Daily News Recap (5-1-15)

Compiled by Holly Henrichsen
Assistant Web Content Manager

In a press conference this morning, Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced that six police officers have been charged in the death of Freddie Gray. Mosby clarified that Freddie Gray was illegally arrested and that his death has been ruled a homicide. The officer who drove the police van has been charged with several counts, including second degree depraved heart murder. Another officer has been charged with several counts including manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter. Four other officers have been charged with multiple counts, including manslaughter, second degree assault and involuntary manslaughter. The press conference is coming after days of rioting in Baltimore.
-Taylor Zavala

The U.S. Justice Department said this morning that the Obama Administration will provide 20 million in grants to local police departments to help buy body cameras for officers. According to Reuters, the demand for cameras has risen amid serious quarrels between police and black men with protests in various American cities that follow. The cameras are very expensive for police departments, but the grant is the first installment to be approved by Congress in a 75 million, three-year body camera funding program that was requested by President Obama in December. The cameras will clip onto officers uniforms to record interactions with citizens. Departments awarded the grants will be overseen by the Bureau of Justice Statistics in the pilot program to evaluate the impact of body cameras.
-Chelsea Seifert

Former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey official David Wildstein, has plead guilty to two counts that he conspired with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s deputy chief of staff to close lanes of the George Washington bridge as a retribution to Fort Lee Mayor not endorsing the governor’s reelection. According to CNN, Wildstein, who was appointed by Christie, plead guilty to one charge of conspiracy to commit fraud on federally funded property and one civil rights violation. Governor Christie has repeatedly denied any involvement in the bridge closures and says he had no advanced knowledge on the lane closures. Wildstein is the first person to face a conviction and others are expected to face federal charges as well.
-Marques Mingo

Tomorrow, Hays County will be sponsoring their annual FOODSTOCK celebration which will feature free music, art, food and a coming together of the community. The Hays County Food Bank will be accepting fresh produce and non perishable food items, along with monetary donations. All donations will go directly to helping the Hays county community. You can also participate in the Can-Do Food Drive Competition where whoever brings in the most pounds of food by 2 p.m. will win the Can-Do Food Drive traveling trophy. The event will run from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hays County Courthouse.
-Taylor Zavala