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A28 u.s. news
Diaranson 24 Maart 2021

Man accused in Minnesota clinic shooting to get mental exam

ory Ulrich is mentally com- Ulrich’s mental health and about a spinal injury and he
petent to help with his own ability to assist in his own talked about sending lots of
defense. defense to the professional ambulances to the clinic, so
evaluator," Ulrich’s public he clearly knew what he did
According to a criminal com- defender Gregory Davis said was wrong,” Lutes said.
plaint, Ulrich walked into the in a statement. "We also be-
Allina Health Clinic in Buffa- lieve that those evaluators Police have said Ulrich was
lo, a small city about 40 miles will be essential in assisting no stranger to them and was
(65 kilometers) northwest of in the clarification of his past known to have been angry
Minneapolis, on Feb. 9 and mental health issues and the over his medical treatment.
opened fire, killing 37-year- lack of response to those is- While authorities have said
old medical assistant Lindsay sues.” they had no recent interac-
Overbay and wounding four tions that would have raised
other staff members. Ulrich, Wright County Attorney alarms, court documents
67, is charged with murder, Brian Lutes said he believes show that Ulrich threatened
attempted murder and other Ulrich has demonstrated the a mass shooting at the clinic
counts. ability to participate in his in 2018. That threat led to a
own defense, KSTP-TV re- restraining order that barred
He is also accused of setting ported. Ulrich from the clinic and
off several pipe bombs at the a nearby hospital as well as
clinic. Ulrich eventually sur- “I think some of the state- ordered he have no contact
(AP) — A judge has or- one staff member and in- rendered to law enforcement. ments that he made leading with a doctor.
dered a mental health juring four others. up to the shooting and also
exam for a Minnesota man “While we understand the after the shooting demon- The competency evaluation
accused of opening fire in The exam, granted Monday state has a job to do in this strate that he knew the nature could take 60 days. Ulrich is
a health clinic northwest at the request of the defense, case, we will leave the ac- of his act and what he did was scheduled to be back in court
of Minneapolis, killing will help determine if Greg- tual opinions regarding Mr. wrong, because he talked on May 20.

Fire at assisted living home kills 1; firefighter missing

(AP) — A fire swept taken to a hospital, Kear said.
through a suburban New The person’s name was not Two other firefighters were
York assisted living home immediately released. taken to hospitals. One was
and caused a partial col- released, while the other was
lapse early Tuesday, killing “This was a devastating loss,” expected to stay overnight for
one resident and sending Kear said at a news briefing. treatment for smoke inhala-
two firefighters and mul- tion, Kear said.
tiple residents to hospi- Rescuers searched through Officials believe about 20
tals, officials said. A third rubble for a firefighter who residents were taken to hos-
firefighter was missing. issued a mayday call while pitals, some with serious in-
rescuing a resident from the juries, Kear said.
Flames gutted the Evergreen third floor, Kear said. Other
Court Home for Adults in firefighters rushed to try to Other residents were taken
the Rockland County com- help their colleague, but the by bus to another facility,
munity of Spring Valley, flames were too intense. state Trooper Steven Nevel Evergreen facility, and I am the fire under control. Inves-
about 30 miles (48 kilome- said. praying that the firefighter tigators worked to determine
ters) north of New York City. “The extent of the fire, the who bravely risked his life the cause of the fire.
It has an estimated 100 to volume of fire, the condi- U.S. Rep. Mondaire Jones to save dozens of individuals
125 residents, but authorities tions, were just too unbear- said he was horrified to learn trapped inside will be found At one point, video showed
were working to determine able where firefighters went of the fire in his hometown safe and alive,” the first-term the second floor collapsing
the exact number, Rockland in it, and they just could not of Spring Valley. Democrat said in a statement. as the fire burned. Kear said a
County Fire coordinator locate the firefighter, and whole portion of the building
Chris Kear said. they had to back out,” he said “I am deeply saddened by About 125 firefighters from ultimately fell down.
One resident died after being at a later news conference. the death of a resident of the many agencies worked to get

Sales of new homes plunged 18.2% in February

(AP) — Sales of new homes supply took a toll on the housing evident in the existing homes mar- though they remain near record lows,
plunged 18.2% in February as industry. ket, for which the U.S. released data along with few properties available
severe winter weather in many Monday. Those sales declined 6.5% for sale, are pushing home ownership
parts of the country and a lack of Sales of single-family homes dropped last month. out of range for many.
to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of
775,000 last month, the Commerce The report Tuesday marked the first “Home sales are still higher than a
Department reported Tuesday, the decline in sales of new homes in two year earlier, and given the increased
slowest sales pace since May of last months. Housing continues to be pace of building, new home sales
year. one of the few bright spots during the should boom again this spring,” said
coronavirus pandemic. New home Robert Frick, corporate economist at
Every region of the country experi- sales last year advanced to levels not Navy Federal Credit Union.
enced a drop-off in sales. seen since the housing boom of the
mid-2000s. For February, sales fell in every part
The median price of a new home sold of the country, led by a 37.5% drop
in February was $349,400, up 5.3% Despite the hiccup, economists don't in the Midwest and a 16.4% fall in
from a year ago. believe even skyrocketing prices will the West. Sales declines 14.7% in the
cool the U.S. housing market. High South and were down 11.6% in the
The same weather disruption was lumber costs, rising mortgage rates, Northeast.