As Rutgers strike begins and classes are canceled, negotiations continue with NJ governor's oversight
As hundreds of faculty took to the picket lines Monday at Rutgers University's three New Jersey campuses, union and administration negotiators were on their way to the governor's office to resume talks, with both sides suggesting that a deal could be reached quickly.
Speaking from a picket line at the New Brunswick campus, Rebecca Givan, president of the Rutgers AAUP-AFT, said she was optimistic the strike could be resolved in a day or two, now that Gov. Phil Murphy is involved. "The governor has made it clear that he wants us to get a strong contract and a fair deal, and we think we can get this done," she said. "We could close it in a day or two."
Bargaining in the governor's office began at noon, and is expected to continue there until a contract is reached.
"We are encouraged and welcome his leadership and are hopeful that we can quickly come to a resolution of the remaining outstanding issues," Rutgers spokesperson Dory Devlin said.
—The Philadelphia Inquirer
900 kids between age 10 and 12 are arrested in Colorado every year. Is that too young to be criminally prosecuted?
DENVER — The 12-year-old lay in a bed in the intensive care unit, gasping for breath during a severe asthmatic reaction.
While deciding whether to intubate him, Dr. Carly Muller couldn’t take her eyes away from the handcuffs chaining the boy to the hospital bed. Or the guard standing above him. The boy was in the custody of the juvenile justice system and hadn’t been receiving his medications.
“It really seemed unnecessary when this boy literally couldn’t catch his breath, let alone run away,” the Children’s Hospital Colorado pediatrician said, describing the scene to state legislators last week.
How young is too young for handcuffs, arrest and prosecution? Colorado lawmakers will decide this year whether to ban the criminal prosecution of kids ages 10 through 12 for any crimes other than homicide, and instead handle criminal behavior among that age group outside of the juvenile court system.
—The Denver Post
A single North Texas hospital saw 30 infant deaths from unsafe sleeping in last 15 months
DALLAS — Cook Children’s Medical Center saw 30 infants die because of unsafe sleeping situations, according to new data released by the Fort Worth children’s center.
Doctors at the pediatric hospital say new and exhausted parents are putting their children at risk by sleeping together in the same bed or using unneeded blankets and cushions in cribs.
Waking up every few hours in the middle of the night to feed their newborn, parents may find it easier to let the baby sleep in their bed with them. It’s a seemingly harmless decision that can lead to a parent’s worst nightmare.
This is the first time the hospital has released data on infant deaths linked to unsafe sleep, so it’s difficult to compare with years past. But trauma injury prevention coordinator Sharon Evans said the death toll in the past 15 months is at the highest peak since she began her role at Cook Children’s in 2008. A majority of the deaths involved co-sleeping with at least one parent or caregiver.
—The Dallas Morning News
Dalai Lama apologizes after video shows him kissing boy
The Dalai Lama apologized Monday after he was caught on camera kissing a young boy on the lips and asking the boy to “suck my tongue.” “His Holiness wishes to apologize to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused,” read a statement on the Dalai Lama’s website.
The boy was part of a charity group that visited the 87-year-old Dalai Lama in February at his exile headquarters at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharamsala, India. The video shows the boy approaching the Dalai Lama and asking him for a hug. The Buddhist spiritual leader tells the boy to join him on stage.
The Dalai Lama then directs the boy to kiss him on the cheek, which he does. The two then embrace. After the embrace, the Dalai Lama tells the boy, “I think here also” and points at his lips. He then pulls the boy in close and kisses him. The Dalai Lama continues holding the boy’s face. He then says, “And suck my tongue.” The boy initially pulls away, but the Dalai Lama holds him and they again touch foreheads. The video does not show the boy sucking the Dalai Lama’s tongue.
“His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras,” read Monday’s statement. “He regrets the incident.”
—New York Daily News
