Latest news with #K-12SchoolShootingDatabase
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
ISU shooting probe yields ID for person of interest. What we know on Bone Center shooting
Illinois State University officials issued an emergency alert just before 8 p.m. on April 27, warning students, staff and local residents about shots being fired on or near the university campus. University police confirmed one victim was shot and identified a person of interest. Here's what we know. The university confirmed in a Monday news release that one person was shot "during a registered student organization event at the Bone Student Center" in Normal, Illinois. The shots were fired during a fight in the entryway outside the event, resulting in a "non-life-threatening gunshot wound to a non-student," according to the ISU Police Department. The victim, who has not been identified, was transported to a local hospital. Police are looking for a 5'10" slender male with a black afro hairstyle, wearing all black clothing, according to the university's release. Officials say the person was last seen running south from University and College streets and may be armed and dangerous. The ISU Police Department shared two photos of a person of interest on Facebook, which can be seen below. There is no shelter-in-place order for the ISU campus, but the student center will be closed on Monday as police continue to investigate. All other classes will resume on Monday, according to the news release. The university said eyewitness information should be emailed to ISUPolice@ "Illinois State University Police Department continues to investigate with assistance from Normal Police Department, Bloomington Police Department, McLean County Sheriff's office and Illinois State Police," the university said in its Monday release. "Counseling services are currently available to students, faculty and staff." Others are reading: Student teacher arrested in Washington after 'inappropriate' shooting comment on social media The K-12 School Shooting Database has recorded 77 school shootings so far in 2025. This includes "shootings when a gun is fired, brandished with intent to harm or a bullet hits school property for any reason, regardless of the number of victims, time, or day of the week," according to the organization. This story has been updated with additional information. Steven Spearie contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: ISU campus shooting 2025: Police ID person of interest, what we know
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers take steps to pass Alyssa's Law to increase safety during school shootings
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — An estimated 80 to 90 percent of the world's school shootings happen in the United States, and Illinois faces the fourth most out of all the states, ranked only behind California, Texas and Florida. The K-12 School Shooting Database, which compiles data every time a firearm is discharged on school grounds, found that Illinois has had 152 shooting incidents since 1966. State lawmakers are working to change that by taking a measure to increase safety in schools during a school shooting. Rep. Janet Yang Rohr introduced a bill, also known as Alyssa's Law. 'I think it was the right thing to pass the torch': Durbin talks about retirement from Congress This would require all public schools, including charter schools, to have a mobile panic alert system. This is a silent alarm that would allow teachers to contact and connect in real time with emergency services within seconds. Rep. Yang Rohr, who is a mother of three, said nowadays families can't stop thinking about the unimaginable. 'The reality of the day for parents is that even as we send our children to school every single day, there are moments when we have to confront the reality and think the unthinkable,' Yang Rohr said. 'We do not get a second chance when it comes to saving lives, and passing Alyssa's Law is one of the concrete steps that we can take to turn that.' The bill is named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old girl who was killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. Her mother, Lori, shared her story in a news conference and said her daughter is no longer here, but passing the law in the state will save many more lives. 'In the Apalachee shooting, the panic button was used. The teacher saw the shooter and started pressing their panic button and was able to get on the scene to help the people that were shot,' Lori said. 'All those students lived because we were able to get help faster. Time equals life, and we know the faster we can get help on the scene, the more lives we will help to save.' Alyssa was shot while in her English classroom. She survived the first shot, and then while trying to escape before help arrived, the shooter killed her two other friends and then killed Alyssa. An autopsy confirmed she was shot eight times. Three staff members and 13 other students also lost their lives in the school shooting. Illinois advocates concerned about proposed cuts to care hours for developmentally disabled Now, Lori and her husband have turned their pain into action by starting a non-profit that funds school safety projects. They are going around the state to urge lawmakers to implement Alyssa's Law in their schools. Currently, seven states have adopted Alyssa's Law. Two states—Washington and Georgia— also have a bill on their governors' desks waiting to be signed. Under the bill, the State Board of Education will be in charge of the implementation and purchases of the system that all school districts can use. The bill has been re-referred to the Rules Committee. If the bill passes, it will take effect in January 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
School cellphone ban approved by Alabama House of Representatives
