A 21-year-old Chanhassen man was indicted on charges of premeditated first-degree murder by a Carver County grand jury last week for shooting his sister 18 times inside their family home filled with hundreds of spent bullet casings.
Joseph T. Ness was initially charged with intentional second-degree murder in connection with the May killing of Noelle Ness, 25, according to Carver County attorney Mark Metz, but the jury came back Aug. 10 with the indictment.
An omnibus hearing for Ness is slated for Oct. 6.
Metz said in a statement on the indictment that Ness retains the presumption of innocence "unless and until the state proves every element of the charged crimes beyond a reasonable doubt." Metz offered no motive for the shooting.
According to court documents:
On May 8, deputies were dispatched to the Ness home on Landings Drive after the mother ran to a neighbor's house saying that "Joey shot and killed Noelle." That neighbor called 911 around 2:20 p.m. and about 45 minutes later, another nearby resident said Ness had walked onto her property confessing that he had just killed his sister. They called 911 and Ness was arrested and held in lieu of $1 million bail.
Inside the bullet-riddled home with many shot-out windows just off Lake Minnewashta., authorities found six rifles, including AR-15 and AK-47 variants, ammunition and high-capacity drum magazines.
Ness shot from his bedroom into his sister's room across the hall, according to the criminal complaint, but it noted that she was also shot from closer range "as rounds traveled vertically through her bed."
The United States spent more than $8bn over 15 years on efforts to deprive the Taliban of their profits from Afghanistan’s opium and heroin trade, from poppy eradication to air attacks and raids on suspected labs.
That strategy failed.
As the US wraps up its longest war, Afghanistan remains the world’s biggest illicit opiate supplier & looks certain to remain so as the Taliban takes power in Kabul, said current & former US & UN officials & experts.
Widespread destruction during the war, millions uprooted from their homes, foreign aid cuts & losses of local spending by departed US-led foreign troops are fueling an economic & humanitarian crisis that is likely to leave many destitute Afghans dependent on the narcotics trade for survival.
That dependence threatens to bring more instability as the Taliban, other armed groups, ethnic militia leaders & corrupt public officials vie for drug profits & power.
“The Taliban have counted on the Afghan opium trade as one of their main sources of income,” Cesar Gudes, the head of the Kabul office of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), told Reuters. “More production brings drugs with a cheaper & more attractive price & therefore a wider accessibility.”
Despite the threats posed by Afghanistan’s illicit drug business, experts noted, the US and other nations rarely mention in public the need to address the trade – estimated by the UNODC at more than 80 percent of global opium and heroin supplies.
“We’ve stood by on the sidelines & unfortunately, allowed the Taliban to become probably the largest funded non-designated terrorist organization on the globe,” said a US official with knowledge of Afghanistan’s drug trade.
“The US & international partners have continued to pull out and not addressed poppy cultivation,” the official said. “What you’re going to find is that it has exploded.”
Silento now stands accused of murder -- a Georgia grand jury indicted him in the shooting death of his cousin ... TMZ has learned.
According to new legal docs ... the grand jury hit the "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" rapper with 4 felony charges, including one count of malice murder and one count of felony murder.
He's was also charged with aggravated assault and gun possession during the commission of a felony.
As we reported ... cops arrested Silento in early February for allegedly murdering Frederick Rooks after an investigation into the man's death. Rooks, the rapper's cousin, was shot to death in the street on Jan. 21, and cops in DeKalb County linked Silento to the crime.
Silento's team claims he's been suffering from various mental health issues for several years.
Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) A tropical storm system is threatening to unleash flash flooding and mudslides on the area of Haiti where a 7.2-magnitude earthquake killed almost 1,300 people on Saturday.
Tropical Depression Grace was approaching the southern coast of Hispaniola, the island comprising Haiti and the Dominican Republic, early Monday bringing with it sustained winds of 35 mph, and higher gusts, CNN meteorologist Haley Brink said.
Tropical storm conditions are possible in the Dominican Republic and Haiti later today, Brink said, adding that several inches of rain are forecast -- with up to 15 inches possible in some isolated areas -- through Tuesday.
