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Threat prompts Tennessee school to remove Trump painting
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uMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee school officials have removed a piece of student art depicting President Donald Trump and the Statue of Liberty after receiving a threat.

According to news reports, the painting has been hung in the hallway of Southwind High School — located just outside of Memphis — since 2016. The painting showed Trump with his mouth covered by white brush strokes and the Statue of Liberty covering her face.

School officials say the painting has not sparked any complaints over the years. However, the painting recently gained attention on social media and the school decided to remove it after receiving a threatening phone call on Friday.

The district says it respects students’ rights to free speech and encouraged students to express themselves “through art or in any other peaceful manner.”


u2 PEOPLE BITTEN BY SHARKS MINUTES APART AT FLORIDA BEACH: NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say two people were bitten by sharks minutes apart at the same Florida beach.

Volusia County Beach safety officials told news outlets the two bites occurred Saturday afternoon at New Smyrna Beach.

Authorities say a 23-year-old woman was bitten on the left hand and wrist, which required her to receive stitches. A short time later, a 21-year-old man was bitten on his right foot and was treated at the scene. Neither bite was life-threatening.

Their identities were not immediately available. The type of shark or sharks involved was not known.

The University of Florida’s International Shark Attack file says there have been 17 suspected shark bites involving humans in the state this year.


uNAVY FOOTBALL DROPS “LOAD THE CLIP” MOTTO FOR INSENSITIVITY: ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The Naval Academy’s superintendent says the school’s football team won’t use “Load the Clip” as its motto amid concerns it was insensitive to victims of gun violence.

Superintendent Sean Buck told the Capital Gazette Friday that the slogan was insensitive to the community and inappropriate.

The Academy is located in Annapolis, where a gunman last year shot and killed five people inside the Capital Gazette newsroom.

The motto was selected by team captains. Coach Ken Niumatalolo had said he was leery of the slogan but recognized that midshipmen have a level of familiarity with firearms and intended the slogan to reflect a commitment to being prepared.

The captains have selected “Win the Day” as a new motto.

 

uLIZZIE BORDEN ANNIVERSARY EVENTS PLANNED: FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — Several events are planned for this weekend to mark the 127th anniversary of the death of Lizzie Borden’s father and stepmother.

Borden was tried but acquitted, of the 1892 ax murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, but to this day some people believe she got away with it.

The Herald News reports that the Fall River Historical Society and the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast Museum will offer true-history tours, a dramatization, and myth-breaking accounts of Lizzie Borden’s life and the murder mystery.

The Historical Society on Sunday will present “Lizzie Borden: An Enduring Legacy,” with tours all day and a viewing of a collection of Borden case artifacts and personal items.

The bed and breakfast on Saturday and Sunday will present a dramatization of the episode.


uPOLICE: ACCUSED BRAKE-PULLER ARRESTED FOR SUBWAY ‘SURFING’: NEW YORK (AP) — A man who authorities say caused dozens of New York City subway delays by pulling emergency brakes has been arrested again for allegedly “surfing” on the outside of a train.

Police say 23-year-old Isaiah Thompson was arrested Friday night on charges of reckless endangerment and trespassing. He’s accused of riding on the outside of a northbound 5 train in Manhattan on Wednesday.

Thompson was arrested in May after police said he was the man seen on a video pulling a train’s emergency brake and fleeing.

Police believe Thompson is responsible for dozens of similar brake-pulling stunts that caused extensive delays. He had been free on bond before his latest arrest.