CNN

Share on Facebook

Video by CNN

Share on Facebook

Video by CNN

Share on Facebook

LIVINGSTON, TX (KTRE) – A Corrigan-Camden teacher agreed to 10 years of probation after pleading guilty to sending inappropriate text messages to teen students.

According to court records, Jennifer Hudspeth must also pay a $1,000 fine, serve 200 hours in community service and 10 consecutive weekends in Polk County Jail.

According to a previous report, Hudspeth sent the messages to 15- and 16-year-old boys.

Prosecuting attorney Kaycee Jones said she was happy with the sentence.

“It certainly is gratifying that we’re able to help victims of any type of crime, but in this case a sexual crime, and show that we will protect both the children and ease parents fears that if something were to happen to their child and this should occur, that our office and law enforcement will take it seriously,” Jones said.

Hudspeth was originally indicted by a Polk County grand jury back in January of 2009 for sending explicit text message to 15- and 16-year-old boys. Later she was indicted again on two additional counts of online solicitation of a minor. Now, she’ll be required to register as a sex offender.

The former elementary school teacher was arrested more than a year ago. The grand jury found that she intentionally communicated in a sexually explicit manner with more than one minor.

“She did testify during the punishment,” Jones said. “She never apologized for anything that she did.”

Story by Holley Nees

Share on Facebook

A 40-year-old trainer was killed Wednesday by a killer whale at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, officials said.

The trainer, Dawn Brancheau, was in the whale holding area about 2 p.m. when she somehow ended up the tank and was fatally injured by the whale, officials said. Accounts on how Brancheau ended up into the tank varied.

A witness told CNN affiliate WKMG-TV that the whale approached the glass side of the 35-foot-deep tank at Shamu Stadium, jumped up and grabbed the trainer by the waist, shaking her so violently that her shoe came off. A SeaWorld employee, who asked not to be identified, also described the incident the same way.

But Orange County Sheriff’s Office spokesman said Brancheau slipped into the tank.

“This appears to be an accident,” said Jim Solomons.

The whale’s name is Tillikum, the SeaWorld employee said. The same whale has been linked previously to two other deaths.

“One of our most experience animal trainers drowned” in the accident, said Dan Brown, vice president and general manager of SeaWorld Orlando.

CNN click for full story

Share on Facebook

Share on Facebook

Videos by VH1

Share on Facebook

To me, Twin Cities comedian Kevin Craft sounded rather full of himself about being on “Tool Academy 3,” a cable reality show.

“I’m not proud about it,” Craft clarified, “but the more exposure I get, the better it is for my comedy career. Understand? I’m not happy about being considered a tool.”

Hallelujah! “Tool Academy” is the reality show franchise that dupes bad significant others into thinking they are on their way to having some fun when they are actually about to enter a kind of relationship re-education camp. Pat yourself on the back if you know nothing about this lowest common denominator in a genre that’s already shockingly low and common. It airs at 8 p.m. Sundays on VH1.

“It’s the show your spouse or partner takes you on if you’re not treating them right,” Craft said. “My wife took me on the show because I’ve been messing up.”

Asked exactly what he has been doing, Craft said, “I’ve been doing a lot. I’m on the road a lot.”

So he’s the married world’s bargain-basement, rib-tickling, non-golfing Tiger Woods?

Absolutely not, said Craft, who prefers the brown sugar. From the looks of the show, Craft’s only marital sins are not wearing his wedding band, flirting with other women and causing his wife to be suspicious.

I drew sustained laughter from the comedian when I told him, he doesn’t need “Tool Academy,” he needs my commitment boot camp. Have you not been faithful … was as far as I got in my next question before Craft interrupted me with: “All I’ve got to say is watch the show. They flew us out to Cancun, we’re having a good time, drinking, partying with all these girls, when all of a sudden a big sign comes up — ‘Tool Academy.’ We were tricked and now we’re in counseling.”

Craft has been married for two years to Jermika, who’s no bargain, either, considering the couple’s October 2009 appearance on the “Tyra Banks Show,” where Kevin exposed his wife’s “20-hour-a-day” texting habit.

She’d rather text than have a conversation. She sends texts during church. “I’m texting my friends the word,” Jermika told Tyra. “All my friends can’t make it to church.”

Jermika apparently even likes to check her text messages during a time that gives a whole new meaning to the term sexting.

When it comes to the home lives of Jermika and Kevin, it didn’t take long to get to Don’t Tell Me Anymore! However, after viewing Craft’s act on youtube.com/craftnation — where he has a pretty high profile — I’m not sure how much of Craft’s “Tool Academy 3″ performance is schtick. “Tool Academy has helped me become a better man,” said Craft, who can be booked at craftkevin.com.

Story by CJ

Share on Facebook

Share on Facebook

Share on Facebook