Parents arrested after three children test positive for meth

Three children- ages 1, 2, and 3- were tested positive for drugs in Florence, Texas. Their parents, Michael Denson and Melody Whatley, were taken to the Williamson County jail, and are facing child endangerment charges. The children were taken by Child Protective Services because of the "garbage, filth, and stench all about the house" according to the affidavit. According to this article, this is not the first instance that their children have tested positive for drugs. When Melody Whatley gave birth to her children in 2001 and 2006, they both tested positive for marijuana. Although Child Protective Services knew that the children tested positive for marijuana, they didn't think that Whatley's drug use would endanger them.

So, really, what is the world coming to? The parents definitely deserve to go to jail -for a very long time. It's amazing that the garbage and filth was the reason the children were removed from the home and not the fact that 2 of her children tested positive for marijuana at birth. That should've been a red flag right there. Surely this will be a lesson to Child Protective Services. If a woman has the audacity to use while pregnant, she is definitely not going to stop after her child is born.


http://www.statesman.com/news/content/gen/ap/TX_Children_Meth.html

Pepper Spray Used More Liberally on Kids

The Texas County Court was informed that incarcerated teens are being pepper sprayed not only when they cause a threat, but also when they don't follow routine orders and while on suicide watch. So far this year, there has been approximately 1200 reports of pepper spray being used compared to the 196 reports that were logged last year. Although there are many people that are disturbed by this, there are still those few who are behind it. In my opinion this is horrible. It's one thing to use pepper spray when a teen has used a threat, but to spray them for no reason is just wrong. All this is going to do is make them much angrier when it is time to get out. More so for the kids who are on suicide watch; it doesn't make any sense to do this. These kids are obviously troubled enough if they've tried to kill themselves, so why would you give them even more reason to?

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/11/20/1120pepper.html

Man gets Death after Killing of McKinney Sales Agent

In McKinney, Texas, Chanthakoummane, was given the death penalty for the July 2006 murder of Sarah Walker, a sales agent. Her body was found by a couple in the kitchen of a model home; she had been stabbed 33 times. Chanthakoummane's defense attorny tried to convince the jury that his life should be spared because was a model prisoner. This is rediculous, just because he was a "model prisoner" doesn't mean that he didn't commit the crime. Take responsibility for your actions. The jury made the right decision by giving him the death penalty.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/gen/ap/TX_Sales_Agent_Killed.html

Apologies Help Boost Police Credibilty

This article is about a personal apology from the Austin Police Department given to a driver who was pulled over and attacked on loop 1. The officer, Thomas O'Connor, pulled over Eugene Snelling for going five miles over the speed limit. The video camera on O'Connor's vehicle shows the officer demanding Snelling's drivers license and registration, and then ordering him out of the vehicle when Snelling's hesitates. O'Connor then proceeds to taser him within forty-five seconds of being pulled over.

This article was written very well. The writer provided information about the article in which the apology was for; as well as, information on the current issue at hand. He or she expresses the dissaproval of the officers who watched the video. The punishment officer O'Connor was given is clearly stated in this article; it is also said that it was used as a lesson for other officers.

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/editorial/index.html

Sagewood Trail in San Marcos is the home of many Texas State students. Located in front of many single-family homes, the students cause quiete a disturbance. Because of several conflicts and continuous complaints from residents who live behind Sagewood Trail, the San Marcos City Council has decided to consider a rental registration ordinance. The ordinance would require that all residential landlords register with the city, open apartments to annual inspection, and pay annual fees.

This article is important to read, because it involves the privacy and respect of local residents who are trying to raise families in San Marcos. Because San Marcos is known as a party town, thats exactly what is going to go on. Something definitely needs to be done about the behavior of students living in San Marcos.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/09/24/0924rentalpermits.html