Kristine Phillips, The Washington Post Published 11:46 am PST, Sunday, February 17, 2019 The 11-year-old refused to recite the pledge, telling his teacher that he believes the flag is racist and America's national anthem is offensive to black people, according to a Bay News 9 report that cited a statement the teacher gave to district officials. The teacher, who was substituting at Lawton Chiles Middle Academy in Lakeland, Florida, then had what appeared to be a contentious exchange with the sixth-grader. Click through to see other recent racial events that have made headlines. >>> less The 11-year-old refused to recite the pledge, telling his teacher that he believes the flag is racist and America's national anthem is offensive to black people, according to a Bay News 9 report that cited a ... more Photo: WilliamSherman, Getty Images … [Read more...] about Florida sixth-grader charged with misdemeanor after refusing to recite Pledge of Allegiance
Aurora Shooter’s Permit Was Revoked But Gun Wasn’t Seized
An initial background check failed to detect a felony conviction that would have barred the man who killed five co-workers and wounded six others at a suburban Chicago manufacturing plant from buying the gun. Months later, a second background check of Gary Martin found his 1995 aggravated assault conviction in Mississippi involving the stabbing of an ex-girlfriend. But it prompted only a letter stating his gun permit had been revoked and ordering him to turn over his firearm to police — raising questions about the state's enforcement to ensure those who lose their permits also turn over their weapons. A vigil for the victims, including a university student on his first day as an intern and a longtime plant manager, was scheduled for Sunday in Aurora, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Chicago. Martin, 45, was killed in a shootout with officers Friday, ending his deadly rampage at the Henry Pratt Co. in Aurora. His state gun license permit was revoked in 2014, Aurora … [Read more...] about Aurora Shooter’s Permit Was Revoked But Gun Wasn’t Seized
David Goricki’s girls high school basketball rankings: Feb. 17
David Goricki The Detroit News Published 4:47 PM EST Feb 17, 2019 Here are new high school girls basketball rankings as of Feb. 17, 2019, by David Goricki of The Detroit News. Goricki ranks the top teams in the state, and in the four Metro Detroit regions. State Super 20 1. Detroit Edison (15-1, Division 2) 2. Southfield A&T (15-1, Division 1) 3. East Lansing (17-0, Division 1) 4. Birmingham Marian (15-1, Division 1) 5. Wayne Memorial (15-2, Division 1) 6. Midland Dow (14-1, Division 1) 7. Saginaw Heritage (15-2, Division 1) 8. DeWitt (15-1, Division1) 9. Pewamo-Westphalia (12-1, Division 3) 10. Grand Haven (14-2, Division 1) 11. Harper Woods Chandler Park (12-3, Division 2) 12. Adrian Lenawee Christian (15-1, Division 4) 13. St. Ignace (16-0, Division 4) 14. Walled Lake Western, 16-1, Division 1) 15. Chelsea (17-0, Division 2) 16. Kingsley (15-2, Division 2) 17. Flint Carman-Ainsworth (14-3, Division 1) 18. Muskegon (12-4, Division 1) 19. Grosse Pointe North (15-2, Division … [Read more...] about David Goricki’s girls high school basketball rankings: Feb. 17
Trust warns Ulster Hospital A&E ‘extremely busy’
Trust warns Ulster Hospital A&E 'extremely busy' BelfastTelegraph.co.uk The South Eastern Trust has warned patients that the Ulster Hospital accident and emergency department is "extremely busy" and advised those with less serious conditions to consider alternative options. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/trust-warns-ulster-hospital-ae-extremely-busy-37824400.html https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/article37161087.ece/ff602/AUTOCROP/h342/ulsterhospital.jpg Email The South Eastern Trust has warned patients that the Ulster Hospital accident and emergency department is "extremely busy" and advised those with less serious conditions to consider alternative options. The trust put out the warning on Sunday evening. A Southern Trust spokesperson said: "Ulster Hospital Emergency Dept is extremely busy at present and some patients with less serious conditions may experience a long wait. "Please consider other options if appropriate. … [Read more...] about Trust warns Ulster Hospital A&E ‘extremely busy’
‘It is not a closet. It is a cage.’ Gay Catholic priests speak out
Visit The Boston Globe Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Comment on this Scroll to top of page By Elizabeth Dias The New York Times February 17, 2019 MILWAUKEE — Gregory Greiten was 17 years old when the priests organized the game. It was 1982 and he was on a retreat with his classmates from St. Lawrence, a Roman Catholic seminary for teenage boys training to become priests. Leaders asked each boy to rank which he would rather be: burned over 90 percent of his body, paraplegic, or gay.Each chose to be scorched or paralyzed. Not one uttered the word “gay.” They called the game the Game of Life.The lesson stuck. Seven years later, he climbed up into his seminary dorm window and dangled one leg over the edge. “I really am gay,” Greiten, now a priest near Milwaukee, remembered telling himself for the first time. “It was like a death sentence.” Advertisement The closet of the Roman Catholic Church hinges on an … [Read more...] about ‘It is not a closet. It is a cage.’ Gay Catholic priests speak out