Joel Eisenbaum, KPRC 2 News
Threats against schools are not a new problem, but they are changing and school districts are having a hard time staying a step ahead.
“I heard it started as, like, a text,” one student said about a threat.
With increasing frequency, threats of violence are becoming a genuine disruption.
“I’ve seen a lot of cops in there,” one student said about a response to a threat.
In 2013, KPRC Local 2 has covered 11 separate schools targeted by violent but empty threats. Many of the threats have been posted and passed along on social media websites, like Facebook and Twitter. In most cases, police and administrators lock down buildings and curtail student movement. It’s a massive expenditure of energy and resources. During those tense minutes and sometimes hours, students aren’t learning.
The Spring Branch Independent School District said it has asked for the FBI to help to investigate threats made against its schools, but it has also hired tech-savvy investigators.
Also: Social Media threats pose problem
for school districts
KRIV 26 News
“Over the years I’ve been in law enforcement, things have changed,” Spring Branch ISD Police Chief Charles Brawner said. “The new concern now is social media and how it’s being used with threats against schools.”
Investigators said they may not be able to stop someone from making a threat, but they need to track down whoever does make one.
Terroristic threats can be prosecuted in Texas as either misdemeanors or felonies with penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
(See the full report at KPRC 2 News)
LOCAL AREA HEADLINES:
- Plan to close 2 HISD schools draws protests (Chron.com)
- HPD: Mom holds 8-year-old’s hands on hot griddle as form of punishment (KHOU 11 News)
- Ambulance owner convicted in $1.7 million Medicare scheme (Chron.com)
- Helping Our Heroes: Reducing Veterans Claims Waiting Times (KUHF Public Radio)
- Van Tour To Brothels Aims To Raise Awareness (KUHF Public Radio)
- Nurse raises concerns over school’s air quality (KTRK 13 News)
- Firefighter cadet dies after collapsing during training in League City (KTRK 13 News)
- CDC warns of ‘nightmare superbug’ (KPRC 2 News)
STATE, NATION & WORLD:
- House Gives OK To $982 Billion Short-Term Spending Bill (KUHF Public Radio)
- Low Medicaid reimbursement rates shutting down assisted living facilities across state (Your Houston News)
- University Chancellors Seek Funding for Veteran Program (Texas Tribune)
- Texas Chief Justice Pushing Reforms in School Discipline (Texas Tribune)
- Study: States with more gun laws have less gun violence (USA Today)
- House votes to avert shutdown as Obama looks for big deal (Washington Post)
- U.S. Spent Too Much In Iraq, Got Little In Return, Watchdog Report Says (NPR)
- MSF urges Syria government to lift curbs on medical aid (AlertNet/Reuters)