Flatulence results in dismissal from school bus for two boys

Ayinde O. Chase – AHN News Editor

Canal Winchester, OH, United States (AHN) – Two Ohio boys were kicked off the school bus for passing gas and being a disruption.

The incident happened on Thursday and according to one of the boys’ father caused riders to laugh, heckle and of course roll their windows down.

James Nichols in a report with the Columbus Dispatch said they boys were considered repeat offenders because a driver had warned them after a similar indiscretion weeks ago.

However this time officials at Canal Winchester Middle School intervened and deemed it was an obscene gesture that violated the student code of conduct. They were banned for a day from riding.

Nichols on the other hand calls the whole thing “laughable” the kids would be subject to disciplinary action for something natural and unintentional. His wife who was recently hospitalized with gastro-intestinal issues was offended by the whole thing.

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California mom admits to giving 8-year-old botox

Ayinde O. Chase – AHN News Editor

San Francisco, CA, United States (AHN) – A British beautician has sparked the ire of parents on both sides of the Atlantic after revealing she injects Botox into her 8-year-old daughter’s face every three months. The reason– so the child can be a “star.”

In a report in the Sun of London she said, “I wish that I’d had the same advantages when I was younger.”

“I know one day she will be a model, actress, or singer, and having these treatments will ensure she stays looking baby-faced for longer,” added Campbell, who now resides in San Francisco.

Campbell admitted she purchases Botox and Restalyne over the Internet and first tests them on herself before injecting them into her daughter.

Kerry also gives her daughter regular full-body waxes. “She also has her virgin wax monthly, which gets rid of her fluffy leg hair and makes sure she won’t develop pubic hair in the future,” said Kerry. “It will save her a fortune in waxing when she’s older.”

Despite experts warning that Botox is only considered safe for adults there currently aren’t any laws stating that it is illegal to inject it into children.

Britney Campbell who frequently competes in beauty pageants said that she no longer “cries that much” during the injections. She also hopes to get a “boob and nose job soon, so that I can be a star.”

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Study: Blood protein levels linked cardiovascular events

Ayinde O. Chase – AHN News Editor

Toronto, Canada (AHN) – According to a recent study elevated levels of a protein that helps regulate the body’s blood pressure may also predict a major cardiovascular event in high-risk patients.

By assessing the protein, known as plasma renin activity (PRA), in the blood stream may give doctors another tool to assess a patient’s risk and help prevent a heart attack or stroke.

“Conventional factors like genetics and environment do not always provide a complete patient story and an understanding of cardiovascular risk,” says Dr. Subodh Verma, senior author, researcher and cardiovascular surgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital.

Verma goes on to say, “The plasma renin activity blood marker allows us to identify people at a higher risk and that gives us the opportunity to introduce therapies that would work to lower a patient’s PRA levels.”

If further testing proves conclusive analysis levels of the protein would be another tool in a doctor’s arsenal to evaluate a patient’s risk for heart attack or stroke, thereby providing preventative measures.

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3 in 10 Americans admit to consuming alcohol at least once a week

Ayinde O. Chase – AHN News Editor

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – According to a recent study, three in 10 Americans aged 21 and older consume alcohol at least once a week.

The study also found that 5 percent drink daily whereas 10 percent drink numerous times a week.

Beer, domestic wine and vodka appear to be the alcoholic beverages of choice

Other findings include one in five Americans 21 or older (20 percent) say they drink alcohol at least once a month and 15 percent drink it several times a year.

Another 22 percent report they never touch liquid libations.

Males were also found to be more frequent drinkers than women. Almost two in five men (38 percent) say they drink at least once a week compared to 21 percent of women.

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Ayinde O. Chase – AHN News Editor

Bergen, Germany (AHN) – 71% of teachers feel that a secure internet “parent portal,” where parents could see details about their child’s schooling, would improve school-to-parent communication.

In the survey conducted by itslearning on teachers in France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the U.S., 75% of the 5,805 teachers surveyed said parental involvement is important to student’s education. However 44% said they didn’t have the time or means to communicate with parents as much as they would like.

“Teachers agree that involving parents is critical, but they aren’t able to communicate with parents effectively,” says Morten Fahlvik, Research Manager at itslearning.

Teachers currently communicate with parents with 46% of them using email reach their students’ parents at least once a month; 37% use texts/SMSs and 24% still send letters.

School Boards and technology companies are currently experimenting with different online tools to make the teacher parent communication relationship more seamless.

