No indictment for congresswoman
A grand jury declined Friday to indict Rep. Cynthia McKinney in connection with a confrontation in which she admitted hitting a police officer who tried to stop her from entering a House office building.
The grand jury had been considering the case since shortly after the March 29 incident.
The encounter began when McKinney, D-Ga., tried to enter a House office building without walking through a metal detector or wearing the lapel pin that identifies members of Congress. Paul McKenna of the Capitol Police did not recognize her as a member of Congress and asked her three times to stop. When she ignored him, he tried to stop her. McKinney then hit him.
McKinney described the encounter as “racial profiling,” insisting she had been assaulted and had done nothing wrong. McKinney is black. McKenna is white.
She received little public support for that stance, even within the Congressional Black Caucus.
Cornwall, Conn.
Tycoon’s son faces burglary charges
The son of billionaire oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens was charged with burglary after he was found hiding under a desk in a fly fishing shop, authorities said.
Michael Pickens, 51, of Nocona, Texas, spent three days in jail following his arraignment Monday in Bantam Superior Court.
He was found Sunday inside the Housatonic Meadows Fly Shop after the store’s manager noticed something wrong and called police, according to state police.
Austin, Texas
Topless pictures haunt art teacher
Until they found the topless photos, Austin High School officials considered Tamara Hoover an excellent art teacher with a knack for helping students find their creativity.
Now, she’s fighting for her job.
The photos, which were posted on Flickr.com by her partner, depict Hoover in the shower, lifting weights, getting dressed, in bed and doing other routine activities.
Hoover said Friday the photos are art and makes no apologies. “I’m an artist and I’m going to participate in the arts,” Hoover said.
The school district said the photos were inappropriate and violate the “higher moral standard” expected of public school teachers. As she was escorted out of class last month she was told she’s become an ineffective teacher.
The district wants to revoke her teaching certification, which would keep her out of Texas classrooms permanently. Hoover said she would appeal such a ruling and is prepared to take the case to court.