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Penn State ‘Explosion’: Person Trapped, Students Evacuated When Floor Drops In New Building Penn State ‘Explosion’: Person Trapped, Students Evacuated When Floor Drops In New Building
Penn State ‘Explosion’: Person Trapped, Students Evacuated When Floor Drops In New Building A loud noise inside Penn State’s new Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building sparked an evacuation and emergency response after a floor suddenly shifted and trapped a person, university officials announced on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m. The incident happened on Wednesday, Nov. 12, when the floor in the $128 million building dropped about 2 inches, fire officials told WTAJ at the time. The movement created a crack as wide as 1 1/2 inches stretching from the second floor to the roof, according to first responders. Fire crews rushed to the scene after receiving reports of what sounded like an ex…

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by Jillian Pikora
Schools
‘Mastermind’ Who Beat, Carjacked Teens At Gunpoint During Maryland HS Ambush Learns His Fate ‘Mastermind’ Who Beat, Carjacked Teens At Gunpoint During Maryland HS Ambush Learns His Fate
‘Mastermind’ Who Beat, Carjacked Teens At Gunpoint During Maryland HS Ambush Learns His Fate A Maryland man who terrorized students during a violent armed carjacking outside of a Charles County school will spend nearly two decades in prison, authorities announced. A jury convicted Martino Marcus Young, 21, following a four-day trial on a host of charges stemming from an incident at St. Charles High School last year. According to the Charles County State's Attorney, Young was found guilty of: Armed carjacking; Armed robbery; Two counts of first-degree assault; Four counts of use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and related offenses. According to th…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Six Middle Schoolers Sickened After Drug-Laced Snack Shared In DC Class, Officials Say Six Middle Schoolers Sickened After Drug-Laced Snack Shared In DC Class, Officials Say
Six Middle Schoolers Sickened After Drug-Laced Snack Shared In DC Class, Officials Say Six students at Kramer Middle School in DC were evaluated by medics after eating a food item that school officials say contained a controlled substance.  The incident happened on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the Southeast DC school, according to a letter sent to parents. Administrators said a student brought the item to school and shared it with several classmates.  After eating it, six students “began to feel unwell,” the school said. The school nurse checked them, and DC Fire and EMS arrived on campus for further evaluation. One student was taken for medical care, officials said. Th…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
High On THC Vape, Maryland Middle Schooler Walks Into Traffic 'To Make Effects End': Sheriff High On THC Vape, Maryland Middle Schooler Walks Into Traffic 'To Make Effects End': Sheriff
High On THC Vape, Maryland Middle Schooler Walks Into Traffic 'To Make Effects End': Sheriff A “bad trip” nearly turned tragic when a 13-year-old Maryland middle school student—high on a THC vape obtained from another kid—walked straight into traffic after class, investigators said. It happened around 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, at Mattawoman Middle School in Waldorf, according to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said the 13-year-old student reportedly used a vape containing THC, then stumbled out of the school and into the path of an eastbound pickup truck on Berry Road. "The student was struck; however, the driver was able to slow down enough that the student was…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Elementary School Student Dies After TikTok Challenge Accident, NY District Says Elementary School Student Dies After TikTok Challenge Accident, NY District Says
Elementary School Student Dies After TikTok Challenge Accident, NY District Says An Albany elementary school is mourning the death of a young student who died after an accident at home reportedly linked to a dangerous TikTok challenge. The incident occurred Saturday night, Nov. 8, and involved a student from Arbor Hill Elementary School, Principal Rosalind Gaines-Harrell said in a message to families. She called the loss “profoundly sad” and warned parents about the serious risks tied to viral online challenges, which are often promoted as harmless entertainment. District officials said the accident appeared to be connected to a TikTok trend, though no additional deta…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
WATCH ‘Bearista’ Starbucks Fight After Cup Sells Out In 1 Day – Here’s How To Get One WATCH ‘Bearista’ Starbucks Fight After Cup Sells Out In 1 Day – Here’s How To Get One
Watch ‘Bearista’ Starbucks Fight After Cup Sells Out In 1 Day – Here’s How To Get One Starbucks fans couldn’t bear the disappointment after the company’s surprise newest holiday item — the viral “Bearista Cold Cup” — sold out nationwide within hours of its release. The Seattle-based coffee chain issued a public apology after the launch turned chaotic, with viral videos showing customers fighting in stores and scrambling to grab the limited-edition item that sold out within hours on Wednesday, Nov. 6. “The excitement for our merchandise exceeded even our biggest expectations,” Starbucks said in a statement to People. “Despite shipping more Bearista cups to coffeehous…