The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday approved a bell-to-bell cellphone ban for students in public schools. HB 166, sponsored by Rep. Leigh Hulsey, R-Helena, passed the chamber 79-15. It requires local school boards to adopt a policy to store student cellphones during class hours. Hulsey said during a floor debate on Thursday that the devices could be stored in a device like a Yondr Pouch or a shoe organizer. 'The majority of the schools already participating in this are storing the cellphones in the classroom in various ways,' Hulsey said. Yondr Pouches are an expensive option compared to a $10 plastic over-the-door shoe organizer. Pike Road Junior High School Principal Christy Wright showed the Senate Education Policy Committee how the school implements a ban in February. The $30 Yondr Pouches at Pike Road were purchased with a grant. According to the bill, cell phones can be stored in a locker, car or other storage device so long as the device is not on the student's person. According to the Pew Research Center, 72% of U.S. high school teachers say that cellphone distraction is a major issue in their classrooms. Democratic representatives were concerned about how a student would access their phones in an emergency. Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, said that with school shootings a constant threat, a child should be able to contact their parents. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were 332 school shootings in 2024. There have been 52 in 2025 so far. 'We as a body need to protect our kids since we will not pass a bill to keep guns away from our school children,' Drummond said. Drummond has sponsored bills over the last several years that would effectively require parents to safely store firearms at home. The bills would also have allowed parents to be charged with misdemeanors if a child brought an unsecured weapon to school. But the legislation has not moved. A House committee killed Drummond's latest version of the bill in February. More: Alabama Senate passes bill expanding religious exemptions from vaccines Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Prichard, brought up another potential event that could develop at school where a child may need to contact their parents. He said a student could need a change of clothes in the middle of the day. 'It's not a situation where it's life or death, it's not like somebody is coming in for a school shooting,' he said. 'I just think it's overreaching.' According to the bill, a student can have access to their phones under three exceptions: if they study under an Individualized Education Plan that allows it; for teacher-approved instruction and for medical purposes. Hulsey claimed that there is data that shows that cell phone bans cause improved test scores, retained information and students' mental health. Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, said she would like to see that data. 'I've just not seen the preponderance of students playing games while the teacher is trying to teach, the room being disrupted and out of order,' she said. 'I would just like to see that data at some point.' Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Kimberly Boswell said in February the mental health of students would improve under the ban. Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, echoed that and supported the legislation on the House floor Thursday. 'It's going to make a difference,' Collins said. The House approved an amendment that removed punishments on schools that do not comply. Hulsey said she wished that was still in the bill but would bring a bill in a few years after seeing compliance. There is a survey required in the legislation to monitor compliance. 'I haven't passed a bill yet that I've loved every single thing about it,' Hulsey said. 'All of it takes compromise to move the needle a little bit.' Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, said that enforcement could be difficult without sanctions. 'We need to put some teeth into this bill,' Warren said. 'If we don't we're going to be in the same position next year as we are this year.' The legislation moves to the Senate. Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, has filed a companion bill in that chamber. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Will Alabama ban students' cellphones in public schools?
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama House passes public school cell phone ban
Rep. Leigh Hulsey, R-Helena, arranges papers during a debate over a bill sponsored by Hulsey limiting cell phone access in public schools in the Alabama House of Representatives on April 3, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. The House passed the ban 79-15 on Thursday.(Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama House of Representatives Thursday approved a bell-to-bell cell phone ban for students in public schools. HB 166, sponsored by Rep. Leigh Hulsey, R-Helena, passed the chamber 79-15. It requires local school boards to adopt a policy to store student cell phones during class hours. Hulsey said during a floor debate on Thursday that the devices could be stored in a device like a Yondr Pouch or a shoe organizer. 'The majority of the schools already participating in this are storing the cell phones in the classroom in various ways,' Hulsey said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Yondr Pouches are an expensive option compared to a $10 plastic over-the-door shoe organizer. Pike Road Junior High School Principal Christy Wright showed the Senate Education Policy Committee how the school implements a ban in February. The $30 Yondr Pouches at Pike Road were purchased with a grant. According to the bill, cell phones can be stored in a locker, car or other storage device so long as the device is not on the student's person. According to the Pew Research Center, 72% of U.S. high school teachers say that cellphone distraction is a major issue in their classrooms. Democratic representatives were concerned about how a student would access their phones in an emergency. Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, said that with school shootings a constant threat, a child should be able to contact their parents. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were 332 school shootings in 2024. There have been 52 in 2025 so far. 'We as a body need to protect our kids since we will not pass a bill to keep guns away from our school children,' Drummond said. Drummond has sponsored bills over the last several years that would effectively require parents to safely store firearms at home. The bills would also have allowed parents to be charged with misdemeanors if a child brought an unsecured weapon to school. But the legislation has not moved. A House committee killed Drummond's latest version of the bill in February. Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Prichard, brought up another potential event that could develop at school where a child may need to contact their parents. He said a student could need a change of clothes in the middle of the day. 'It's not a situation where it's life or death, it's not like somebody is coming in for a school shooting,' he said. 'I just think it's overreaching.' According to the bill, a student can have access to their phones under three exceptions: if they study under an Individualized Education Plan that allows it; for teacher-approved instruction and for medical purposes. Hulsey claimed that there is data that shows that cell phone bans cause improved test scores, retained information and students' mental health. Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, said she would like to see that data. 'I've just not seen the preponderance of students playing games while the teacher is trying to teach, the room being disrupted and out of order,' she said. 'I would just like to see that data at some point.' Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Kimberly Boswell said in February the mental health of students would improve under the ban. Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, echoed that and supported the legislation on the House floor Thursday. 'It's going to make a difference,' Collins said. The House approved an amendment that removed punishments on schools that do not comply. Hulsey said she wished that was still in the bill but would bring a bill in a few years after seeing compliance. There is a survey required in the legislation to monitor compliance. 'I haven't passed a bill yet that I've loved every single thing about it,' Hulsey said. 'All of it takes compromise to move the needle a little bit.' Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, said that enforcement could be difficult without sanctions. 'We need to put some teeth into this bill,' Warren said. 'If we don't we're going to be in the same position next year as we are this year.' The legislation moves to the Senate. Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, has filed a companion bill in that chamber. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsinites seek model from Tennesseans on bipartisan conversations about guns
More than 100 people attended the event at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, which included a screening of the documentary about the Tennesseeans' journey and a panel discussion with two of the participants and a handful of Wisconsinites. Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner. Madison School Board member Ali Muldrow said people who work in education know that the 'worst day' is when children get hurt in school. 'When the Abundant Life shooting happened, which was at a private Christian School very close to my home, it was just a really horrible day, and I think I realized it's too late to talk about this,' Muldrow said. 'It's been too late and we can't keep letting it be too late.' A teacher and student were killed and six others were injured by a 15-year-old who brought a gun to Abundant Life Christian School, a private school in Madison, in December 2024. It is the deadliest school shooting on record in Wisconsin. The shooting made national headlines, but it is just one example of children harmed by gun violence. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were 332 school shootings in 2024. A 2024 report by Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions found firearms continue to be a leading cause of death for children and teens, and those who are Black are disproportionately the victims Muldrow, who is running unopposed for another term on the Board this spring, said measures taken to try to prevent shooting deaths at school have not been enough. 'All of the things that we've done to our students haven't resolved this issue — whether it's practicing and having drills or whether it's making our schools harder places to get into,' Muldrow said. 'None of that changes the reality that a 15-year-old went into their school, two guns, and killed multiple people, including themselves.' Students from Madison Metropolitan School District walked out of class in December and marched to the state Capitol to demand something be done about gun violence. 'They asked for two things,' Muldrow said. 'They asked for laws related to gun storage and gun safety, and they asked for more mental health support within their education.' Muldrow said that adults should 'honor' the demands of the students and build bridges across political divides to get the work done. She said having conversations is an important starting point. In the aftermath of the Madison school shooting, Muldrow said she wanted to organize an event to inspire people in the community to feel capable of making change. She turned to a group that tried to find solutions after a school shooting took place about two years ago and more than 620 miles away. Tennesseans were left reeling in 2023 after a shooter killed three 9-year-olds and three adults at the private Christian Covenant elementary school. A nonprofit organization called Builders (formerly known as Starts With Us) that seeks to ease political polarization brought together a group of 11 Tennessee residents with a range of opinions on the issue of guns to discuss and come up with some solutions. Muldrow was part of a similar group in Wisconsin in 2024 that explored the debate on abortion. She saw a documentary about the Tennessee group and thought its approach could be a way for the community affected by the Abundant Life shooting to come together and find a way forward. Muldrow said that the point of the event she helped organize Sunday was not necessarily to 'mirror or mimic what happened in Tennessee, but to learn from that collaborative attitude towards solutions.' More than 100 people attended the event at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, which included a screening of the documentary about the Tennesseeans' journey and a panel discussion with two of the participants and a handful of Wisconsinites. Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll noted during the panel that potential solutions to gun violence would look different for Wisconsin, given the difference in state laws and the general beliefs of residents in each state. A key point of disagreement among participants in the documentary centered on concealed carry permits and whether they should be mandated. Tennessee has allowed for permitless carry of handguns since 2021. Wisconsin already requires a permit for concealed carry, however, and it's mostly not a partisan debate, Franklin said. According to the most recent polling, about 65% of Wisconsinites support concealed carry, but only under certain circumstances. 'We do have a concealed carry law that requires a permit. When the Legislature has considered concealed carry without a permit, we found only about 20% support for that, about 80% opposition,' Franklin said. 'There is a distinction that the public makes… public opinion is quite opposed to that form of concealed carry, but solidly in favor of [concealed carry] with a permit.' Franklin said he thought proposals that originate from and garner support among Second Amendment supporters should be celebrated. He noted that there is a Republican bill that's been introduced in Wisconsin that would create a tax exemption for gun safes. 'That's a small, incremental matter of, what, 5 ½% on the cost of the safe, but on the other hand, when you think of children's access to guns in the home, access to those guns by burglars or other circumstances,' it could be a significant step, Franklin said. Franklin said the idea that 'if you don't get everything you've got nothing' is a huge barrier to progress. 'I would just stress that incremental improvements are still improvements,' Franklin said. Steve D'Orazio, founder and president of the Oregon, Wis., gun shop and range Max Creek Outdoors said during the panel that his business works hard to educate people who acquire guns. He said he has been working with a doctor at the UW Health System to educate doctors on guns and have them talk with their patients about gun safety and awareness, including keeping guns locked away. 'My goal is the safety of our children,' D'Orazio said. The solution to school shootings he emphasized the most was implementing metal detectors in all schools. 'Every one of us here today walked through the front door of this building and we walked through a metal detector, but our schools don't have metal detectors,' D'Orazio said. 'I sell guns. That's our business. There's so much education that we do at our shop to make sure that the gun owner doesn't get hurt and that they use it correctly…, but every school district should have a metal detector. That's how you're going to stop this stuff.' The documentary shows the Tennessee group taking and presenting their recommendations at the Tennessee State Capitol. Those recommendations included temporary removal of firearms based on risk of violence, developing tools to support responsible gun ownership, expanding the role of school resource officers, investing in community to reduce trauma and developing gun literacy resources for schools, communities and media. Tennessee leaders did pass a bill in 2024 requiring education in schools about guns, a policy similar to the recommendation of the group. Though the end result was not exactly as participants imagined it. Adam Luke, a Tennessee marriage and family counselor and conservative, spoke to how the 'rush to be right' by lawmakers on the issue may diminish the effectiveness of the legislation. 'People will not be able to opt out [of the curriculum]. Now, I would like to turn to conservative America and say, 'If you did not have the ability to opt your child out of sex education would that bother you?'' Luke asked. 'This is what happens when you have super majorities.' Luke said that the Tennessee Department of Education also doesn't have the curriculum for teachers and just recently closed the public response period. He said lawmakers were so quick to want to get something done that they've created a policy that may not be effective. 'Let's say that we did something, but guess what? We forgot to actually give you the resources to be successful with it,' Luke said. Political polarization was on display following the Madison school shooting. Muldrow said she has been 'saddened' by the divide. 'It's really hard to see our Legislature be so divided and in such a contentious relationship with our governor, and it's a shame because all of these people represent us and there is an expectation that they work together,' Muldrow said. Since the shooting, Gov. Tony Evers has launched the Office of Violence Prevention and has proposed adopting further gun safety policies including stricter background checks and red flag laws. Republican lawmakers were quick to criticize Evers' proposals and have been developing their own proposals for addressing school shootings, including financial support for the Office of School Safety and allowing teachers to be armed. The Madison Common Council and the Dane County Board of Supervisors both passed resolutions urging the Legislature to take action and implement common-sense gun measures. Steven Olikara, a former candidate for Wisconsin Senate and founder of the nonpartisan organization the Future Caucus, said the actions of local leaders and Evers are a step forward, but the state needs to take bigger steps. 'Those bigger steps will come from bringing Democrats and Republicans together in a real way and building trust,' Olikara said. 'And I think conversations like this can help create that kind of momentum. [When people are at] each other's throats, the kind of progress you make is very small and very incremental. When you have conversations like the one today, you can reach transformative change, and that's really what we need.' Tennessee educator Alyssa Pearman, who lost one of her students to gun violence, said the key is to keep showing up to have the conversations. 'You are going to be told no, and you are going to have people who have no interest in making a change and being a builder, but you keep showing up,' Pearman said. 'You find people who want to do something, who want a better tomorrow, and you have conversations like these… This is the type of conversation that needs to be had, whether it's in Wisconsin, whether it's in Tennessee and whatever state where we have this crisis.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
