West News

Family of Suicidal Black Teen Killed in Nevada Agrees To $2M Settlement

The parents of a suicidal Black teenager who was fatally shot by police in 2020 in Nevada have agreed to a $2 million settlement with the city of Sparks that also includes more crisis intervention and mental health training for …

Walmart Paying California $500K in Settlement Over Sale of Brass Knuckles

Walmart will pay half a million dollars to settle allegations from California’s Department of Justice that it was selling brass knuckles on its website, state Attorney General Rob Bonta said. Brass knuckles are classified as deadly and illegal weapons in …

California Couple Sentenced Thanks to YouTube Videos of Intentional Collisions

Christopher Phelps, 40, of Yucaipa, and his wife, Kimberly Phelps, 40, were sentenced this week after pleading no contest to felony counts of insurance fraud, child abuse and assault with a deadly weapon. The sentencing comes after a California Department …

Utah Allocates Millions to Prepare for Flood Damage After Wet Winter

As the winter’s record snowpack melts and cascades down from the Rockies, Utah lawmakers set aside millions of dollars to prepare for potentially historic flooding. The state is among the many in the American West confronting the wet winter’s consequences, …

Washington Startup’s Ex-CFO Accused of Diverting $35M, Losing It in Crypto

The former chief financial officer of a Seattle, Washington-based startup took $35 million of his employer’s money without permission and lost it by investing in cryptocurrency before the crypto market crashed last year, according to a federal indictment returned by …

Truck Driver in Multi-Vehicle Freeway Crash That Killed 7 in Oregon Arrested

The driver of a semitruck that slammed into a passenger van on Interstate 5 in western Oregon, killing 7 people in one of the state’s deadliest crashes in recent years, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, DUI and other charges, …

Wyoming Based Taco John’s In ‘Taco Tuesday’ Trademark Battle with Taco Bell

Declaring a mission to liberate “Taco Tuesday” for all, Taco Bell is asking U.S. regulators to force Wyoming-based Taco John’s to abandon its longstanding claim to the trademark. Too many businesses and others refer to “Taco Tuesday” for Taco John’s …

Fired New Mexico Archaeological Official Sues Governor, Others

The former director of the New Mexico Office of Archaeological Studies is suing state officials, saying his race and gender played a role in his firing. Eric Blinman filed a lawsuit in federal court late last week against Gov. Michelle …

2 Killed When Plane Headed for Hawaii Crashes in Northern California

Two people were killed when a small plane headed for Hawaii crashed in the Pacific Ocean shortly after takeoff from Northern California, federal officials said Sunday. The Viking Air DHC-6-400 Twin Otter crashed around 2:15 p.m. Saturday in the water …

Victims of Deadly Oregon Highway Crash Were Farmworkers, Union Says

The victims of one of Oregon’s deadliest highway crashes were farmworkers traveling in a van at an hour when agricultural laborers typically commute home after toiling in the harvest, the state’s farmworkers union and Mexican officials said. Authorities have not …

West News Archives by Month