New York
Group negotiating to buy out restaurateur Batali
NEW YORK — The restaurant group co-owned by Mario Batali says it has been “actively negotiating” to buy out the celebrity chef facing sexual misconduct allegations.
The B&B Hospitality Group says Batali and partner Joe Bastianich have signed a letter of intent and final terms could be set by July 1.
The New York Police Department confirmed it’s investigating Batali after a woman told “60 Minutes” that Batali drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2005.
Batali denies assaulting the woman.
B&B says it had been unaware of what it calls the “chilling” and “deeply disturbing” allegations.
Batali stepped down from daily operations at his restaurant empire and cooking show in December after four women accused him of inappropriate touching. Batali’s representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
California
Man kills himself at
San Francisco airport
SAN FRANCISCO — Officials say a man killed himself in front of hundreds of passengers at San Francisco International Airport after jumping from a mezzanine level to a baggage area.
KGO-TV reported that the San Mateo Coroner identified the man as 53-year-old Dale Finn of South San Francisco. Witnesses told the television station that they heard a loud commotion before seeing the man fall in Terminal 3 around 8:45 a.m. Monday
There was no indication if the man was a traveler or an employee.
The San Mateo Sheriff’s Office is investigating.
Texas
Sanctuary-bound baboon escapes crate at airport
SAN ANTONIO — A baboon on his way to a South Texas wildlife sanctuary escaped his crate and kept officers busy for two hours at San Antonio International Airport.
Officers shot the baboon named Dawkins with a tranquilizer dart.
The ape got loose Monday afternoon shortly after arriving on an American Airlines flight from Chicago. The flight had originated in Boston.
Airport spokesman Rich Stinson says officers managed to corner Dawkins in a baggage handling area outside the terminal. Stinson says the baboon never came close to travelers and was confined the whole time to a secure baggage area.
Dawkins was being transported from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, to the Born Free USA sanctuary near Cotulla, Texas.
Louisiana
2 indicted in case of teen found dead in swamp
MAUREPAS — Two people have been indicted in connection to the death of a Louisiana teen whose body was found in a swamp.
The Advocate reported Monday that 36-year-old John Cowart and 33-year-old Justin Scivicque were indicted on charges related to 19-year-old Emily Rodgers’ death.
The news outlet cites District Attorney Scott Perrilloux’s office as saying that Cowart was indicted on a second-degree-murder charge. It says Scivicque was indicted on a charge of obstruction of justice.
Rodgers was reported missing Feb. 9. Her body was found days later. Conflicting accounts of those close to the case caused police to suspect foul play. Authorities say an autopsy shows Rodgers died from blunt-force injuries.
The newspaper reported 28-year-old Derek Williford was indicted earlier, as an accessory to second-degree murder. Williford has pleaded not guilty.
