The Oklahoma Supreme Court deemed public funding of the St. Isidore Of Seville Catholic Virtual School unconstitutional, citing violations of state and federal law. This ruling could lead to a potential appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The decision was hailed as a win for public education integrity by the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools CEO. (UPI)
In 2023, there was a 5.4% decrease in pedestrian deaths from motor vehicle accidents compared to the previous year, marking the first decline since the end of the pandemic. However, the number of pedestrian fatalities is still 14.1% higher than pre-pandemic levels. Nighttime pedestrian deaths have almost doubled since 2010, with a trend towards more light trucks being involved in these incidents. (UPI)
Beach nourishment projects, funded by taxpayers, have cost over $10 billion in the last century. The number and cost of these projects tend to increase in years with major storms. Critics argue that this money could be better spent elsewhere. Repeat projects account for a significant portion of the costs, with Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina alone having undergone 27 projects since 1939. (CBS News)
Gillian Tones, a 26-year-old woman from Pennsylvania, tragically drowned at Glacier National Park in Montana after being swept over waterfalls and pinned underwater by a log. Despite heroic rescue efforts by park visitors, she did not regain consciousness. The National Park Service expressed condolences to her family and requested privacy. (NBC News)
The NYPD is searching for a suspect accused of sexually assaulting a sunbather in Central Park. The incident occurred in broad daylight, and although there were no witnesses or cameras in the area, the victim is working with a sketch artist to create an image of the suspect. The NYPD has increased patrols in the park and is reviewing footage from other cameras as part of the investigation. (ABC7)
