Winter storm: North America hit by blizzards and heat wave

Rapper Nipsey Hussle’s killer Eric R Holder Jr gets 60 years in prison

Los Angeles, Feb 23 (IANS) More than 65 million people across 29 US states are under winter weather alerts that include warnings of severe icing and extreme coldness.

A massive winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow and a torrent of rain to most of the northern US this week, with “extreme impacts” felt across a wide swath of the country, CBS News reported on Wednesday.

The upper-level pattern will intensify in the coming days as millions of Americans, from the Pacific Northwest to the Northeast, brace for oncoming snow, frozen rain, strong winds and potential flash flooding.

Five dead and no survivors as Arkansas plane crashes

Five people are dead after a small plane crashed following take-off from an airport in the US state of Arkansas, officials say. Authorities said no-one survived the crash near the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock.

The non-commercial flight, a twinengine Beech BE20, was bound for Columbus, Ohio.

All those on board, including the pilot, were employees of CTEH, a Little Rock-based consultancy, said the firm. “We are incredibly saddened to report the loss of our Little Rock colleagues,” said Paul Nony, senior vice-president of CTEH, in a statement to media.

A fierce winter storm has caused widespread disruptions in the US, while south-eastern parts of the country brace for record-high temperatures.

As of Wednesday, about 75 million people in 28 states have been placed under winter weather alerts. Blizzards in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin have forced many schools and businesses to close. Meanwhile, high temperatures in Washington DC are expected to break a nearly 150-year-old record. It means some parts of the US will be 100F (38C) warmer than others at the same time. Powerful wind gusts potentially reaching 50mph (80km/h) and a wind chill as low as -50F in some parts are predicted. In northern states, forecasts of up to 2ft (60cm) of snow in some parts could mean areas endure their biggest snowfalls for 30 years.

Donald Trump says officials ‘indifferent’ after Ohio train derailment

The man convicted of killing rapper Nipsey Hussle has been sentenced to at least 60 years in prison.

Eric R. Holder, Jr. was found guilty of first-degree murder last July for killing Hussle - whose real name is Ermias Asghedom - outside Hussle’s South Los Angeles clothing store in 2019. Hussle, a Grammy-nominated artist, died aged 33. Two bystanders were also hit and injured in the incident.

Superior Court Judge H. Clay Jacke announced Holder’s 60 years to life sentence on Wednesday after hearing from one of Hussle’s friends as well as reading a letter from Holder’s father.

Holder was found guilty of murder as well as two counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter for the two bystanders injured in the shooting after a months-long trial.

Former US President Donald Trump has accused federal officials of “indifference” to an Ohio town that is reeling from a toxic train derailment.

On a visit to East Palestine, Mr Trump claimed his presence had spurred the Biden administration to devote more resources to this month’s crash.

Local residents have expressed frustration at what they saw as a lack of answers from officials.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is expected to visit on Thursday.

Mr Trump met East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway during Wednesday’s visit. He was joined by his son, Donald Trump Jr, Ohio Republican Senator JD Vance and congressman Bill Johnson. The former president donated Trumpbranded water bottles and cleaning supplies. Speaking at an event at a local fire station, Mr Trump criticised the federal government’s “betrayal” of the town.“We’re standing in America… your goodness and perseverance are met with indifference and betrayal in some cases,” he said.

He was not eligible for the death penalty and was widely expected to receive a life sentence. Wearing orange jail attire, he did not react when his sentence was read out. Holder’s attorney told ABC News he planned to appeal the verdict.

“It was always going to be tough given the high-profile circumstances surrounding the case,” the attorney, Aaron Jansen, said. Prosecutors said during the murder trial that the attack was premeditated, while Holder’s defence team argued it was a heat-of-the-moment decision.

Holder’s defence attorney said he was provoked by a conversation he had with Hussle about rumours that he was cooperating with police.