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US judge finds man accused of killing woman on Charlotte train incompetent to stand trial

Decarlos Brown Jr to stay in custody while receiving treatment for remainder of case over Iryna Zarutska’s death

The man accused of fatally stabbing Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte commuter train in August has been found incompetent to stand trial in federal court for now, the US attorney’s office for the western district of North Carolina said on Tuesday.

Decarlos Brown Jr, 35, is accused of killing Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, on a Charlotte light rail train in a case that drew national attention after a surveillance camera video depicting the violent attack was released.

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© Photograph: Nell Redmond/AP

© Photograph: Nell Redmond/AP

© Photograph: Nell Redmond/AP

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JD Vance accused of ‘political stunt’ after referring Tim Walz for Minnesota fraud investigation

House report alleged governor and state attorney general knew of ‘widespread taxpayer fraud’ in social programs

The US vice-president, JD Vance, asked the Department of Justice to investigate Tim Walz, his rival in the 2024 election, after a congressional report renewed allegations of inaction and retaliation over fraud schemes in Minnesota.

In the Trump administration’s latest broadside against the midwestern state and its political leaders, Vance referred Walz, its Democratic governor, and Keith Ellison, its Democratic attorney general, for investigation.

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© Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

© Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

© Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

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Trump nominates his ex-lawyer Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general

Acting in the role since April, Blanche faces Senate confirmation after controversial DoJ moves

Donald Trump nominated Todd Blanche to serve permanently as attorney general on Monday, lining up his former personal lawyer to be the country’s ⁠top ⁠law ⁠enforcement officer.

The US president suggested earlier this week that Blanche, who was appointed on an acting basis in April after the president fired Pam Bondi, was set to receive the nod. “He’s a very talented guy,” Trump told a podcast.

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© Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

© Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

© Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

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