Lewiston shooting relatives start process of suing federal government
Family members of victims and survivors of the deadliest mass shooting in Maine’s history plan to sue the federal government. It’s over what they said was a failure to recognize warning signs regarding the gunman.
Lawyers from four firms jointly representing 100 people filed a claim Tuesday, Oct. 15, that said the Army and an Army hospital failed to stop a reservist, Robert Card, from carrying out the shooting.
The claim stated the Army and Army hospital were aware of his mental health issues. In October 2023, 18 people were killed and 13 others were hurt when Card opened fire at two locations in Lewiston.
The shooting led to a massive manhunt for Card. He was found dead two days later with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The notice of the claim is the first step in the litigation process when suing the federal government.
An independent commission appointed by Maine Gov. Janet Mills, D, said that there were several opportunities for civilian law enforcement and the Army to intervene on Card’s mental health.
The claims state the Army knew about Card’s paranoia and homicidal ideations after he produced a “hit list.”
The claims also said that in September 2023, Card threatened to “shoot up” an armory and the Army failed to provide information about two doctors recommending that Card not have access to weapons.
The Army has six months to determine whether to respond, then a lawsuit may be filed.
How new Biden order could make active shooter drills less traumatic for kids
With the jury still out on the effectiveness of active shooter drills in American schools, President Joe Biden is taking action to at least make them less traumatic. He’s signing an executive order on Thursday, Sept. 26, to study how these drills may traumatize students and educators in an effort to “maximize effectiveness” and minimize any harm.
Active shooter or “lockdown drills” have been commonplace in schools throughout the United States ever since the Columbine massacre in 1999. Some tactics used in the drills include actors dressed as gunmen and fake blood. However, Everytown found in a 2020 report that active shooter drills often traumatize students with little evidence that they save lives.
Some school districts are already getting rid of graphic school shooting depictions. New York, home to the nation’s largest school district, banned the use of realistic active shooter drills in July. The new rules for this school year mean schools can no longer use actors, props, and violent depictions. Schools are now required to use “trauma informed” and “age appropriate” procedures.
New York’s move and President Biden’s order come as parents, doctors, and even lawmakers have said graphically detailed mock scenes do not actually prepare kids for actual shootings, instead they argue that they create a culture of fear and anxiety.
Biden’s directive also involves establishing a new task force to look into the dangers of so-called “machine-gun-conversion-devices,” which can turn a semiautomatic pistol into a fully automatic gun.
The task force will also examine the growing number of 3D-printed guns that are harder to track than conventional guns because barcodes are reportedly easier to remove from the firearms. The findings will have to be reported back to the president in 90 days.
The White House’s announcement comes on the heels of a mass shooting at a nightclub in Birmingham, Alabama, on Saturday, Sept. 21, in which four people were killed and 17 others were injured.
Speaker Johnson unveils stopgap funding bill to avoid government shutdown
With just days to spare until a government shutdown, congressional leaders have agreed on a short-term funding bill. And the manhunt continues for suspects in a weekend shooting in Birmingham, Alabama that left four killed and more than a dozen injured. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Sept. 23, 2024.
Speaker Johnson unveils stopgap government spending bill to avoid shutdown
With just about a week to spare, Congress has reached a deal to avoid a government shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday, Sept. 22, the House will vote this week on a three-month stopgap funding bill that would keep the federal government open until Dec. 20.
In a letter to house members, Johnson said the bill is “bare bones” and only includes “the extensions that are absolutely necessary.” Unlike a previous version, this bill does not include legislation concerning proof of citizenship to register to vote, but it does include an additional $230 million for Secret Service funding.
The Rules Committee is set to review the spending bill Monday afternoon, Sept. 23. House GOP leaders say lawmakers will likely vote on it on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
If this bill does not pass, government funding is slated to run out next Monday, Sept. 30.
Race tightens with 43 days to go until Election Day
With 43 days to go until Election Day, a new poll is showing just how close the race is between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. A CBS News poll released Sunday, Sept. 22, found Harris leading Trump 52% to 48% among likely voters.
