Georgia judge found dead in courtroom, suicide suspected – Newstrends
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Georgia judge found dead in courtroom, suicide suspected

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3 days ago

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Judge Stephen Yekel

Georgia judge found dead in courtroom, suicide suspected

Effingham County, Georgia, is mourning the loss of Judge Stephen Yekel, 74, who died by suicide in his courtroom late Monday night. His body was discovered early Tuesday morning, on what would have been his final day on the bench following his re-election defeat.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Yekel’s death, which has shocked the local community and the legal fraternity.

Appointed as a judge in 2022, Yekel had submitted his resignation after losing the election to Judge Melissa M. Calhoun. However, Governor Brian Kemp rejected his resignation, citing respect for the voters’ choice. Yekel had expressed frustration over the low voter turnout, noting in his resignation letter that only 6% of eligible voters participated in the election.

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The past year was particularly challenging for Yekel, marked by personal and professional struggles. His ex-wife, Lisa Yekel, publicly defended him against rumors related to their divorce and his election loss. She revealed that the family faced financial strain due to a failed daycare business but described him as “one of the most respectful, honest, and caring people I know.”

Yekel was also entangled in a lawsuit filed by court employee Lisa Crawford, who accused him of wrongful termination and sought $10,000 in damages. Crawford alleged that Yekel fired her to hire his own staff and claimed he accused her of conspiring to reduce charges for DUI offenders—an accusation Yekel denied in court filings.

Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie expressed his condolences and announced the temporary closure of the courtroom until January 2. The county government also extended sympathy to Yekel’s family, describing his death as a significant loss to the community.

Judge Yekel had a distinguished career before his judicial appointment, serving as an assistant district attorney in Chatham County and as a special agent with Georgia’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Unit.

He is survived by four children—Sean, Ashleigh, Blake, and Brett—who, along with the Effingham County community, are left mourning his legacy of service and dedication. Governor Kemp has not yet issued a statement on the tragedy.

 

Georgia judge found dead in courtroom, suicide suspected

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Trump may be sentenced Jan 10 in hush money case

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14 hours ago

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January 4, 2025

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President-elect Donald Trump

Trump may be sentenced Jan 10 in hush money case

A judge has ordered that Donald Trump will be sentenced on 10 January in his hush-money case in New York – less than two weeks before he is set to be sworn in as president.

New York Justice Juan Merchan signalled he would not sentence Trump to jail time, probation or a fine, but instead give him an “unconditional discharge”, and wrote in his order that the president-elect could appear in person or virtually for the hearing.

Trump had attempted to use his presidential election victory to have the case against him dismissed.

The president-elect has posted on social media dismissing the judge’s order as an “illegitimate political attack” and calling the case “nothing but a rigged charade”.

Trump was convicted in May of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 (£105,000) payment to adult-film star Stormy Daniels.

The charges related to attempts to cover up reimbursements to his ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, who in the final days of the 2016 election campaign paid off the adult-film star to remain silent about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.

The president-elect has denied all wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty, arguing the case was an attempt to harm his 2024 presidential campaign.

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In the post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday Trump said the judge’s sentencing order “goes against our Constitution and, if allowed to stand, would be the end of the Presidency as we know it”.

Trump’s spokesperson Steven Cheung earlier called the order part of a “witch hunt”.

“President Trump must be allowed to continue the presidential transition process and to execute the vital duties of the presidency, unobstructed by the remains of this or any remnants of the witch hunts,” Cheung said.

“There should be no sentencing, and President Trump will continue fighting against these hoaxes until they are all dead.”

In his latest motion against the case, Trump had argued the case would hang over him during his presidency and impede his ability to govern.

Justice Merchan said he had been advised of several measures he could employ that could assuage Trump’s concerns about being distracted by a criminal case while serving as president that fell short of the “extreme remedy” of overturning the jury’s verdict.

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His options included delaying the sentencing until Trump, 78, leaves the White House in 2029, or guaranteeing a sentence that would not involve prison time.

Trump had initially, and unsuccessfully, argued the case against him ran afoul of a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.

In July, the country’s top court ruled that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for “official actions” they take while in office.

However, last month Justice Merchan ruled Trump’s hush money conviction was valid.

Trump is currently set to be the first convicted felon to serve in the White House.

He may attempt to appeal against the conviction after the sentencing.

While falsifying business records is punishable by up to four years in prison in the US, there is no minimum sentence and incarceration is not required.

