K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For May 2nd, 2017 – Morning

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Republican health care bill has been dealt a significant blow with a respected former House committee chairman saying he doesn't support it. Moderate Michigan Rep. Fred Upton is a 16-term House veteran who until this year chaired the chamber's Energy and Commerce Committee. He's saying Tuesday he can't back the legislation because it undermines insurance protections that current law gives people with pre-existing illnesses.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A white former South Carolina police officer plans to plead guilty Tuesday to violating the civil rights of an unarmed black motorist he shot and killed as the man ran from a traffic stop, according to a copy of the plea agreement obtained by The Associated Press. The document notes that as part of the deal, state prosecutors will drop a pending murder charge against Michael Slager, effectively bringing to a close both parallel cases against the officer in the death of Walter Scott.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A congressman says United Airlines put its own needs above its passengers' needs when it forcibly removed a passenger after he refused to get off a flight to accommodate a crew member who wanted the seat. Democratic Rep. Rick Larsen of Washington state told United CEO Oscar Munoz that "you made your problem the customer's problem" when passenger David Dao was removed from a plane in Chicago April 9.

BALTIMORE (AP) - At hospitals around the country, doctors are searching for ways to relieve extreme pain while often having to avoid using what has long been considered their most effective tool. Amid the nation's opioid crisis, doctors don't want to create new addictions to prescription opioids, and don't want to risk relapses in patients who have overcome the addiction in the past. Some hospitals and emergency rooms are now making those painkillers a last resort.

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Police say the gunman who killed one woman at a birthday bash and injured six partygoers phoned his ex-girlfriend so she could hear the attack. Police have not identified the woman who was killed and say the victims were apparently targeted at random by the man who was distraught over his recent breakup. The victims were mostly black and Latino and Peter Selis was white, but Chief Shelley Zimmerman said there was "zero indication" race was a motive.

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CASPER CITY COUNCIL IS LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES TO APPLY FOR A VACANT POSITION TO REPRESENT THE CITY'S WEST SIDE.

THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE SAID THE VACANCY OCCURRED WHEN COUNCILMEMBER TODD MURPHY RESIGNED APRIL 5.

TO QUALIFY, YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED VOTER IN NATRONA COUNTY AND A RESIDENT OF WARD II SINCE AT LEAST MAY 1, 2016.

WARD II IS GENERALLY LOCATED BETWEEN SOUTH POPLAR STREET ON THE EAST AND RIVER WEST ON THE WEST.

THE TERM OF THIS VACANCY WILL START AFTER PUBLIC INTERVIEWS IN LATE MAY, AND END DECEMBER 31, 2018.

IF YOU APPLY YOU PROBABLY WILL BE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR QUALIFICATIONS AND HOW THEY WILL BENEFIT THE CITY, WHY YOU WANT TO SERVE ON THE COUNCIL, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION, AND YOUR ABILITY TO MEET THE TIME COMMITMENTS OF COUNCIL AND BOARD MEETINGS.

TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION VISIT THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS TO BE AT THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IS 5 P.M. MONDAY, MAY 15.

RAWLINS, WYO. (AP) - TWO WYOMING WOMEN HAVE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO CHARGES OF CONSPIRING TO BRING A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE INTO THE STATE PENITENTIARY.

) 30-YEAR-OLD NATALIE ANDERSON OF CHEYENNE AND 35-YEAR-OLD KATRINA PEARSON OF MILLS ARE ACCUSED OF TRYING TO DELIVER THE SYNTHETIC FORM OF MARIJUANA KNOWN AS "SPICE" INTO THE WYOMING STATE PENITENTIARY. THEY BOTH PLEADED NOT GUILTY ON MONDAY.

COURT DOCUMENTS SAY THE WOMEN SENT DRUGS INTO THE PRISON THROUGH ENVELOPES CARRYING MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION CARDS THAT HAD BEEN DIPPED IN A LIQUEFIED FORM OF SPICE.

A PRISON STAFF MEMBER BECAME SUSPICIOUS AND BEGAN SWAPPING OUT THE TAINTED CARDS FOR CLEAN ONES AND COMPLETED THE DELIVERY OF THE MAIL.

AUTHORITIES SAY THE SUSPECTS WERE TIED TO THE CRIME THROUGH PHONE CALLS FROM INMATES AND TEXT MESSAGES.