What you need to know: Friday
It’s Friday, May 1 and here is your day ahead:
In local news…
WEATHER: Pleasant weather is expected today. Sunny skies this morning will turn partly sunny this afternoon. Highs will reach the lower 70s. There is a slight chance for a light shower or some sprinkles in SW Wisconsin this afternoon. Full forecast
1. SHELTON KINGCADE
Surrenders: A former basketball coach is now in police custody for allegations of sexual assault. Shelton Kingcade turned himself in Thursday morning after running from police for the last couple of days. He used to coach the girls basketball team at West High School, before he was suspended in February. He’s accused of assaulting more than one teenage girl while coaching the Madison Spartan youth basketball program. The organization says it suspended Kingcade immediately after learning about the allegations. More on this story
2. MADISON HOMELESS
Crackdown sparks protests: In protest of Madison Mayor Paul Soglin’s executive action designating the area outside the City-County Building as the only place homeless people can sleep other than a shelter, homeless supporters camped out alongside the homeless Thursday night. Former Alderwoman Brenda Konkel led the charge that the mayor’s executive action misses the point that the real issue is homeless Madisonians using up a limited number of days they are allowed to stay at the shelter. Konklin hopes the symbolism of seeing those who are not homeless sleeping alongside the homeless means city and county leaders will start working together to solve the issue. Soglin has previously called his executive action a matter of public safety. More on this story
3. NFL DRAFT
Gordon goes west: The San Diego Chargers drafted Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night. San Diego traded with San Francisco to move up two spots and pick Gordon with the 15th selection. Gordon was the second running back taken in the first round after Todd Gurley went to the Rams. More on this story
Packers’ pick: The Green Bay Packers have selected defensive back Damarious Randall with the No. 30 overall pick in the NFL draft, hoping to fill a glaring need in their secondary following departures in free agency. The 5-foot-11 Randall played safety at Arizona State. But the Packers might be looking at him as a cornerback after veteran Tramon Williams left for Cleveland and Davon House left for Jacksonville. More on this story
4. BUCKS
Oh deer: The Bucks got clobbered last night during game six of the NBA playoff series against the Bulls in Milwaukee. Chicago won by 54 points with the final score Bulls 120 and Bucks 66. It’s the biggest playoff loss in team history. The Bulls, who move on to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, finished four points away from the NBA playoff record for largest margin of victory. Minnesota beat St. Louis 133-75 on March 19, 1956. More on this story
5. ADORE THOMAS
Sentencing: A teenager convicted of attacking and sexually assaulting a jogger in 2013 is set to learn his sentence today. In January, Adore Thomas, 16, was found guilty of five felony counts. He attacked a jogger on Winnebago Street in Madison in the summer of 2013. A criminal complaint says Thomas grabbed the woman from behind and slammed her into the ground before assaulting her. More on this story
In national news…
1. FREDDIE GRAY INVESTIGATION
Next step: Baltimore police handed over its report yesterday on the probe into Freddie Gray’s death to Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. Various media outlets, citing “multiple law enforcement sources,” say the report found no evidence Gray died as the result of injuries caused during his arrest but instead died of an injury he suffered in the police van. Mosby confirmed that she had received the police department’s investigative report and that her office was conducting its own independent investigation into Gray’s April 19 death. She gave no indication if or when she would pursue charges in the case. Police also revealed that the van Gray was traveling in after his arrest made a previously unknown stop on the way to the police precinct. More on this story
2. OKLAHOMA RESERVE DEPUTY
Changes: The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office makes changes to its reserve deputy program, after Robert Bates shot a suspect he meant to subdue with a Taser. Now reserve deputies can’t patrol alone and the reserve program’s “advanced classification” will be postponed while deputy training is reviewed. Bates was classified as an advanced reserve deputy in April when he shot and killed suspect Eric Harris. He has pleaded not guilty to a second-degree murder charge. Harris’ family alleges Bates didn’t have proper training but was allowed to “play cop” because he donated vehicles and other equipment to the sheriff’s office. More on this story
3. IRAN NUKE DEAL
Monkey wrench: The GOP (and some Democrats) want Congress to have a say in the debate over a possible nuclear deal with Iran. But the actions yesterday of two Republican senators could torpedo a bill that would do just that. Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio want votes on their amendments to, in their view, toughen up the legislation. If the amendments became a part of the bill, it would lead to an almost-certain presidential veto. If that happened, Congress could be cut out of any role in approving the still emerging agreement with Iran. Cotton’s amendment deals with Iranian nuclear facilities; Rubio’s wants Iran to recognize Israel’s right to exist. GOP leaders are now mulling what to do next, so action on the bill may not take place until later next week. More on this story
4. U.S. NAVY
Naval escort: U.S. commercial ships will now get a military escort through the Strait of Hormuz. The Pentagon announced this yesterday, in response to recent harassment of U.S. commercial vessels by ships from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Not every commercial ship will necessarily be accompanied by the Navy, but this is a big change from past U.S. military posture in the Strait. The Pentagon hopes to reduce the risk of confrontation, since any Iranian seizure of a U.S.-flagged vessel could provoke an international incident. More on this story
5. MALALA YOUSAFZAI
Life in prison: That’s what 10 people in Pakistan got for their roles in the attack on Malala Yousafzai in 2012. Yousafzai, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist, was shot and nearly killed by Taliban militants while she was riding home on a school bus. The Taliban targeted Yousafzai because of her outspoken support for girls’ right to an education. It’s not known if the men who directly attacked Yousafzai — who was born in Pakistan’s Swat district but has since moved to England — were among those convicted and sentenced this week. More on this story
