10 killed in Texas school shooting
Texas, May 18: Between eight and 10 people died in a school shooting on Friday in the southeastern Texas city of Santa Fe, a sheriff told the media.
The shooting began shortly after 7.30 a.m., at Santa Fe High School in Galveston County, Ed Gonzalez, the sheriff of neighbouring Harris County, said, Efe reported.
"There are multiple fatalities that have been confirmed," Gonzalez said, adding: "The number varies but it could be anywhere between eight and 10 fatalities at the school, including students and some adult staff as well."
"There was also an injured Santa Fe ISD (Independent School District) police officer... that's being treated at a hospital. I don't know the extent of his injuries," the sheriff said.
Gonzalez also told the reporters that one suspect was in custody and that a second "possible person of interest" also had been detained.
He said police were combing the school to make sure no additional students were injured or hiding and that no explosive devices were on the premises.
President Donald Trump commented on the shooting on Twitter. "School shooting in Texas. Early reports not looking good. God bless all!" he wrote.
Gun violence is a major political issue in the US
Trump said in a speech at the National Rifle Association's annual leadership meeting in Dallas, Texas, earlier this month that the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, which protects citizens' right to bear arms, would never be "under siege" while he is president.
Speaking about a February mass shooting at a school in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 people, Trump said the solution was to allow "highly trained teachers to carry concealed weapons" in the classroom.
The President also said then that making schools gun-free zones was an invitation to mentally disturbed people to "come in and take us".
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Karnataka cabinet approves formation of separate Dharwad Municipal Corporation
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Cabinet has approved a formation of separate Dharwad city corporation. Alongside, a 15% hike in fares across the four state transport corporations was also approved. The revised fares will come into effect on January 5.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil, addressing the media at the Committee Hall of Vidhana Soudha, provided details about the decision. He explained that the last fare revision for BMTC was a decade ago when diesel cost Rs 60.98 per litre. Since then, operational costs have risen significantly.
Diesel expenditure for the four corporations has increased from Rs 9.16 crore to Rs 13.21 crore, and personnel costs have grown from Rs 12.85 crore to Rs 18.36 crore. The daily operational burden now stands at Rs 9.56 crore. The fare hike is expected to generate an additional Rs 74.85 crore in monthly revenue without burdening the state exchequer, as Rs 5,015 crore has already been allocated for the Shakti Yojana this fiscal year.
Minister Patil announced that the Cabinet has decided to bifurcate the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation into two independent municipal bodies.
The Cabinet approved the construction of a fishing port in Hejamady village, Udupi, with a revised estimate of Rs 209.13 crore. Additionally, Rs 84.57 crore has been sanctioned for the modernization and dredging of fishing ports.
In a move to strengthen cow shelters, Rs 10.50 crore has been allocated for projects in 14 districts. The Cabinet also approved constructing a building for Visvesvaraya Technical University in Chikkaballapur district at Rs 149.75 crore.
The Cabinet sanctioned a state-of-the-art bus stand in Bannimantap, Mysuru, at a cost of Rs 120 crore. Spread over 14 acres, the facility will include a divisional office, bus units, and commercial shops.
Approval was also granted to utilize Rs 137.85 crore, provided by the Union Finance Ministry under the Special Capital Assistance Scheme, for capital expenditure.
The Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board will use Rs 56.92 crore from its SCP/TSP scheme to supply bed sheets, mosquito nets, and clothing to government residential schools and hostels.
The Cabinet approved Rs 100 crore to construct new buildings for 200 veterinary institutions currently housed in rented or dilapidated structures, using NABARD assistance.
In Davangere, a site was allotted to the Karnataka Working Journalists' Association for constructing a civic facility. A plot in Avaragere village was also leased for 30 years at a concessional rate to Nayaka Vidyarthi Nilaya.
