Staff Report

One Dead At Delta State University Shooting, Shooter Still At Large

UPDATED 1:56 P.M.

The Bolivar County Coroner’s office in Mississippi identified the victim shot at Delta State University as Professor Ethan A. Schmidt, according to the personal Twitter account of Jake Hyman, a CBS Radio News reporter. Hyman reports that Schmidt was a professor of American History at the university.

  UPDATED 1:50 P.M. A gunman shot and killed a professor at Delta State University in Mississippi on Monday. The campus remains on lockdown, asking those on campus to stay indoors away from windows as the shooter remains at large. CNN reports that the victim was male and was in his office at the time of the shooting. Delta State is a small college (just over 3,000 undergrad students) and is located in Cleveland, Mississippi, just on the Mississippi-Arkansas border.

Video of students at Delta State barricading their classroom while in lockdown. (Video via Heavy.com) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNqqJ99I_Gc&feature=youtu.be UPDATE: 1:13 PM Delta State sent out another Tweet telling students to remain in buildings on the campus.

Delta State University has confirmed one fatality. Campus remains under lockdown. Please stay inside and away from windows. — Delta State (@DeltaState) September 14, 2015

This is a developing story that will be updated frequently.

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Video Of The Day: This Cute Little Girl Thinks She’s Just Like Serena Williams

Here’s a fun video to help you get through the afternoon.

Kimberly J. Harris posted this adorable video of her daughter explaining her tennis talent on Facebook last week. It has since gone viral.

How could you disagree with her? She is just like Serena Williams.

On a more serious note, the real Williams is just two victories away from completing the Grand Slam this season.

Cover Photo Credit: Kimberly J. Harris/Facebook

Rise News Announces New Editor-In-Chief

Setareh Baig, a journalist from Weston, Florida has been named Rise News’s editor-in-chief.

Baig graduated from Florida State University last month, where she led the school newspaper the FSView and Florida Flambeau to impressive growth and increased journalistic excellence.

A rising star in the field, Baig boasts a diverse work background that has provided her great insight in how to organize young writers into producing great pieces of  journalism.

Baig was lauded for her leadership during a campus shooting last November. In a tough judgement call, Baig and her team decided to not print the name of the shooter because of the potential impact on the still shocked campus community. It was a decision widely applauded on campus and in the greater Tallahassee area.

Rise News is a globally-focused grassroots journalism outlet that launched on August 31. It is owned by Rise News Group LLC, a Miami based company.

Over 100 of the best young journalists from around the world (including places like the United Kingdom, Canada and Egypt) are involved with the project. The company aims to increase that number to around 1,000 by the end of the year.

Baig said that she was excited about the opportunity to lead a globally focused organization.

“I’m excited to lead Rise News because we get to cover stories from everywhere,” Baig said. “On the Internet, you get all these perspectives, but sometimes you have to sift through the fluff to get to the stuff you really want to see. You have to seek it out yourself.”

Baig’s addition is a major development in the growth of the nascent media company.

“Our goal is to totally change the game and become the greatest source of news in the world for our generation,” Rise News CEO and Publisher Rich Robinson said. “Setareh is the missing piece that we needed to make this ambitious dream into a reality. With her, we can build something really special and important.”

Baig’s task is a immense one. She will be in charge of Rise News’ editorial content and in helping turn it into a global news organization – one with high standards.

“We are not building another clickbait site or something exploitive here,” Robinson said. “Setareh has a very traditional sense of journalistic values and some really innovative ideas on how to quickly build an audience of smart and urbane millennials.”

Baig said that she was excited about introducing the Rise News audience to new issues and places that aren’t covered by traditional news organizations.

“If we could find voices from the depths of a place we’ve never head of, then I would love that,” Baig said.

For press requests, please email [email protected]

James Franco Is Going To Teach A High School Acting Class

Hey kiddos, this is pretty cool.

James Franco, one of the most interesting and perplexing (really just another word for cool) actors of our generation has decided to give teaching high school kids his craft a shot.

Franco announced on his Instagram page that he would be teaching a course for high school aged students in Palo Alto, CA at Palo Alto Senior High School.

The actor is a 1996 graduate of the school and is looking to teach 24 students in the film workshop.

Franco is well known for his serious commitment to education. After all, how many Hollywood superstars have actually gone on to teach college level courses and pursue an Ph.D? 

