FATAL SHOOTING-KANSAS-VICTIMS
Family: 2 shot in head at Kan. Jewish center
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) β A woman who lost her father and son to shootings at the Jewish Center of Greater Kansas City says she knows they’re in heaven now.
Mindy Losen (LOW-sen) is the mother of Reat Griffin Underwood and the daughter of William Corporon, who had taken his grandson to audition for a talent contest.
The accused gunman faces hate crime charges for the shootings on the eve of Passover, but Corporon and his 14-year-old grandson were both Methodists. A third victim, 53-year-old Terri LaManno, was shot to death at a nearby Jewish retirement complex where she had gone to visit her mother. LaManno was Catholic.
Losen says she pulled into the parking lot moments after the shootings, saw her 69-year-old father on the ground and soon realized he was “in heaven.”
Losen says she then saw two men holding her son and “prayed and prayed and prayed that he would survive.”
But Losen says she has faith and doesn’t blame God for the gunman’s “evil actions.”
Sound:
241-w-36-(Tim Maguire, AP correspondent, with Mindy Losen, mother and daughter of shooting victims)–The family of two of the Greater Kansas City Jewish Center shooting victims talk about their loss. AP correspondent Tim Maguire reports. (14 Apr 2014)
< 228-a-07-(Mindy Underwood, mother and daughter of shooting victims, at news conference)-“evil evil actions”-Mindy Underwood, mother and daughter of shooting victims, says God is helping her cope with the loss of her father and her son. (14 Apr 2014) < 226-a-10-(Mindy Losen (LOW’-sen), mother and daughter of shooting victims, at news conference)-“was in heaven”-Mindy Losen, mother and daughter of shooting victims, says when she arrived at the Jewish Community Center she saw her father on the ground. (14 Apr 2014) < 227-a-07-(Mindy Losen (LOW’-sen), mother and daughter of shooting victims, at news conference)-“he would survive”-Mindy Losen, mother and daughter of shooting victims, says after realizing her father was dead she saw her son looking almost lifeless. (14 Apr 2014) < OBAMA-PRAYER BREAKFAST Obama remembers Kansas shooting victims WASHINGTON (AP) β President Barack Obama has remembered those killed at a Jewish community center and retirement complex, saying no one should have to worry about their safety while gathering with fellow believers. Obama made the remarks at an Easter prayer breakfast at the White House. He said the fact that Sunday’s attack in Kansas came as Jews prepared to celebrate Passover and Christians prepared for Easter makes the tragedy “all the more painful.” The man accused of killing three people Sunday had expressed hatred of Jews, but the victims were all Christians. Obama said this is the week Christians remember how Jesus died and rose from the dead so people can be forgiven of their sins and have eternal life. The president and first lady are hosting a Passover seder (SAY’-dur) at the White House today. Sound: 166-w-35-(Mark Smith, AP White House correspondent, with President Barack Obama)–President Obama is mourning the victims of yesterday’s deadly shootings outside Jewish facilities in Kansas — and speaking out against religious intolerance. AP White House Correspondent Mark Smith reports. (14 Apr 2014) < 165-a-15-(President Barack Obama, speaking at Easter Prayer Breakfast)-“in our society”-President Obama says religious intolerance cannot be allowed to go unchallenged. (14 Apr 2014) < 162-a-12-(President Barack Obama, speaking at Easter Prayer Breakfast)-“the more painful”-President Obama says violence like yesterday’s shootings at Jewish facilities in Kansas has no place in America. (14 Apr 2014) < 164-a-10-(President Barack Obama, speaking at Easter Prayer Breakfast)-“in our society”-President Obama says Americans need to come together to condemn the Kansas City area attacks. (14 Apr 2014) < 163-a-14-(President Barack Obama, speaking at Easter Prayer Breakfast)-“go to pray”-President Obama says America cannot accept religious intolerance in any form. (14 Apr 2014) < 283-a-15-(President Barack Obama, at White House Easter prayer breakfast)-“I’ve said enough (laughter fades)”-President Barack Obama jokes that there’s a time to stop preaching. (14 Apr 2014) < 282-a-22-(President Barack Obama, at White House Easter prayer breakfast)-“granted everlasting life”-President Barack Obama says it’s appropriate that the days leading up to Easter are called Holy Week. (14 Apr 2014) < FATAL SHOOTINGS-KANSAS-DE BLASIO Mayor: NYPD taking steps to ensure Jewish security NEW YORK (AP) β New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says the police department is taking all steps to ensure the safety of Jewish individuals and institutions. De Blasio made the comments after the fatal shootings of three people at Jewish-affiliated facilities near Kansas City Sunday. The alleged gunman has been arrested. In a statement, the mayor also offered condolences and prayers for the victims, their families and the entire Jewish community. Earlier this month, police officials said there was no credible terrorist threat detected in New York City ahead of the Jewish holiday. Passover is one of the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays. It began Monday at sundown. ISRAEL-PASSOVER Israeli families gather for ritual Passover meal JERUSALEM (AP) β Families across Israel have gathered for Passover meals commemorating the liberation of the ancient Hebrews from slavery in Egypt as described in Scripture. In Judaism, it’s called the festival of freedom. Most of Israel shut down at sundown Monday as families and friends gathered for Seder (SAY’-dur), the ritual multi-course meal where the story of the exodus from Egypt is discussed in detail so that the tradition is preserved throughout the generations. Ahead of the Jewish holiday, Israel sealed off the West Bank, barring Palestinians from entering Israel, an annual Passover precaution against possible attacks. Despite extra security measures, an assailant standing by the side of a road in the West Bank opened fire on passing Israeli cars Monday evening, killing a man and wounding a woman and a boy, according to police. BLESSING FLEET Blessing of the Fleet tradition continues PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss. (AP) β A Roman