Middle school closes after students exposed to mercury
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio middle school was closed after 40 students and a teacher were exposed to mercury when a thermometer broke inside a science classroom.
No one reported becoming sick at the school that was closed Thursday so it could be cleaned and checked. A Columbus City Schools spokesman said mercury got on the skin and clothes of students and a teacher when the thermometer broke Wednesday afternoon at Johnson Park Middle School.
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency website says skin contact with mercury can lead to irritation and a burning sensation, and that inhaling it can result in chest pains and vomiting.
It’s unclear if the thermometer was brought in by a student, or if it was an older one at the school.
The district’s spring break starts Friday.
Man charged with importing potent drug fentanyl from China
MASSILLON, Ohio (AP) — A federal grand jury has indicted an Ohio man for buying the powerful opiate fentanyl from China.
Twenty-nine-year-old Daniel Stolte, of Massillon, was indicted on possession with intent to distribute and importation charges. His attorney couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Thursday.
A Department of Homeland Security agent’s court affidavit says a package intercepted at the Massillon post office last month contained 100 grams of nearly pure fentanyl, or enough for 1,000 doses. Investigators replaced the fentanyl with bogus drugs and monitored the package when it was delivered to Stolte’s address.
The affidavit says Stolte told agents he bought the drugs for $800 for personal use. Agents suspect Stolte also sold the drug.
Fentanyl has been blamed for an alarming rise in overdose deaths nationwide in the last few years.
Cincinnati woman denies intentionally hitting teen with car
CINCINNATI (AP) — A woman charged with murder denies intentionally hitting an 18-year-old woman with her car and dragging her during an altercation in downtown Cincinnati.
A judge set bond at $1 million for 20-year-old Briana Benson on Thursday after she pleaded not guilty in the death of Madelyn Hart.
The charges against Benson also include felonious assault, aggravated vehicular homicide and failure to stop after a crash.
An attorney for the Cincinnati woman says Benson strongly denies intentionally hitting Hart and has cooperated with investigators.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters alleges Benson hit Hart intentionally on March 26, dragging her about 88 feet.
Deters has said that Hart banged on Benson’s car before she was struck. But he says that doesn’t provide a right to run over someone.
Ohio mom accused of causing diabetic girl’s insulin overdose
CLEVELAND (AP) — A northeast Ohio woman suspected of intentionally causing an insulin overdose for her young diabetic daughter is charged with assault and child endangering.
Cleveland.com reports the 6-year-old girl was taken in mid-March to a Cleveland hospital, where social workers alerted police that her system had far too much synthetic insulin, which is used to manage blood sugar. Police say that can cause seizures or more serious problems for such a child.
Her mother, 22-year-old Deva Young, of Warren, has been jailed in Cleveland on $15,000 bond. Court records listed no attorney for Young.
Her ex-husband says in a court affidavit that their daughter previously was hospitalized for similar incidents.
That affidavit was filed as he sought custody of their two children in Trumbull County. A judge granted his request.
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Information from: cleveland.com, http://www.cleveland.com
