SUMMARY: A man faced felony harassment charges after calling a decades-old rape victim a liar on his podcast, “Chronic Chronicles.” The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office charged him with seven felonies, alleging direct contact with the victim and her family. He spent a week in jail before his public defender, Brendan Cotton Steady, uncovered that the evidence was solely from the podcast comments. Cotton Steady argued the case was a clear First Amendment free speech issue, persuading prosecutors to drop charges. The man credits his public defender and prosecutor for recognizing his rights and clearing his name, highlighting the legal victory stemming from free speech protections.

It’s an unusual case involving a very sensitive subject—a rape case from more than a decade ago that led to a conviction and sent a man to prison.

The convict is a friend of Oran Ambus, who produces a podcast called Chronic Chronicles. Ambus says he called the rape victim a liar and that later—25 cops broke down his door.

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SUMMARY: Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson charged Arel Dawkins, 36, of Blue Springs, with first-degree murder and armed criminal action for the killing of Braisen Cain, a pregnant teacher in Northeast Kansas City. Cain, Dawkins’ ex-girlfriend and mother of his unborn child, was found fatally shot after being run over by a Ford F-150, with surveillance showing multiple shootings. Dawkins reportedly confessed to the murder and was arrested Wednesday, held without bond. Kansas City has seen a rise in domestic violence homicides, with 2024’s count already surpassing last year’s 12 cases. A GoFundMe supports Cain’s children. Resources for domestic violence and mental health are available.

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The post Man accused of running over Kansas City teacher with car before shooting, killing her appeared first on fox4kc.com

SUMMARY: Two people were killed Thursday morning when a Hughes 369D helicopter struck transmission lines and crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River near Maple Island, east of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam. The barge caught fire, but no injuries were reported aboard. The victims were contractors working on tower lighting and marker balls for Ameren. Witness Adam Briggs said the helicopter was ferrying gear when it hit the lines. The river was closed after the lines fell into the water. Multiple Missouri and Illinois agencies responded. The NTSB will lead the investigation, which may take one to two years.

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The post 2 dead after helicopter crashes into Mississippi River barge north of St. Louis appeared first on www.ozarksfirst.com