Wednesday News Rundown (12-3-14)

By Emily Parma
Assistant Web Content Manager

During a series of meetings on Monday, President Barack Obama asked for $263 million to fund police body cameras and training in wake of the Ferguson controversy. A total of $75 million will be offered over a time period of three years to match state funding cameras by 50%, helping to pay for more than 50,000 devices. The program is meant to help improve relations and ease mistrust between police and minority communities. The program is still in need of congressional approval.

Texas State facilities, in cooperation with dining services, have proposed a major renovation to Jones Diner. The renovations will begin at the close of this semester until spring 2016. Jones Diner is scheduled to reopen fall 2016. In order to accommodate the Texas State community, surrounding diners will expand their hours and the LBJ Student Center food court will become the primary weekend and late night dining option beginning next semester.

San Marcos welcomes its new district attorney Wes Mau next Tuesday. Mau previously ran for this position in 2006. This time around he received support from many influential groups in San Marcos, like the Hays County Law Enforcement Association, Kyle Police Association and the San Marcos Police Officers Association. Mau’s term begins Dec. 31.

The Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has stayed the execution of Texas death row inmate Scott Panetti, who was scheduled to be put to death at 6 p.m. tonight. According to CNN, in 1992 Panetti was tried and convicted of killing his mother-and-father-in-law as well as holding his wife and daughter hostage for a short period of time. Lawyers and professional mental health workers have been urging the deference of his execution because of Panetti’s severe mental illness. After multiple appeals attempts, Gov. Rick Perry has stayed his execution in order for Panetti to have a mental health evaluation to see if Panetti understands his punishment and is competent for execution.

No criminal charges will be made in relations to the death of Eric Garner, a black man who died after being in a chokehold of a white police officer. The Staten Island Grand Jury made the decision earlier today after months of testimony. According to The New York Times, the New York Police Department has been preparing for a new possible round of protests, which would follow the ones after the grand jury’s decision in Ferguson less than two weeks ago.

The well-known social media game “Candy Crush” has come to life in The Quad.  With finals right around the corner, the Texas State Campus Recreation Center hosted an opportunity for students to literally crush some candy in hopes of relieving stress. Recreation and Leisure Service graduate student Mike Millet said the student turnout was much more than expected, and that he was glad that students left with a sense of relief. This is the first time they have hosted an event that included candy and hammers. The Texas State Campus Recreation Center will be out in The Quad again tomorrow in hopes of bringing more relief to people.

The City of San Marcos is asking that motorists drive with care during the 5K run Saturday. As part of the Sights and Sounds celebration, the Jingle Bell Run will start Saturday morning and require various lane closures and marked detours from 8 a.m. to noon. The route will begin on CM Allen Parkway and continue through downtown as well as neighborhoods on San Antonio, Belvin, Hutchison and Hopkins streets. There will be numerous participants and spectators, so motorists are being asked to take extreme care if traveling through the listed areas.

Texas State students can stop by The Writing Center for finals tutoring from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. tomorrow.