Regional Briefs: Driver cleared in bus fatalities
Published: August 8, 2009
Driver cleared in bus fatalities
SHERMAN — Texas law enforcement officials say the driver in a charter bus crash that killed 17 people likely won’t be charged with anything except misdemeanor traffic violations. Barrett Broussard, 53, of Houston was driving 55 passengers to an event for Vietnamese Catholics in Missouri on Aug. 8 when the bus blew a retreaded tire and skidded off a bridge in Sherman. Grayson County District Attorney Joe Brown said Friday he has heard the National Transportation Safety Board’s final report won’t support a negligent homicide charge.
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Study in deaths targets agency
LITTLE ROCK — A review of 29 deaths of children known to the Arkansas child-protection agency resulted in recommendations that the state work harder at keeping children safe from abuse and neglect. Better communications, less-formulaic thinking and actions, better follow-up and better supervision of caseworkers are among the recommendations in the report by a consultancy firm. Hornby Zeller Associates of Little Rock studied deaths involving youngsters known to the state Division of Children and Family Services, an arm of the state Department of Human Services.
Woman to sell naming of baby
SMACKOVER, Ark. — A Smackover woman is auctioning the right to choose the legal first name of her as yet unborn baby on eBay. Lavonne Drummond is expecting her seventh child — a boy — in September. The bidding started at $150 and as of Friday morning the bid stood at $2,700. The 36-year-old said some members of her family aren’t keen on her idea — but says tough times call for drastic measures.
MISSOURI
Tattoo policy questioned
ST. LOUIS — The head of the St. Louis Police Officers’ Association, Sgt. Gary Wiegert, says the department’s new policy that prohibits officers and civilian employees from having visible tattoos is unfair to officers hired when tattoos were allowed to be seen. When the policy went into force, several officers were sent home because their tattoos were showing.
KANSAS
Stolen sports items found
WICHITA — Police have recovered some of the more than $50,000 in memorabilia stolen from the Players sports bar. Items included two baseballs autographed by Babe Ruth, a rookie Mickey Mantle baseball card and five championship rings.
FROM WIRE REPORTS
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