Students from Benton Hall Academy in Little Falls and Fisher Elementary School in Mohawk have been donating money to honor the memory of Martin Richard, the eight-year-old boy killed in the Boston Marathon bombing.
The money will benefit the Richard Family Fund, as Martin's father, mother and sister were injured in the April 15 terrorist attack. Bill Richard, 42, lost hearing from the explosion and had leg wounds from the bomb shrapnel, Denise Richard, 43, was seriously wounded in the eye and Jane Richard, 7, lost the bottom part of her left leg.
PHOENIX — The judge in the Jodi Arias murder trial declared a mistrial in the penalty phase Thursday after the jury reported for a second time that it was deadlocked on whether to sentence her to life in prison or death for killing her boyfriend in 2008. The judge scheduled a retrial for July 18. A new panel likely will be seated to try again to reach a decision on a sentence — unless the prosecutor takes death off the table agrees to a life sentence.
GRAPEVINE, Texas — The Boy Scouts of America threw open its ranks Thursday to gay Scouts but not gay Scout leaders — a fiercely contested compromise that some warned could fracture the organization and lead to mass defections of members and donors. Of the roughly 1,400 voting members of the BSA's National Council who cast ballots, 61 percent supported the proposal drafted by the governing Executive Committee. The policy change takes effect Jan. 1.
State and local officials, along with area residents, gathered in the Herkimer County Community College gymnasium Tuesday evening to remember the victims of the March shootings in Mohawk and Herkimer and to honor all those who served during the events of March 13 and 14.
Herkimer County Legislature Chairman Vincent J. Bono, who served as master of ceremonies for the Day of Reflection and Recognition ceremony, called the shootings “a tragic, senseless act that left four men dead and two more seriously injured.” He added, “This horrific event shattered our sense of security. Many of us never thought anything like this would ever happen here.”
The EF5 tornado that devastated Moore, Okla., on Monday has caused untold damage and claimed at least 24 lives. If you want to help, check out the information below.