Groups made up of OU professors, college Republicans reject student’s religious discrimination claim

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By Jason Burger

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    NORMAN, Okla. (KOCO) — A conservative student organization has joined the list of groups asking for clarification on why a University of Oklahoma graduate teaching assistant was placed on leave for giving a failing grade on a psychology essay.

Samantha Fulnecky, a junior at OU, filed a complaint with the university after receiving a zero on a paper worth 25 points. In her essay, she pointed to excerpts from the Bible to back up her opinions.

The graduate teaching assistant, who graded the paper, said it lacked empirical evidence and was at times “offensive.” The university placed the instructor on administrative leave and said the essay would not count towards Fulnecky’s final grade.

“It’s not just about the grade. It’s the principal behind it and what the university is allowing,” Fulnecky said. “I write them all the same, all the exact same. The TA has never had a problem with how I write my papers in this class.”

Fulnecky claimed religious discrimination and said she was concerned about the university’s stance on free speech.

“They shouldn’t be allowing professors like this at universities that don’t want students to have free speech,” Fulnecky said.

She has gained support from numerous conservative organizations and leaders, but one group has questions.

“The academic quality of the essay written by Samantha Fulnecky is indefensible, and the professor’s failing grade is demonstrably correct,” the Oklahoma Federation of College Republicans said in a statement. “We should be engaging in substantive intellectual battles, not generating outrage over an earned poor grade.”

Michael Givel, a professor of political science at the University of Oklahoma, said the situation was unusual, particularly with how it was handled by the university.

“It was highly expedited. Usually, these sorts of processes take several weeks before there’s a hearing, if there’s a hearing,” Givel said.

The American Association of Professors at OU also issued a statement, questioning the decision to place the teaching assistant on administrative leave.

“OU-AAUP calls for disclosure of all criteria (on the entire syllabus, the grading rubric for this assignment, and any other verbal or written requirements and expectations related to grading this assignment). In contrast, the university’s public statement focuses entirely on protecting the student’s First Amendment rights against alleged violations, while making no defense of the instructor’s academic freedom to teach, grade, and require academic standards,” OU-AAUP said in a statement.

The group said it wants more information.

“The specific facts and law, arbitrary and capricious, or was it a violation of religious rights or freedom of speech, or academic freedom by the way, which is a subset of free speech,” said.

KOCO 5 reached out to the graduate instructor but did not hear back.

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Omaha barn fire leaves woman critically injured and kills family’s animals

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By Pete Cuddihy

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    DOUGLAS COUNTY, Neb. (KETV) — An Omaha family mourns dozens of animals lost in a barn fire — despite one woman’s attempt to save them.

Dawn Menard was critically hurt in that fire last Thursday.

The Menard family says the barn was their second home. It was a place where their daughters spent most of their time, raising horses and goats.

“It was just a place for them to be able to enjoy growing up and be with their horses,” said Todd Menard.

That was until an accidental fire broke out Thursday afternoon.

“As soon as we got to the highway, you could see heavy black smoke from a mile away,” said Ponca Hills fire Chief Jason Tomich.

Dawn Menard was the first to see the flames. Her first instinct was to try and save the animals stuck inside. In the process, she suffered burns on her hands, back, and face.

“It’s very painful. Very frustrating. I can’t do anything for myself, hardly,” Dawn Menard said.

Along with the barn, the Menards lost two horses in the fire. One of the animals, named Otis, belonged to their daughter Kayleigh. She grew up with him and competed with him in horse shows.

“He was my baby. He was my first horse that I owned. And I loved him,” said Kayleigh Menard.

Also in the barn that night were family cats and the 17 goats their daughter, Michaela, took care of.

“Everything that I had went into the goats. They meant a lot to me. A lot of them were born on the property, the ones that we lost,” said Michaela Menard.

Now the parents, who’ve done everything to support their children’s dreams, are dealing with the pain of seeing them disappear in the blink of an eye.

“It’s hard to see something that you put so much work into just gone,” said Todd Menard.

“The heartbreak that they’re going through, losing their best friend — it’s excruciating for their parents to watch,” said Dawn Menard.

The only way they can get through the loss is together.

