Woman charged in brazen plot to extort Elvis Presley’s family and auction off Graceland

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Missouri woman has been arrested on charges alleging she orchestrated a scheme to fraudulently sell Elvis Presley’s Graceland property in Memphis. The Justice Department said Lisa Jeanine Findley of Kimberling City, Missouri is accused of scheming to steal the Presley family’s ownership interest in Graceland, falsely claiming that Presley’s daughter pledged the property as collateral for a loan she failed to pay before her death. An attorney for Findley, who used multiple aliases, was not listed in court documents and a telephone number was not immediately available in public records.

Jury convicts white Florida woman in fatal shooting of her Black neighbor during ongoing dispute

(AP) — A Florida jury has convicted a white woman accused of manslaughter in the shooting death of her Black neighbor amid an ongoing feud over the neighbor’s children. Susan Lorincz, 60, faces up to 30 years in prison in the June 2023 killing of 35-year-old Ajike “A.J.” Owens, a mother of four, in Ocala, Florida. Lorincz claimed she fired her .380-caliber handgun through her front door in self-defense because Owens was pounding on the door and yelling at her. Jurors got the case Friday after closing arguments from attorneys. Circuit Judge Robert W, Hodges did not immediately set a sentencing date but ordered a background report to be done on Lorincz.

COVID-19 is on the upswing in the US

(AP) — COVID-19 hasn’t gone away, and data from federal health officials suggests it’s on the upswing around the country. Testing for COVID-19 is sporadic and the true number of cases isn’t clear, because many infections aren’t reported. COVID-19 is showing up in a lot of wastewater samples, but doctors’ offices aren’t seeing an outsized share of people with symptoms of respiratory illness. COVID-19-related hospitalizations are rising, but they remain below the levels seen in winter. Experts note other summers have seen rising cases. They say factors in the seasonal increase could be increased travel, people staying indoors to avoid summer heat and the virus’ continued evolution.

New California laws aim to reduce smash-and-grab robberies, car thefts and shoplifting

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bipartisan package of 10 bills to crack down on retail theft. The package includes some of the most consequential laws to tackle professional crime rings in years. The new laws Newsom signed Friday make it easier to go after repeat shoplifters, auto thieves and stolen goods resellers. Lawmakers hope the package will convince voters to reject a ballot measure that would make shoplifting a felony again for repeat offenders, among other things. Democrats say the measure would disproportionately impact low-income people and those with substance use issues. The ballot measure is supported by district attorneys, businesses and some local elected officials.