By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX –
After tackling hip-hop, McCarthyism and immigration, the State Board of Education abruptly ended consideration of new standards for teaching social studies today. The panel put off until March a tentative vote on the guidelines that could have an impact on classrooms nationwide.
The board had been expected to take a first vote on the guidelines later today. That's after several days of discussion on topics such as which historical figures to hold students accountable for learning and whether second-graders should be taught Aesop's Fables.
But as the debate stretched on, the board decided it needed to move on to finalizing details on new high school graduation requirements. Approving those requirements was deemed time-sensitive as students will soon begin to register for next year's classes.
The delay leaves discussion of a slew of issues regarding high school social studies, history and economics classes unfinished until the board's March meeting. A final vote on new standards will now be set for May.
Dallas cop fired over nude photos sent to student
A Dallas police officer has been fired after an internal investigation revealed he sent nude photos of himself to a high school student.
Police Chief David Kunkle on Thursday fired Officer Bryan Crews, who had been with the department for four years. Sgt. Warren Mitchell, a police spokesman, told The Associated Press on Friday that Crews had a sexual relationship with the girl, who might have been 17 when they met but was 18 when he sent the first photo.
In Mitchell's words, "We feel that his actions, particularly sending it to a high school student, crossed the boundary of what would be acceptable behavior in this department."
Mitchell also said a female police sergeant has been suspended for 10 days for exchanging nude photos with Crews.
North Texan injured in Haiti earthquake dies
A member of a Dallas-area church's team of medical missionaries has died of internal injuries received in Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti.
Jean Arnwine of Dallas was part of the 12-member team of volunteers from the Highland Park United Methodist Church staffing the Haiti Eye Care Clinic in the Haitian village of Petit Goave, about 20 miles west of Port-au-Prince.
Fellow missionary Katy Langley said at a Friday news conference that Arnwine was among those trapped in the ruins of the clinic after the earthquake.
A spokeswoman for the Highland Park church, Kim Gifford, says the 49-year-old volunteer died Friday morning in a hospital on the island of Guadaloupe. In Gifford's words, "They said her internal injuries were just too severe."
Texas company recalling NC pine nut packages
A Texas nut company is recalling 270 packages of pine nuts because of possible Salmonella contamination. Dallas-based Hines Nut Co. said Friday that it was recalling the nuts packed in eight-ounce foam trays under the Harris Teeter Farmers Market brand name. The company said it was distributed only to Harris Teeter markets in North Carolina.
Consumers who purchased the product between Dec. 30 and Jan. 14 are encouraged to contact Hines Nut Co. for information on how to return the product for a refund.
The company said the problem was discovered in sampling from supplier Red River Foods and that there have been no reported illnesses.