARMTH AND KINDNESS WILL BE REMEMBERED FONDLY."

WASHINGTON (AP) - SOME DEMOCRATS ON THE SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE HAVE VOTED AGAINST CONFIRMING A HIGH-RANKING TREASURY DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL. THEY'RE PROTESTING WHAT THEY SAY IS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S SLOW COOPERATION ON THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATIONS. SENS. SHERROD BROWN AND ELIZABETH WARREN PRAISED TRUMP'S PICK FOR UNDERSECRETARY FOR TERRORISM AND FINANCIAL CRIMES. BUT THEY SAY THEY'RE FRUSTRATED WITH THE PACE TREASURY IS TURNING OVER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO QUESTIONABLE FINANCIAL TRANSFERS AND MONEY LAUNDERING.

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (AP) - PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS WRAPPED UP A TWO-DAY VISIT TO ISRAEL. ROME IS THE NEXT DESTINATION ON THE PRESIDENT'S FOUR-NATION, FIVE-STOP TOUR OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND EUROPE.

WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS SENT CONGRESS A $4.1 TRILLION SPENDING PLAN THAT PROPOSES TO ELIMINATE THE DEFICIT IN A DECADE WHILE PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE. BUT TO ACHIEVE BALANCE, TRUMP IS SEEKING SHARP CUTS IN A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS FOR THE POOR FROM MEDICAID TO FOOD STAMPS AND DISABILITY PAYMENTS. DEMOCRATS HAVE ALREADY VOICED STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE PLAN, AND EVEN REPUBLICANS ARE WARY OF THE POLITICAL DANGERS IN TRUMP'S DRACONIAN CUTS
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A CASPER MAN FACES ONE FELONY COUNT OF STRANGULATION OF A HOUSEHOLD MEMBER, AND MISDEMEANOR COUNTS OF DOMESTIC BATTERY AND CHILD ENDANGERMENT AFTER AN ALTERCATION WITH HIS FIANCEE ON SUNDAY.

RICHARD SMITH HEARD THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM DURING HIS INITIAL APPEARANCE IN NATRONA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT ON MONDAY.

JUDGE STEVEN BROWN SET HIS BOND AT $10,000 AND ORDERED HIM TO HAVE NO CONTACT WITH HIS FIANCEE OR CHILD.

COURT RECORDS SAY THE CASE BEGAN ABOUT 2:30 P.M. SUNDAY WHEN OFFICERS RESPONDED TO THE EAST SIDE ALBERTSON'S STORE ABOUT A FAMILY FIGHT, AND THAT A MAN HAD GRABBED A BABY FROM A WOMAN AND WAS WALKING ON A ALLEY NORTH OF EAST SECOND STREET.

WHEN INTERVIEWED, SMITH SAID HE WAS MAD AT HER BECAUSE SHE WALKED ACROSS THE BUSY STREET WITH THE BABY, SO HE TOOK THE BABY AND BEGAN WALKING HOME.

HOWEVER, THE FIANCEE TOLD ANOTHER OFFICER SHE AND SMITH HAD ARGUED OVER WHETHER SHE WAS CHEATING ON HIM.

SHE SAID SMITH WANTED TO LOOK AT HER PHONE, BEGAN THROWING THINGS, AND SHE LOCKED HERSELF AND THE BABY IN THE BATHROOM.

SMITH KICKED IN THE DOOR, PUSHED HER AGAINST A WALL WHILE SHE WAS HOLDING THE BABY, AND PUT HIS HAND TO HER NECK AND SQUEEZED FOR ABOUT FIVE SECONDS.

THE OFFICER SAW RED MARKS UNDER HER CHIN AND NECK, AND BRUISING AND RED MARKS ON HER LEFT EYE BROW.

THE FIANCE ALSO SAID SMITH TOLD HER HE WOULD KILL HER WITH HIS BARE HANDS IF HE FOUND SHE WAS CHEATING, AND HE WOULD BURN DOWN THE HOUSE WHILE SHE AND THE BABY WERE INSIDE.

SHE ALSO SAID SMITH TOLD HER THE VIOLENCE WAS HER FAULT.
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THE LATE SPRING SNOWSTORM THAT HIT WYOMING LAST WEEK HAS BOOSTED THE STATE'S SNOWPACK.
THE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE ON MONDAY REPORTED THE STATEWIDE SNOWPACK INCREASED FROM 115 PERCENT OF MEDIAN LAST WEEK TO 176 PERCENT.

THE AGENCY SAYS MOST OF THE GAIN CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE COOL WEATHER SLOWING THE SNOWMELT.

ALL MAJOR RIVER BASINS IN WYOMING SAW INCREASES OVER THE WEEK.

THE SWEETWATER BASIN IS THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE AT 353 PERCENT OF MEDIAN, FOLLOWED BY THE WIND RIVER BASIN AT 304 PERCENT.

THE UPPER GREEN AND UPPER BEAR ARE CLOSE TO 300 PERCENT.

SUCH HIGH LEVELS OF SNOWPACK HAVE CAUSED CONCERN ABOUT FLOODING IF THERE IS A SUDDEN HEAT WAVE AND HEAVY RAIN ACCOMPANYING THE SNOWMELT.