“We came together as 28, and I hope we can come together as a community to rebuild the spirit of our community and build the school together,” said panel member and vice chair of the local Board of Education Laura Roche. She added that it had been “very emotional and very hard” to come to a decision about the school’s future. Before the demolition and rebuilding can take place, the proposal must go before the local school board and be approved by residents in a referendum. If approved, officials said construction could begin in spring 2014 and the new building could open in January 2016.Plans under consideration call for a building with a shape that resembles homes and barns built in Newtown in the 1700s and 1800s, and 26 glass cupolas on the roof with spires “pointed towards heaven” in remembrance of the 26 victims, a report compiled for the task force stated.Not all Newtown residents are in favor of the project. Many believe the school should simply be renovated, because tearing it down would be a victory for evil.Others are adamantly against having students return to the existing building. Brian Engel, whose 6-year-old daughter Olivia died in the shooting, told the task force last week that he didn’t want Olivia’s younger brother to attend school in the same place where she died. Several teachers also told the task force that they didn’t want to return.Sandy Hook’s 430 students are currently attending a renovated school renamed Sandy Hook Elementary School in the neighboring town of Monroe. They are expected to remain there until a new school is built in Newtown.A regular school day turned tragic for the Newtown students on December 14 when gunman Adam Lanza opened fire with an assault rifle after killing his mother at their home. He killed himself as police arrived at the school. The massacre sparked a national debate about gun control and second amendment rights.Police have not disclosed the possible motives for the killings, but officials have said that Lanza showed an interest in other mass killings and played violent video games.While Newtown residents wait to have their say on what happens to Sandy Hook, they are encouraged by the prospect of the school returning to how it once was. “It’s been a place for learning, for kids to grow up and it’s going to go back to that,” parent Daniel Krauss said. … Read More
Mao Zedong’s grand-daughter worth more than $815 million according to China’s ‘New Fortune’ magazine
The appearance of a grand-daughter of Mao Zedong, founding father of Communist China, on a list of the country’s richest citizens prompted online accusations of hypocrisy Thursday. Kong Dongmei, now in her early 40s, and husband Chen Dongsheng ranked 242th with personal wealth estimated at…
Covered at Reason 24/7: Chelsea Clinton Does Not Rule Out a Possible Run for Public Office
In an interview on NBC’s
Today show Chelsea Clinton decline to rule out running for
public office in the future, meaning that her mother’s possible run
for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 will perhaps not
be the last time we see a Clinton hit the campaign trail. ;
From
USA Today:
Chelsea Clinton has raised her profile in the last few days,
which sparked the inevitable question about the former First
Daughter’s future: Will she ever be like Mom and Dad and run for
office?
Clinton, 33, essentially said “maybe” in an interview that aired
Monday on NBC’s Today show.
Follow this story and more at ;Reason 24/7.
If you have a story that would be of interest to Reason’s
readers please let us know by emailing the 24/7 crew at
24_7@reason.com, or tweet us stories at ;@reason247. … Read More
Instagram and the New Era of Paparazzi
A photo of Beyoncé, the popular singer, and her baby daughter that has made its way around the Web was captured by an enthusiastic fan on Instagram. … Read More
Washington man tells police he shot adult daughter and son as wife slept
Police in Washington said Sunday night that a 69-year-old man was taken into custody after calling 911 early in the morning to report that he shot his adult son and daughter and was thinking about shooting himself too. Officers arrived on the scene only to discover the man was still armed with a…
How Arizona cheats immigration reform
PHOENIX–Ivon Matamoros has been packing most of her baby daughter’s clothes and blankets to start a reluctant journey back to Mexico. Matamoros, 24, could be among hundreds of youth who qualify for a deportation reprieve under President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). But she didn’t apply. Matamoros didn’t think she would qualify because she has a felony on her record — for working with false documents as a cashier and buser at a Pei Wei chain restaurant.An immigration judge told her this was a “crime of moral turpitude” and that she would have to leave. He gave her a date to do so, willingly: March 21.“The judge said it reflected badly on my character,” said Matamoros. “If I didn’t have that felony, I would have been able to qualify for DACA.”Groups Denounce Raids, ProsecutionsAs discussions ramp up in Congress to come up with a federal comprehensive immigration reform bill, pro-immigrant groups and attorneys in Arizona are denouncing the raids and prosecutions of workers like Matamoros, which could hurt their chances of becoming documented residents.Continue Reading… … Read More
Jonathan Taylor Thomas Joins ‘Last Man Standing’ For ‘Home Improvement’ Reunion
Jonathan Taylor Thomas will guest star on “Last Man Standing,” makring his first return to TV since “Veronica Mars” in 2005.
It’ll be a “Home Improvement” reunion for Thomas and “Last Man Standing” star Tim Allen. Thomas played Allen’s middle son Randy for eight seasons on “Home Improvement.”
According to Entertainment Weekly, Thomas will play a manager of a restaurant where Allen’s character’s daughter, Kristin (Amanda Fuller), applies for a job. So far Thomas is only booked for one episode.
