National Roundup

Louisiana
Bus driver out of job after racist remark to student
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A white Louisiana school bus driver who made a racist remark to a Black student about the murder of George Floyd is out of a job after the child's mother complained to school officials.

WWL-TV reported that 11-year-old Rashad Gabriel had a face mask below his nose and told a driver he was out of breath after running to catch a bus to Trist Middle School in St. Bernard Parish, located in metro New Orleans, on April 9.

"Since George Floyd, that's what you all say, but I don't see a knee on your neck," the driver replied, according to the child's mother, Rose Gabriel. Other children heard the statement, which also was captured on a video surveillance system on the vehicle.

The mother reported it, and School Superintendent Doris Voitier said the driver no longer works for the system.

"What she said is offensive and inappropriate. It was racially insensitive. And we took appropriate action," said Voitier, who declined comment on whether the driver, who wasn't identified publicly, was fired or resigned.

Rose Gabriel welcomed the quick action. "It made me relieved that I know she's no longer on the bus with my son or anybody else's child," she said.

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on Tuesday of murder and manslaughter on Tuesday in Floyd's killing, which set off mass protests around the world.

Indiana
Woman reaches plea deal in baby's meth-related death
PORTLAND, Ind. (AP) — An eastern Indiana woman whose three-month-old son died last year from methamphetamine intoxication has agreed to plead guilty to a neglect charge in the infant's death.

Jennifer F. Young, 35, would plead guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in death if a Jay County judge accepts her plea agreement at a May 17 hearing.

The Portland woman's sentence would be capped at 20 years and prosecutors would dismiss charges of possessing meth and possessing paraphernalia she faces, The Star Press reported.

Police were called in March 2020 on a report of a baby not breathing at an apartment in Portland, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northeast of Indianapolis.

After Hayden Markle was pronounced dead at a hospital, an autopsy determined the infant died as a result of "acute methamphetamine intoxication," according to court records.

The baby's father, 40-year-old Ryan A. Markle, faces the same three charges as Young in the infant's death.

He was convicted of dealing in meth in 2013, the same year that Young was also convicted of dealing in meth and two counts of neglect of a dependent.

Vermont
Man changes plea in truck accident that killed girlfriend
RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) — A Pittsford, Vermont, man accused of hitting his girlfriend with his pickup truck has changed his plea in her death.

Anthony J. Reynolds, 50, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to leaving the scene of an accident with death resulting and driving with a suspended license, according to his lawyer, Chris Montgomery. He also pleaded no contest to negligent operation, a misdemeanor, he said.

Police said Reynolds and Melanie Rooney, 31, had gotten into an argument and he hit her with his truck as he drove off from her Proctor home in May 2019. He told police that he wasn't aware he had hit her until he returned to the home for his cellphone.

"It is clear that Mr. Reynolds did not know Ms. Rooney was behind his vehicle when he left her residence," Montgomery said by email.

When Reynolds checked her pulse and realized she wasn't breathing he said "he panicked and left the area," the police affidavit said, according to the Rutland Herald.

Reynolds originally pleaded not guilty. The state is dismissing the manslaughter and aggravated domestic assault charges, and amended the gross negligent operation to negligent operation, Montgomery said.

"We believe the plea agreement properly reflects the events of that evening," he said by email.

A document filed with the court and signed by Reynolds, said he had been negligent because he was "tired from a long day" and had been drinking and arguing with Rooney, the newspaper reported.

As part of the plea deal, the state has restricted itself to seeking a sentence of no more than six to 10 years to serve.

Pennsylvania
Lawmakers move closer to letting child sex abuse victims sue
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — For the first time, prominent Republican state senators on Wednesday put their support behind legislation in Pennsylvania to change the law to allow now-adult victims of child sexual abuse to sue their perpetrators or institutions that did not prevent it when it happened years or decades ago.

The vote, 11-3, in the Senate Judiciary Committee comes after years of damning investigations into child sexual abuse by clergy in Pennsylvania's Roman Catholic dioceses and signals that the legislation may have enough Republican support to pass the full state Senate.

Similar legislation passed the House earlier this month.

Many childhood victims of sexual assault lost the right to sue in Pennsylvania when they turned 18 or were young adults, depending on state law at the time.

Under the legislation, they would have two years to sue over their alleged abuse, no matter how long ago it occurred.

For years, Senate Republicans have blocked such legislation, arguing that it is unconstitutional. Rather, they have backed a move to change the constitution to restore the right to sue.

On Wednesday, Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre, said that as long as lawmakers are unified around the idea of changing the constitution, he is willing to back legislation to change the law and see what happens in court if it is challenged.

Under the bill, a legal challenge goes straight to the state Supreme Court.