Blacksburg, Va. – A lawyer who ran the Sept. 11 victim-compensation program will help Virginia Tech distribute its $7.1 million fund for victims of the school’s shootings, university officials said Thursday.
University president Charles Steger said Washington, D.C., lawyer Kenneth Feinberg was approached because of his experience and because “we felt we did not have the capability to manage the fund properly.”
Feinberg served without pay for 33 months as special master of the government’s $7 billion federal victim-compensation fund after the 2001 terrorist attacks. He will do the same for Virginia Tech.
Families of many of the 32 people killed by student Seung-Hui Cho on April 16 have said victims’ relatives should have more control over how donated money is used. Feinberg said he will spend several weeks meeting with the families to listen to their ideas. He said he has been directed to act quickly and anticipates that the money will be distributed “well before Thanksgiving.”
The Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund was set up after Cho killed two people in a dormitory and 30 in a classroom building as well as himself.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass.
Man denies biting off 3-year-old’s lip, ear
A man accused of biting off the lip and ear of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter pleaded not guilty Thursday and was ordered held without bail.
Bryan James, 34, was charged with assault and battery upon a child causing substantial bodily injuries. Police said the attack left the girl so mutilated that doctors could not fully repair the damage.
The child’s mother, Jessica Silveria, 26, pleaded not guilty to permitting substantial injuries to a child under 14 and intimidation of a witness. She was also ordered held without bail.
The child suffered other human bites on her body, police said. They believe the biting attacks began in January and continued until April.
WASHINGTON
“D.C. Madam” free to release client records
The “D.C. Madam” is free to release her client records if she chooses, a federal judge said Thursday.
A restraining order had previously prevented Deborah Jeane Palfrey from outing clients of Pamela Martin & Associates, which prosecutors said was a high-priced call-girl ring.
But Judge Gladys Kessler said the records belong to Palfrey.
Palfrey, who faces federal racketeering charges, said she will give “coded” copies of the list to “responsible” reporters, bloggers or private eyes who promise not to put them on the Internet.
Palfrey expects to unveil up to 100 customers who, she said, risked national security, “violated the public trust” or were hypocritical patrons of her services.
CLEVELAND
Off-duty firefighter held in fatal shootings
A neighbor apparently angry about fireworks at a noisy Fourth of July party shot three people to death early Thursday and wounded two others, police said.
Terrance Hough Jr., a 35-year- old off-duty firefighter, was arrested in the shootings, Cleveland police spokesman Lt. Thomas Stacho said.
No charges had been filed Thursday morning because police were still gathering evidence, Stacho said.
MEXICO CITY
Blown tire sends jet into street, killing 9
A private cargo jet blew a tire during takeoff Thursday morning at the Culiacán airport and crashed through a runway fence into a busy intersection, killing all three people aboard and six more on the ground, authorities said.
The 43-foot Sabreliner jet operated by Jett Paqueteria struck a Hummer carrying two Mexican soldiers and an Oldsmobile Cutlass with a family of four and then burst into flames, officials said. All nine died in the ensuing inferno, which injured five others.
The Mexico City-based transport firm would not answer questions Thursday about the plane’s cargo or destination.
DUBLIN, Ireland
110 children safe after squall capsizes boats
The Irish coast guard rescued about 110 children from the sea Thursday after a squall hit their sailboats, Irish officials said.
The children, ages 10 to 15, were taking part in the National Yacht Club junior regatta when the squall capsized 91 boats in the Irish Sea south of Dublin. There were no reports of serious injuries.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil
Concert will go on after security assured
A Brazilian judge ruled Thursday that South America’s Live Earth concert could go on after organizers convinced her there would be adequate security at the Copacabana Beach event.
Chances for the gig – featuring Lenny Kravitz, Macy Gray and Pharrell Williams – got a boost from police, who said they could guarantee security for the show, expected to draw 700,000. It is one of several worldwide concerts Saturday promoted by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore.