“A shoulder to cry on. We understand each other’s pain. So it helps when you have somebody that understands it,” said Todd Menard.

They are remembering the joy their animals and their barn brought their family. While neither the space nor the animals can be replaced, the Menards plan on building a new barn in the future.

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Testing points to likely cause after 70+ vultures found dead on Ohio school grounds

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By Emily Sanderson

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    PIERCE TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WLWT) — The dozens of vultures found dead on the grounds of an Ohio school had died of the bird flu, according to health officials.

The Clermont County Public Health department said preliminary lab test results for the dead vultures found in Pierce Township indicate the birds died from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), H5, otherwise known as the “bird flu.”

The risk of bird flu to the public is low, health officials said.

The birds were first spotted last Monday, with more than 70 found dead on the athletic fields near St. Bernadette School in Pierce Township.

Photos showed the birds scattered along the athletic grounds near a shelter.

Two birds were delivered to the state laboratory for testing. Health officials said it will take 10 days to receive the final report to confirm the presumptive HPAI diagnosis as the cause of death.

Health officials say that because of the initial screening result for HPAI, the lab will not move forward with additional testing.

Additional testing is underway to determine if bird flu is impacting other wildlife.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the risk to humans remains low but urges people to avoid contact with dead birds.

Since 2024, 71 human cases of bird flu have been confirmed, including one reported by Ohio’s Department of Health in February.

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Endangered right whale found entangled off Georgia coast now under watch

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By Brooke Butler

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    JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. (WJCL) — An endangered North Atlantic right whale is being monitored after it was found entangled in fishing gear off the coast of Jekyll Island.

The whale was first spotted Wednesday and was identified as a right whale named Division, a juvenile male born in 2022. According to NOAA, he was last seen gear-free in July.

Division’s entanglement was described as complex, with several lines wrapping his head and mouth, including one cutting into his blowhole.

Response crews worked to remove as much gear as possible. Now, they are watching Division to see how he does.

Biologists classified Division as seriously injured. NOAA said this designation means that Division is likely to die as a result of this entanglement.

WJCL 22 News spoke to a marine scientist with Oceana about the incident.

“Even though the line is removed, the injuries are still lasting and it’s really up to him to recover both from the open wounds while trying to do what North Atlantic right whales do best: feed and migrate and all the other important things they do,” said Nora Ives, a marine scientist with Oceana.

Ives said entanglement in fishing gear continues to be one of the biggest threats to these critically endangered whales.

“Entanglement in fishing line and vessel strikes are the two main threats to this critically endangered population, meaning that they are the two pressures that are keeping these whales from recovering. Right now, we estimate there are about 380 individuals total in the population on Earth. So, very low numbers,” she said.

Oceana says there is a solution to entanglement. The group hopes to remove vertical lines in the water that are entangling these whales in the first place by getting more people to use something called pop-up gear in areas where right whales are found.

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Mother of teen who died at controversial New Albany dam says she’s glad it’s coming down

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By Madison Elliott

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    NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WLKY) — The mother of a teenager who died at the site of a controversial New Albany dam says she’s happy it’s finally coming down.

On Memorial Day in 2024, 14-year-old A.J. Edwards Jr. drowned at the Providence Mill Dam along Silver Creek.

He got trapped in the recirculating current caused by the low-head dam.

His mother, Amanda Malott, described him as someone who had a big impact on the community.

“AJ was a very lovable person, he was very outgoing, he didn’t meet a stranger,” she said.

Following Edwards’ death last year, Mayor Jeff Gahan authorized the city to fill the dam with shot rock, but he did so without state or federal permits, and both the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville Office required the city to remove the fill, which didn’t happen.

So, the DNR took legal action.

After a lengthy court battle that lasted more than a year, the two sides settled, and the city agreed to remove the dam and relocate the rock.

“I think it’s awesome,” said Malott. “At least, some good came of this, you know. I feel like AJ saved a lot of lives.”

However, the news came a little too late to help her family.

“It’s something that should have been done years ago,” said Malott. “Why, you know, it was fought to be kept up is beyond me. If they would’ve taken it down, I would still have my son today.”

