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Georgia Teacher Accused of Letting Students Have Sex

schoolSTONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (AP) — An Atlanta-area teacher has been arrested after a parent complained he allowed middle school students to have sex in a storage unit in his classroom.

Multiple news outlets report 25-year-old Quentin Wright, a math teacher at The Champion School in Stone Mountain, was taken into custody Tuesday. He has been charged with four misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

An arrest warrant says Wright arranged times with students when the classroom would be empty and gave them condoms.

The investigation began after a mother said she found text messages between Wright and her son.

A DeKalb County Schools spokesman says they are cooperating with the District Attorney’s Office and Wright has been removed from the classroom.

It is unclear if he has a lawyer.

Disney World Tells Riders to Stop Using Selfie Sticks

disney-worldORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Disney World is looking to crack down on guests who use selfie sticks on rides at the park.

A spokesman said Monday guests can bring selfie sticks on the rides but must securely store them.

Disney policy forbids visitors from using the sticks, which can be used to extend cameras out up to 3 feet. One ride, Thunder Mountain, has had a number of incidents in which the ride had to be stopped because of selfie-stick use.

On Friday, Disney World workers posted a “No Selfie Sticks” sign at the Magic Kingdom’s Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Suicides Rare in Young Kids; Rate Edged Up in Black Boys

Medical-ChartCHICAGO (AP) — Suicides by young children are rare and the low rate has held mostly stable for two decades except for a troubling increase among black boys.

A new study found that from 1993 through 2012, there were 657 suicides among children aged 5 through 11. Most were 10 or 11.

The overall rate for young kids was just over 1 per million. But for black boys, it went from less than 2 per million to almost 3.5 per million. There was a slight decline among white boys, to 1.3 per million.

Lead author Jeffrey Bridge says reasons for the disparities are uncertain. He’s a suicide researcher at the Research Institute of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

The study was published online Monday in JAMA Pediatrics.

Waco on Guard After Biker Gang Shootout Leaves 9 Dead

crime-scene-police-shootWACO, Texas (AP) — Authorities are on guard in Waco after a shootout among rival motorcycle gangs at a restaurant left nine bikers dead and raised the specter of further violence.

Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton says authorities increased security to quell other possible attempts at criminal activity following the melee Sunday at Twin Peaks restaurant that also left 18 bikers wounded.

The violence erupted as members of at least five rival gangs gathered for a meeting.

Police say a dispute broke out, escalated to include knives and firearms and eventually spilled into the restaurant parking lot.

Parts of downtown were on lockdown Sunday night, and officials could be seen stopping and questioning motorcycle riders.

McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara says the nine dead were members of the Bandidos or Cossacks gangs.

Republicans Criticize Clinton for Not Talking to the Press

HillaryClintonDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential hopefuls gathered in Iowa are taking jabs at Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton for not fielding more questions from the press.

Former business executive Carly Fiorina says that if Clinton is going to run for president, “she is going to have to answer some questions.”

Fiorina spoke at a dinner hosted by the Iowa Republican Party that drew about 1,300 people Saturday. Also chiming in was Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who joked about whether Clinton “ever takes any questions.”

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush took a similar approach earlier in the day, saying he has answered hundreds of questions compared to Clinton, who has taken just a handful.

The former secretary of state is making a second campaign visit to Iowa on Monday.

Earthquakes on Hawaii Volcano Could Signal New Eruption

magmaHONOLULU (AP) — A series of earthquakes and shifting ground on the slopes of Kilauea have scientists wondering what will happen next at one of the world’s most active volcanos.

A lake of lava near the summit of Kilauea on Hawaii’s Big Island had risen to a record-high level after a recent explosion.

But in the past few days, the pool of molten rock began sinking, and the surface of the lava lake fell nearly 500 feet. Meanwhile, a rash of earthquakes rattled the volcano with as many as 20 to 25 quakes per hour.

Volcano scientist Steve Brantley says the lava has been dropping out of sight, and it has to be going somewhere. He says one possibility is that a new lava eruption could break through the surface of the mountain.

Judge: 13-Year-Old Competent to Stand Trial in Fatal Stabbing of 9-Year-Old

judgeshipGRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A judge says a 13-year-old boy is competent for trial in the fatal stabbing of a 9-year-old boy at a western Michigan playground.

The decision by Kent County Family Court Judge Paul Denenfeld is in line with a state expert’s finding. It conflicts with the opinion from an expert hired by the boy’s lawyer that the child couldn’t sufficiently understand the charges and aid in his defense.

Defense lawyer Charles Boekeloo tells The Grand Rapids Press he plans an insanity defense. Trial is set to start July 15.

The boy is charged with murder in the death in August of Michael Verkerke at a playground in Kentwood, near Grand Rapids.

The Associated Press isn’t naming the boy because of his age. He was 12 at the time of the killing.

Panama City Bans Beach Drinking During Spring Break

PanamaCBPANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Panama City Beach leaders have voted to ban beach drinking during the month of March as part of larger crackdown on spring break partying.

The city council approved the ban on beach drinking Tuesday during a special meeting to address spring break issues.

The News Herald (http://bit.ly/1HhKIi3) reports that the city and the county are considering additional measures to curtail spring break rowdiness after seven partygoers were shot and injured at a spring break party this year.

Local officials say they want to clean up the city’s image after negative publicity from the shootings and an alleged sexual assault that happened during other spring break festivities on the beach behind a popular nightclub.

USDA Creates First Government Label for GMO-Free Products

USDAWASHINGTON (AP) — The Agriculture Department has developed the first government certification and labeling for foods that are free of genetically modified ingredients.

USDA’s move comes as some consumer groups push for mandatory labeling of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.

Certification would be voluntary — and companies would have to pay for it. If approved, the foods would be able to carry a “USDA Process Verified” label along with a claim that they are free of GMOs.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack outlined the department’s plan in a May 1 letter to employees, saying the certification is being done at the request of a “leading global company,” which he did not identify. A copy of the letter has been obtained by The Associated Press.

Hearse with Flag-Draped Coffin Left in Dunkin Doughnuts Parking Lot

hearse-dunkin-doughnuts
Photo by Rob Carpenter

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. (AP) — Two Florida hearse drivers have been fired after they stopped at a doughnut shop with a flag-draped coffin in the vehicle on the way to a funeral and an outraged man sent a video to a local veterans group.

Multiple news outlets report Rob Carpenter spotted the hearse in the parking lot of a New Port Richey Dunkin’ Donuts on Tuesday with its curtains open and the coffin visible.

In the coffin was the body of 84-year-old Lt. Col. Jesse Coleman, a decorated soldier who served in Korea and Vietnam. The hearse was transporting him from Veterans Funeral Care to his funeral.

Carpenter confronted the driver and sent images to VeteranWarriors. The group posted the images to Facebook.

Funeral home director Jim Rudolph says he has fired the men.

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