DENVER — Amid renewed interest in the killing of JonBenet Ramsey triggered in part by a new Netflix documentary, police in Boulder, Colorado, refuted assertions this week that there is viable evidence and leads about the 1996 killing of the 6-year-old girl that they are not pursuing. JonBenet Ramsey, who competed in beauty pageants, was found dead in the basement of her family's home in the college town of Boulder the day after Christmas in 1996. Her body was found several hours after her mother called 911 to say her daughter was missing and a ransom note was left behind. The gravesite of JonBenet Ramsey is covered with flowers Jan. 8, 1997, at St. James Episcopal Cemetery in Marietta, Ga. JonBenet was bludgeoned and strangled. Her death was ruled a homicide, but nobody was ever prosecuted. The details of the crime and video footage of JonBenet competing in pageants propelled the case into one of the highest-profile mysteries in the United States. The police comments came as part of their annual update on the investigation, a month before the 28th anniversary of JonBenet's killing. Police said they released it a little earlier due to the increased attention on the case, apparently referring to the three-part Netflix series "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey." In a video statement, Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said the department welcomes news coverage and documentaries about the killing of JonBenet, who would have been 34 this year, as a way to generate possible new leads. He said the department is committed to solving the case but needs to be careful about what it shares about the investigation to protect a possible future prosecution. "What I can tell you though, is we have thoroughly investigated multiple people as suspects throughout the years and we continue to be open-minded about what occurred as we investigate the tips that come in to detectives," he said. The Netflix documentary focuses on the mistakes made by police and the "media circus" surrounding the case. A police officer sits in her cruiser Jan. 3, 1997, outside the home in which 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey was found murdered Dec. 26, 1996, in Boulder, Colo. Police were widely criticized for mishandling the early investigation into her death amid speculation that her family was responsible. However, a prosecutor cleared her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, and brother Burke in 2008 based on new DNA evidence from JonBenet's clothing that pointed to the involvement of an "unexplained third party" in her slaying. The announcement by former district attorney Mary Lacy came two years after Patsy Ramsey died of cancer. Lacy called the Ramseys "victims of this crime." John Ramsey continued to speak out for the case to be solved. In 2022, he supported an online petition asking Colorado's governor to intervene in the investigation by putting an outside agency in charge of DNA testing in the case. In the Netflix documentary, he said he advocated for several items that were not prepared for DNA testing to be tested and for other items to be retested. He said the results should be put through a genealogy database. In recent years, investigators identified suspects in unsolved cases by comparing DNA profiles from crime scenes and to DNA testing results shared online by people researching their family trees. In 2021, police said in their annual update that DNA hadn't been ruled out to help solve the case, and in 2022 noted that some evidence could be "consumed" if DNA testing is done on it. Last year, police said they convened a panel of outside experts to review the investigation to give recommendations and determine if updated technologies or forensic testing might produce new leads. In the latest update, Redfearn said that review ended but police continue to work through and evaluate a "lengthy list of recommendations" from the panel. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!
A California Republican has penned a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken after the State Department reportedly held “therapy and listening sessions” for employees following President-elect Donald Trump ’s November victory . Representative Darrell Issa penned the letter on November 19 after The Free Beacon , a conservative media outlet, reported the State Department offered stress management webinars on November 8 and November 13 to employees. At least one of the sessions was titled "Managing stress during change” and offered “tips and practical strategies for managing stress and maintaining your well being,” according to the Beacon. "Change is a constant in our lives, but it can often bring about stress and uncertainty," an email to employees advertising a webinar read, according to the Beacon . "Join us for an insightful webinar where we delve into effective stress management techniques to help you navigate these challenging times.” The Beacon also reported that members of the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs held an informal meeting earlier this month, which one unnamed source with knowledge of the discussion said was a “cry session” over Trump’s victory. In his letter, Issa says he is concerned these reported sessions are “catering” to employees “personally devastated” by Trump’s win. The Independent has not independently verified whether these sessions took place. It is unclear whether the agency organized the two reported sessions before or after Election Day. It’s also unclear to what extent employees discussed the election results, if at all, during the two reported sessions. The Independent has contacted the State Department for more information. “As a Senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I write to you regarding reports of official post-election State Department therapy and listening sessions,” Issa wrote, citing the Beacon ’s article. “I am concerned that the Department is catering to federal employees who are personally devastated by the normal functioning of American democracy through the provision of government-funded mental health counseling because Kamala Harris was not elected President of the United States.” “It is disturbing that ostensibly nonpartisan government officials would suffer a personal meltdown over the results of a free and fair election, something the United States champions around the world,” Issa continued. “It is unacceptable that the Department accommodates this behavior and subsidizes it with taxpayer dollars.” “The mental health of our foreign service personnel is important, but The Department has no obligation to indulge and promote the leftist political predilections of its employees and soothe their frayed nerves because of the good-faith votes of – and at the personal expense of – the American taxpayers.” Issa requested a meeting no later than November 22 with the “appropriate officials” to learn more about the sessions, including their agenda, their cost and whether they were held overseas. Issa’s spokesperson Jonathan Wilcox told The Independent that The Free Beacon report is “very reliable.” Issa’s letter relies on “media reports and our own sourcing and contacts,” he added. When asked to provide more information on Issa’s own sourcing, Wilcox responded, “The Free Beacon has this story cold.” The State Department also has not replied to Issa’s letter, Wilcox said. “After four years of failure, the State Department needs a thorough housecleaning,” he told The Independent . “Only wholesale reform can get State back on track.”
