In brief: U.S. makes offer in Indian lawsuit

The U.S. government has proposed paying $7 billion to settle lawsuits over the management of Indian trust lands – an offer met with immediate objections from Indian plaintiffs.

At issue is a decade-old lawsuit by Indians against the government claiming that the government has mismanaged more than $100 billion in oil, gas, timber and other royalties held in trust from their lands dating back to 1887.

Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said he will hold hearings on the proposal and said the settlement offer is the first time the federal government has acknowledged a multibillion dollar liability for mismanagement of the trust funds over the past century.

“That is a significant admission,” Dorgan said.

Under the terms of the offer, the government would pay $7 billion over 10 years, without interest. In exchange for the money, all tribal and individual mismanagement claims against the government would be dropped and the government would be relieved of future liability.

Bridgeport, Conn.

Police: Dad tells son to stab mom

Police say a man repeatedly stabbed his teenage wife, then gave the knife to his toddler son and told him, “Now, you stab Mommy.”

Fermin Rodriguez, 21, attacked his 17-year-old wife Sunday night, after accusing her of cheating on him, police said. He slashed and stabbed her multiple times, then handed the knife to his 2-year-old son and told him to stab her, police said.

The boy didn’t stab her, police and prosecutors said Tuesday.

Rodriguez was charged with first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree unlawful restraint and threatening. He was being held on $350,000 bond.

His wife, Keyschla Rodriguez, was slashed at least 20 times, but most of the wounds were superficial, according to Capt. Lynn Kirwin. Rodriguez also cut off her hair, Kirwin said.

The boy was safe with relatives, Kirwin said.

Sheboygan, Wis.

Drug charges follow open fly

Too bad for him nobody told him his fly was down.

A 22-year-old man was arrested for drug possession after police found a marijuana pipe and drugs stashed in his underwear.

Police made the arrest after they found the man’s car stuck in a ditch in Wilson. According to a criminal complaint, the man’s pants were undone and officers asked if there was anything illegal in his clothing.

Authorities said they found a pipe and a small amount of marijuana.

The Sheboygan man was charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, felony marijuana possession and operating a vehicle after having his license revoked, police said.