"I am worried about the upcoming storm as it can complicate the situation for us," Jerry Chandler, head of Haiti's civil protection agency, said on Sunday.
The agency reported at least 1,297 people dead and more than 5,700 injured on Sunday. Those numbers are expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue.
The quake destroyed 13,694 homes and damaged another 13,785, officials from the agency said.
The destruction has also pushed hospitals to the brink and blocked roads, making it difficult for vital supplies to reach the affected areas.
"We really need help, yesterday I was helping at the hospital and things were out of control," a volunteer named Marcelin Lorejoie told CNN on Sunday.
"Not enough doctors, not enough medicines and we have people with serious injuries. We need urgent help before things (get) more complicated."
Authorities are going from house to house in search of survivors -- efforts which demand a tremendous amount of resources.
At the site of one collapsed hotel, a CNN team saw just one excavator, which was not working at the time. There was no police or security presence nearby, as people carried air conditioning units away from the wrecked building.
The earthquake struck at 8:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, at a depth of about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles); its epicenter was about 7.5 miles northeast of Saint-Louis-du-Sud in the southwest part of the country.
That location is about 60 miles west of the epicenter of the disastrous 7.0-magnitude quake that killed an estimated 220,000 to 300,000 people in 2010.
In this episode of "People's Party With Talib Kweli," Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with rapper and writer:
ISAIAH RASHAD
Here's what we dug into with one of this generation's most respected lyricists:
• Why Isaiah chose to rap under his first and middle name. • His mother and stepfather's history of being Five-Percenters. • The primary rap influences that gave him the emotional variations in his flow. • Going through phases of wanting to become a preacher or a teacher. • The impact of Outkast and their album 'ATLiens' had on his wanting to pick up a mic. • His Chattanooga, Tennessee upbringing and the influences shaped his style. • Diversity in today's hip hop and the future of journalism. • How he was brought onto the Smoker's Club Music Festival. • The excellence of Joey Bada$$ and his hitting the scene during the "creative control era". • Why SoundCloud has been such a huge part of Isaiah's success story. • The Top Dawg Entertainment signing feeling like a blessing from God. • Feeling in the zone during the making of his 'Cilvia Demo'. • Discussion of if 'The Sun's Tirade' was meant to be a concept album. • Lupe Fiasco and Lil' Wayne inspiring him to write introspectively. • Breaking down who Isaiah views as the most entertaining rapper. • A debate over whether or not Magoo was a good rapper and if he stole Q-Tip's style. • The songs 'Wat's Wrong featuring Zacari & Kendrick Lamar and 'Free Lunch'. • Ice Cube going Hollywood while still releasing records that garner respect. • His experience working with Syd, SZA as well as Kenny Beats. • His highly anticipated album 'The House Is Burning' being released the day of the show.
TIME STAMPS:
2:00 -- Isaiah's birth year of 1991 is discussed, along with LeVar Burton, Batman Forever, Talib being a ghetto Transformer for Halloween as a kid, why Isaiah chose to rap under his first and middle name, Talib's early rap name as well, Isaiah listening to Scarface and Too $hort as a young kid as well as the reactions Isaiah gets from people in Ireland when they find out his last name is McLain.
8:31 -- Isaiah is asked about his mother and stepfather being Five-Percenters who later returned to the Baptist church. He goes on to talk about attempting to learn more about Five-Percenter philosophy during 'The Sun's Tirade' album, the primary rap influences that gave him the emotional variations in his flow and going through phases of wanting to become a preacher or a teacher.
12:57 -- Isaiah gets into the impact of Outkast and specifically their album 'ATLiens' had on him growing up and tells how his first exposure to the group was a chopped and screwed 'Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik'. He also tells why he would hand write the lyrics of his favorite emcees, talks about early frustrations evolving his pen game and how his Chattanooga, Tennessee upbringing and the influences shaped his style.
