FBI director makes historic Navajo visit
GALLUP, N.M. -- FBI Director Christopher Wray met with tribal officials of the largest Indian reservation in the U.S. last week, becoming the first head of the federal law enforcement agency to visit the Navajo Nation.
The meeting was intended to allow Wray to introduce himself to tribal leaders during a visit to FBI field offices, FBI spokesman Frank Fisher said.
Wray visited the tribal capital in Window Rock, Ariz., on Friday and spoke with Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye and other tribal and federal law enforcement officials, including FBI agents stationed in New Mexico, the Gallup Independent reported.
The FBI investigates major crimes on tribal reservations and Wray said his visit, which included a stop at a crime scene, helped give him a look at law enforcement "on the front lines."
After the meeting, Wray said he was "very impressed by the partnership" between Navajo and FBI officials.
The Navajo Nation reservation covers 27,000 square miles in northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico and southeastern Utah, making it about half the size of Arkansas.
The visit to where a homicide occurred was intended to show Wray "the remoteness of the Navajo Nation," said Nation Police Chief Phillip Francisco. "They picked one that was kind of close so they didn't have to drive that far."
Large areas of the reservation have little or no cellphone coverage and have roads that are impassable in bad weather.
Vegas victims' families to get $275,000
LAS VEGAS -- A $31.5 million victims' fund that started as a GoFundMe effort announced plans Friday to pay $275,000 to the families of each of the 58 people killed in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
The Las Vegas Victims Fund said the maximum $275,000 also will be paid to 10 other people who were paralyzed or suffered permanent brain damage in the Oct. 1 shooting on the Las Vegas Strip.
The nonprofit posted a chart projecting payments on a scale to a total of 532 people, including more than $10 million divided among 147 people who were hospitalized.
"In no way can it replace someone's life," said Al Etcheber, the brother-in-law of Stacee Etcheber, who died when a gunman fired from a high-rise casino hotel into a country music festival below. "Still, it is a real nice way to help families who lost someone they loved."
Victims fund spokesman Howard Stutz said the nonprofit expects to pay 100 percent of the funds raised, with payouts beginning Monday.
Trump orders aid for American Samoa
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa -- President Donald Trump has ordered federal assistance for American Samoa in the wake of damage caused by tropical storm Gita last month.
The White House announced Friday that Trump approved the disaster declaration for the U.S. territory in order to free up funding. The assistance can go toward grants for temporary housing, home repairs, low-cost loans for property losses and other programs.
He previously declared an emergency in the region Feb. 11, a few days after the storm initially hit, to help the 50,000 residents.
The storm pummeled the South Pacific islands, causing downed trees, damaged buildings and widespread power failures. Hundreds of people are still living in emergency shelters.
Residents who suffered losses in designated areas can apply for assistance at a disaster recovery center in the coming days.
Man killed by deputies had paint gun
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A man who was fatally shot by deputies several days earlier was holding a paint spray gun and not a firearm, according to West Virginia authorities.
The Monongalia County sheriff's office said Friday that Randall Beymer threatened the deputies with a black "paint can gun," the Charleston Gazette-Mail reported. Deputies described the sprayer as having a pistol-type grip and "a trigger assembly that closely resembled a handgun."
The sheriff's office said five deputies are on administrative leave as an internal investigation continues. The office released its first statement last Sunday, a day after the shooting, according to the Gazette-Mail.
A Section on 03/04/2018