News of the Day From Around the Nation, Oct. 5
1 Limousine crash: A memorial to the 20 people killed when a limousine blew through an intersection at the bottom of a long hill and barreled into an embankment a year ago was unveiled Saturday at the crash site in upstate New York. The memorial featuring 20 stones in a semicircle was viewed privately by family members and first responders. The public will be welcome Sunday. Each stone features a plaque bearing the name of a person killed in the Oct. 6, 2018, crash in Schoharie. The 17 passengers, including four sisters, were on a birthday outing. The driver and two pedestrians also were killed. The operator of the limousine has pleaded not guilty to criminally negligent homicide and is to go on trial next year.
2 Smollett case: A Chicago judge says he’s keeping a special prosecutor looking into why the state’s attorney’s office abruptly dismissed charges against actor Jussie Smollett, despite conflict-of-interest questions. Judge Michael Toomin’s decision Friday came after former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb disclosed he co-hosted a 2016 fundraiser for Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. He also donated $1,000 to her campaign. Foxx’s office in March dropped charges accusing the former “Empire” actor of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself. Webb said he hadn’t initially recalled his contributions to Foxx’s campaign. The probe includes looking into whether Foxx’s calls with a Smollett relative and an ex-aide of former first lady Michelle Obama influenced the decision to drop charges.
3 Sanders’ health: Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders left Las Vegas and returned home to Vermont on Saturday after being treated for a heart attack. The 78-year-old was at a campaign event Tuesday when he experienced chest discomfort and...