K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For October 19th, 2017 – Morning

WASHINGTON (AP) - SOME IN THE MILITARY COMMUNITY ARE FURIOUS WITH THE PRESIDENT. THAT'S BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP HAS DRAWN THE DEATH OF HIS CHIEF OF STAFF JOHN KELLY'S SON INTO A POLITICAL ATTACK ON PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA. IT'S PART OF A POLITICAL BRAWL OVER TRUMP'S ROLE AS CONSOLER-IN-CHIEF. THE CURRENT UPROAR STANDS IN CONTRAST TO TRUMP'S ACTIONS ON MEMORIAL DAY, WHEN TRUMP QUIETLY VISITED THE GRAVE OF ROBERT KELLY, A MARINE KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - CHRIS ALLEN'S SUDDEN LOSS OF FEELING IN HIS LIMBS ON A PRIVATE VISIT TO CUBA THREE YEARS AGO PUTS HIM ON OF A GROWING LIST OF AMERICANS ASKING THEMSELVES IF THEY, TOO, WERE VICTIMS OF THE MYSTERIOUS ATTACKS IN HAVANA. THERE IS NO PROOF THAT ALLEN'S SYMPTOMS ARE CONNECTED TO THE 22 "MEDICALLY CONFIRMED" CASES THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SPEAKS ABOUT. BUT FEAR ALONE THAT THE INEXPLICABLE ATTACKS COULD SPREAD TO TOURISTS IS ALREADY FURTHER STRAINING U.S.-CUBAN TIES.

WILMINGTON, DEL. (AP) - THE WIDOW OF A MAN KILLED IN A WORKPLACE SHOOTING IN MARYLAND SAYS HER HUSBAND WAS SO CONCERNED ABOUT THE GUNMAN'S TEMPERAMENT THAT HE BROUGHT IT UP IN CHURCH PRAYER SESSIONS. FIFTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD BAYARSAIKHAN TUDEV IS ONE OF THREE PEOPLE SHOT AND KILLED WEDNESDAY AT A GRANITE MANUFACTURER IN HARTFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND.

ATLANTA (AP) - NRA'S INSURANCE FOR GUN OWNERS INVOLVED IN SELF-DEFENSE CASES IS UNDER FIRE. A GUN-CONTROL GROUP IS LAUNCHING AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN CALLING THE PRODUCT 'MURDER INSURANCE' AND SAYS IT WILL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SHOOT DURING ANY PERCEIVED THREAT. IT'S ASKING THE INSURANCE COMPANIES INVOLVED TO BACK OUT.
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A JURY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOUND A CASPER RESIDENT GUILTY OF ONE COUNT OF FIRST-DEGREE SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD AND ONE COUNT OF SECOND-DEGREE SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILD AFTER A THREE-DAY TRIAL IN NATRONA COUNTY DISTRICT COURT.

THE SIX-WOMAN, SIX-MAN JURY DELIBERATED FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS BEFORE REACHING ITS DECISION TO CONVICT MIGUEL MARTINEZ, WHO IDENTIFIES AS FEMALE AND IS ALSO KNOWN AS MICHELLE.

MARTINEZ WAS CHARGED IN MARCH WITH RAPING AND TOUCHING A 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHILE SHE WAS IN A BATHROOM AT HER HOME.

WITH THE CONVICTION, MARTINEZ FACES BETWEEN 25 YEARS AND 70 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT.

UPON HEARING THE VERDICT, MARTINEZ'S MOTHER CRIED, SAYING "WE KNOW YOU DIDN'T DO THIS."

AFTER LEAVING THE COURTROOM AND BEING LED IN THE HALL FOR PRISONERS, MARTINEZ SHOUTED, "THERE IS NO EVIDENCE."

THE TRIAL BEGAN MONDAY, AND THE STATE RESTED ITS CASE BEFORE NOON WEDNESDAY

DISTRICT ATTORNEY MIKE BLONIGEN CALLED NUMEROUS WITNESSES TO TESTIFY INCLUDING FAMILY MEMBERS, FAMILY FRIENDS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, A SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER FROM THE WYOMING MEDICAL CENTER, A FORENSIC INTERVIEWER FROM THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY PROJECT, A FORENSIC BIOLOGIST WITH THE WYOMING STATE LABORATORY, AND THE GIRL HERSELF.

AFTER THE VERDICT, BLONIGEN PRAISED THE GIRL FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO REPORT THE CRIME AND FOR TESTIFYING.

PUBLIC DEFENDER DYLAN ROSALEZ DID NOT CALL ANY WITNESSES TO TESTIFY AND MARTINEZ DECLINED TO TESTIFY.

MARTINEZ IS BEING HELD WITHOUT BOND PENDING HIS SENTENCING, WHICH PROBABLY WILL BE IN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE MONTHS.
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CASPER, WYO. (AP) - A STATE REPORT INDICATES WYOMING'S ECONOMY APPEARS TO BE LEVELING OFF AND ENERGY INDUSTRIES ARE STABILIZING FOLLOWING THE DOWNTURN LAST YEAR.

A STATE ANALYSIS RELEASED LAST MONTH SHOWS PROGRESS IN THE STATE'S ECONOMY OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS AFTER THE COAL, OIL AND GAS DECLINE THAT WRECKED STATE REVENUE AND LED TO THE LOSS OF ABOUT 11,000 JOBS.

STATE ECONOMIST JIM ROBINSON SAYS THAT THE MILD RECOVERY OF THE MINING SECTOR MADE UP A LARGE PORTION OF THAT ECONOMY BOOST.

JOBLESS CLAIMS IN THE MINING SECTOR ARE DOWN BY MORE THAN 75 PERCENT, BUT JOBS RELATED TO COAL HAVE REMAINED STATIC SINCE THE PRIOR YEAR.

ROBINSON SAYS SALES AND USE TAXES AND SEVERANCE INCOME ARE UP BUT THE GROWTH RATE MAY BE SLOWING.