18:22 -- Talib and Isaiah give a shout out to the heads at DJBooth for assisting them in their careers, they talk about the diversity in today's hip hop and the future of it's journalism, Isaiah tells how he was brought onto the Smokers Club Music Festival and how it was a pivotal moment in his career. They also discuss the excellence of Joey Bada$$ out the gate, him being Talib's son's favorite rapper and how he came on to the scene during the "creative control era".
23:25 -- Isaiah speaks on how posting his early material on SoundCloud was such a huge part of his success story, Talib and Isaiah go on to compare the eras of how they first got the attention of A&Rs and Isaiah attempts to school Talib on the latest iPhone technology. He also breaks down why his Top Dawg Entertainment signing felt like a blessing from God, how they covered his rent for a while and how much he appreciated their early investment in him as an emerging artist.
29:18 -- Talib brings up how impressed he was with Isaiah's 'Cilvia Demo' album with emphasis on the 'Shot You Down (Remix)'. They get into his process of making that record and the zone he was in at the time, Jay Rock and ScHoolboy Q's contributions, they discuss how Isaiah's attained his Zaywop nickname, he tells how 'The Sun's Tirade' album with themes of overcoming depression and drug abuse wasn't necessarily intended to be a concept record and speaks on Lupe Fiasco and Lil' Wayne inspiring him to write introspectively.
34:34 -- Isaiah breaks down who he thinks is the most entertaining rapper of all-time as well as who has the best wordplay with Jay-Z, Lil’ Wayne, and Young Thug being names in play. Isaiah talks about originally just wanting to make music for his homies and Talib shares his initial reactions when he first heard groups like Little Brother and Blu & Exile as well as the day he met Kendrick Lamar when he was brought onto Talib's basement podcast.
39:03 -- Isaiah, Talib and Jas debate whether or not Magoo was a good rapper and if he stole Q-Tip's style and flow or they just have similar voices. Raekwon's 'Shark N*ggas (Biters)' track is brought up as well as the Ghostface Killah and Action Bronson beef, A Tribe Called Quest's impact on Isaiah, Magoo getting props for his part in Timbaland's success and Isaiah's songs 'Wat's Wrong featuring Zacari & Kendrick Lamar and 'Free Lunch' are also talked about.
44:13 -- Isaiah tells how Young Thug inspires him, Talib mentions people missing the artistic side of trap and Isaiah asks Talib if he would put Ludacris in his top five rap entertainers. They also discuss Ice Cube going Hollywood while still releasing records that garner respect, Isaiah's song 'Silkk da Shocka', his experience working with Syd who is featured on the track, working with SZA who he lived with for several years, his track 'Headshots' and he talks about Kenny Beats being his rap coach.
49:41 -- Isaiah's latest album 'The House Is Burning' being released the day of this episode is mentioned and Isaiah gets into some of the legendary features on the album which include the likes of Duke Deuce, Lil Uzi Vert, Smino, Amindi, Jay Rock, Jay Worthy, Iamdoechii, Kal Banx, YGTUT, 6lack and SZA. Isaiah later gets into avoiding friends' houses to eat if they're vegan, they discuss food like pig's feet becoming a delicacy with a Scarface movie reference to prove it and eating octopus alive.
Bronx, New York emcee and BottomLyne Music CEO, BeenOfficial, releases another official music video off of his stellar album ,"A.O.D. (America's on Drugs)." This latest one is for "Dope Block."
Thousands of Afghans have been filmed desperately chasing after and clinging to a US Air Force plane as it taxied down the runway — with at least two falling to their deaths in the frantic attempt to flee the country after the Taliban takeover, shocking new video shows.
Just moments after the military plane left the runway on Monday, the two young men can be seen falling onto the tarmac, local media reports.
They were among the thousands filmed chasing after and climbing onto the military plane as it prepared to take off.
In chaotic scenes on Monday, crowds of Afghans stormed Kabul’s international airport and swarmed the tarmac as US military flights were preparing to leave.
One shocking video being shared on social media shows a crowd of people running alongside a military plane as it taxied down the runway.
Dozens of people can be seen trying to grip onto the sides of the plane.
In other videos, hundreds of people can be seen running across the tarmac as US soldiers fired warning shots in the air.
