Parkland Commission Recommends Giving Guns to Teachers

A commission charged with investigating last year’s mass shooting in Parkland, Florida recommends that teachers who volunteer to undergo training be allowed to carry firearms in schools. The Guardian reports that the state-appointed, 15-member Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school public safety commission unanimously approved the 446-page report. Included within was a recommendation to arm teachers,



Rock Island County Agrees to Settle Whistleblower Lawsuit for $630,000

Last month, Rock Island County agreed to settle a lawsuit for $630,000, bring an end to a legal battle that has lasted more than five years. The suit was originally filed by three former employees of Partners in Job Training and Placement/Workforce Development (PJTP) after they were fired for “reporting alleged financial fraud conducted by Mark Lohman, who was then interim director.” The three former employees were Jeanette Dawson, Carol Slavish and Michelle Holmes.






Mother Accused of Giving Baby Methadone Hit with $900,000 Lawsuit

Magan Michelle McDermott was recently criminally accused of “doping her 5-month-old baby with methadone, reportedly in an effort to get him to sleep.” As a result, she is now facing a $900,000 lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of her deceased son. The suit itself was filed last week and also seeks to stop McDermott from collecting a “$130,000 pending payment from the state for the death of her 15-year-old daughter, Gloria Joya.”