News You Ought to Know
Suspect arrested after student fatally shot at Texas high school
Reports differed about whether the shooting had occurred inside or outside the suburban Houston school.
BELLAIRE, Texas (AP) — A student was shot to death Tuesday at a suburban Houston high school, and a suspect was arrested hours later, officials said.
Grenita Latham, interim superintendent of the Houston Independent School District, confirmed the shooting victim at Bellaire High School had died. She gave no other information and took no questions as media reports differed about whether the shooting had occurred inside or outside the school.
A suspect was arrested Tuesday night, according to a school district statement issued about 3 1/2 hours after the shooting. It provided no details about where the shooting occurred in the school complex, whether the suspect was a student or what led to the arrest.
Tyler Perry: ‘No need’ to fight or protest about Oscar snubs
By JOHN CARUCC
NEW YORK (AP) — The lack of diversity and notable snubs in this year’s Oscar nominations left Tyler Perry annoyed, but he says it’s not worth getting upset because it’s a system that is not going to change.
“There is no need in going back and forth, or fighting, or protesting. It is what it is. This is how it is in Hollywood, and it’s how it will always be,” Perry told The Associated Press on Monday hours after the nominations were announced.
Not only were there no female nominees in directing for the 87th time in Oscar history — a direct snub to Greta Gerwig, director of “Little Women,” as well as several other worthy candidates. There was also only one person of color, Cynthia Erivo, among the 20 acting nominees. Golden Globe winner Awkwafina (“The Farewell”) was denied a chance at an Oscar. Globe nominees Jennifer Lopez, for her role in “Hustlers,″ and Beyoncé, for original song ”Spirit” from “The Lion King,″ were also overlooked.
“I feel like Jennifer Lopez should have been nominated. She did a great job. I feel like Awkwafina did a great job,” Perry said. “Beyoncé should have been nominated. But it is what it is.”
Dallas VA hospital officers fatally shoot man with knife
DALLAS (AP) — Security officers fatally shot a knife-wielding man who was seeking psychiatric help at a Dallas Veterans Affairs hospital, police said.
The man went to the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center late Wednesday seeking help for “psychiatric issues,” the Dallas Police Department said. The man was holding a knife when he encountered VA hospital police officers, Dallas police said.
The VA officers followed the man as he started to walk away and tried to take away the knife. When they were unable to do so, the officers opened fire on the man, Dallas police said.
The man, whose name has not been released, was taken to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries, according to Dallas police.
The shooting did not involve Dallas Police Department officers but that agency is leading the investigation, police said in a press release.
Mother dies months after daughter killed in house by officer
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — The mother of a Texas woman fatally shot by a police officer has died in the house where her daughter was killed, an attorney for the family said.
Yolanda Carr passed away Thursday morning in the Fort Worth home where an city officer shot her daughter, Atatiana Jefferson, in October, according to lawyer Lee Merritt. The cause of Carr’s death was not immediately known, but she had been getting treatment for congestive heart failure, he said.
Jefferson, 28, had recently moved into her mother’s home to care for her when she was shot through a window by Officer Aaron Dean. Carr was hospitalized when her daughter was killed and had been missing a “critical” caregiver since, Merritt said.
“They’ve been reeling from one tragedy to the next,” Merritt said of the family.
Dean, now 35, shot Jefferson through a back window after responding to an early morning call about an open front door. On body camera footage of the call he cannot be heard identifying himself as police before firing into the house. He resigned in the days after the shooting and has been charged with murder.
Dallas ISD to immediately implement stricter security protocols at sporting events
Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said Dallas ISD is immediately implementing new protocols following a Jan. 11 shooting at a district basketball game.
Effective Jan. 13–17, bags, purses and backpacks will not be allowed into sporting events. Starting Jan. 20 only clear bags will be allowed into sporting events. The district will also use wand metal detectors as people enter district sporting events.
At a Jan. 13 press conference, Hinojosa thanked the courageous Dallas ISD police officers working the basketball game who immediately leapt into action after the shooting incident, preventing any further tragedy. He also credited the Dallas Police Department for their invaluable assistance that led to a suspect being placed in custody.
In the long term, Hinojosa said the district will convene a task force to work with the city to help address citywide gun violence and related issues. He also said a possible future bond could finance further security measures and equipment at district schools and facilities.