A US official said troops had fired in the air to deter people trying to force their way onto a military flight that was set to evacuate American diplomats out of the fallen city.
Another shows a crowd trying to push and shove their way up a staircase in a bid to board a plane, with some people hanging off the railings.
Five people were killed during the airport chaos but it wasn’t immediately clear how the victims died.
The shocking scenes came just hours after Taliban insurgents toppled the Western government after a lightning, week-long onslaught across the country.
The Taliban swept into Kabul on Sunday after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, bringing a stunning end to a two-decade campaign in which the US and its allies had tried to transform Afghanistan.
The US Embassy has already been evacuated and the American flag lowered, with diplomats relocating to the airport to aid with the evacuation.
Jay-Z's latest hustle is big-time gambling ... he's signed on with some heavy hitters in a bid to open a sportsbook in NY, and the move could make him a pioneer in the billion-dollar industry.
TMZ has learned Jay's name is on one of the applications submitted to the NY Gaming Commission requesting approval for an online sports betting license. Sources with direct knowledge tell us he's partnering with his buddy Sixers partner Michael Rubin to form Fanatics Sportsbook, and they've teamed with Kambi ... a company that makes software used for online sports gambling.
Jay and Rubin's group is up against stiff competition ... including companies like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook and WynnBET.
We're told NY state will approve at least 2 of the 6 groups, and it's possible Jay-Z will be the secret weapon that puts his group over the top. Not only is he the most prominent public figure applying for a license, but he's the only Black applicant. While the other corporations might have Black employees or execs, they aren't the actual licensees ... whereas Jay would be.
You'd think the guy who rapped about his "Empire State of Mind" would at least have a leg up in his home state -- but there's probably a lot of politics at play too. The Gaming Commission has until December to make the call.
Sports gambling pulled in roughly $1.55 BILLION nationally last year, so it's easy to see why Jay and Rubin want in on the action. Our sources say their Fanatics Sportsbook will be headquartered in NYC, and Jay's already planning to hire a diverse staff -- race and gender-wise -- as he's done with Roc Nation.
BTW, Jay-Z previously held gaming licenses in Nevada and New Jersey when his 40/40 Clubs were open in Vegas and Atlantic City, but he closed those down many years ago.
Cypress Hill has been making an impact on the culture since they first came out in 1991. Now thirty years later, they are a staple in hip-hop history and are celebrating 30 years since their debut. Sen Dog talks with Sway In The Morning about their journey.
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin woman accidentally shot a friend while using the laser sight on a handgun to play with a cat, authorities said.
A criminal complaint charging the 19-year-old woman, identified as Jashanti Pleasant, with negligent use of a weapon said she was visiting a Kenosha apartment on Tuesday afternoon where a 21-year-old man had brought a handgun.
The woman, who a witness said had been drinking, picked up the handgun, “turned on the laser sight and was pointing it at the floor to get the cat to chase it,” when the gun went off, the complaint filed Thursday said.
The man, identified James Daniels, who was standing in a doorway, was shot in the thigh, authorities said. He left and went into another apartment, where police found him after responding to a 911 call.
A tourniquet was applied to his leg to stop the bleeding before he was taken to a hospital. There’s no word on his condition, but authorities said he was facing charges for violating bond conditions that prevented him from having a weapon.
The woman told police she thought the magazine had been taken out of the gun and said it“accidentally went off,” according to the complaint.
YNW Melly is facing a possible death penalty as he sits in prison awaiting trial for murder, but he's passing the time by producing an album behind bars.
Sources close to YNW Melly tell TMZ ... the rapper had been working on "Just a Matter of Slime" for the better part of the last 8 months. We're told he spent hours and hours on the phone ... securing collabs with other rappers like Young Thug, Future and Lil Uzi Vert. He's also spent lots of time talking to sound engineers.
Our sources say YNW recorded his verses long before he was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder over the shooting deaths of 2 friends.
YNW has been locked up since February 2019 ... and while he awaits trial in Broward County, Florida -- where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty -- the rapper's been grinding.
