National Roundup

Maine DA: Maine man who shot family kept gun on bedpost DEXTER, Maine (AP) -- A prosecutor in Maine says a man who shot to death his two children and estranged wife before killing himself kept a holstered 9mm handgun on his bedpost and once threatened to take a knife to his wife and do things "you wouldn't do to a farm animal." Police say 37-year-old Steven Lake killed 38-year-old Amy Lake and their two children, 12-year-old Monica and 13-year-old Cote, at her home in Dexter on Monday. District Attorney Christopher Almy says Lake was scheduled to go to trial next month for allegedly threatening his wife and children last year. Almy said Lake held his wife and kids in a bedroom while holding his handgun, then told his wife he'd use a knife on her if he had to. New Jersey Chemical company, NJ town in $20M waste settlement TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) -- A chemical company has reached a $20 million settlement with residents of a New Jersey town who claimed the dumping of toxic waste hurt the value of their properties. Residents of about 700 homes in Toms River sued the former Ciba-Geigy (SEE'-ba GY'-gee) Corp. more than a decade ago. The company produced industrial dye and resin from 1952 to 1996. The Asbury Park Press reports treatment of 342,877 cubic yards of contaminated soil was completed in August 2010. Pennsylvania Police: Philly woman offered $1K for ex's death PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Police in Philadelphia say a 20-year-old woman posted an open offer of $1,000 to kill the father of her child and a man responded that he'd do the killing. Investigators say London Eley posted a message last month on Facebook saying, "I will pay somebody a stack to kill my baby father." Authorities say 18-year-old Timothy Bynum, of nearby Darby, offered to do the killing and Eley provided an address and description of her ex-boyfriend, who contacted police. Officers who searched Bynum's home say they found a .22-caliber handgun. Eley is charged with solicitation to commit murder and Bynum is charged with attempted murder and conspiracy. Neither has posted bail. Bynum's mother tells KYW-TV her son is innocent and she's hiring him a lawyer. North Dakota Trouble Dakotas bison ranch prompts lawsuits FORT YATES, N.D. (AP) -- Three ranchers are suing a Florida real estate tycoon over alleged damage caused by wayward bison from his property that straddles the North Dakota-South Dakota border. The legal action is the latest development in a complex case that has strained relations for years between Maurice Wilder and ranchers in the Dakotas. Bachmeier Farms, Nick Vollmuth and Gary Sandland allege that Wilder Ranch bison have been trespassing on their land for years and damaging pasture, crops, hay and fences, The Bismarck Tribune reported. They are seeking unspecified monetary damages. Wilder's attorney, Jackie Stebbins, has about another two weeks to respond to the lawsuit. She did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment on Tuesday. Wilder's ranch encompasses about 35,000 acres, sprawling from Selfridge, N.D., to McLaughlin, S.D. For years it has sparked complaints about bison running loose and causing problems for neighbors. In February, authorities rounded up thousands of Wilder's bison after reports of starving animals. Wilder, of Clearwater, Fla., paid $57,000 for feed and expenses after the impoundment ended, and in March he took about 850 bison to auction In April, Sioux County Sheriff Frank Landeis authorized ranchers in the Selfridge area to round up more bison that authorities said had been running loose for months. The animals were taken to Bachmeier Farms, owned by Gerald and Leo Bachmeier. Landeis has demanded $45,900 for damages, and county State's Attorney John Gosbee says costs are accruing for the animals' care. Wilder made a counteroffer of about $28,000. Stebbins has asked a judge to determine final costs for damages and end the impoundment. A June 21 court hearing is scheduled, though Ben Pulkrabek, the attorney for the three ranchers who are now suing, has asked the judge to dismiss Stebbins' case. New York Defense: Fatal NYC tower fire a 'bad circumstance' NEW YORK (AP) -- The defense says a blaze that killed two firefighters in a condemned ground zero bank tower was "the perfect storm of bad circumstance." Attorney Edward J.M. Little said in closing arguments Tuesday that construction supervisors are not to blame. The former Deutsche (DOY'-cha) Bank building was contaminated with toxic debris in the Sept. 11 attacks. It was being torn down when a fire ripped through nine stories in August 2007. Mitchel Alvo, Salvatore DePaola and Jeffrey Melofchik are charged with manslaughter. Prosecutors say they knew a crucial firefighting water pipe had broken months before, didn't fix it and even took steps to conceal it. The men say they didn't realize the pipe's importance. They say a number of other hazards and regulatory oversights fed the fire. Massachusetts DA to appeal decision in missing boy case SALEM, Mass. (AP) -- Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett is appealing a Superior Court judge's decision to dismiss a parental kidnapping charge against the Lynn man whose 5 -year-old son disappeared nearly three years ago. A Blodgett spokesman said Tuesday the decision by Judge John Lu to dismiss the kidnapping charge against Ernesto Gonzalez would be appealed to a higher court. Lu's ruling released Monday said Gonzalez cannot be charged with parental kidnapping because there was no court order denying him custody of his son, Giovanni. Ernesto Gonzalez remains behind bars without bail on a charge of misleading police, a more serious charge. Giovanni disappeared in August 2008 after a visit to his father. Ernesto Gonzalez told a reporter he killed the boy, but investigators say there is no evidence of that. Published: Wed, Jun 15, 2011