Texas Tribune Daily Brief
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| Health District Seeks Data on Toxic Lead in Children to Craft Ordinance |
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Waco-McL= ennan County Public Health District officials on Wednesday gave health employees two months to draft an ordinance to attack the problem of flaking lead paint that is poisoning Waco-area children. The model ordinance, which would be up to local member cities to approve, could use inspections as a tool to limit homeowner and renter exposure to toxic lead, which can hinder children's physical and mental development. But the specifics of such an ordinance have yet to be hammered out, partly because health district officials say they need more data. Kelly Craine, public information specialist for the district, said the particulars of Waco's lead problem are unclear because the Texas Department of State Health Services until recently has been reluctant to share its data on child blood lead testing. Craine said public health officials would like to analyze the prevalence of lead poisoning by geography and even make site visits to affected households.
J.B. SMITH, Waco Tribune Herald10/19/2017    |
| Read Article: Waco Tribune Herald |
| PG&E Facing Lawsuit Over Rampant Fires in Northern California |
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A lawsuit has been filed against PG&E over the recent fires in California by a couple who says the electric company failed to take preventative measures in the face of dangerous drought conditions. According to their lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, "PG&E failed to properly maintain and to repair power lines while also negligently failing to properly trim, prune and maintain vegetation near their electrical equipment." The couple is seeking compensation for personal property losses and "emotional harm." The death toll from the fires, which have destroyed parts of Northern California, has risen to 42, as of Wednesday.
Dan Whitcomb, Reuters10/18/2017 |
| Read Article: Reuters |
| Injured Baseball Fan Has Uphill Battle in Suit Against Chicago Cubs |
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A baseball fan who was struck in the face by a ball at a Chicago Cubs game has filed suit against the team this week. The man suffered permanent blindness in one eye when he was struck in the face by a foul ball. However, he faces an uphill court battle due to the history of such cases. A lawsuit was previously filed by a woman who suffered similar injuries while attending a game. The ball broke several bones in her face and resulted in permanent blindness in her left eye. However, her lawsuit was by the Indiana Supreme Court in 2014 because of the so-called Baseball Rule, which protects stadiums from liability in fan injury lawsuits. According to the rule, which is now over a century old, spectators past the protective netting are presumed to have willingly assumed the risk of being hit by a ball or bat.
Steve Schmadeke and Elvia Malagon, Chicago Tribune10/14/2017 |
| Read Article: Chicago Tribune |
| Fraternity Denies Allegations in University of Oklahoma Hazing Lawsuit |
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The Beta Theta Pi fraternity has denied allegations in a lawsuit over an alleged hazing-related injury to a student at the University of Oklahoma. The lawsuit filed Sept. 29 in Tulsa County District Court alleges that the male student was injured when a member of the fraternity hit him with a baseball bat. According to the lawsuit, after being hit with the bat, the student fell and hit his head and lost consciousness. The lawsuit seeks actual and punitive damages from Beta Theta Pi Corporation of Oklahoma, the OU chapter, Beta Theta Pi, and two fraternity members.
Kathryn McNutt, NewsOK.com10/07/2017 |
| Read Article: NewsOK.com |
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