According to the entertainment website Hello Giggles, Franco is used to being in a college classroom:

“Since 2006, he has attended UCLA, Columbia University, NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Brooklyn College, Warren Wilson College, Yale University, and the Rhode Island School of Design. He has studied filmmaking, English, creative writing (including poetry), and more.”

Would you want to be in Franco’s acting class? What do you think it would be like? Tell us in the comments below.

Cover Photo Credit: James Franco/Instagram

Former NYC Police Chief Claims There’s A “Ferguson Effect” Hurting Police Work

Earlier this morning on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” television program, former New York police chief Ray Kelly said that New York City was in danger of slipping back to a period of high crime and that police officers were scared of properly doing their jobs because of a “Ferguson effect”.

The comments came during a conversation with Kelly over Mayor Bill DeBlasio’s policies.

Joe Scarborough, a former republican Congressman and host of the show asked Kelly if he believed there to be a “Ferguson effect”, referencing the fallout from the killing of an unarmed black teenager in a St. Louis suburb.

“Absolutely,” Kelly said in response to Scarborough’s question. “Ironically of course, Daryl Wilson was totally exonerated by the Justice Department. We talk about Ferguson but a lot of people forget that fact.”

Bill Gallo funeral mass

Kelly went on to explain his reasoning.

“The Ferguson effect is that police officers… are thinking twice before they engage. And with the advent of [body] cameras, which I ultimately support cameras are going to make officers hesitate somewhat. In some people’s minds that’s good, in some people’s minds that’s bad. But I think you’re experiencing now reluctance for police to do what they’ve done in the last 20 years. Crime is down dramatically in other parts of the country, I attribute it to smarter policing proactive policing. You’re seeing a backing off from that for a variety of reasons.

“I think everybody has to be concerned of that possibility,” Kelly said when asked if he feared if the city would slide back to a period of high crime associated with the late 1980’s. “Bill Bratton is a top flight professional but the mayor sets the tone.”

Kelly refused to slam the door on a possible mayoral run when asked by show host.

“I’m happy right now with what I’m doing,” Kelly said.

Cover Photo Credit: Vincent/Flickr (CC By 2.0)

Body Photo Credit: MarineCorps NewYork/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)

Martyr No More: Kentucky Clerk To Be Released From Jail Today

NBC News is reporting that Kim Davis, the Kentucky Clerk who refused to marry gay couples will be released from jail.

The New York Times’ Alan Blinder is also reporting that Davis will be released.

BREAKING: Federal judge lifts contempt order against Kim Davis, the clerk of Rowan County. She is to be released from jail. Story soon.

Same-sex marriage was legalized in the whole of the United States in a high profile Supreme Court case in June.

Read the court order releasing Davis from jail from Fox News report Kevin Corke:

 

Continue to follow Rise News as we follow this breaking news.

This Minnesota Twins Bat Boy Is Our Spirit Animal

The Minnesota Twins are battling it out for a chance to make the postseason for the first time since 2010 and it is sure to be a grueling few weeks for the squad moving forward.

Enter a hero. (Also known as a team batboy who can dance really good).

Tori Hunter, a longtime star for the team posted to Instagram this video of a (currently) unnamed batboy totally nailing the “Hit the Quan” dance.

He is the hero we all need right now.

Cover Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Tori Hunter (Instagram)

BREAKING: Tom Brady Wins Deflategate Appeal, Will Play Start Of Season

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10:38 AM- According to court documents released today, NFL spent $3 million on investigation of Brady and the New England Patriots. Only to have the star quarterback face no loss of play.

10:33 AM- Click here to read U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman decision on Deflategate.

10:27 AM- Tom Brady will not miss the first four games of the NFL season according to multiple media reports after a district court judge overturned his league imposed suspension.

This is a developing story and we will update this post frequently.

 

 

Cover Photo Credit: Keith Allison/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Wall Street: Stocks Bounce Back After Brutal Tuesday Sell Off

3:10 PM- Stocks are up across the board about 1%. Dow up around 190 points (+1.17%), NASDAQ up around 70 points (1.52%).

9:35 AM- The Dow Jones Industrial Average sits over 200 points above where it started as trading got off to a hot start on Wall Street. The rebound comes right after a rough Tuesday on the street where stocks lost over 400 points.

The NASDAQ is also up this morning- around 60 points (a 1.30 percent positive change).

Stay with Rise News as we continue to follow this developing story. 

Cover Photo Credit: Dave Center/Flickr (CC By 2.0)

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