NEWS OF THE DAY
_1 Auction block: A judge has ruled that officials in Fredericksburg, Va., have the authority to approve the removal of a 176yearold slave auction block from a street corner. The ruling upheld the City Council’s vote in favor of relocating the weathered stone to a local museum. A kiosk with information about the auction block will replace it. Two businesses near the auction block sued to block the removal, saying the block is listed as a landmark in a historic district and they would lose business. “A lot of people have dealt with this pain for years. It’s way past time for it to be gone,” said Councilman Chuck Frye Jr.
_2 Students hit: A third member of a suburban Oklahoma City high school crosscountry team who was struck by a speeding pickup truck this month has died. Kolby Crum, 18, who died Saturday, was among seven members of the Moore High School crosscountry team who were hit while running on a sidewalk Feb. 3. The driver, Max Leroy Townsend, 57, was going 79 mph in a 25 mph zone when he crossed onto the sidewalk, police said. Rachel Freeman, 17, and Yuridia Martinez, 16, were also killed. Townsend has been charged with manslaughter. The day before the crash, Townsend’s 28yearold son was killed in an auto accident.
_3 Deadly avalanche: Searchers have recovered the bodies of two men who died after being caught in a weekend avalanche in central Colorado, the state Avalanche Information Center reported Sunday. Three men were riding snowbikes Saturday when they were caught in the slide about 10 miles north of Vail. One was able to dig himself out and called for help, the Eagle County Sheriff ’s Office said. The others — Dillon Block, 28, and Cesar AlmanzaHernandez, 30, — were fully buried, the Avalanche Information Center said. The bodies were recovered Sunday.
_4 Gang violence: Long Beach police have arrested three teenagers suspected of killing two people and wounding 10 others in a rash of shootings. The 16 and 17yearold gang members are suspected of carrying out seven shootings since November. Two of the teens are being investigated for murder and attempted murder, and the third is being investigated for attempted murder, police said. “It is unacceptable that we have 16 and 17yearolds who are being recruited into the gang lifestyle,” police Chief Robert Luna said. Authorities searched two dozen locations in the operation and seized five handguns, a rifle and at least three pounds of methamphetamine. Ten adults were arrested in other crimes, including unlawful possession of a firearm.
_5 Restaurant shooting: Three people were shot and wounded on Valentine’s Day at a restaurant outside Atlanta owned by singer and “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Kandi Burruss. A man entered the Old Lady Gang restaurant Friday night and targeted another man, police said. Two bystanders were also shot, and all victims suffered nonlifethreatening injuries. No arrests were made. Burruss has been a cast member on “Housewives” since 2009. She earned fame in the 1990s as a member of the R&B group Xscape and cowrote TLC’s hit “No Scrubs.”
Chronicle News Services