NEWS OF THE DAY
Jail abuse: A group of 32 current and former inmates of a jail in the Los Angeles suburbs will get $2.5 million as part of a settlement of their lawsuits against the San Bernardino County government and sheriff ’s department, the Los Angeles Times reported. Their attorneys said the inmates at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga were stunned with Tasers while delivering meals to other inmates, and were held at gunpoint while deputies jerked their handcuffed wrists above their heads in a move called “chicken winging.” The settlement is connected to five federal lawsuits against the county and sheriff ’s department, which runs the jail.
Discrimination lawsuit: A federal judge dismissed a class-action racial discrimination lawsuit filed by current and former black employees of Time Warner, owner of Turner networks including CNN, TNT and TBS. U.S. District Court Judge William Duffey of the Northern District of Georgia said the employees didn’t meet legal standards to prove “a pattern and practice of intentional race discrimination.” The lawsuit filed in December claimed a pattern of discrimination against black employees, particularly men, in evaluations, pay and promotions. Duffey says neither of the two employees named in the lawsuit showed intentional discrimination based on their race. An attorney for the employees said they plan to refile.
State fair accident: A swinging and spinning amusement park ride called the Fire Ball malfunctioned and broke apart on the opening day of the Ohio State Fair on Wednesday, killing at least one and injuring seven when it hurled people through the air. Five of the injured were in critical condition and the other two were in stable condition at area hospitals, Columbus Fire Battalion Chief Steve Martin said. The man who was killed was one of several who were thrown when the ride malfunctioned, Martin said. Dramatic video captured by a bystander shows the ride swinging back and forth like a pendulum and spinning in the air when it crashes into something and part of the ride flies off, throwing riders to the ground. Fatal shooting: Police officers fatally shot a 16-year-old boy outside an emergency shelter for juveniles in eastern Arkansas and a criminal investigation is under way, state police said Wednesday. The shooting happened Tuesday night at East Arkansas Youth Services in Marion. Arkansas State Police said Marion police officers responded to the shelter at 7:08 p.m. and “moments later” reported that a teenager had been shot and wounded by police.
Congressman leaves hospital: House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, who was wounded six weeks ago when a man opened fire at a GOP baseball practice in Alexandria, Va., was discharged from MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Hospital officials said Wednesday that Scalise will soon begin intensive inpatient rehabilitation.