Cedar

Cedar Hills Man Found Guilty of Filming Horrific Child Abuse: Federal Charges Lead to Conviction

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SALT LAKE CITY — A Cedar Hills man has been found guilty by a federal jury of producing and possessing child sexual abuse material involving an 11-year-old girl. The conviction of Brent Richard Johnson, 51, took place on Wednesday, solidifying charges stemming from a harrowing investigation. In early January 2024, a young girl reported a suspicious USB charging wall plug in her restroom at 10024 N. Oak Road West. The device had a lens resembling that of a camera and an SD card slot. Concern arose when the girl attempted to remove it, only to … Read more

Life Sentence Looms for Karina Cooper After Jury Convicts Her of Husband’s Murder in Cedar Rapids

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A jury in Linn County has convicted Karina Cooper for the murder of her husband, Ryan, in a case that has captivated the community since the tragic incident in 2021. After hours of deliberation, the jury reached its verdict, concluding a trial marked by dramatic evidence and conflicting narratives. Prosecutors accused Cooper of conspiring with Huston Danker in a plot to kill Ryan. They presented evidence of a relationship between Cooper and Danker, suggesting that together they orchestrated the fatal act. The charges unveiled a disturbing collaboration that led to Ryan’s … Read more

New Texas Legislation Paves the Way for Simpler Cedar Tree Removal

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AUSTIN, Texas — In an era when environmental concerns intersect increasingly with urban development, a piece of legislation in Texas has streamlined the process of removing cedar trees, which some residents and fire officials consider a nuisance and a hazard. The law, which permits the felling of these trees without a permit, was enacted in response to the issues these trees pose, such as high water consumption and fire risk. Cedar trees, particularly the Ashe juniper species prevalent in central Texas, are often singled out for their significant water usage and the role they play … Read more

Major Reduction in Injury Compensation: Cedar Rapids Teen’s Settlement Cut to $26.1M, Trucking Company Seeks New Trial

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Cedar Rapids, Iowa – In a recent decision that captured statewide attention, Linn County District Judge Justin Lightfoot revised a jury’s compensation award from over $35.7 million to $26.1 million. The award pertains to a lawsuit filed after a severe 2020 car crash in Anamosa that left a teenager gravely injured. The decision follows the discovery that the victim shared partial responsibility for the accident. On March 19, 2020, amidst heavy fog, Margaret McQuillen, then 18, suffered devastating injuries when she collided with a Freightliner semitractor-trailer. The truck, owned by Westside Transport and operated by … Read more