Georgia
Animal welfare group accuses school of cruelty
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Animal welfare officials on Wednesday accused Georgia Regents University of performing unnecessary and painful dental implant procedures on dogs, then euthanizing them.
A three-month undercover investigation revealed that dogs have had their teeth pulled, replaced with implants and then euthanized, said Humane Society of the United States spokeswoman Stephanie Twining. She added that jaw bone samples were taken from dead dogs.
The experiments were being done to compare a dental implant that was invented by Georgia Regents researchers with one that was developed by a competitor, Twining said.
Dogs that were provided to the university were collected by a Random Source Class-B Dealer, Twining said. She said these types of dealers are allowed to gather animals from various sources — including auctions, online and shelters — and resell them to research facilities.
University Senior Vice President for Research Mark Hamrick said in a statement that researchers at the Augusta school use protocols that are regularly reviewed by the United States Department of Agriculture, and that the university adheres to local, state and federal guidelines.
The school doesn’t frequently use dogs for research and all projects involving animals are reviewed by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Hamrick said.
“The research being done with dogs is neither frivolous nor unnecessary, as alleged by the investigation, and is performed in order to develop safe, effective dental procedures for people,” Hamrick said. “As an institution, we are committed to research that will provide a direct benefit to patient lives by restoring function to damaged and diseased organs and tissues,” he said.
The Humane Society of the United States has filed legal complaints with the USDA and the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, Twining said.
Texas
Grandmother pleads not guilty in drug plot
PHOENIX (AP) — A Ferris, Texas, woman has pleaded not guilty to allegations that she had her 9-year-old granddaughter plant drugs in her son-in-law’s car in Arizona so the grandmother could gain fulltime custody of the child.
A Maricopa County Superior Court spokeswoman says 58-year-old SanJuanita Carabajal’s next proceeding on a charge of involving a child in a drug offense is scheduled for Jan. 2.
Gilbert police say Carabajal gave the child several packets containing 4 grams of cocaine and told her where to put them in her father’s vehicle.
Carabajal also allegedly told her granddaughter to tell people about the drugs at her elementary school and show one of the baggies to a teacher.
South Dakota
State high Court says no to new malpractice trial
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court has ruled that a woman who sued Sanford Medical Center for malpractice for a 2007 surgical procedure that was aborted should not be granted another trial.
Lisa Lewis sued Sanford after an anesthetist mistakenly attached a stomach tube to an oxygen supply rather than a suction device during prep for laparoscopic gastric band surgery. Lewis claimed that the flow of oxygen into her stomach caused cardiac problems, which led to the need for a pacemaker.
Sanford admitted negligence but denied that its negligence caused damage.
A jury awarded zero damages and Lewis appealed, and the circuit court granted her a new trial.
Sanford appealed that decision to the Supreme Court, and the justices on Thursday reversed the circuit court’s order for a new trial.
Pennsylvania
Mayor vetoes smoking ban, citing ‘research’
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — A western Pennsylvania mayor has vetoed a measure to ban outdoor smoking in public places saying he believes outdoor smoking is a civil liberty, and saying his own “research” suggests the cancer risk for exposure to secondhand smoke outdoors is a “red herring.”
Punxsutawney Mayor James Wehrle tells WJAC-TV that people complain that secondhand smoke makes their clothes smell and bothers their children but says, “I think in open air, people can get out of the way.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says secondhand smoke can cause or contribute to a variety of health issues, and says there’s no risk-free level for exposure, indoors or out.
The council may try to override the mayor’s veto with another vote next month.
Missouri
Red-light camera violations on hold in several cities
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A state appeals court ruling earlier this month has prompted several Missouri cities and towns to halt, at least temporarily, red-light camera tickets.
The Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals ruled Nov. 5 that the red-light ordinance in the St. Louis County town of Ellisville does not conform to state laws because it targets the registered owner of the violating vehicle, not the driver. That makes the vehicle owner, not the driver, liable for the fine.
Hazelwood, St. Ann, Columbia and St. Joseph are among several cities that have suspending the sending of citations until the legal issues are resolved, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Many communities have added red-light cameras in recent years over concerns about serious and sometimes fatal wrecks caused by vehicles running red lights. But critics say the cameras are just another tool to generate revenue.
St. Ann and Hazelwood are among cities still collecting images of violators for possible citations later. A Hazelwood spokesman said drivers who received tickets before the appellate court decision are still required to pay.
Brentwood, also in St. Louis County, saw its multi-year contract with American Traffic Solutions for two cameras on Brentwood Boulevard lapse this summer. City Administrator Bola Akande said that in light of the court ruling, “We are waiting before taking any further action at this time in terms of negotiating an agreement with ATS.”
Officials in some cities, including St. Louis, are still issuing red-light camera tickets.
Bridgeton has red-light cameras at three intersections, Mayor Conrad Bowers said. He described revenue generated as “minimal.” He said the cameras help prevent gridlock and reduce accidents.
After the ruling, the city of St. Peters in St. Charles County passed a new red-light ordinance that photographs both the license plate and the driver.
