New year, new headlines
January 18, 2020
KICs are back and better than ever in the new year. Students have made resolutions, promises to change themselves for the better. Seniors enter the final semester of their high school career with excitement and nerves. On the other side of the spectrum, freshmen enter their second semester with more confidence and high school experience. With a New Year’s arson, jet incident, and landslides, The Prowler has the stories.
Arson on New Year’s Eve (1/13)
On Monday, the public was notified that Austin Childers is the culprit behind the New Year’s Day fire in Gwinnett County. The 18-year-old, who was believed to only be a witness to the crimes at the beginning of the investigation, has been found to have set ablaze a house located off Castle Royale Drive in Lawrenceville.
Law enforcement officials were initially uncertain as to who the arsonist was, but with the help of the Ring doorbell across the street from the victimized house, police were able to identify Childers setting fire to the Lawrenceville home at approximately 5:20 a.m.
Since Childers has been apprehended, multiple allegations, including arson, have been stacked against him. The Lawrenceville resident now faces charges of burglary, speeding, improper lane change, fleeing, open container, theft by receiving stolen property, theft by taking and second-degree criminal damage, possession of tools for the commission of a crime, and driving while under the influence.
Delta flight jet fuel incident leaves more than 50 injured (1/14)
Earlier this week, a Delta flight dumped jet fuel over a Los Angeles schoolyard. The flight made direct contact with seven schools in the neighboring area. At least 60 people were treated and 20 children were affected.
Shortly after takeoff Delta flight 89 had an engine complication that causes it to return to LAX from its way to Shanghai. The Federal Aviation Administration stated that the procedure calls for fuel to be dumped in an unpopulated area at high altitudes. The flight crew, however, was not directed in advance by air traffic control which led to the incident.
The staff and students were treated for irritated skin but none were taken to the hospital. During the incident, there were no evacuation orders either. Fire officials have noted that severe side effects should not arise.
Kashmir avalanches and landslides cause many deaths (1/15)
Over the past three days, the Pakistan-administered Neelum Valley in Kashmir was hit horribly by avalanches and landslides causing the death of at least 62 people with more missing. This weather disaster killed additional people in parts of Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan.
In Pakistan’s Balochistan territory, executives put the death tally at 20, including 12 women and children. Eight people have also died in India. Afghanistan reported 24 dead and 40 wounded over the past two weeks.
More than 100 houses have been destroyed or damaged across the Neelum Valley. This disaster has now been reported as one of the deadliest weather-related incidents.
Local murderer pleads that the law does not apply to him (1/16)
Johnny T. Edwards, the man who allegedly murdered his mother and pregnant wife in Fayetteville’s High Grove subdivision on Dec. 7, has decided to hire an attorney despite originally calling the police on himself. It is unclear whether Edwards denies killing his family, but it is evident that he believes the law does not apply to him.
Edwards, once a Starr’s Mill student turned college football player, claims that even if he committed murder, the law would not apply to him under the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of Sept. 6, 1836. Because the United States no longer has territorial jurisdiction in Morocco, he plans to use this outdated policy to his advantage.
Edwards has been denied bond and awaits his trial scheduled in February. Whether the court will honor this treaty or not has not been decided.
Children look to courts to help with climate change (1/17)
Climate change has been a prominent topic in the media for many years. Generally the topic grows crowds for marches and rallies, but a group of children have taken it upon themselves to take it to the court system.
The case was first presented in 2015 and in 2016. A federal district court judge allowed the case to proceed. These children, who were trying to make a statement, said that their constitutional right to life, liberty, and property were being taken advantage of. They clarified and said that the lack of action being taken to prevent climate change was taking away their right to a clean atmosphere.
A federal appeals court has now said that the case was misguided and has denied them the right to proceed. The courts have said that they must look to the other branches to solve the problem they have presented. Federal courts have always been cautious when dealing with environmental laws, and the kids have now stated that the choice to deny moving them forward proves that the government refuses to deal with the climate crisis.
