National Roundup

Ohio Shooting of girl in Amish buggy a homicide FREDERICKSBURG, Ohio (AP) -- The fatal shooting of a 15-year-old girl who was driving an Amish horse-drawn buggy in northeast Ohio has been ruled a homicide. A medical examiner says that Rachel Yoder died from a gunshot wound to the head. The girl was shot Thursday night while traveling from a party to her home in Wayne County, between Columbus and Akron. She died Friday, and The Cochocton (kuh-SHAHK'-tuhn) Tribune reports authorities first thought she may have fallen from the buggy and hit her head. No arrest has been made. There was no immediate indication that the shooting was related to a rash of attacks in which the beards and hair of men and hair of women were cut by fellow Amish upset over a church feud. Nebraska Former employee sues Nebraska insurance company LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- A former worker at Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Nebraska is suing for employment discrimination. The Lincoln Journal Star says the lawsuit was filed in Lancaster County District Court. It alleges that the company violated the Nebraska Fair Employment Practices Act with disability and sex discrimination, and created a hostile work environment. Kristi Herman's complaint says she served as payroll benefits administrator for nearly eight years before the company fired her in June 2011. The lawsuit alleges her firing was in retaliation for a discrimination complaint she filed with the Lincoln Commission on Human Rights. Jim Dobler, executive vice president and general counsel of Farmers Mutual, said in an email that the company does not comment on pending litigation. Mississippi Feds investigate Meridian's juvenile justice MERIDIAN, Miss. (AP) -- The Southern Poverty Law Center says Meridian school officials have called police for minor problems with African-American students, and some of those students were jailed. Attorney Shakti Belway tells The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson that an eight-year-old who had been paddled for talking in class was hauled off in handcuffs when he wouldn't stop crying. She says a middle-school student spent three days in the Lauderdale County Juvenile Detention Center after wearing socks with a corporate logo rather than plain white socks. School board attorney John Compton said the Justice Department is not investigating the school system. The Justice Department is investigating the city's juvenile justice system, and has sent notices to both the Meridian Police Department and Lauderdale County Juvenile Court. Schools Superintendent Dr. Alvin Taylor told WTOK-TV that officials are in the dark concerning the allegations because of when they supposedly took place. "I just know that whatever they ask of us or whatever information they are asking for or needing from us, we are cooperating with them," Taylor said. "I did assure them that during their investigation that whatever allegation they were looking into these were things that were done prior to this administration." In 2009, SPLC and Disability Rights Mississippi sued the county, which settled the lawsuit last year, agreeing to address a long list of problems at the center. On Oct. 14, Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie took over operations of the Youth Detention Center. "Any and all allegations are prior to that time," he said. Belway said she is surprised to learn the extent to which schools use the criminal justice system to handle behavior. In the case of the middle school student, she said the school dress code called for plain socks, and the student wore white socks with a Nike symbol. In the case of the high school student, she had been arrested for shoplifting and had been told not to violate any of the school rules, Belway said. "She shows up tardy one day and hears her name called over the loud speaker to come to the principal's office. She spends the next five days behind bars." Compton said, "If she was tardy, she violated the rules." In years past, he said school officials automatically called the Police Department whenever a fight broke out. Since the 2010-2011 school year, Compton said school officials have been given more discretion and are able to make a judgment call on a case-by-case basis. He said if anyone had issues with the schools, they should tell school officials or the school board so the matter can be addressed. New Jersey Judge gives gay couple custody in family battle JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) -- A New Jersey judge has allowed a gay couple custody of 5-year-old twins, resolving a family lawsuit over who could best care for them. The lawyer for Donald and Sean Hollingsworth says last week's ruling is a legal victory for tolerance and diversity. But the lawyer for Donald Hollingsworth's sister, Angelia Robinson, tells The Star-Ledger has nothing to do with gay rights. Robinson gave birth to the girls after carrying a donor embryo fertilized by Sean Hollingsworth and was declared her the legal mother. But the judge says the children would be better off remaining with the Hollingsworths in Jersey City rather than living with the sister in Middletown. The judge says the sides disagreed on many issues, including what the girls should be told about homosexuality and surrogacy. Connecticut Ex-mayor: Police profiling case could cost town EAST HAVEN, Conn. (AP) -- A former mayor of East Haven says the police mistreatment of Latinos detailed by a federal investigation could cost the town "millions and millions of dollars." April Capone, who was voted out of the mayor's office in November, says the racial profiling case could expose the town to lawsuits from victims. The New Haven Register reported that she made the comments at a press conference Monday. Investigators from the U.S. Justice Department's civil rights division said their two-year probe into the town's police department found evidence of widespread discrimination. A separate criminal investigation is also under way. The town's new mayor, Joseph Maturo, said in comments reported by the Hartford Courant that he is dissatisfied with the report and he believes it is slanderous to the community. Published: Wed, Dec 21, 2011