Flood-hit residents and businesses ‘lose everything’ after Storm Bert havocMONTRÉAL, 17 déc. 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nova Bus, chef de file canadien dans la fabrication d’autobus électriques au Canada et membre du groupe Volvo, annonce un partenariat stratégique avec Lithion Technologies, un leader dans l’économie circulaire des matériaux de batteries, pour renforcer la durabilité de ses solutions de transport urbain. Grâce à cette collaboration, des batteries en fin de vie de leur usage destiné aux autobus Nova Bus qui sont en circulation partout au Canada seront collectées, transportées et recyclées par Lithion à son usine de Saint-Bruno. Les technologies développées par Lithion en matière de recyclage permettront de récupérer jusqu’à 98 % des minéraux critiques se trouvant dans les batteries d’autobus. Ce faisant, Nova Bus réduira ainsi le besoin en matériaux vierges, soutiendra une économie circulaire et permettra de revaloriser des matériaux stratégiques et critiques. Ultimement, cette collaboration pluriannuelle aura pour but de contribuer à l'amélioration de la durabilité dans l'industrie des autobus urbains hybrides et électriques. « Je suis très enthousiaste à l’idée de réaliser ce partenariat parce qu’il représente pour moi tout le potentiel que peuvent avoir des entreprises aux expertises complémentaires qui consacrent leurs efforts à l’amélioration de l’empreinte environnementale de leurs produits. Le recyclage est une étape cruciale dans la chaîne de valeur des batteries. C’est pourquoi, grâce à cette collaboration, nous améliorons la durabilité de nos solutions pour nos clients, tout en renforçant notre position de chef de file en électrification du transport collectif », explique M. Paul Le Houillier, président de Nova Bus « Nous sommes fiers d’offrir un service local et durable à une entreprise de renom telle que Nova Bus, membre du groupe Volvo. Cette entente confirme le rôle crucial du recyclage dans la transition vers une électrification des transports véritablement durable. L’idée de rendre le transport collectif encore plus écoresponsable me réjouit. C’est grâce à des partenariats stratégiques comme Nova Bus que nous pouvons rêver de réaliser, au Québec, la pleine circularité des matériaux stratégiques », souligne Benoit Couture, président et chef de la direction de Lithion. Les batteries de Nova Bus recyclées par Lithion Technologies auront complété tous leurs cycles de vie en fonction de leurs différents usages après celui de la propulsion électrique, comme des systèmes de stockage d’énergie, l’électrification résidentielle ou autre. Ainsi, l’intervention de Lithion sera une étape pour fermer la boucle de l’économie circulaire des batteries concernées qui n’auront plus la capacité d’emmagasiner de l’électricité. À propos de Nova Bus Nova Bus, membre du Groupe Volvo, est un important fournisseur de solutions de transport durable en Amérique du Nord. Nova Bus accompagne les sociétés de transport et les opérateurs de parcs d’autobus dans leur transition vers l’électromobilité avec le LFSe+, son modèle d’autobus 100% électrique à grande autonomie combinant la structure éprouvée de Nova Bus et les dernières innovations en matière de propulsion électrique. Nova Bus s’engage à soutenir la réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre et à contribuer de manière positive à une économie plus verte. Pour plus d’informations sur les produits et services de Nova Bus, veuillez visiter novabus.com . À propos de Lithion Technologies Lithion a mis au point une solution durable, robuste et sécuritaire pour produire des matériaux stratégiques à partir de batteries lithium-ion en fin de vie et de produits non conformes issus de leur production. Les technologies de Lithion permettent de récupérer jusqu’à 95 % de leurs composants, avec une empreinte environnementale drastiquement inférieure à celle de l’exploitation minière, pour les réintégrer dans la chaîne d’approvisionnement des batteries. En réduisant la demande d’extraction de ressources naturelles par l’utilisation de technologies et de procédés durables, la solution de Lithion rend la transition énergétique durable. L’objectif de Lithion est le déploiement mondial de ses solutions, par le biais de partenariats stratégiques. Pour plus d’information, visitez : www.Lithiontechnologies.com . Pour plus d’informations Christos Kritsidimas Chef des affaires juridiques, publiques et communications externes, Nova Bus Téléphone : +1 (438) 350-0454 Courriel : christos.kritsidimas@volvo.com