This comes as former President Trump says this run for the presidency will be his last. He revealed that information Sunday during an interview on “Full Measure with Sharyl Attkinson.”
Also over the weekend, the vice president said she has agreed to another debate with the former president. Harris said she would debate Trump on CNN on Oct. 23. In response, Trump told supporters at a North Carolina rally it’s too late for another debate as early voting has already begun in some states.
Looking ahead, Trump will be campaigning in Indiana Monday while Harris is expected to release more on her economic plan this week.
No suspects in custody after 4 killed, 17 hurt in Alabama shooting
They believe it was a paid “hit” on one specific person, with everyone else caught in the crossfire. Witnesses say multiple suspects pulled up in a car, got out and fired dozens of gunshots, then quickly took off.
Birmingham’s mayor said this is not the first time this year the city has seen gun violence like this. During a news conference Sunday, he called it a “solvable problem.”
“We don’t have any interest in this whole debate about second amendment rights,” said Mayor Randall Woodfin. “We don’t have any interest in people who want to protect their homes, militia or whatever else you want to say. There’s a certain element in this city, there’s a certain element in this community who are too comfortable running around with semi-automatic weapons, automatic weapons, conversion switches and everything else, whose only intent, hell bent intent, is to harm people, shoot people, kill people.”
Investigators say they do believe the person who was targeted is among the people who died.
Israel warns residents to leave areas in Lebanon near Hezbollah targets
The Lebanese health ministry said one person was killed and six injured in the latest attacks across the southern and eastern portions of the country. These latest strikes come after last week’s explosions targeting walkie-talkies and pagers, and Friday’s, Sept. 20, attack on Beirut which killed 45 people, including a senior Hezbollah commander.
When asked if the latest assaults indicate an imminent ground invasion, an IDF spokesperson said right now, Israel is focused on its aerial campaign.
Embattled Secret Service faces big test at U.N. General Assembly
The agency is already facing heavy criticism after two separate assassination attempts on former President Trump. Now it’s tasked with protecting more than 140 world leaders, including those from Israel, Palestine, and Ukraine.
The U.S. General Assembly is considered the biggest event that the Secret Service is charged with protecting each year — bigger than the Super Bowl, which is also considered a major national security event.
The agency is working with multiple others, from the NYPD to the Coast Guard, to keep everyone safe, and maintains it is confident they will do just that.
Chicago White Sox lose 120th game to tie modern-day MLB record
Since 1900, only the 1962 New York Mets have lost so many games in a season. The White Sox already surpassed the 2003 Detroit Tigers for the most losses by an American League team.
With six games to go in the regular season, it’s looking like Chicago is going to set another record. The White Sox’s next game is Tuesday, Sept. 24, against the Los Angeles Angels in Chicago.
Florida sheriff shames minors on social media for school shooting threats
An increase in school shooting threats across the country has officials going to new lengths to try to stop the problem. Volusia County, Florida Sheriff Mike Chitwood was so fed up with the threats, he decided to publicly identify the students behind them on social media.
He started by posting the mug shot of an 11-year-old who wrote a list of targets and a photo of the airsoft rifles, pistols, fake ammunition, knives and swords the boy was showing off to other students.
The boy claimed it was all a joke.
Chitwood also vowed to post perp walks of the kids making the threats. He called out parents saying, “You don’t want to raise your kids … Sheriff Chitwood is going to raise them.”
Chitwood’s tactic is getting some mixed reactions in the comments on his social media posts.
One person said, “This is exactly what has to be done for things to change. Great job Sheriff.”
Another person commented, “I feel conflicted about sharing a juvenile’s name and photo as if you (Sheriff) are judge and jury.”
Florida officials have made multiple safety improvements and policy shifts since the school shooting in Parkland six years ago.
In 2019, Republican lawmakers cleared the way for schools in Florida to arm employees, including teachers. Those against arming teachers say it’s time to implement gun safety legislation.
