‘Lean On Each Other’: Christmas Parade Tragedy Grips WI Town

Good morning! It’s Tuesday, Nov. 23, the eve of Thanksgiving Eve, and many of you will be getting out of town and on your way to spend the holiday with family and friends.

Here are some of the stories we’re following:

• Pictures are emerging of the victims killed Sunday in Waukesha, Wisconsin, when an SUV plowed through a Christmas parade.
• Attorneys made their final arguments in the murder trial of the three white men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man, as he jogged through his Georgia neighborhood last year.
• An immigrant who came to Joliet, Illinois, a decade ago with little more than a dream has achieved “a victory,” her friend said.
• Freshly exonerated of murder charges, Kyle Rittenhouse was in Florida taping an interview for Tucker Carlson’s program Monday on Fox News.

Five people killed Sunday when an SUV plowed through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, ranged in age from 52-81 and included three members of the “Dancing Grannies” group.

“Our group was doing what they loved, performing in a parade putting smiles on faces of all ages, filling them with joy and happiness,” the group said in a statement.

Darrell Brooks Jr., the 39-year-old driver of the SUV, faces five counts of intentional homicide, police said in a news conference. He had been released from jail on Nov. 11 after posting what the district attorney in Milwaukee County said was an “inappropriately low” bail considering the violent crime charges against him, including those stemming from an incident in which police said he tried to run down a woman with his car.

Police said they believe Brooks had been involved in an act of domestic violence and was attempting to elude police when he drove through barricades and entered the parade route shortly after 4:30 p.m. Sunday. A police officer fired a gun at the SUV in an attempt to stop it, Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson said, but he emphasized officers did not chase the SUV.

The 48 people injured included 18 children, 10 of whom remained in intensive care Monday at Children’s Wisconsin Hospital. Six of the children were critically injured, hospital officials said at a news conference.

"The injuries from Sunday night will go well beyond the physical and will take time to heal," said Dr. Michael Gutzeit, the hospital's chief medical officer. "We all must continue to lean on each other and to encourage those impacted to reach out and use the resources that are available to them." » The Latest: Waukesha Christmas Parade Tragedy, via Waukesha, Wisconsin, Patch

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Black Panthers: Another Mistrial Request

The prosecution gets a final chance Tuesday to convince jurors of the guilt of three white men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man, as he jogged through his Glynn County, Georgia, neighborhood last year.

The defense wrapped up closing arguments Monday, with defense attorney Kevin Gough making yet another plea for a mistrial after he claimed armed men were roaming outside the courthouse.

“There were protesters, and I don't know whether they were with the Black Panther group,” Gough told the judge following closing statements for Gregory McMichael's attorney. “And there was a truck carrying a coffin with the name of the defendants on it. And people are carrying large weapons, apparently automatic weapons were seen outside.” » Prosecution Gets Final Chance To Argue Arbery Case, via Atlanta Patch

An Immigrant’s Victory

Korinna Hernandez emigrated from Mexico and came to Joliet, Illinois, a decade ago with little more than a dream. On Friday, she opened Tamales Korinna.

“She feels proud about being an immigrant in this country, starting at the bottom, making tamales at home, and she became popular around the community," her friend Leon Leal told Patch’s John Ferak. "That's what basically pushed her to open her own business. She's super excited. Her dream finally came true. It's a victory for her and her family.” » Immigrant Who Started At The Bottom Excited Her Dream Came True, via Joliet, Illinois, Patch

Kyle Rittenhouse And Tucker Carlson Chat

Kyle Rittenhouse, the Illinois teenager who shot and killed two Black Lives Matter protesters and injured a third in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year, on Monday gave his first media interview since his acquittal on Friday.

In an interview with Tucker Carlson set to air Monday on Fox, Rittenhouse said his decision to take a semiautomatic rifle to the Kenosha protests was not based in racism and that he supports the Black Lives Matter movement.

“This case has nothing to do with race. It never had anything to do with race; it had to do with the right to self-defense,” Rittenhouse said. “I’m not a racist person. I support the BLM movement. I support peacefully demonstrating. I believe there needs to be change.” » Kyle Rittenhouse Says He’s Not A Racist, via Grayslake, Illinois, Patch

• RELATED: Rittenhouse Visits Florida Eatery After Filming Interview, via Sarasota, Florida, Patch

30 Days Of Gratitude

As Patch continues its 30 Days Of Gratitude reporting project, freelance writer Mary Ann Gambon shares how her own journey with gratitude changed her life, via Dedham, Massachusetts, Patch.

If you’re thinking about making gratitude part of your life, consider these nine books on gratitude, via Across America Patch.

Around ‘The Patch’

Santa Stereotypes: Black, Hispanic and Asian Santas as well as signing and foreign language-speaking Santas are becoming more common, via Tampa, Florida, Patch

• Union Sickout Closes School For 2 Days, via Evanston, Illinois, Patch
• 30 Years After She Disappeared, DNA Confirms Body, via West Chester, Pennsylvania, Patch
• Publix Limits Some Thanksgiving Dinner Staple Purchases, via Douglasville, Georgia, Patch
• Sentencing Tuesday For Man Who Stole Revolutionary War-Era Rifle, via Lower Providence, Pennsylvania, Patch

National News

Sign up for Across America Patch to stay current on the latest national headlines. Here are a few of them:

• Jan. 6 Panel Subpoenas Alex Jones, Roger Stone
• ProPublica Reports; The Disappearance Of Hispanic Drivers’ Traffic Records
• How COVID-19 Shots For Kids Helps Prevent Dangerous New Variants
• 90 Percent Of Fed Workers Meet Biden Vaccination Deadline
• Target Thanksgiving Hours: Never Again, Retailer Says

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