Thursday News Rundown (11-20-14)

By Emily Parma
Assistant Web Content Manager

Florida State University has cancelled classes and exams today after a gunman opened fire early this morning injuring three people. CNN reported that the shooting began around midnight either inside or near the Strozier Library where about 300-to-400 students were inside studying for an exam. The school sent out a text to students warning them to take precaution and stay away from windows. Two of the three victims were taken to a nearby hospital, where one is in critical condition and the other is stable. A third victim was treated and released at the scene. Campus officials later shot the gunman to death after he failed to cooperate with police orders. Florida State Alumnus Myron May was identified as the shooter. May attended law school at Texas Tech University. No further information has been released.

Tonight marks a big day for the Bobcats as the team is at home tonight in hopes of becoming bowl eligible for the second straight year. Texas State plays Arkansas State at 8:30 p.m. today. Tailgating festivities are set to begin at noon and continue throughout the day. The game is scheduled to be televised on ESPN U. For the first time in Texas State history, the Texas State Athletics Department is offering students the opportunity to bring-a-friend-for-free.

Four major television networks will not be airing President Obama’s immigration reform speech tonight. ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC have all opted out of airing the president’s speech live at 8 p.m. today do to November sweeps month, where prime time slots are more valuable. Univision and Telemundo are expected to interrupt their scheduled airing of the Latin Grammy Awards to present the president’s speech live. The White House will also live stream the event.

A Texas judge refused to postpone the execution of a convicted killer who suffers from schizophrenia and is scheduled for lethal injection on December 3. Scott Panetti, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia 30 years ago, was convicted in 1995 of shooting his wife’s parents to death at point blank range in 1992. District Judge Keith Williams refused to give attorney’s more time to reevaluate whether Panetti was criminally responsible. At Panetti’s trial, he represented himself as his own attorney while wearing a cowboy outfit and tried to call to witness the Pope, John F. Kennedy and Jesus.

The San Marcos Police Department is accepting donations of money and new, unwrapped toys through Dec. 12 for its annual Blue Santa Toy Drive. Toy donations may be delivered to the San Marcos Police Department or any of the various businesses hosting Blue Santa Donation Barrels. Monetary donations may also be taken to the San Marcos Police Department through Dec. 12.

The Texas State University Police Department is questioning two suspects after today’s reported firearm threat on campus. Students and faculty were told to evacuate from the Undergraduate Admissions Center building on campus today at approximately 2:35 p.m. University News Services Director Jayme Blaschke said a woman reported that she witnessed someone with a gun in the building. Texas State Police have recovered the suspect’s backpack and are questioning a male person of interest. One of the suspects was shocked with a Taser and taken to the Nueces building for questioning. The second individual was questioned and released.