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Colin Jeffery

Colin Jeffery

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) - A Roman Catholic priest whose decades-old molestation of a former altar boy led to a $6.3 million payout in an Illinois lawsuit has been kicked out of the priesthood by Pope Benedict XVI.

Diocese of Belleville Bishop Edward Braxton announced the move involving 78-year-old Raymond Kownacki in a statement published in a recent edition of the diocesan newspaper, The Messenger. Braxton says the papal decree calls the defrocking "for the good of the church."

Kownacki is living in a St. Louis-area nursing home and has refused media requests for interviews. He has not been charged criminally.

Kownacki's misdeeds resulted in a $5 million jury award against the diocese to James Wisniewski in 2008. That payout grew to $6.3 million to reflect interest that accrued while the diocese appealed.
ST. LOUIS (AP) - A suspect is dead after being shot and killed by police in St. Louis.

The shooting happened Thursday night near the Mississippi River. The suspect is identified as 32-year-old Jason Noroian of Des Peres.

Police say Port Authority officials reported two suspicious vehicles. After they were stopped, officers learned that an occupant of one of the vehicles had a warrant out for his arrest.

As the officer approached to arrest the man, he allegedly reached for the officer's gun and got it out of the holster. The men struggled and the officer tried to shoot, but the gun misfired.

When the man reached again for the gun, the officer fired again, hitting the man in the side. He died at a hospital.

An internal investigation is under way.

Andy Williams' art to be auctioned in New York City

Friday, 08 February 2013 11:33 Published in Local News
NEW YORK (AP) - Andy Williams' song repertoire was all American - but his art collection was eclectic.

Christie's will be auctioning his wide-ranging selection of artworks May 15-16. It's expected to realize $30 million.

The late singer's taste ranged from contemporary, impressionist and modern to Latin American and 20th century decorative art and design.

He collected over a 60-year period. He displayed the works at his California and Missouri homes, as well as his Moon River Theater in Branson, Mo.

Among the highlights are several Willem de Koonings and pieces by Richard Diebenkorn (DEE'-bihn-kohrn), Jean-Michel Basquiat (zhahn mee-SHEHL' BAH'-skee-aht) and Pablo Picasso.

He died last year at age 84. The baritone was known for his wholesome, middle-America appeal and easy-listening hits including the theme to the Oscar-winning tearjerker "Love Story."

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