Woman considered world’s oldest dies in geriatric ward at age 114
GUSTAVIA, St. Barts (AP) — Eugenie Blanchard, a nun who was considered the world’s oldest person, died in the French Caribbean island of St. Barts on Thursday. She was 114.
Blanchard, who friends called “Sweets” because of her kindness, died at Bruyn Hospital.
Indian woman vows to continue her decade-long hunger strike
GAUHATI, India (AP) — A frail 38-year-old woman dubbed “The Iron Lady” marked 10 years without voluntarily taking food or water Thursday — a hunger strike launched to protest an anti-terror law that grants Indian soldiers sweeping powers to crack down on rebels. Irom Sharmila had her last voluntary meal on Nov. 4, 2000, in Imphal, capital of Manipur. She was arrested three days later and has been force-fed ever since.
Lil Wayne emerges from NYC jail after serving 8 months in gun case
NEW YORK (AP) — Lil Wayne was freed from jail Thursday after serving eight months in a gun case, emerging with a hot new album, well wishes from a former president and a deepened appreciation for his fans.
“Welcome home, Weezy!” the rap star’s Facebook page proclaimed, using one of his nicknames, after his morning release from the Rikers Island jail complex. He was freed in a location jail officials and his lawyer wouldn’t disclose.
Ohio principal loses pay for taking students on political field trip
CINCINNATI (AP) — A school district on Thursday suspended a principal and a teacher without pay for violating district policies during a field trip in which students were brought to an elections office, given Democratic literature and allowed to vote.
Virginia Rhodes, principal of Hughes High School, will be suspended for five days and teacher Dennis McFadden, who took the students on the trip, has been suspended for one day, Cincinnati Public Schools said.
Rhodes had already been suspended with pay after students were taken to the Hamilton County Board of Elections on Oct. 13.
Judges’ panel of appeals court halts Elizabeth Smart kidnap trial
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A federal appeals court on Thursday halted the trial of a man accused of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart to decide if he can get a fair trial in Utah. Opening statements in the case of Brian David Mitchell were interrupted to announce the decision. The trial was put on hold as the panel considered a claim by defense attorneys that extensive publicity about the abduction has tainted the jury pool.
Bush practices with Saints on limited basis after leg break
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Reggie Bush was limited during Saints practice on Thursday, raising his prospects for getting back in the lineup for the first time since breaking a bone in his lower right leg in the second game of the season.
“It felt pretty good — still a little bit of pain there but nothing that I couldn’t handle. Nothing that wasn’t expected,” Bush said. “We’ll just keep pushing every day and see what happens at the end of this week.”
Head coach Sean Payton stopped short of saying he thought Bush would be ready to go by this Sunday’s game at Carolina.
“He’s still not moving the way you’d like, but I think he’s making a lot of progress quickly, and so each day we try to give him more to do,” Payton said. “More than anything, it’s still getting to where he’s real confident and comfortable planting and driving off of that leg.”
Man declared dead in 1994 wanted for kidnapping Nevada girl
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A man declared dead 16 years ago but who authorities say is alive is charged with kidnapping a 12-year-old Nevada girl whose remains were found in Louisiana, officials said Thursday.
A warrant was issued for 53-year-old Thomas Steven Sanders.
Holden names Charles Mondrick as interim BR police chief
(AP) — Mayor-president, Kip Holden, has named Charles Mondrick as the city’s interim police chief.
Mondrick is deputy chief with the Central Fire Department. He formerly served as uniform commander and hostage negotiator with the Baton Rouge Police Department. The Advocate reports that Holden named Mondrick to the post Thursday.
 
 
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