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Hazing lawsuit filed against University of Alabama fraternity

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — A student and his parents have filed a lawsuit against a University of Alabama fraternity, saying he suffered a traumatic brain injury while being hazed as a fraternity pledge earlier this year. The lawsuit filed last week accuses Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and others associated with it of fraud, negligence and assault and battery. The lawsuit was filed by the teen, referred to only as H.B. in the filing because he is a minor; and his parents, who live in Texas. The lawsuit says H.B. was repeatedly punched, sprayed with a water hose, told to yell a racial slur at a nearby Black student and hit in the head with a basketball, which caused him to lose consciousness, see stars and suffer a traumatic brain injury.The student left the fraternity house on his own, but later went to a hospital emergency room. The lawsuit says he has a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury and post-concussive syndrome. “As the direct and proximate result of defendant’s negligence, p...

Weakening Ophelia still poses a risk of coastal flooding and heavy rain in some parts of the US

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — After being downgraded from a tropical storm, Ophelia on Sunday still posed a risk of coastal flooding and heavy rains from Washington, D.C. to New York City, with coastal flood warnings remaining in effect for parts of the Mid-Atlantic region, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.But as Ophelia weakens, a new tropical storm — Philippe — is brewing in the Atlantic.As of 5 a.m. Sunday, the hurricane center said Ophelia was located about 85 miles (135 kilometers) south of Washington, D.C., with maximum sustained winds of 25 mph (35 kph) and higher gusts. The storm is expected to continue moving north-northeast before turning east on Sunday night, then continue weakening over the next two days.Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Philippe was 1,155 miles (1,860 kilometers) west of the Cabo Verde Islands, which are off the west coast of Africa. That storm had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph).Even though Ophelia has been downgraded, the center warned Sunday that swells...

All students injured in New York bus crash are expected to recover, superintendent says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (AP) — All the high school students who were injured in an upstate New York charter bus crash on the way to a band camp are expected to recover, according to their school superintendent.The bus, one of six carrying students from Farmingdale High School on Long Island, veered off Interstate 84 and rolled over in the center median Thursday in the town of Wawayanda, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northwest of New York City. Two adults died and other passengers were seriously injured.Paul Defendini, superintendent of Farmingdale schools, said in a statement Saturday that some of the injured students were still struggling but all are expected to recover, Newsday reported.“I know that they appreciate all the well wishes you are sending and we can’t wait to welcome them back when they are ready to return,” Defendini said.The bus that crashed was carrying 40 students and four adults to a band camp in Greeley, Pennsylvania, about a 30-minute drive from the accident site.It ...

Missing toddler found sleeping on her dog, miles from Michigan home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

FAITHORN, Mich. (WJMN) — It was a normal evening in Faithorn, Michigan for the Chase family on Wednesday that quickly turned into an extensive search-and-rescue operation for a toddler. Brooke Chase was home with her son and 2-year-old daughter, Thea. Her husband Alex was at work. Also at the house was Marcus Christy, Alex's brother-in-law.“She is her uncle’s shadow and is constantly with him, that's why it's such a shock to us that she left his side,” Brooke Chase told Nexstar's WJMN.Christy said he had been taking a break from pressure-washing the side of the home when he told Thea to go into the house because it was getting late. “We thought she went back in the house," Christy explained. A little while later, Brooke and Christy realized neither knew where Thea was. That's when the search began. 6 dead after train crashes into family’s SUV in Florida After their initial search, they noticed she wasn't the only one missing.“We were searching all around the yard up and down the ...

6 dead after train crashes into family's SUV in Florida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Six people, the youngest just 9 years old, are dead after a tragic crash between a freight train and an SUV in Florida. died Sunday, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said the crash happened at about 6:45 p.m. after a Cadillac Escalade carrying a family and a friend of theirs was struck by a train traveling 55 mph in Plant City. The family was heading to a quinceañera at the time of the incident, according to authorities. Alligator killed after human body pulled from Florida waterway Deputies said video they obtained from the crash shows the SUV slowly moving across the railroad but never coming to a stop. The train's conductor tried signaling to the driver with a horn, authorities added, and was unable to slow the train. "As you can imagine, the carnage that's created when these two collide," Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "The SUV, we can see from the video begins to catapult and flip violently sev...