We're told YNW has been listening to arrangements of his music and giving engineers direction on tweaking the vocals.
The rapper hopped on the phone Thursday and someone from his team recorded him from prison ... promoting his new album. We're not sure how well that's gonna go over with the warden.
As for the meaning behind the album title ... here's the story -- YNW had been unable to get a trial date for the murder case due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down the courts.
But, with things slowly but surely opening up again, YNW feels it's "just a matter of [time]" until he sees his day in court.
Posted by Miguel Cruz on August 15, 2021 at 1:01pm
Energetic; That's the best way to describe Liezer's new track, <--[oaxime'']''--]. The Vancouver, Washington electronic music producer breathes life into the melody in such a way that you'll swear that you're listening to a club masterpiece. The track, which is led by hard hitting drums and backed by gorgeous synths that you can not only ride to, but dance the night away to while you're in the middle of the club. I dare you to press play; but I warn you, this glorious and well put-together track might just have you in your own world enjoying the melodic vibes while you're dancing the night away.Stream <--[oaxime'']''--] here: https://open.spotify.com/track/6Ba8JQZQHrSJ0yIG5aeM6m?si=302c4c83849342afLiezer Social Media:https://www.liezermusic.com/https://open.spotify.com/artist/7naQdU6McIBIGsplgxA1mx?si=hdCiI4r1SsW6lKmZqvjVYQ&nd=1https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCwreGjOHea8j_ObcRTbILAhttps://www.instagram.com/l_iezer/https://twitter.com/liezermusichttps://www.facebook.com/liezer.musicLiezer Bio:Brian Paul Zimmerman (born February 8, 1990) known professionally as Liezer, is an American electronic music producer and composer from Vancouver, Washington. He received his master's degree in Music Composition from New York University. While at New York University, he studied with Pulitzer Prize winning composer, Julia Wolfe. Zimmerman first broke into the music industry in 2018 with his self-titled album, "Liezer." His next two projects, "Mirrored .9" and "Industry Acid were were both released in 2020, respectively. His next release, "Memeantine Railway" was released in 2021. Zimmerman's LP entitled, "Wear Upward" is slated for a summer of 2021 release date. Zimmerman is currently in the studio working on various projects including his upcoming EP, "Merilline." Zimmerman has composed music for video games, movies, and Anime films.In 2015, Zimmerman was a composition fellow at the Bang on a Can Summer Festival.Zimmeran was the drummer for Brooklyn-based indie band, Evelyn from 2017-2019.Zimmerman was awarded the OPUS 7 Choral Composition award in 2013 while he was a member of the Seattle Choir.
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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan’s embattled president left the country Sunday, joining his fellow citizens and foreigners in a stampede fleeing the advancing Taliban & signaling the end of a 20-year Western experiment aimed at remaking Afghanistan.
The Taliban, who for hours had been on the outskirts of Kabul, announced soon after they would move further into a city gripped by panic where helicopters raced overhead throughout the day to evacuate personnel from the U.S. Embassy. Smoke rose near the compound as staff destroyed important documents & the American flag was lowered. Several other Western missions also prepared to pull their people out.
Afghans fearing that the Taliban could reimpose the kind of brutal rule that all but eliminated women’s rights rushed to leave the country as well, lining up at cash machines to withdraw their life savings. The desperately poor — who had left homes in the countryside for the presumed safety of the capital — remained in their thousands in parks & open spaces throughout the city.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken rejected comparisons to the U.S. pullout from Vietnam, as many watched in disbelief at the sight of helicopters landing in the embassy compound to take diplomats to a new outpost at Kabul International Airport.
President Ashraf Ghani flew out of the country, two officials told The Associated Press.
“The former president of Afghanistan left Afghanistan, leaving the country in this difficult situation,” Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the Afghan National Reconciliation Council, said. “God should hold him accountable.”
In a stunning rout, the Taliban seized nearly all of Afghanistan in just over a week, despite the billions of dollars spent by the U.S. & NATO over nearly two decades to build up Afghan security forces. Just days earlier, an American military assessment estimated it would be a month before the capital would come under insurgent pressure.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A former accounts manager for a nonprofit affiliated with the University of South Florida’s medical school has pleaded guilty to embezzling almost $13 million, spending most of it at an adult website with some of it coming back to him.
