The nation in brief

A hearse carries the body of executed inmate Robert Van Hook from prison Wednesday in Lucasville, Ohio.
A hearse carries the body of executed inmate Robert Van Hook from prison Wednesday in Lucasville, Ohio.

Inmate apologizes before put to death

LUCASVILLE, Ohio — A weeping inmate apologized for choking and fatally stabbing a man he met in a bar in 1985 moments before the inmate was put to death Wednesday in the first Ohio execution in nearly a year.

The execution of Robert Van Hook by lethal injection was carried out at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility with three members of the victim’s family watching from a viewing window.

During the execution, Van Hook, 58, cried as he told his victim’s sister, brother and brother-in-law, “I’m very sorry for taking your brother away from you.” At the end of reciting a prayer, Van Hook began singing, stopping after about two minutes when the drugs took effect.

Authorities say Van Hook met David Self at the Subway Bar in downtown Cincinnati on Feb. 18, 1985. After a couple of hours, they went to Self’s apartment where Van Hook choked the 25-year-old to unconsciousness, and stabbed him multiple times in the neck and abdomen, according to court records. Van Hook stole a leather jacket and necklaces before fleeing.

Trumps pay respects to fallen agent

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump paid their respects Wednesday to the family of a Secret Service agent who died in Scotland while supporting their overseas trip.

Special Agent Nole E. Remagen suffered a stroke Monday during Trump’s trip to Belgium, England, Scotland and Finland. The 19-year veteran died Tuesday in Scotland, surrounded by relatives and Secret Service colleagues. His body was returned to the U.S. on Wednesday.

“Our hearts are filled with sadness over the loss of a beloved and devoted special agent, husband and father,” Trump said in a statement. “Our prayers are with Special Agent Remagen’s loved ones, including his wife and two young children. We grieve with them and with his Secret Service colleagues, who have lost a friend and a brother.”

Trump said, “Melania and I are deeply grateful for his lifetime of devotion.”

The Trumps departed the White House on the Marine One helicopter Wednesday to attend a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, just outside Washington, where the body of Remagen, who also served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps, was to arrive. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, also went to pay their respects.

Trump left Scotland on Sunday evening and flew to Helsinki for a Monday summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He returned to Washington late Monday.

NYC, 6 states sue over ‘sanctuary’ rule

NEW YORK — Six states and New York City sued the federal government Wednesday, joining other cities and states who say the government is trying to unlawfully force “sanctuary” communities to engage in federal immigration enforcement if they want anti-crime funds.

Lawsuits were filed in Manhattan federal court on behalf of New York state and city, Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington, Massachusetts and Virginia.

The federal government in July 2017 imposed conditions requiring cities receiving public safety grants to notify federal agents when people in the country illegally are about to be released from police detention.

Since then, federal courts in Illinois, Pennsylvania and California have struck down the conditions affecting “sanctuary” communities.

Justice Department spokesman Devin O’Malley called two lawsuits filed Wednesday “a disservice to these states’ law-abiding citizens.”

The six states say they could lose nearly $25 million.

Bid to divide California taken off ballot

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A measure that would divide California into three parts won’t appear on the ballot in November, the state Supreme Court decided Wednesday.

The justices ordered the secretary of state not to put the ballot initiative before voters, saying significant questions have been raised about its validity.

The Planning and Conservation League argues that dividing the nation’s most populous state into three would drastically change California’s government structure beyond what can be accomplished through a ballot initiative.

Venture capitalist Tim Draper, who spent more than $1.7 million supporting the initiative, has said it would be inappropriate for the court to block it from going before voters.

The initiative sought to divide the state into Northern California, California and Southern California.

Upcoming Events