As shooting threats pour across the country, more and more schools are installing metal detectors. The majority of the threats have ended up being hoaxes.
Francine weakens to tropical storm after making landfall as Category 2 hurricane
After making landfall as a Category 2 hurricane in Louisiana, Francine is on the move. We have the latest track. And the mother of the 14-year-old suspect in last week’s deadly school shooting in Georgia apologizes in an open letter to the victims’ families. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.
Francine weakens to tropical storm after making landfall as Category 2 hurricane
Francine has weakened to a tropical storm, hours after it made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The storm is now trekking over Mississippi.
Power outages have left more than 350,000 Louisiana residents in the dark and flash flood warnings are still in effect in parts of the state, as the storm batters parts of Mississippi with 70mph winds.
In Louisiana’s Terrebonne Parish, the powerful storm brought down power lines, snapped trees, and caused flooding. Partial 911 outages were also reported in areas impacted by the storm. Wireless companies have said they’re working on the issue.
High winds and a potentially dangerous storm surge from a now weakened Francine are expected to also continue into Mississippi and Alabama Thursday, Sept. 12, with the potential for deadly tornadoes and flash flooding as well.
According to the National Weather Service, Francine is expected to continue to weaken over the next 24 hours, downgrading to a tropical cyclone by Friday, Sept. 13, as it moves across the south.
Mother of Georgia school shooting suspect apologizes to families in letter
One week after a school shooting in Georgia left two students and two teachers dead, the 14-year-old suspect’s mother has now come forward. She penned an open letter apologizing to victims’ families that was first obtained by CNN.
Marcee Gray is the mother of 14-year-old Colt Gray, who has been arrested and charged with murder in the Apalachee High School shooting. This week, we also learned she made a phone call to the school the morning of the shooting, just moments before the gunfire.
In her open letter, Marcee Gray said she is “sorry from the bottom of my heart” to the parents and families impacted. She also said if she could take the place of the two students who died she would “without a second thought.”
While offering her condolences, she also wrote that her son Colt is “not a monster. He is my oldest baby.” She asked the community for prayers while offering her own.
His mother’s letter comes after it was reported Colt sent her a text message the morning of the shooting, saying only three words: “I’m sorry, mom.”
Marcee Gray said she called the school to warn of “an extreme emergency” at 9:50 a.m. ET last Wednesday, Sept. 4, and asked school officials to go get her son. Thirty minutes later, police responded to reports of the school shooting.
Colt Gray’s father, Colin, has also been charged in connection with the deadly shooting. He faces two second-degree murder charges, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of child cruelty. The next court hearing for Colt and Colin Gray is set for Dec. 4.
Trump, Biden, Harris come together for 9/11 memorial event
President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump all marked 23 years since 9/11 together. Trump and Harris could be seen shaking hands ahead of the annual memorial ceremony at Ground Zero in New York on Wednesday, just hours after their first debate.
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, was also in attendance.
After the Ground Zero ceremony, the candidates went their separate ways. Trump and Vance visited a New York City firehouse, and Biden and Harris went to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Trump also visited the memorial later in the day.
Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, marked the somber anniversary at a 9/11 volunteer event in his home state.
Secret Service to increase security for Jan. 6 electoral vote counting
As Election Day nears, the Secret Service has announced there will be increased security during Congress’ counting and certification of electoral votes. The beefed-up security is a precaution after the riots at the U.S. Capitol in 2021.
The designation unlocks federal, state and local resources. The Secret Service will be leading the planning of the event.
The counting and certification of electoral votes will take place on Jan. 6, 2025.
67 million Americans watched Tuesday’s debate
More than 67 million Americans tuned in for the first debate between former President Trump and Vice President Harris Tuesday. That was more viewers than the 51 million who watched the debate between Trump and President Biden in June.
However, it’s still far fewer people compared to modern general election debates, like the one in 2016 between Hillary Clinton and Trump that drew in 84 million viewers.