Catholic priest has prayed over the boats and crews in Pass Christian, Miss. Father Mike Austin, who pastors a local parish, strode along the docks Sunday sprinkling holy water on each boat and pausing to bless their crews in the 38th annual Pass Christian Blessing of the fleet. He asked God for a good, prosperous fishing season for the working boats, fun on the water for the owners of pleasure craft, “and safety for all.” Austin said he also prayed for protection from hurricanes. The Sun Herald reports that one point the priest went aboard a Vietnamese fishing boat. Not quite understanding what the fishermen were asking, he found they wanted him to bless the Virgin Mary statue they carry aboard the boat. CHURCH ABUSE-MINNESOTA Abuse task force recommends archdiocese changes MINNEAPOLIS (AP) β A task force examining the way the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis handled allegations of sexual abuse by priests says too much power was given to one or two people to decide how to handle claims. The task force, which was commissioned by the Roman Catholic archdiocese, recommended several changes Monday. The report recommends a single review board, with a majority of laypeople, to review all allegations of clergy misconduct. A layperson would be named the archdiocese’s delegate to manage its response to all misconduct reports. The task force also recommends that the archdiocese create a comprehensive auditing and monitoring program and develop more effective record-keeping. The report also says the archdiocese should set up an anonymous hotline where suspected abuse can be reported. VATICAN-UN-ABUSE UN to grill Vatican again on clergy sex abuse NEW YORK (AP) β A second U.N. committee plans to question Vatican officials on its failures to stop clergy sex abuse. The hearing scheduled for next month in Geneva will review whether the Vatican’s record on child protection violates the Convention Against Torture. The Holy See ratified the treaty in 2002. Last January, another committee grilled Vatican officials on the scale of clergy sex abuse globally. That panel reviewed whether the Holy See had violated the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child. The committee issued a scathing report, saying the church put its own interests above those of children. The Vatican said the findings reflected anti-Catholic prejudice. The Center for Constitutional Rights submitted reports on behalf of victims to both committees urging closer U.N. scrutiny of the church record on child abuse. NYC TERROR Jury chosen for US terror trial of Egyptian imam NEW YORK (AP) β A jury has been chosen for the U.S. terror trial of an Egyptian Islamic preacher extradited from Great Britain on charges he conspired to support al-Qaida. Eight men and four women along with four alternates were chosen Monday for the Manhattan trial of Mustafa Kamel Mustafa. Opening statements are scheduled for Thursday. Mustafa has pleaded not guilty to charges he conspired to support al-Qaida by trying to set up a terrorist training camp in 1999 in Oregon. He also is accused of helping abduct two American tourists and 14 others in Yemen in 1998. Four hostages died. Mustafa says he will testify on his own behalf during the trial, which is expected to last about a month. If convicted, he could face life in prison. Sound: 221-c-14-(Warren Levinson, AP correspondent)-“his own defense”-AP correspondent Warren Levinson reports Mustafa Kamel Mustafa, accused of trying to set up an al-Qaida training camp, plans to testify in his own defense. (14 Apr 2014) < 220-v-29-(Warren Levinson, AP correspondent)–Jury selection has begun in the Manhattan trial of a cleric accused of aiding al-Qaida. AP correspondent Warren Levinson reports. (14 Apr 2014) < 031-v-30-(Julie Walker, AP correspondent)–Jury selection is slated to begin today in the trial of a disabled Egyptian Islamic preacher, who was extradited from Great Britain and is accused of creating a terrorist training camp in the U.S. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. (14 Apr 2014) < 032-c-17-(Julie Walker, AP correspondent)-“Soviets in Afghanistan”-Jury selection is expected to start today in the trial of an Islamic preacher, Mustafa Kamel Mustafa, who’s charged with conspiring to support al-Qaida. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports.(((Mustafa Kamel Mustafa is pronounced muh-STAH’-fuh kah-MEHL’ muh-STAH’-fuh))). (14 Apr 2014) < BRITAIN-SCHOOLS-ISLAM English city probes Islamic influence in schools LONDON (AP) β The English city of Birmingham has expanded its probe into an alleged Muslim plot to greatly expand Islamic influence in the city’s schools. The investigation announced Monday will look into 25 schools after more than 200 complaints were received. The complaints focus on allegations made in an anonymous letter known as Operation Trojan Horse that was leaked. It claimed that a group of radical Muslims had plans to force out teachers and administrators who resisted plans to increase the observance of Islamic customs in schools. The letter’s authenticity has not been verified. Birmingham’s City Council and the Department for Education are both investigating complaints that boys and girls have been segregated in class, that sex education has been banned and that non-Muslim staff have been bullied. NIGERIA-EXPLOSION Nigerian president blames Boko Haram for deadly bombing ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) β Nigeria’s president is blaming the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram for the bombing attack that killed more than 70 people in the Nigerian capital of Abuja. The explosion ripped through a bus station during the Monday morning rush hour. One official said he believed the bomb had been buried in the ground, while the emergency management agency says the explosives were apparently hidden in a vehicle. A police spokesman says the blast destroyed 16 luxury buses and 24 minibuses and cars. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing, although bus stations are a favored target of the extremist group. Its goal is to make Nigeria an Islamic state with Islamic law enforced throughout the country. Boko Haram poses a threat to Nigeria’s cohesion and security, and also threatens nearby countries where its fighters have gone to train and fight.