Even before his election victory, legal experts thought it was unlikely Trump would face jail time given his age and his legal record.

Trump has also been charged in three other state and federal criminal cases: one involving classified documents and two relating to his alleged efforts to overturn his loss in the election of 2020.

The president-elect was initially scheduled to be sentenced on 26 November, but Justice Merchan pushed the date back after Trump won the presidential election.

 

Trump may be sentenced Jan 10 in hush money case

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Visa: UK raises salary entry requirement for skilled workers

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1 day ago

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January 3, 2025

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Visa: UK raises salary entry requirement for skilled workers

The UK government has announced an update to its immigration rules, notably increasing salary thresholds for Skilled Worker visas.

This change is targeted at ensuring that only highly skilled and well-compensated workers are able to access the UK job market, with some salary requirements rising by as much as 82%.

Effective from January 1, 2025, the minimum salary for most applicants will rise from £26,200 to £38,700.

This adjustment is projected to impact a wide range of industries, including technology, healthcare, and engineering, making it more challenging for workers to obtain a Skilled Worker visa without a higher-paying job offer.

For applicants with a relevant PhD, the salary threshold will also increase from £23,800 to £34,830, while those holding a relevant STEM PhD will need to meet a higher threshold of £30,960, up from £20,960.

Jobs on the shortage occupation list and new entrants to the workforce will also see their salary requirement increase to £30,960.

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“This increase signifies the government’s plan to ensure that only the most qualified individuals can access the Skilled Worker visa programme,” said a government spokesperson.

The raised thresholds are based on median salary figures, which will further narrow the pool of eligible applicants to the highest earners in their fields.

According to DAAD Scholarship, these changes present both challenges and opportunities for job seekers aiming to work in the UK.

“Workers in fields such as software development, engineering, and healthcare will now need to secure job offers that meet the new salary thresholds,” the scholarship noted.

Furthermore, the 20% discount for shortage occupation roles will be removed under the new system.

However, workers with relevant PhDs, especially in STEM fields, will still be eligible for some discounts.

New entrants to the workforce, including recent graduates, will continue to benefit from discounts, making it slightly easier for them to meet the new salary requirements.

For employers in the UK, these increased salary requirements will lead to higher costs when sponsoring foreign workers.

Companies will need to adjust their budgets to accommodate these changes, but the result may be a more qualified workforce entering the UK.

 

Visa: UK raises salary entry requirement for skilled workers

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Two dead after small plane crashes into California building

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2 days ago

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January 3, 2025

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Two dead after small plane crashes into California building

Two people have died and 18 others were injured after a small plane crashed into a commercial building in southern California, officials say.

Ten people were taken to hospital with injuries, the Fullerton Police Department said in a post on X on Thursday afternoon. Eight others were treated for injuries and released at the scene.

The single-engine Van’s RV-10 crashed at 14:15PST (20:15GMT), according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Officials have provided no further details about how the crash occurred. It is unclear whether the two people who died were workers or were on board the plane.

Police say they are evacuating buildings in the area, and are asking the public to stay away from the crash site.

Congressman Lou Correa, who represents the area of Orange County, about 25 miles (40km) south of Los Angeles, said that the building that was struck is a furniture manufacturing business.

In a post on X, Correa said that at least a dozen of the victims are factory workers.

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Aerial photos of the scene show parts of the plane inside the building. The crash also sparked a fire which was extinguished by fire crews.

Security footage recorded from a building across the street shows a fiery explosion, according to local news outlets.

“People are just shaken over the situation,” witness Mark Anderson told KRCA-TV.

“It was just a large boom, and then one of the people went out and said, ‘Oh my gosh, the building’s on fire.'”

The area where the plane crashed is near the Fullerton Municipal Airport, about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from Disneyland.

The plane appears to have been turning back to the airport shortly after takeoff, according to KRCA-TV.

Around 100 people were ultimately evacuated from the Michael Nicholas Designs furniture factory, according to the Orange County Register newspaper.

Juanita Ramirez, an employee, told the newspaper that she heard a loud bang before seeing a large ball of fire flying towards her.

“It felt like a dream,” she said.

This is the second plane to crash in the area in the past two months, according to CBS, the BBC’s US partner.

On 25 November, another plane crashed into a tree roughly one block away from this most recent crash. No major injures were reported in that crash.

Two dead after small plane crashes into California building

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