Traffic tickets can be profitable, and fairness isn't the bottom line in city courts where judges impose the fines

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

(The Conversation) - When city governments spend more money than they take in, officials often search for ways to generate revenue. One increasingly common source of money is traffic tickets. And research shows police officers issue more traffic tickets when cities are financially in a deficit.But police represent only one aspect of this revenue-generating system. Judges and their courts also use traffic citations to generate money for the cities that employ them.As scholars of public finance, we study how cities raise money to pay for their operations. Our new research indicates that judges in cities facing red ink often use their positions to maximize revenue from traffic tickets. They can do this by adding financial penalties to unpaid tickets. Judges often use the extra penalties to encourage people to pay.The process of generating dollars through traffic tickets, though, begins with the police.Revenue-motivated policingTraffic violat...

VIDEO: Otters spotted at Granger Lake

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Otters are usually shy, inconspicuous creatures that are rarely seen, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. But on Saturday, a KXAN viewer was lucky enough to spot a few.The viewer said the otters were seen swimming at Granger Lake, a reservoir on the San Gabriel River in Central Texas."Their short legs and long, slender physique makes their movements on land seem awkward, but they are graceful and nimble in the water," TPWD said.This story came from a ReportIt story tip. Send your own story ideas to [email protected] or through KXAN's contact page.

Patrick answers critics questioning Paxton trial process, campaign contributions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) - The man who put the gag order in place for the impeachment trial against Attorney General Ken Paxton is speaking freely now and answering critics. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is defending the Texas Senate's process as "unbiased" while slamming the House's initial decision to impeach in late May.In a one-on-one interview, Patrick responded to claims that Republican senators' decision to acquit their former colleague was influenced by politics and money. An editorial in the Wall Street Journal said "the fix was in from the start." "Anyone that criticizes that process, well, that's on them because we did it right," Patrick told Nexstar in a one-on-one interview. He said presiding over the trial was "the most interesting and most challenging thing I've ever done." RELATED: State audit requested for ‘total cost’ of Ken Paxton impeachment trial Senators voted to find Paxton not guilty on every charge, mostly on a 14-16 vote. Patrick said after hearing the evidence he did n...

Minnesota’s PWHL team set to play home games at Xcel Energy Center

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

Minnesota’s new professional women’s hockey team appears to have found a home for its first season, Xcel Energy Center.According to multiple sources, a rental agreement between the X and Minnesota’s unnamed Professional Women’s Hockey League team is in its final stages, a big get for a league that has vowed to upgrade everything about professional women’s hockey, from pay to venues and marketing.According to the PWHL’s leadership group, run by Stan Kasten of the Los Angeles-based Mark Walter Group, the inaugural season is scheduled to begin sometime in early January and run for 24 games. BJK Enterprises, “a data-driven, people-focused investing, consulting and marketing firm” started by tennis great Billie Jean King, is a founding partner.Details are still being worked out, but Kasten said that because of promotional possibilities, primarily with the NHL, the league’s six teams likely won’t play all 12 of their home games in one place.Xcel Energy Center officially seats 17,954 for M...

Hundreds raise thousands for 27th Annual Buddy Walk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:52 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — On Sunday, community members and advocates celebrated the 27th Annual Buddy Walk at Schenectady Central Park to benefit the Down Syndrome Aim High Resource Center at the Center for Disability Services. The event has been promoting inclusion and awareness of those with Down Syndrome, but Anne Schnieder Costigan, Spokesperson for the organization, said this year will include a very special dedication.“This walk is dedicated to the memory of Chris Miller,” she said. “Chris Miller was a tremendous self-advocate. He also was a real Buddy Walk enthusiast, and he just embodied the spirit of this Buddy Walk. So we’re all going to be walking for him today and for all of the people with Down Syndrome that we support.”Kevin Cordella is a part of the United Ways Emerging Leader Program, and he said that he was happy to volunteer for the day with this team.“Great organization, great day, there’s a lot to do here. Pumpkins, arts, crafts, ice cream, everything, so we’r...