Posted 12:33 pm Thursday, January 17, 2013
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MIDDAY UPDATE: Gregg County settles wrongful death lawsuit
GREGG COUNTY SETTLES LAWSUIT
Gregg County has settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of a drug-struggling inmate who died in two thousand ten while in custody.
The terms of the agreement between the county and survivors of thirty-three-year-old Amy Lynn Cowling of Gilmer were not immediately released.
Records show Cowling, who was under the care of a methadone clinic, was arrested on Christmas Eve two thousand ten on misdemeanor theft warrants.
Relatives say Cowling was denied her prescription drugs and she was found unresponsive five days later.
The lawsuit was to have gone to trial next week.
County Judge Bill Stoudt says the death was unfortunate and officials agreed to settle to avoid a lengthy and costly trial.
Five jailers were fired or reassigned after the death.
The terms of the agreement between the county and survivors of thirty-three-year-old Amy Lynn Cowling of Gilmer were not immediately released.
Records show Cowling, who was under the care of a methadone clinic, was arrested on Christmas Eve two thousand ten on misdemeanor theft warrants.
Relatives say Cowling was denied her prescription drugs and she was found unresponsive five days later.
The lawsuit was to have gone to trial next week.
County Judge Bill Stoudt says the death was unfortunate and officials agreed to settle to avoid a lengthy and costly trial.
Five jailers were fired or reassigned after the death.
CHILDREN EXPELLED FOR HARSH REASONS
Civil rights advocates say harsh disciplinary practices at many Mississippi schools lead to children being expelled and even incarcerated for minor infractions, policies which disproportionally affect minorities.
A joint report by groups including the ACLU and NAACP says the problems are more widespread than just the city of Meridian, where the U.S. Justice Department has filed a suit claiming officials are running a "school-to-prison pipeline" for minor infractions.
The report says students in the southeastern city of Meridian have been sent to juvenile detention for infractions such as flatulence or dress code violations, and that mostly black and disabled children are affected.
The report also cites a study of 115 school districts in Mississippi that found black students were three times more likely to receive out-of-school suspensions than whites and the number was higher in certain districts.
Sometimes, the civil rights groups say, very young children face frightening punishment, like a five-year-old boy in Holmes County escorted home in the back of a patrol car for violating the school's dress code.
The report says the school required black shoes and his mother had tried to use a black marker to cover red and white symbols.
"When she followed up with her son's principal, he justified his actions by telling her that her son needed to be 'taught a lesson,'" the report says.
A joint report by groups including the ACLU and NAACP says the problems are more widespread than just the city of Meridian, where the U.S. Justice Department has filed a suit claiming officials are running a "school-to-prison pipeline" for minor infractions.
The report says students in the southeastern city of Meridian have been sent to juvenile detention for infractions such as flatulence or dress code violations, and that mostly black and disabled children are affected.
The report also cites a study of 115 school districts in Mississippi that found black students were three times more likely to receive out-of-school suspensions than whites and the number was higher in certain districts.
Sometimes, the civil rights groups say, very young children face frightening punishment, like a five-year-old boy in Holmes County escorted home in the back of a patrol car for violating the school's dress code.
The report says the school required black shoes and his mother had tried to use a black marker to cover red and white symbols.
"When she followed up with her son's principal, he justified his actions by telling her that her son needed to be 'taught a lesson,'" the report says.
NEW ATF DIRECTOR COULD BE NAMED
A federal prosecutor who worked to get the most violent criminals off the streets is expected to be named director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
President Barack Obama says he intends to nominate B. Todd Jones to lead the ATF, which hasn't had a permanent director since 2006.
Jones is U.S. Attorney for Minnesota and has been ATF's acting director since late two thousand eleven.
He took over amid controversy over an anti-gun smuggling operation.
President Barack Obama says he intends to nominate B. Todd Jones to lead the ATF, which hasn't had a permanent director since 2006.
Jones is U.S. Attorney for Minnesota and has been ATF's acting director since late two thousand eleven.
He took over amid controversy over an anti-gun smuggling operation.
And in It-Must-Be-In-California news, public nudity activists prompted a hearing scheduled for Thursday in San Francisco in which a federal judge will consider blocking a new city law requiring people to wear clothing.
U.S. District Judge Edward Chen has been asked to block the law from going into effect on February first while he considers their lawsuit seeking to invalidate the ordinance.
The activists argue that the ban on public nudity violates their First Amendment freedom of speech rights because their nudity is a political statement.
They also argue the law violates equal protection rights because it exempts children younger than five and public nudity at certain events such as an annual street fair, the city's Gay Pride Parade and it Bay-to-Breakers foot race, which is noted for the wacky costumes — or lack thereof — of participants.
Attorneys representing the city counter that the ban is a matter of public health, safety and the "general welfare" of all residents.
The ban requires clothing below the waist of all appearing in public.
U.S. District Judge Edward Chen has been asked to block the law from going into effect on February first while he considers their lawsuit seeking to invalidate the ordinance.
The activists argue that the ban on public nudity violates their First Amendment freedom of speech rights because their nudity is a political statement.
They also argue the law violates equal protection rights because it exempts children younger than five and public nudity at certain events such as an annual street fair, the city's Gay Pride Parade and it Bay-to-Breakers foot race, which is noted for the wacky costumes — or lack thereof — of participants.
Attorneys representing the city counter that the ban is a matter of public health, safety and the "general welfare" of all residents.
The ban requires clothing below the waist of all appearing in public.
Algerian forces raided a remote Sahara gas plant on Thursday in an attempt to free dozens of foreign hostages held by militants with ties to Mali's rebel Islamists, diplomats said.
Islamic militants claimed that thirty-five hostages and fifteen militants were killed after Algerian military helicopters strafed the area but said seven hostages survived.
Islamists with the Masked Brigade, who have been speaking through a Mauritanian news outlet, said the Algerians opened fire as the militants tried to leave the vast energy complex with their hostages a day after seizing the installation deep in the desert.
Algerian forces had surrounded the complex in a tense standoff since the plant was seized early Wednesday and had vowed not to negotiate with the kidnappers, who reportedly were seeking safe passage.
Islamic militants claimed that thirty-five hostages and fifteen militants were killed after Algerian military helicopters strafed the area but said seven hostages survived.
Islamists with the Masked Brigade, who have been speaking through a Mauritanian news outlet, said the Algerians opened fire as the militants tried to leave the vast energy complex with their hostages a day after seizing the installation deep in the desert.
Algerian forces had surrounded the complex in a tense standoff since the plant was seized early Wednesday and had vowed not to negotiate with the kidnappers, who reportedly were seeking safe passage.