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by Jillian Pikora
Schools
Virginia Teacher's Assistant Showed Up To Middle School Intoxicated, Sheriff Says Virginia Teacher's Assistant Showed Up To Middle School Intoxicated, Sheriff Says
Virginia Teacher's Assistant Showed Up To Middle School Intoxicated, Sheriff Says A teacher's assistant at a Virginia middle school allegedly showed up to work under the influence and is now facing charges, authorities announced. Chantilly resident Brenda Maxwell, 44, an educator at Seneca Ridge Middle School in Sterling, was taken into custody by members of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, following complaints, officials said. Shortly before 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5, the School Resource Officer assigned to the building was alerted that Maxwell was possibly under the influence in school. The subsequent investigation "resulted in a finding that wa…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Beltsville Resident, Takoma Park Teacher Competes On Jeopardy!: Here's How It Went Beltsville Resident, Takoma Park Teacher Competes On Jeopardy!: Here's How It Went
Beltsville Resident, Takoma Park Teacher Competes On Jeopardy!: Here's How It Went The champ is here.  North Penn High School graduate and longtime Montgomery County educator Joseph Evans will be back in the bright lights after a stirring win in his first Jeopardy! appearance on Tuesday night. The Takoma Park Middle School teacher who hails from Beltsville went into Final Jeopardy! with a modest $9,000, behind Long Island stay-at-home-dad Aaron Himmel's $15,000 and ahead of defending champion Joyelle McSweeney's $3,600. Then came the final category: "Literary Characters."  Perfect for a teacher (Evans technically teaches World Studies at Takoma Park Middle School, but i…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Maryland Teen Fighting Cancer Uses Make-A-Wish To Kickstart Dream Nursing Career Maryland Teen Fighting Cancer Uses Make-A-Wish To Kickstart Dream Nursing Career
Maryland Teen Fighting Cancer Uses Make-a-wish To Kickstart Dream Nursing Career She’s tough, talented, and already inspiring everyone around her. Charles County native Janiah, 18, from La Plata, isn’t letting lymphoma slow her down.  The student-athlete, who loves lacrosse, soccer, track, and swimming, kept doing what she loved even through treatment — and now she’s setting her sights on something even bigger. Through Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, Janiah wished for tuition assistance to help her chase her dream of becoming a nurse.  View this post on Instagram She said she wants to help others “just as she has bee…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
North Penn Grad, Montgomery County Teacher Rings In His ‘Jeopardy!’ Debut Tonight North Penn Grad, Montgomery County Teacher Rings In His ‘Jeopardy!’ Debut Tonight
North Penn Grad, Montgomery County Teacher Rings In His ‘Jeopardy!’ Debut Tonight Question: This North Penn High School graduate and longtime Montgomery County educator is competing on Jeopardy! on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Answer: Beltsville resident Joseph Evans. Evans is set to make his debut on the quiz show Tuesday night, where he will challenge returning champion Joyelle McSweeney, a poet and English professor from South Bend, Indiana — and Long Island stay-at-home dad Aaron Himmel. According to the North Penn School District, Evans graduated in 2001 after growing up in North Wales and attending North Wales Elementary and Pennbrook Middle School.  He received his undergra…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
‘All Clear’ After False Active Shooter Report At UVA's Shannon Library ‘All Clear’ After False Active Shooter Report At UVA's Shannon Library
‘All Clear’ After False Active Shooter Report At UVA's Shannon Library A false report of an active shooter sparked panic and lockdowns at the University of Virginia’s Shannon Library on Monday before police determined there was no threat on campus. University officials said they received reports of an active shooter around 3 p.m. at 160 McCormick Road on Nov. 3.  “Police are currently at Shannon Library continuing to investigate. At this time there is no evidence of an attacker,” one early alert read. Lockdowns remained in effect for more than an hour as UVA Police cleared buildings and canvassed the area.  A steady stream of updates from the unive…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Virginia School Bus Driver Charged After Allegedly Hitting Elementary Student, Sheriff Says Virginia School Bus Driver Charged After Allegedly Hitting Elementary Student, Sheriff Says
Virginia School Bus Driver Charged After Allegedly Hitting Elementary Student, Sheriff Says A Virginia school bus driver is facing charges after allegedly striking an elementary school student aboard his bus, according to investigators. Allen Jackson, 68, of Sterling, was charged with simple assault and battery, a misdemeanor, following an investigation by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, officials announced Friday, Oct. 31. Detectives determined Jackson struck a juvenile student with his hand while aboard a bus assigned to Potowmack Elementary School on Oct. 23, the Sheriff’s Office said. The incident was reported to the School Resource Officer Unit on Oct. 24. Jackson was …

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by Zak Failla