In 2021, the Ecosystems Connections Institute received a permit to take down the dam, but Gahan sued to stop it.

At the time, Gahan expressed his concerns over the potential impacts on flood control, recreation and historical value.

New Albany and the nonprofit seeking to remove the dam, River Heritage Conservancy, have remained in litigation.

“We do not know all of the details of this agreement,” stated Kent Lanum, board chair of the River Heritage Conservancy, in a statement.”But we do celebrate the fact that this dangerous dam is finally going to be removed, one that has taken a life as we sadly forewarned the City as early as 2021. This action will also allow Silver Creek to be opened back up for safe kayaking and revert to its natural state, healing over the next several years as the successive floods help to reestablish the creek’s natural bed to its original state and allow for the propagation of more wildlife and fish to call Silver Creek its home. This is a big win for all the citizens of this region. “

A question that remains central to this controversy is how much taxpayer money has been spent on litigation by the city.

The city hasn’t answered yet, but it’s a question that city council members and the community group Hoosier Action continue to ask.

“Why has it had to be so secretive?” said Cisa Kubley, Transparency Chapter Lead for Hoosier Action.

“I live very close to the dam, I walk by it regularly,” she continued. “This affects my life, my community, my neighbors. It’s absolutely unreasonable that we aren’t given basic information about our money.”

The RHC tells us its nonprofit has spent more than $1.25 million in legal fees.

WLKY reached out to the mayor’s office on Monday, asking how much has been spent on litigation so far.

While Gahan’s office didn’t directly answer our question, they said in part that in order to protect the city’s interests, they “will now be exploring our options to collect expenses that we have incurred.”

The city also now intends to file a permit for a rock riffle structure.

“Now that this matter is behind us, we can focus on our new addition to Silver Creek that will improve recreation, fishing, and the ecosystem for decades to come,” said Gahan in a statement online.

You can find his full statement here.

While the legal matter between the DNR and the city of New Albany is resolved, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still requiring the city to submit restoration plans.

“In response to the city’s previous request to meet with Corps personnel, a meeting was held between the Corps and city officials on Friday, December 5th to discuss the settlement with the DNR, the ongoing requirement for the city to submit an acceptable restoration plan to resolve the violations of federal law, and to clarify the information required to be included,” said a Corps spokesperson. “The Corps will evaluate the city’s restoration plan once submitted and will ensure an appropriate resolution to the violations of federal law.”

The agreement says by Jan. 1, the city will authorize ECI to remove the dam and issue any permits within its authority that are necessary to do so.

The DNR says construction will likely take place over the following months.

Also by Jan. 1, the city, by engaging its original contractor, will relocate the shot rock.

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Ricki Lake reunited with family photos found at flea market

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By Nicole Comstock

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    PASADENA, California (KCAL, KCBS) — Patty Scanlon paints women with soulful faces, and that’s precisely what she found when she bought a box of vintage inspiration photos from the Pasadena City College Flea Market.

“I just thought, ‘Oh that woman’s beautiful and I love her vibe,” said Scanlon.

However, it wasn’t a stranger in the snapshots; it was a familiar face.

“I’m looking at this woman, who I think is really cool and soulful, and I thought, ‘I think this is Ricki Lake,” Scanlon said.

Her instincts were right. It really was the Hairspray actress and iconic 1990s talk show host. Scanlon intuitively knew she needed to get this box of photos back to her.

“I’m in show business because I’m an actor too,” Scanlon said. “I went on Facebook and said ‘Do any of you know how to get in touch with Ricki Lake?’ I posted a few of the pictures and then, like in two seconds, there was Ricki Lake.”

Almost immediately, almost like magic, Lake got in touch with her.

“You guys, the craziest thing happened,” Lake said on Instagram.

Lake went on Instagram with Scanlon to share their story with the world.

“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” Lake said. “Because all of it was gone in the fire.”

Lake’s home, along with all of her family photos, burned down during the Palisades Fire earlier this year.

“I really cannot thank you enough for your generosity, making the effort to find me and the fact that I’m going to get something back that was lost forever,” Lake said.

Scanlon said she found a postmarked envelope in the box and believes Lake mailed it to a relative, along with the photos and a thank-you note. She wondered whether the images had been relocated during an estate sale.

