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A nine-month-old boy will grow up without his parents after an alleged drunk driver slammed into their car at a high rate of speed — killing them both months before their wedding.

Jacob Hahn, 24, and Savannah Harding, 22, were killed while driving westbound on Fremont Pike in Ohio on the night of Dec. 9 after the alleged drunk driver, Samantha Hammons, rear-ended their vehicle, causing it to spin into oncoming traffic, according to WTVG.

The force of impact from Hammons speeding Kia Soul caused the couple’s car to be fatally struck by an eastbound Dodge Journey.

Hahn and Harding were pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind their infant son, Beckett.

The Elmore couple were engaged to be married next June.

Hammons, 55, from Toledo, is charged with two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and was booked in the Wood County Jail, documents from the Perrysburg Municipal Court show. 7 Samantha Hammons was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide. Wood County Sheriff's Office

The reckless drivers two adult daughters were in the backseat of their mothers Kia when she caused the fatal crash, according to police.

Hammons, including her daughters, were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.

The driver of the Dodge Journey was also taken in for minor injuries but was later released.

Hammons was under the influence of alcohol d before getting behind the wheel, according to the court documents. 7 Jacob Hahn and Savannah Harding had just welcomed their son, Beckett, to the world nine months ago. Jacob Hahn / Facebook

My heart aches so much now that you are gone, Hardings sister, Brooklyn, wrote in a somber Facebook post, referring to the couple as the sweetest souls.

Life is so unfair. All because of a drunk driver. Taking my only sister/sibling away from me.

You were one of my biggest role models growing up. You made me a first time aunt to little Beckett. I will always be there for him. We all will, Brooklyn shared.

Brooklyn vowed to honor her sisters memory and will fight for justice following the couples senseless deaths. 7 The young couple were engaged to be married next June. Jacob Hahn / Facebook 7 Hammons’ charges carry a mandatory prison sentence of two to eight years Jacob Hahn / Facebook

Brooke Johnson, Hahns cousin, wrote shes sad, but mostly angry after news broke of her loved one and his fiances were killed by the reckless drunk behind the wheel.

Angry that an irresponsible and reckless woman took away the lives of two very young people who truly just started living theirs, Johnson wrote in a Facebook post.

My heart is completely broken for sweet Beckett, because he will never get to know how amazing his parents were, and how much they loved him! 7 A family member wrote how excited Hahn was to become a father when he found out Harding was pregnant. Jacob Hahn / Facebook

In her heartfelt post, Johnson shared how excited Hahn was to become a father.

The best call I ever got from him was when he facetimed me to tell me he was going to be a DAD! He flipped the camera to a sign that said they were expecting, and I yelled Shut the f*** up! And he just laughed, but I could tell he was scared to death, but so happy!

In the wake of the tragedy, businesses and community groups in Elmore have organized fundraising events to support the orphaned infant and family. 

None of us can take away the pain away, but we can help to ease the burden that is left behind, Jes Reynolds, the owner of Unvaulted Treasures, one of the participating businesses, told WTOL 11. 7 The young couple was pronounced dead at the scene after their car spun into an eastbound lane. Jacob Hahn / Facebook

Reynolds store has been stacking up donations, including clothing, blankets, diapers, and other items for Backett.

DeSTAZios, a pizzeria in Elmore, donated 100% of their profits to the cause on Wednesday, sharing that they had completely sold out of products to sell before the day was up.

We actually had a number of people come in and just make donations and didnt even buy a pizza. Everyone just wants to support this family, co-owner Connie DeStazio told the outlet. 7 Businesses and community groups in Elmore have organized fundraising events to support the orphaned infant and family.  Jacob Hahn / Facebook

Elmore is about 18 miles northwest of Toledo.

A judge set Hammons bond at $500,000.

Hammons charges are second-degree felonies in Ohio and carry a mandatory prison sentence of two to eight years, along with a lifetime license suspension if shes found guilty.

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Entertainment

Russell Brand charged with rape and sexual assault

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Russell Brand charged with rape and sexual assault

Russell Brand has been charged with rape and two counts of sexual assault between 1999 and 2005.

The Metropolitan Police say the 50-year-old comedian, actor and author has also been charged with one count of oral rape and one count of indecent assault.

The charges relate to four women.

He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday 2 May.

Police have said Brand is accused of raping a woman in the Bournemouth area in 1999 and indecently assaulting a woman in the Westminster area of London in 2001.

He is also accused of orally raping and sexually assaulting a woman in Westminster in 2004.

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Ashna Hurynag discusses Russell Brand’s charges

The fourth charge alleges that a woman was sexually assaulted in Westminster between 2004 and 2005.

Police began investigating Brand, from Oxfordshire, in September 2023 after receiving a number of allegations.