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Ayinde O. Chase – AHN News Editor

Johannesburg, South Africa (AHN) – A dead baby is now tied to a student of Oprah Winfrey’s South African school for girls.

The child was found in the bag of a 17-year-old girl who was rushed to an area hospital suffering from excessive bleeding.

Officials believe that the unidentified girl hid her pregnancy then gave birth secretly at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. Hospital staffers discovered the lifeless infant.

The girl is still being treated at the hospital at this time no charges have been filed against her. However police are still investigating.

Because the case involves a minor a spokesman for the Chicago-based school said they would not be commenting.

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First lady Michelle Obama doesn’t allow daughters on Facebook

Ayinde O. Chase – AHN News Editor

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – Although millions of American children and teens are on the popular social networking site Facebook and use it to communicate across the digital expanse. There are two children with the last name of Obama whose mother won’t allow them on the site.

While speaking on NBC’s “Today” show first lady Michelle Obama said security issues limit some of the things her daughters can’t do.

However, even if they were two normal kids living in Chicago, she wouldn’t allow them on the site.

Michelle, who is “not a big fan of young kids having Facebook,” says Facebook is “not something they need.” She did say that when they get older it may be a something that gets revisited.

While on the morning program Obama also revealed her husband doesn’t dye his hair and attributed images that reveal a darker hair color could just be the lighting the picture was taken in.

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Principal at NYC prep school fired over affair with 18-year-old ex-student

Ayinde O. Chase – AHN News Editor

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – The principal at a private New York City prep school has been fired after school officials learned he was having an affair with an 18-year-old ex-student.

Christopher Durnford, 39, served as principal of York Prep until he was dismissed over the winter break, according to a New York Post article.

The school was founded by his father-in-law Ronald Stewart. Stewart’s daughter Jayme is married to Durnford, so it’s no surprise that when the affair was discovered his job was placed on the chopping block.

Stewart notified parents of the change in the institution’s administration last week in a welcome back letter to students and parents. Durnford has since been replaced by the middle school dean.

According to reports, nothing sexual happened while the girl was enrolled, however fellow students noticed an intimacy between the two of them. The student was on the volleyball team, and Durnford served as coach.

Students said that the two appeared to be close and she was often seen going into his office.

The student reportedly involved with Durnford graduated last June.

Tuition at the 40-year-old sixth-through-12th grade academy costs parents an average of $35,000 a year.

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French police free nursery school hostages from sword-brandishing teen

Ayinde O. Chase – AHN News Editor

Besancon, France (AHN) – An elite French police force ended a dramatic situation on Monday after a teen held a nursery school hostage with a sword.

Police arrested the 17-year-old boy after the last remaining toddlers and their teacher were freed.

The tense ordeal occurred in the eastern city of Besancon. Initially the teen took 20 children hostage but released most of the youngsters over the course of the morning. He kept five children and their teacher for several hours.

The one-story education facility was located in the middle of a public housing estate.

Education Minister Luc Chatel travelled to the scene and told local media the young man did not threaten the children and had allowed them to go to the bathroom when they needed to.

The teen’s motives remain unclear. Authorities say he had been previously treated for depression but had not taken his medication in recent days.

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Columbia University professor charged with incest

Ayinde O. Chase – AHN News Editor

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – A Columbia University political science professor and past political analyst for CBS was arrested on charges of incest. Investigators say he engaged in three year long consensual relationship with his 24-year-old daughter.

David Epstein, 46 was arrested on Wednesday and was arraigned on Thursday for the illegal sexual nature of his relationship with his daughter between 2006 and 2009. He is being charged with one count of incest in the third degree.

The well-liked educator specializes in American politics and voting rights and in addition to teaching at Columbia has taught at Harvard and Stanford.

Columbia University spokesman Robert Hornsby said Epstein is now on administrative leave and is no longer teaching students.

Epstein’s defense attorney, Matthew Galluzzo, is asking that people give Epstein “the benefit of the doubt,” and is asking that the University community give his client their support.

Epstein was married to Sharyn O’Halloran another lecturer at the university, but the two reportedly recently divorced.

According to sources the victim was over 18 when the relationship began in 2006 and that father and daughter often exchanged salacious text messages.

Published reports also reveal Epsten’s ex-wife O’Halloran was recently seen speaking with a private investigator.

If convicted he faces four years in prison but on Thursday he was released on his own recognizance.

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