Ralph Puglisi, 59, is facing up to 20 years in prison under the deal, which was recently filed in Tampa’s federal court. Puglisi had worked for the University Medical Service Association, which provides staffing & support for USF Health & other medical providers in the Tampa Bay area.
Puglisi spent almost $12 million at an adult website that allows users to subscribe to channels belonging to specific women, who disrobe & engage in sex acts on live video.
An investigation showed that Puglisi subscribed to a channel belonging to his stepson’s fiancee & they split almost $750,000 in profits, with Puglisi taking 60%.
“The investigative team developed a working theory that Puglisi worked either with the principals of the adult content provider, or with the female profiles of the adult content provider in order to financially benefit from funds charged,” prosecutors wrote.
Puglisi also is accused of making $647,000 in payments to a limited liability company he owned with his wife, plus other expenditures, including: $374,000 for personal travel; $191,000 in rent for a family member & $120,000 on household improvements.
The fraud was detected in November, leading to the firing of Puglisi, his boss & University Medical Service Association’s internal auditor.
Meek Mill is looking to feed the community with a new positive outlook on life and music that ref;ects his transition. Check out his new official music video for "Mandela" freestyle.
In this clip from next week's "People's Party with Talib Kweli," Kweli and co-host Jasmin Leigh talk with rapper Isaiah Rashad about who the most entertaining rappers are, including Jay-Z, Lil’ Wayne, and Young Thug.
Full episode arriving Monday 8/16 at 9AMet/6AMpt. Full audio episode currently live on Luminary.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A homeowner accused of shooting three tenants, killing two of them, after an argument over unpaid rent at his Las Vegas home told a witness that “he didn’t want to go through the eviction process,” a prosecutor said Wednesday.
Arnoldo Lozano-Sanchez “wanted to handle it, quote-unquote, ‘his way,’” Chief Deputy District Attorney Tim Fattig told a judge.
The judge decided Lozano-Sanchez, 78, should remain jailed without bail pending his arraignment on murder & attempted murder charges in the slayings of two women & the wounding of a man who authorities said was shot nine times.
Lozano-Sanchez “made statements about the victims not paying rent and that he was certainly upset about it,” Fattig said.
Police reported arriving at his small home early Tuesday to find one woman dead outside, the wounded man stumbling out the front door & another woman dead in a bedroom.
The wounded man was hospitalized in critical condition but is expected to survive, police said.
Lozano-Sanchez refused to speak with police after his arrest. A police report obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal said he told a witness, Adria Ortega, several days ago that he was angry about his tenants not paying rent.
“Ortega suggested Lozano go to court to evict the people living inside his home. Lozano Sanchez told the witness he would ‘handle it his way,’” the report said.
Fattig revealed that another tenant, a man identified in the police report as Carlos Lopez, was in the house during the shooting but was not shot.
Lopez told police that he saw Lozano-Sanchez go into a bedroom where a woman pleaded for her life, multiple gunshots were fired and the wounded man ran out.
“The surviving roommate heard and saw the defendant enter into another bedroom in the house, and he heard cries for help from the occupants and thereafter heard the defendant shoot them,” Fattig told the judge. “He also saw the defendant exit that bedroom, smiling.”
The names of the victims, all in their 50s, were not immediately released.
Sarah Hawkins, a deputy public defender representing Lozano-Sanchez, protested that reading a police arrest statement in court did not amount to evidence. She lost a bid to have him freed on $10,000 bail & house arrest.
The judge set Lozano-Sanchez’s next court date for Monday.
Police say they had no immediate information linking the rent dispute with a nationwide eviction moratorium that expired last week but was reinstated for areas with high transmission of COVID-19, including Nevada.
The modified ban from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention faces legal challenges and lasts until Oct 3.
Fattig told the judge that Lozano-Sanchez asked a neighbor to help him dispose of the gun, but police found it in a nearby bush.
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