PHOENIX — The judge in the Jodi Arias murder trial declared a mistrial in the penalty phase Thursday after the jury reported for a second time that it was deadlocked on whether to sentence her to life in prison or death for killing her boyfriend in 2008. The judge scheduled a retrial for July 18. A new panel likely will be seated to try again to reach a decision on a sentence — unless the prosecutor takes death off the table agrees to a life sentence.
GRAPEVINE, Texas — The Boy Scouts of America threw open its ranks Thursday to gay Scouts but not gay Scout leaders — a fiercely contested compromise that some warned could fracture the organization and lead to mass defections of members and donors. Of the roughly 1,400 voting members of the BSA's National Council who cast ballots, 61 percent supported the proposal drafted by the governing Executive Committee. The policy change takes effect Jan. 1.
The Frankfort and Frankfort Hill volunteer fire departments conducted their annual memorial service Wednesday evening at the firehouse.
The ceremony was originally scheduled to take place at the Firefighters Memorial Park on Litchfield Street, but was moved indoors due to the rain.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the village of Herkimer closed off Mohawk Street and a portion of state Route 28 Wednesday morning for an exercise to erect a floodwall closure. The project began at 7 a.m. and the floodwall was constructed and disassembled by 9:15 a.m.
The DEC and the Herkimer Department of Public Works planned the training exercise to make sure village staff are familiar with how to construct the floodwall if a flood emergency was to occur. The exercise also ensured the closure plates and the wall are in good working order and able to be quickly assembled.
State and local officials, along with area residents, gathered in the Herkimer County Community College gymnasium Tuesday evening to remember the victims of the March shootings in Mohawk and Herkimer and to honor all those who served during the events of March 13 and 14.
Herkimer County Legislature Chairman Vincent J. Bono, who served as master of ceremonies for the Day of Reflection and Recognition ceremony, called the shootings “a tragic, senseless act that left four men dead and two more seriously injured.” He added, “This horrific event shattered our sense of security. Many of us never thought anything like this would ever happen here.”
