NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
1_ Sexual harassment: Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., facing backlash after revelations that he settled a sexual harassment complaint brought by a former aide, will not seek re-election this year. Meehan informed Speaker Paul Ryan of his decision in a letter Thursday, according to Doug Andres, a spokesman for Ryan. The decision is an abrupt reversal for Meehan, 62, who this week had insisted that he intended to run for re-election to a fifth term representing his suburban Philadelphia district, even as the House Ethics Committee investigated the sexual harassment allegations and his use of taxpayer money to settle them. Meehan, a father of three, was accused by the former aide of making unwanted romantic overtures to her. After the aide rebuffed Meehan, he became hostile, her complaint said. In an interview Tuesday with the New York Times, Meehan denied harassing the aide. Instead, he asserted that she “specifically invited” his intimate communications. Meehan was stripped of his position on the House Ethics Committee by Ryan. And on Monday, the committee announced that it had started an investigation.
2_ Porn star: ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel is bringing adult film star Stormy Daniels on his show broadcast from Los Angeles next Tuesday on the night of President Trump’s State of the Union speech. Daniels is in the news following reports that she had an affair with the future president in 2006. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s lawyer arranged a payment to Daniels to prevent her from talking about the alleged encounter before the 2016 presidential election. Kimmel announced the booking Friday.
3_ Allergy exposure: Three Pennsylvania teenagers face criminal charges after intentionally exposing a classmate with a severe pineapple allergy to the fruit. Police in Butler Township allege that a 14-year-old highfived the other 14-yearold girl to expose her to the fruit Dec. 13. The victim was taken by ambulance to a hospital where she was treated and released. Chief John Hays said the girl’s allergy was well-known. The suspect was charged in juvenile court with felony aggravated assault and other offenses. Two other girls, age 13 and 14, face charges including criminal conspiracy.
4_ Racist chants: Some student spectators at a predominantly white school in northwestern Iowa greeted a visiting rival boys’ basketball team with racist jeers. The chants at the Jan. 19 game at Spencer High School included some fans yelling that the Storm Lake players should “go back where you came from.” Other students chanted, “USA.” School officials say the Storm Lake district has 2,400 students, and 84 percent are non-Caucasian. The Spencer district has 1,900 students and is predominantly white. Spencer Superintendent Terry Hemann said administrators have disciplined the Spencer students involved.
5_ Drain cleanup: New Orleans cleaning crews have collected more than 46 tons of Mardi Gras beads from catch basins on along a five-block stretch of St. Charles Avenue, a popular parade route. Department of Public Works Interim Director Dani Galloway said a four-month program had cleaned 15,000 catch basins, removing roughly 7.2 million pounds of debris. It’s part of an effort to tackle city’s drainage system in response to heavy August flooding.
6_ Urban roundup: A donkey led more than a dozen sheep and goats on a stroll through suburban West Covina (Los Angeles County), authorities said. Police were called Thursday by reports of a herd of animals walking the streets. The animals were corralled with help from sheriff ’s deputies. The animals escaped their owners’ property in neighboring Valinda through an unsecured gate. The owner took the herd back home.
Chronicle News Services