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The comedian has denied the accusations and said he has “never engaged in non-consensual activity”.

He added in a video on X: “Of course, I am now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”

Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who is leading the investigation, said: “The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers.

“The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police.”

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Sports

O’s Henderson off IL; will make ’25 debut vs. KC

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O's Henderson off IL; will make '25 debut vs. KC

Baltimore Orioles All-Star shortstop Gunnar Henderson was activated from the 10-day injured list and will make his season debut Friday night against the Kansas City Royals.

Henderson has been sidelined with a right intercostal strain and missed the first seven games of the big league campaign.

The 23-year-old Henderson will lead off and play shortstop against the host Royals.

Henderson was injured during a spring training game Feb. 27. He was fourth in American League MVP voting last season when he batted .281 and racked up career bests of 37 homers and 92 RBIs.

Henderson completed a five-game rehab stint at Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday. He batted .263 (5-for-19) with two homers and four RBIs and played four games at shortstop and one as the designated hitter. He did commit three errors.

“I think everybody’s looking forward to having Gunnar back on the team,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said Thursday. “The rehab went really, really well. I talked to him a couple days ago, he feels great swinging the bat. The timing came, especially the last few days. He just had to get out there and get some reps defensively and get some games in, and it all went well.”

Baltimore optioned outfielder Dylan Carlson to Triple-A Norfolk to open up a roster spot. The 26-year-old was 0-for-4 with a run and RBI in two games this season.

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Politics

‘Will the PM side with parents or tech bros?’: Labour peer demands action on children’s smartphone safety

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'Will the PM side with parents or tech bros?': Labour peer demands action on children's smartphone safety

Sir Keir Starmer needs to choose between parents who want stronger action to tackle harmful content on children’s phones, or the “tech bros” who are resisting changes to their platforms, Baroness Harriet Harman has said.

Speaking to Beth Rigby on Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast, the Labour peer noted that the prime minister met with the creators of hit Netflix drama Adolescence to discuss safety on social media, but she questioned if he is going to take action to “stop the tech companies allowing this sort of stuff” on their platforms where children can access it.

Sir Keir hosted a roundtable on Monday with Adolescence co-writer Jack Thorne and producer Jo Johnson to discuss issues raised in the series, which centres on a 13-year-old boy arrested for the murder of a young girl, and the rise of incel culture.

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The aim was to discuss how to prevent young boys being dragged into a “whirlpool of hatred and misogyny”, and the prime minister said the four-part series raises questions about how to keep young people safe from technology.

Sir Keir has backed calls for the four-part drama to be shown in all schools across the country, but Baroness Harman questioned what is going to be achieved by having young people simply watch the show.

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Sir Keir Starmer held a roundtable with the creators of the Adolescence TV drama.

“Two questions were raised [for me],” she said. ” Firstly – after they’ve watched it, what is going to be the discussion afterwards?

More on Electoral Dysfunction

“And secondly, is he going to act to stop the tech companies allowing this sort of stuff to go online into smartphones without protection of children?

“Because if the tech companies wanted to do this, they could actually protect children. They can do everything they want with their tech.”

She acknowledged there are “very big public policy challenges” in this area, but added of the prime minister: “Is he going to side with parents who are terrified and want this content off their children’s phones, or is he going to accept the tech bros’ resistance to having to make changes?”

Harriet Harman said the government should impose time limits on inquiries
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Baroness Harriet Harman

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Can parliament keep up?

The Labour peer backed the Conservative Party’s call for a ban on smartphones in schools to be mandated from Westminster, saying it would “enable all schools not to have a discussion with their parents or to battle it out, but just to say, this is the ruling” from central government, which Ofsted would then enforce.

“I’m sensitive to the idea that we shouldn’t constantly be telling schools what to do,” she continued. “And they’ve got a lot of common sense and a lot of professional experience, and they should have as much autonomy as possible.

“But perhaps it’s easier for them if it’s done top down.”

Baroness Harman also questioned the speed with which parliament is actually able to legislate to deal with the very rapid development of new technologies, and posits that it could “change its processes to be able to legislate in real time”.

She suggested that a “powerful select committee” of MPs could be established to do that, because “otherwise we talk about it, and then we’re not able to legislate for 10 years – by which time that problem has really set in, and we’ve got a whole load more problems”.

On the podcast, the trio also discussed the 10% tariffs imposed on the UK by Donald Trump and the government’s efforts to strike a trade deal with the US to mitigate the impact of the levy.

The government has refused to rule out scrapping the Digital Services Tax, a 2% levy on tech giants’ revenues in the UK, as part of the negotiations with the Trump administration – a move Baroness Harman said would be “very heartbreaking”.

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