Ex-NY trooper

found guilty

KINGSTON, N.Y. (AP) — A former New York state trooper accused of ramming his vehicle into an SUV during a high-speed chase leading to the death of an 11-year-old girl has been convicted of manslaughter at his second trial. Jurors returned the verdict against Christopher Baldner on Friday.

Prosecutors say Baldner rammed the SUV twice on the New York State Thruway on Dec. 22, 2020, causing it to lose control and flip over. Eleven-year-old Monica Goods, who was in the SUV, died in the crash.

Inflation

gauge rises

WASHINGTON (AP) — An inflation gauge closely monitored by the Federal Reserve moved higher in January in the latest sign that prices were persistently elevated even before the Iran war caused spikes in oil and gas costs. Prices rose 2.8% in January compared with a year earlier, the Commerce Department said Friday.

And excluding the volatile food and energy categories — which the Fed pays closer attention to — core prices rose 3.1%, up from 3% in the prior month and the highest in nearly two years.

Cuba confirms

US talks

HAVANA (AP) — Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel says his government has held recent talks with the U.S. His comments on Friday mark the first time the Caribbean country has confirmed speculation about active communication with the Trump administration which has been openly hostile toward the communist government.

Díaz-Canel said the talks were aimed at finding solutions to differences between the two nations. Cuban officials have bitterly complained about a U.S. oil blockade on the island that they blame for severe energy shortages. Cuba’s western region was hit by a major blackout last week that has left millions without power.