K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For April 17th, 2017 – Morning
PANMUNJOM, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - IN A TRIP FULL OF COLD WAR SYMBOLISM, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE MADE AN UNANNOUNCED VISIT TO THE TENSE ZONE DIVIDING NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA. HE WARNED PYONGYANG (PYUHNG-YAHNG) THAT AFTER YEARS OF TESTING THE U.S. AND SOUTH KOREA WITH ITS NUCLEAR AMBITIONS, "THE ERA OF STRATEGIC PATIENCE IS OVER." PENCE IS ON A 10-DAY TRIP TO ASIA.
PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA (AP) - IN NORTH KOREA'S CAPITAL, THERE IS LITTLE CONCERN ABOUT INCREASING TENSION WITH THE U.S. OVER THE COUNTRY'S INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED ARSENAL OF INTERCONTINENTAL MISSILES. WASHINGTON HAS MOVED AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER BATTLE GROUP OFF THE PENINSULA AND PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WARNS HE'S READY TO "SOLVE NORTH KOREA." BUT FEW PEOPLE HERE SEEM TO CARE MUCH. ON SUNDAY, THE CITY'S ZOO WAS CROWDED, PLAYGROUNDS WERE FULL OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES STROLLED ALONG DOWNTOWN SIDEWALKS.
CLEVELAND (AP) - AUTHORITIES ON THE HUNT FOR A SUSPECT WHO THEY SAY FATALLY SHOT AN ELDERLY CLEVELAND MAN IN A GRUESOME VIDEO POSTED ON FACEBOOK SAY HIS LAST KNOWN LOCATION WAS AT THE SHOOTING SITE. POLICE AND THE FBI IN CLEVELAND SAID MONDAY THAT THE SUSPECT STILL COULD BE IN THE CITY OR IN SURROUNDING STATES. AUTHORITIES ARE URGING PEOPLE IN PENNSYLVANIA, NEW YORK, INDIANA AND MICHIGAN TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR 37-YEAR-OLD STEVE STEPHENS.
ANKARA, TURKEY (AP) - TURKISH PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN SAYS HE WAS FORCED TO PUT A TOUGH FIGHT AGAINST THE "POWERFUL NATIONS OF THE WORLD" WHO OPPOSED HIS CAMPAIGN FOR A YES VOTE IN A REFERENDUM TO EXPAND THE POWERS OF HIS OFFICE. ADDRESSING SUPPORTERS AT ANKARA AIRPORT MONDAY ON HIS ARRIVAL FROM ISTANBUL, ERDOGAN SAID HE WAS "ATTACKED" BY NATIONS WITH THE "CRUSADER MENTALITY" AS WELL AS BY THEIR SUPPORTERS INSIDE TURKEY.
LONDON (AP) - PRINCE HARRY HAS BROKEN WITH ROYAL TRADITION OF MAINTAINING SILENCE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES BY SPEAKING CANDIDLY OF PROBLEMS FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF HIS MOTHER, PRINCESS DIANA. THE 32-YEAR-OLD PRINCE TELLS THE DAILY TELEGRAPH IN AN INTERVIEW PUBLISHED MONDAY THAT HE NEEDED COUNSELING AND NEARLY SUFFERED BREAKDOWNS IN THE TWO DECADES AFTER HIS MOTHER DIED IN A 1997 CAR CRASH.
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THERE ARE THIEVES.
AND THEN THERE ARE THIEVES POSING AS CAREGIVERS WHO EXPLOIT AND STEAL THE SAVINGS OF THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED.
NATRONA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY MIKE BLONIGEN SAID THESE CRIMES HAVE AN EDGE THAT MAKE THEM MORE CONTEMPTIBLE THAN THE GUY WHO TAKES THE MONEY BAG AT WORK.
“IT’S REALLY KIND OF A HORRIBLE CRIME,” HE SAID. “YOU TAKE PEOPLE AT THEIR MOST VULNERABLE AND YOU EXPLOIT THEM, AND THAT’S ONE OF THE THING THAT’S SO UGLY.”
LAST WEEK, ONE WOMAN WAS PLEADED GUILTY TO STEALING NEARLY $50,000 FROM AN 89-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO HAS INCREASING DEMENTIA, AND ANOTHER WAS ORDERED TO PAY RESTITUTION TO HER SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY-DEPENDENT BROTHER FROM WHOM SHE STOLE $28,000.
THOSE SUFFERING FROM DEMENTIA OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES OFTEN ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR MONEY.
SOMETIMES, VICTIMS ARE ASHAMED TO REPORT EXPLOITATION BECAUSE THE CAREGIVER MAY BE THE ONLY PERSON HELPING THEM, OR THEY ARE EMBARRASSED TO THINK SOMEONE THEY TRUSTED STOLE FROM THEM.
BLONIGEN SAID THOSE WHO EXPLOIT VULNERABLE ADULTS ARE DELIBERATE, METHODICAL, CUNNING, AND REMORSELESS.
HE SAID OFTEN IT’S NOT JUST FOR THE MONEY, BUT THEY ARE ADDICTS AND TARGET VULNERABLE ADULTS FOR THEIR PAIN-KILLING NARCOTICS.
THOSE WHO EXPLOIT VULNERABLE ADULTS SOMETIMES HAVE POSITIONS OF TRUST, SUCH AS THE WAIT-PERSON WHO SERVES THE ADULT AT A RESTAURANT OR A NURSE.
AND SOMETIMES THEY JUST ARRIVE WITH NO APPARENT CONNECTION TO THE VICTIM.
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TETON COUNTY'S SHERIFF IS PROPOSING AN ALLOWANCE FOR DEPUTIES WHO HAVE BEEN PUSHED OUT OF THE AREA
SHERIFF JIM WHALEN SAYS ONLY FIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S 23 SWORN DEPUTIES LIVE IN THE VALLEY, WHICH LEAVES THE COUNTY VULNERABLE DURING EMERGENCIES. IN A LETTER TO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, WHALEN POINTED TO THE DEPARTMENT'S INABILITY TO PROPERLY RESPOND TO A POWERFUL SNOWSTORM THAT CLOSED THE SNAKE RIVER CANYON AND TETON PASS FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN FEBRUARY.
HE SAYS "TETON COUNTY NEEDED TO HAVE A ROBUST EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND WE COULDN'T PROVIDE IT."
THE SHERIFF HAS PUSHED FOR HOUSING ALLOWANCES IN THE PAST BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET APPROVAL.
WHALEN SAYS NOT INCENTIVIZING EMERGENCY PERSONNEL TO LIVE IN THE AREA PUTS PEOPLE AT RISK.