“It was like it was meant to be,” Scanlon said. “It’s like this thing in the universe that said, ‘You’re going to get those photos, and you’re going to give them to Ricki. It’s like the Twilight Zone but an upbeat one.”

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‘Seems like a real-life Grinch’: Latrobe police searching for Christmas tree thief

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By Ed DiOrio

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    UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WTAE) — Latrobe police are asking for the public’s help in finding the person who turned Mister Rogers’ neighborhood into Whoville after a Christmas tree was stolen.

“We have a real-life Grinch in Mister Rogers’ actual neighborhood,” Jack Townsend, who owns the tree, said. “There are a lot of hardships in the world right now. Somebody might’ve really needed a tree. But there are better ways to go about it.”

The Townsend porch Christmas tree was stolen around 2:30 a.m. Saturday.

Someone — who isn’t covered with green fur — came onto the porch and took the Townsend family’s tree.

Jack knew something wasn’t right when he came back from running errands later that day.

“I was walking up the front steps, and it looked like things were missing,” he said. “It was actually the polar bear being pulled clear across the porch that made me realize that the tree was gone. We’re more concerned about the security of our neighborhood and the safety of our neighbors more than anything else.”

No other homes along Spring Street had items taken from their property.

The Townsends had put that tree on their porch ever since their daughter chose it.

“It is a tree my daughter picked out when she was 2 years old,” Jack said. “It was the first tree she identified on her own and insisted we bring home. She got excited about it every year. She was pretty heartbroken that it was gone.”

She wasn’t the only one.

“This is pretty unusual for this area,” Victoria Townsend said. “We have such wonderful neighbors. It’s a wonderful community. I think that’s why everyone was so shocked.”

After Victoria and Latrobe police put the video on social media, a lot of people reached out offering to replace the tree.

“We just directed them to make those donations to the local food bank,” Victoria said. “There are people who need [those donations] more than we do.”

She continued, saying, “When I was growing up, my family had a lot of food insecurity. We relied on SNAP benefits. I help people move out of nursing homes and into the community. Food is a very challenging thing for people with disabilities. We just redirected them to donate to the food bank or donate disability-friendly food options to your local blessings box because there’s a lot available. I just want to make sure everybody in our community is fed and has the dignity of a meal.”

The family did have a spare tree to put in place of the stolen one.

Whether or not this story ends the same as the classic Dr. Seuss story, the Townsends hope their version makes a difference.

“This kind of seems like a real-life Grinch story,” Victoria said. “Somebody steals a tree, and I think we may be able to make his heart grow three sizes if we come together as a community and take care of our own.”

While it can’t be directly linked to this request by the Townsend family, the Westmoreland Food Bank did confirm to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that this week already has more donations for the second week of December than it did last year.

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Several Malone officers exposed to blood during inmate fight, lawmakers call for transparency

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By Sophia Venturo

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    MALONE, N.Y. (WPTZ) — Northern New York lawmakers are calling on the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to be more transparent after an incident at Upstate Correctional Facility in Malone exposed several corrections officers to blood.

DOCCS said six corrections officers were sent to the hospital and had to receive anti-HIV medication after they had to break up a fight last week between two inmates.

A spokesperson told NBC5 two incarcerated individuals were found fighting in their cell, and did not comply with orders to stop.

DOCCS said the inmates continued to struggle even after officers administered pepper spray, and staff said they were forced to enter the cell in order to break it up. As a result, several officers’ faces and eyes were exposed to the blood of one of the incarcerated individuals.

The incident drew online criticism from state lawmakers on Monday. Now, lawmakers in our region are calling on DOCCs to make the anti-HIV treatment more accessible at area pharmacies.

Assemblyman Michael Cashman (D-115th District) said he’s concerned about the situation and called on DOCCS to share their protocols for blood exposures.

Sen. Dan Stec (R-45th District) also called for transparency Monday night.

He posted a screenshot of a letter addressed to DOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martuscello. He expressed frustration after the affected officers were forced to travel to Clinton and St. Lawrence counties to receive treatment.

