Storm dumps snow across Midwest

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. — Spring came falling down Monday on winter-weary residents in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa with more than a foot of new snow in some areas.

Schools in southwestern Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota canceled classes as snowplows hit the highways and streets and the locals fired up their snow blowers for another round.

The National Weather Service measured 15 inches of snow in Fennimore, Wis. A sprinkling of snow disrupted rush hour traffic in Chicago.

The accumulating snow stands in contrast to a week ago, when temperatures hit the 70s in some spots.

Utah approves use of firing squads

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah became the only state to allow firing squads for executions when Gov. Gary Herbert signed a law approving the method for use when no lethal injection drugs are available, even though he has called it “a little bit gruesome.”

The Republican governor has said Utah is a capital punishment state and needs a backup execution method in case a shortage of the drugs persists.

“We regret anyone ever commits the heinous crime of aggravated murder to merit the death penalty, and we prefer to use our primary method of lethal injection when such a sentence is issued,” Herbert spokesman Marty Carpenter said. However, enforcing death sentences is “the obligation of the executive branch.”

The governor’s office noted other states allow execution methods other than lethal injection. In Washington state, inmates can request hanging. In New Hampshire, hangings are fallback if lethal injections can’t be given.

Man accused of faking death arrested

SAPPHIRE, N.C. — A Florida businessman who authorities say faked his own death to dodge debts while reaping millions in life insurance benefits is sitting in a North Carolina jail after applying for a passport under another man’s name.

Jose Salvador Lantigua of Florida appeared Monday in federal court in Asheville, N.C. He was arrested Saturday by diplomatic security agents from the U.S. State Department and charged with a single count of making a false statement on a passport application.

Lantigua, 62, is also charged in Florida with seven counts of filing fraudulent insurance claims and one count of scheming to fraud.

Prosecutors say he used a false Venezuelan death certificate to file more than $9 million in life insurance claims in 2013.

Panel says officer justified in shooting

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee’s police chief was justified in firing a white officer who killed a black man during a scuffle last year, a panel of police commissioners ruled Monday.

The three-commissioner panel earlier Monday had found former officer Christopher Manney violated department protocol when he tried to search the man moments before they began fighting. Some in the room cheered when the ruling on Manney’s firing was announced.

Prosecutors ruled the shooting was justified, but Chief Ed Flynn fired Manney, saying he improperly initiated a pat-down.

By The Associated Press