Tuesday’s debate marked the first time Americans got to see Harris and Trump go head-to-head. It’s still up in the air if there will be a second debate between the two.
Campbell Soup Company changing its name after 155 years
Campbell’s soup has been a staple in American kitchens for more than a hundred years. Now, after 155 years in business, the company is changing its name — slightly.
Its dropping “soup” from their official title and re-branding as The Campbell’s Company. That’s because instead of just soup, the company owns other iconic American eats like Goldfish, Cape Cod, and Pepperidge Farm.
Several dead, over two dozen injured in school shooting outside of Atlanta
Law enforcement sources reported on Wednesday, Sept. 4, that at least four people were killed and at least 30 others were injured in a school shooting in Winder, Georgia, just 45 minutes outside of Atlanta. Authorities also said that they have one suspect in custody.
Authorities responded to a report of an “active shooter” at Apalachee High School around 10:23 a.m. on Wednesday.
Students were reportedly evacuated to the school’s football stadium for safety.
Multiple law enforcement agencies were on the ground, including the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office and FBI, to assist in the ongoing investigation.
Officials briefed the White House on the situation. Biden administration officials said the White House will “continue coordinating with federal, state, and local officials as we receive more information.”
Meanwhile, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp ordered all available resources to the scene and urged “all Georgians to join my family in praying for the safety of those in our classrooms, both in Barrow County and across the state.”
School officials said students were cleared to leave and parents had been advised to pick them up. The district said it would provide transportation for students that did not have a ride home.
Failures by police and Army led up to Maine mass shooting: Report
A final report by an independent commission on Tuesday, Aug. 20, on the deadliest shooting in Maine’s history shows critical failures by both the Army Reserve and local police that could have prevented the shooting. The investigation found multiple missed opportunities to address Robert Card’s mental health and seize his weapons before he killed 18 people in Lewiston, Maine, on Oct. 25, 2023.
Maine law enforcement was reportedly authorized to confiscate Card’s weapons under a yellow flag law. Police could have also placed him in protective custody weeks before the shooting. Authorities also knew of Card’s two-week hospitalization for psychiatric reasons and access to weapons a month before the shooting. The New York Police Department also could have taken Card’s weapons under a red flag law, which was previously used on non-residents.
The report said that the Army hospitalized Card during training in May of 2023 but that there were no check-ins after his release to ensure he was taking medication and getting follow-up care. In August of 2023, the Army banned him from handling weapons while on duty and listed him as non-deployable.
In September 2023, a fellow Army reservist reportedly wrote in a text about Card, “I think he’s going to snap and do a mass shooting.” The reservist pleaded with authorities to change the passcode to the gate of the military facility and arm themselves if Card showed up. Still, authorities chose not to confront Card.
A separate investigation by the Army led to three reserve officers being disciplined for dereliction of duty. Card’s unit leaders reportedly ignored recommendations from mental health care providers to remove weapons from Card’s home.
Meanwhile, the 215-page final report reiterated findings released in March and essentially laid out that police and the Army should have followed measures available to them in the months leading up to the shooting.
In the wake of the mass shooting, Maine passed new gun laws, including a three-day waiting period for gun purchases that went into effect in July.
‘I don’t want to die’: Newly released 911 calls from inside Uvalde school massacre
Newly released 911 calls and bodycam footage from May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas, shows the scene of the mass school shooting that resulted in the deaths of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School. There was a lengthy legal battle between news organizations and Uvalde officials over the public release of more information from that day.
The media argued that the public deserved to see more as it searched for answers and accountability for what has been described as a “botched” police response. The shooter locked himself in a classroom for more than an hour before officers confronted and killed him.
The new recordings started with the voice of 10-year-old Khloie Torres, who survived the shooting. She called 911 from her classroom, pleading for help.
“I’m in classroom 112, 112, 112 yes ma’am,” Torres said. “Please hurry, there’s a lot of dead bodies… please help, I don’t want to die. My teacher is dead. Oh my God.”
“One of my teachers is dead, miss. (Student in background cries) Be quiet!” Torres continued.
