NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
1 School shooting: There were plenty of missteps in communication, security and school policy before and during the Parkland, Fla., high school massacre that allowed the gunman to kill 17 people. Now, the state commission investigating the shooting will consider a long list of recommendations addressing these problems statewide. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission will consider proposals Wednesday and Thursday, including whether to arm teachers; make it harder for outsiders to enter Florida’s nearly 4,000 public schools, mandate armed security on all campuses with explicit orders to confront shooters; improve communication systems on campus and impose more statewide uniformity in how troubled students are identified, helped and, if necessary, dealt with by police. The commission, created weeks after the Feb. 14 shooting, must file its report to incoming Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature by Jan. 1.
2 Officers shot: Three officers were shot while serving a family violence warrant at a Houston-area home. The suspect was found dead in the house hours later. The Harris County Sheriff ’s Office tweeted Wednesday that one deputy and two officers from the Texas Attorney General’s Office were wounded. The injuries are not lifethreatening and the officers are being treated at a Houston hospital. Tactical squad officers later found Daniel Trevino dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The officers were serving a warrant involving violation of a protective order at the threshold of a door, when the suspect began shooting.
3 White House run: Former Obama housing chief Julian Castro says he’s taking a step toward a possible White House campaign in 2020 by forming a presidential exploratory committee. The Texas Democrat said he will announce a decision Jan. 12. The move Wednesday gives the 44year-old former San Antonio mayor an early start to what’s shaping up as a crowded Democratic field without a clear front-runner to challenge President Trump. An exploratory committee usually is a formality before a candidate launches a presidential campaign. It legally allows potential candidates to begin raising money. Castro would be among the youngest candidates in the field and the most prominent Latino.
4 Murder plea: A 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty Wednesday to two charges of murder for fatally shooting his father and a 6-year-old boy at a South Carolina elementary school. Jesse Osborne faces 30 years to life in prison when he is sentenced at a later date. He also pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder in the shootings of two other students and a teacher, all of whom were wounded. During his confession, Osborne told investigators he had hoped to kill 20 or 30 students that day. Osborne had just turned 14 when he killed his father in their home in 2016, then drove his dad’s pickup truck to Townville Elementary School in Anderson County. Osborne then crashed the truck into a playground fence and fired several shots at a group of students outside for recess. Jacob Hall, 6, was shot in the leg and died three days later from blood loss.
5 Marilyn Monroe: An auction of her memorabilia has earned more than $1.6 million, including $120,000 paid for a touring version of the actress’ iconic white dress from “The Seven Year Itch.” Profiles in History on Wednesday announced the results of the “Essentially Marilyn” auction held in Los Angeles. The “Seven Year Itch” dress is a version of the one featured during the film’s infamous subway-grate scene that designer Bill Travilla made for Monroe to use on tours and in exhibits. A photograph that Monroe signed to 20th Century Fox executive Ben Lyon and says “you found me, named me, and believed in me” was sold for $45,000.
Chronicle News Services