Today's poll: Are zero-tolerance policies for bringing weapons to school appropriate?
05.13.2011 | HOLYOKE - Fishermen try their luck in the Connecticut River early Friday morning. The HG&E Shad Derby is coming up on May 21 and May 22.The Forecast
Mid-May in Western Massachusetts: Anglers line up on the shore of Slim Shad Point in Holyoke while the early sun lights up the dam and, way off, the last clouds we'll see all day drape around Mt. Tom.
We're looking at sun and a high of 73 today, according to the National Weather Service.
ABC40 / FOX 6 meteorologist Dan Brown says the rain that's been showing up in the forecast should hold off until later on Saturday night. Beyond that, though, the weather's going downhill: "An unsettled, cool pattern is shaping up for much of next week. It doesn't look like a washout but you will certainly need to keep the umbrella on stand-by," Brown writes.
Today's Poll
A 9-year-old student at Palmer's Old Mill Pond Elementary School, charged under the district's “zero tolerance policy” regarding weapons on school grounds, will be summoned to Juvenile Court for bringing an Airsoft toy gun on a school bus.
“It was inappropriate to bring it to school ... Anything that can shoot a projectile is considered a weapon,” Police Chief Robert P. Frydryk said. But, Frydryk continued, it's unlikely the child will be found delinquent, or guilty, by the court.
“That’s not going to happen in this case. We have to file the charge because it is not appropriate to bring any kind of weapon on school grounds. Nobody, neither us, or the school administration, thinks he brought it to school to harm anyone,” Frydryk told The Republican's Lori Stabile.
What do you think -- are zero-tolerance policies for bringing weapons to school appropriate? Vote in our poll, and check back tomorrow for the results.
Thursday's results: Yesterday, we asked, "Do you approve of president Barack Obama's job performance?" 21 people voted. 76.19% said, "no," and 23.81% said "yes."
Thursday's Top 5
The top 5 headlines on MassLive.com on May 12 were:- 2011 Turners Falls Prom [photo gallery]
- 2011 Mohawk Regional Prom
- Valley Food Championship Pizza Playoffs: Help us pick which restaurants to review
- Springfield woman and 2 young daughters suffer minor injuries when attacked by swans at Heritage Park in East Longmeadow
- 2011 Westfield High School Junior Senior Prom [photo gallery]
Quote of the Day
“I will be resuming my education and will continue to work. I would ask the public and the media to respect my request for privacy. I will have no further public comment."
— Austin Renaud, one of six teens charged in the Phoebe Prince bullying case, in a statement offering condolences to Prince's family and thanking them for asking the Northwestern District Attorney's office to drop statutory rape charges against him. Read Patrick Johnson's story here.