While Torres was inside the classroom, law enforcement was outside. Video shows teachers fearfully being evacuated as officers cleared classrooms and communicated with each other as events unfolded.
Along with the newly released 911 audio and footage, text communications between officers following the shooting were also part of the latest release of information. Many officers expressed fear for their safety as community anger and national frustrations were directed at them in the aftermath.
Former Uvalde school police chief Pete Arredondo has been indicted and arrested on counts of child endangerment and criminal negligence for failing to take proper action during the active shooter situation. However, Arredondo recently told CNN that he believes he is being made a scapegoat for the tragedy.
“I went in there right away with the first officers,” Arredondo said. “And just so you know, I never had a vest on and didn’t even think about that.”
“Do you feel like you guys are being singled out, scapegoated?” Ed Lavandera, a CNN reporter, said.
“By all means,” Arredondo said. “Since the very beginning, sir. I’ve been scapegoated from the very beginning.”
One other school officer is also facing criminal charges. Some victims’ families are calling for additional officers to be charged and have filed lawsuits.
A Justice Department review found that the police response that day was “riddled with failures,” while a report commissioned by the city defended its local police’s response to the mass shooting.
Utah schools spending $72M in upgrades amid rise in school shootings
Utah schools are receiving $72 million in state funding to upgrade their buildings and security systems amid a rise in the number of school shootings across the country in recent years. According to a CNN analysis, there were a record 82 incidents in 2023, up from 79 and 73 in the two previous years.
According to a Pew Research study, about 1 in 4 U.S. teachers said their school went into a gun-related lockdown during the 2022-2023 school year. A majority of teachers, 59%, said they are somewhat worried about the possibility of a shooting happening at their school.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, traditional schools received 70% of the $72 million and charter schools got the remaining 30%.
One public school district, Davis School District, received grants for 69 of its 92 schools in the form of $4.6 million.
A district spokesperson said they requested bulletproof window film and intercom system upgrades, which can be implemented quickly.
The Pew survey found about 4 in 10 teachers said their school has done a fair or poor job providing them with the training and resources they need to deal with a potential active shooter. These Utah school districts are hoping the funding and their school upgrades will give them added protection in case of an emergency.
NY bans graphic active shooter drills as parents say they’re traumatizing students
New York, which is home to the United States’ largest school district, is banning the use of realistic active shooter drills in all schools in the state. The New York State Board of Regents approved the change on Thursday, July 11.
The new rules will begin this school year and the board unanimously approved them. Schools now cannot use actors, props and violent depictions during school shooting drills. Instead, schools will be required to use only “trauma informed” and “age appropriate” procedures. Additionally, parents will have to be notified of the drills one week in advance.
The move follows years of complaints from parents. Parents, activists, doctors and lawmakers claimed the graphically detailed drills traumatize children and do not actually prepare them for such events. Instead, they said, the drills create a culture of fear and anxiety among students.
In one case, a parent reportedly complained that their child came home and began locking doors and windows in response to an active shooter drill at their school. In another instance, a five-year-old asked their parent what a “bullet can do to a body.”
Parents said that these incidents show that students’ focus are turning from learning to concerns about violence. However, in reality, the likelihood of being in a school shooting still remains very rare.
Data from Everytown for Gun Safety reveals that less than 1% of gun deaths annually are from school shootings. However, gun control advocates point out that gun violence remains a problem at schools. Everytown for Gun Safety also showed that there have been 118 incidents of gunfire on U.S. school grounds this year so far.
Meanwhile, Stella Kaye, a 17-year-old, who survived two school shootings, said that the realistic active shooter drills do not really prepare students for the actual shootings. Kaye also said she supports the change coming to New York schools.
The New York State Legislature is also looking to reduce the number of mandatory lockdown drills in schools, from eight to four each year and to reduce evacuation drills from four to two annually.
Advocates for the changes argued that the better solution for school safety is to train staff on how to respond to active shooter situations and other safety measures such as locks on doors and windows in classrooms.