“It’s unacceptable that officers exposed to blood or synthetic drugs in the line of duty can’t receive timely treatment,” Stec wrote. “Failure to do so is an abdication of its responsibility to care for those it employs.”

DOCCS responded to NBC5 on Monday night regarding the incident, saying that facility staff who were involved in the incident were immediately given the first dose of the medicine needed following blood exposure.

“Out of an abundance of caution, six officers were subsequently sent to a local hospital for further examination and treatment,” the statement from DOCCS continued. “The Department has no control over what medicines local pharmacies carry in stock.”

The blood exposure follows dozens of other chemical exposures inside New York State prison facilities since the beginning of 2025, including at Upstate and Clinton Correctional Facilities.

Multiple staff members at Upstate Correctional Facility were taken to the hospital following exposures as recently as Oct. 3.

DOCCS reported at least 80 chemical exposures at Clinton Correctional Facility in the month of July alone.

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Assistant principal at Spartanburg County school charged with failure to report child abuse, police say

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By Zach Rainey

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    SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WYFF) — The assistant principal of a school in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, has been charged with failure to report child abuse.

On Dec. 2, the school resource officer at Beech Springs Middle School was told by staff of an incident involving two juveniles.

The Duncan Police Department said it was determined that the incident took place at an address within Spartanburg County and outside the jurisdiction of Duncan police.

The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the incident and began to investigate.

The school resource officer was also told that the juvenile told Assistant Principal Brian Thompson about the incident on Oct. 24.

Officers said that Thompson is a mandated reporter and the incident disclosed to him met the threshold for a mandatory report to law enforcement.

According to police, since Thompson made the decision not to report the incident, he was charged with failure to report child abuse/neglect. He turned himself in to the Spartanburg County Detention Center on Monday.

Details of the incident have not been released at this time.

Authorities said the reasoning behind Thompson’s decision not to report the incident will not be released until the matter is settled in court.

Spartanburg County School District Five released the following statement:

“District Five is aware of the situation involving the arrest of one of our employees. Because this is a personnel matter and an active investigation, we cannot share details. The employee is currently on administrative leave, pending the results of this investigation.

“We are cooperating fully with law enforcement and any further questions related to this investigation must come from Duncan Police and the Spartanburg Sheriff’s Department. As always, the safety and well-being of our students and staff remains our highest priority.”

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Man previously imprisoned for killing father accused of strangling mother

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By Mike Moses

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    NASHUA, N.H. (WMUR) — A man who pleaded guilty to killing his father in 2007 has been accused of strangling his mother.

Ian Delmore, 40, was arrested Sunday and charged with second-degree assault – domestic violence – strangulation, a felony. He was also charged with five counts of domestic violence simple assault, a misdemeanor.

Nashua police said they were called to a home Sunday on a report of a domestic dispute between Delmore and his mother. Police said they were told that Delmore allegedly had been physically abusing his mother and she was in fear for her safety.

Police said his mother was able to leave the home safely, but Delmore was still inside when officers arrived. Delmore eventually left the home but refused to talk to officers about the alleged incident, police said.

Police said that based on statements from the alleged victim and other evidence, Delmore was arrested and charged with simple assault. He was charged with second-degree assault after further investigation, police said.

His mother spoke to News 9 briefly outside her home.

“I would like to commend the Nashua Police Department for their care and their professionalism, and I would like to tell my son that I love him very much,” she said.

Delmore pleaded guilty in 2008 to stabbing his father to death in a confrontation about a remodeling project the year before. Prosecutors said he stabbed his father 22 times in the face and head. Delmore was arrested a short time later suffering from self-inflicted wounds.

At his plea and sentencing hearing in 2008, Delmore apologized to his mother.

“I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to my family and my mother for the pain and loss that I’ve caused through my actions, and I am very sorry,” he said.

Delmore was sentenced to 25 years in prison but was released on May 27 this year, corrections officials said.

Legal analyst Patricia LaFrance said a new felony assault charge could trigger a parole violation, but at this point, the situation is unclear.

“It’s a good case study for the parole board, for the prison system to understand what they’re offering and see if there were some red flags that they didn’t catch,” she said.

A probable cause hearing is scheduled for next week.

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