JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 887

Charlotte, North Carolina. A state psychiatric evaluation dated Dec. 29, 2025 found DeCarlos Brown Jr. incapable to proceed on state murder charges for the fatal Aug. 2025 stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, court documents filed April 7 show, and his defense asked a judge to delay state proceedings.

The defense has moved to postpone a Rule 24 hearing scheduled for April 30 while Brown remains in federal custody; the US Attorney's Office said federal proceedings are separate and would not be directly affected, and media reports Apr 8–9 noted the case had attracted national political attention.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said this week in a Politico interview that his campaign pledge to make buses free will not be implemented in 2026, citing the absence of a free-bus proposal in Albany's budget process and ongoing discussions with the governor and legislative leaders.

This week, reports noted that on his 100th day President Trump publicly urged tax cuts, cleaning Manhattan and federal assistance on crime; Mamdani has privately pitched a $21 billion federal housing grant plan, including 12,000 units and decking over rail tracks, and continues talks with state officials.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — On Wednesday, three Republican state representatives unveiled the Save Ohio Sports Act at the Statehouse, proposing to ban mobile sports betting, prohibit in-game, prop and parlay wagers, cap individual bets at $100, and ban credit-card wagering and certain advertising practices.

The bills, introduced this week by Reps. Riordan McClain, Gary Click and Johnathan Newman, elicited comments from Gov. Mike DeWine expressing regret over prior legalization and from addiction specialists; the legislation now moves to committee review with potential amendments and votes in coming weeks.

Seattle: Jim Whittaker, the mountaineer who became the first American to summit Mount Everest in 1963, died at his Port Townsend home on April 7, 2026, his family said Tuesday, ending the life of a leading figure in U.S. mountaineering and outdoor retail.

His family released a statement this week confirming his death at age 97; Whittaker served as REI’s first full-time employee and later CEO and maintained leadership roles with The Mountaineers, and obituaries this week recount his 1963 Everest milestone and decades of stewardship.

United States: Automatic Data Processing in Roseland, N.J.; Lennar in Miami; and Labcorp in Burlington declared quarterly dividends on April 8–9, 2026, announcing specific per-share amounts, payment dates, and shareholder record dates in corporate press releases distributed via PRNewswire.

The disclosures set ADP's $1.70 per-share payout payable July 1 with a June 12 record date, Lennar's $0.50 payable May 6 with an April 22 record date, and Labcorp's $0.72 payable June 11 with a May 29 record date; companies provided no additional commentary this week.

Sarasota: Sarasota Police executed a search warrant on April 6 at a home in the 3000 block of 31st Way, arresting 35-year-old Demarius R. Jones and seizing fentanyl, cocaine, prescription pills, marijuana, ammunition and more than $10,000 in cash, authorities said.

The investigation is ongoing and police requested public tips; meanwhile, Sarasota County will host a Community Conversation on hurricane preparedness April 11, and the Sarasota Film Festival will run April 10–19 with the local short 'Killjoy' screening April 17.

LOS ANGELES. Davey Lopes, a member of the Dodgers' record-setting 1970s–80s infield and noted base stealer, died Wednesday at age 80; the team announced his passing and records show he made his MLB debut on Sept. 22, 1972 and spent 10 seasons with the Dodgers.

The Dodgers issued a memorial social post and colleagues offered condolences this week; media outlets cited franchise records—1,134 games at second base, 1,145 leadoff appearances—and reported career stolen-base totals while noting Lopes's roles as player and later coach.

PHILADELPHIA — A partially constructed parking garage on the 3000 block of Grays Ferry Avenue partially collapsed Wednesday afternoon after placement of a precast roof segment, officials said; emergency crews rescued three workers around 2 p.m., one of whom was later pronounced dead and two others reported missing, and searches continue.

City officials including Mayor Cherelle Parker and Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson said Thursday that engineers advised demolition to enable safe recovery and investigation; crews deployed drones, robots and K-9 teams, confirmed permits were issued, named Precast Services Inc. as a subcontractor, and said demolition was expected to begin Friday.

Modesto, Calif. — On Tuesday in Patterson, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents fired on Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez during an enforcement stop, according to DHS; Mendoza was shot and hospitalized, while his attorney later denied that Mendoza tried to drive into officers or that he holds an active El Salvador arrest warrant.

This week, Attorney Patrick Kolasinski held a news conference and spoke at Doctors Medical Center, saying his client has no U.S. criminal record and was acquitted in El Salvador; DHS maintains agents fired defensively, and authorities and medical staff reported multiple wounds and surgeries as investigations continue.

Indianapolis — Governor Mike Braun signed an executive order Wednesday suspending Indiana's 7% state gas sales tax for 30 days to provide relief amid rising fuel costs tied to the Iran conflict, effective immediately, with diesel excluded and implementation expected to take several days at some pumps.

State officials said the pause could save Hoosiers about 17 cents per gallon and roughly $50 million statewide; Attorney General Todd Rokita and state monitors will check retailers over the next 30 days to ensure savings reach consumers and officials will reassess a potential extension afterward.