DALLAS (AP) — Crews have removed a statue of Robert E. Lee from a pedestal and carted it away from a Dallas park named for the Confederate general. In an unannounced but expected move, a large crane was brought through the city by a police escort to Lee Park, where it lifted the large statue … Continue reading
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Latest on Hurricane Irma (all times local): 9:05 a.m. An Atlanta airport official says there’ve been around 800 cancellations due to the threat of Irma, which weakened to a tropical storm Monday morning. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport spokesman Andrew Gobeil says the airport will still be operational Monday and will … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says that “Talking is not the answer” when it comes to North Korea. And he’s claiming the U.S. has been paying North Koreans what he calls “extortion money” for decades. “The U.S. has been talking to North Korea, and paying them extortion money, for 25 years,” Trump tweeted Wednesday … Continue reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — When Payton Head ran as a gay, black man for student president at the University of Missouri — a school now known for one student’s hunger strike and other protests against the administration’s handling of racial bias and hostility on campus — he promised to “ignite Mizzou.” “We’ve definitely done that,” … Continue reading
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Dakota Mathias scored 17 points and Isaac Haas added 16 in Purdue’s 107-79 victory over Vermont on Sunday in a game in the Naismith Hall of Fame Tipoff. Caleb Swanigan added 14 points and 13 rebounds, Vince Edwards scored 14 points, Rapheal Davis had 12 and Kendall Stephens scored 11 … Continue reading
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — An optional retirement plan for about 5,000 Virginia highereducation employees is getting new management. The Virginia Retirement System plans to switch the plan’s management from TIAA-CREF and Fidelity to International City Management Association — Retirement Corp. The change will be effective in fall 2016. Retirement system spokeswoman Jeanna Chenault told the … Continue reading
SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. (AP) — An investigation into a suspected hazing incident has resulted in the arrest of a Spotsylvania High School football player, and the sheriff’s department says other players are under investigation. The 15-year-old player was arrested Friday in connection with the reported hazing of two players on Oct. 23 in the school locker … Continue reading
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden brought a White House initiative to prevent campus sexual violence to his alma mater Thursday, urging the Syracuse University audience to take a pledge to intervene if they see the potential for assault. “She’s nearly passing out and you see your roommate or fraternity brother walking her … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation has far fewer so-called “dropout factory” high schools these days, down sharply from 2008 as more students leave high school with a diploma, according to a new report. The number of dropout factories — where less than 60 percent of students who started as freshmen remain enrolled four years later … Continue reading
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — One student was shot dead and another wounded after gunfire erupted Sunday near dormitories on the Winston-Salem State University campus. Authorities were searching for a suspected gunman, but police and university spokesman Aaron Singleton would provide no identifying details. The historically black school urged visitors to the campus to stay away, … Continue reading
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — The Fairfax County school system announced it will suspend all open-flame experiments in science classrooms until further notice. Superintendent Karen K. Garza announced Monday the school system will thoroughly review its science curriculum and update safety protocols following a fire that broke out during a classroom demonstration on Friday at W.T. … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two things set first-year law student Stephen Shapiro apart from his classmates at American University in Washington. At 55, he’s old enough to be a father to most of his classmates. And on Wednesday a lawsuit he filed will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. Shapiro’s case began with his frustration … Continue reading
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (AP) — A woman charged with killing a man whose body was found entombed in concrete has been declared incompetent to stand trial. The Roanoke Times reports (http://bit.ly/1LZkRZF ) that 52-year-old Janice Burney Widenor’s scheduled Dec. 7 trial has been postponed indefinitely. Widenor is charged with killing 70-year-old James Austin and concealing his … Continue reading
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — One of South Africa’s top universities will re-open Wednesday after reaching agreements with students whose protests against tuition hikes spread to other campuses, forcing the closure of universities around the country. The academic program and other activities will resume at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and students will be informed … Continue reading
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) — Self-described computer geek Edgar Williams has a clear vision of his future: study electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or perhaps Caltech. But at a time when the soft-spoken sophomore should be engrossed in his studies at East St. Louis High School, he has to be content … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 