Student anti-war protesters dig in as faculties condemn university leadership over calling police

Student anti-war protesters at U.S. universities are digging in and vowing to keep their demonstrations going, while several school faculties have condemned university presidents for calling law enforcement. As Columbia University continues tenuous negotiations with the pro-Palestinian student encampment, the University’s senate criticized the schools' president on Friday after more than 100 protesters were arrested last week. School faculties at universities in California, Georgia, and Texas initiated or passed votes of no confidence in their leadership. They are largely symbolic rebukes, without the power remove their presidents. But the tensions pile pressure on school officials, who are already scrambling to resolve the protests as May graduation ceremonies near.

A Colorado judge has sentenced a former paramedic to a jail work release program and probation in the death of Elijah McClain. Jeremy Cooper faced up to three years in prison during his Friday sentencing after administering a dose of the sedative ketamine to McClain. The 23-year-old Black man had been stopped by police as he was walking down the street in 2019. Cooper was sentenced to four years of probation and 14 months in the jail work release program. The sentencing caps a series of trials that resulted in three convictions. Experts say the convictions would have been unheard of before 2020 protests over racist policing.

For many in the graduating class of 2024, the unrest at campuses across the country over the Israel-Hamas war has marked an emotional end to their college experiences that started amid a pandemic. Students across the country say the reactions by colleges to the demonstrations have been particularly painful, including the cancellation of the main commencement ceremony at the University of Southern California on May 10. Many of the graduates also saw their high school proms and graduation ceremonies cancelled to curb the spread of COVID-19. Some say they believe the turmoil has made them care deeply for others.

A tornado has plowed through suburban Omaha, Nebraska, demolishing homes and businesses as it moved for miles through farmland and into subdivisions. Some injuries have been reported but there were no immediate reports that anyone was killed in the Friday storms. Multiple tornadoes were reported in Nebraska and Iowa, but the most destructive storm moved from a largely rural area into suburbs northwest of Omaha, a city of 485,000 people. Photos from social media show damaged homes and shredded trees. Photos on social media also show heavily damaged homes in Minden, Iowa, about 30 miles northeast of Omaha. The National Weather Service forecast for Saturday is ominous, with tornado watches across parts of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.

Legal experts say the retrial in New York of Harvey Weinstein won't be coming to a courtroom anytime soon, if ever. The ruling Thursday by the New York Court of Appeals voided the 2020 conviction of the onetime movie powerbroker. Prosecutors say Weinstein forced young actors to submit to his prurient desires by dangling his ability to make or break their careers. Several lawyers said in interviews Friday that it would be a long road to reach a new trial of the ailing movie mogul, who remains behind bars due to a conviction in a similar case in California.

The results of some primary elections in Indiana could determine the outcome of the general election in a deep red state where Republicans hold a supermajority in both chambers of the state legislature and GOP politicians lead many top offices. The primaries will be held May 7. The most-watched is the GOP race for governor. Six Republicans are vying for the seat being vacated by Gov. Eric Holcomb, who is term-limited. Indiana also could send at least three new representatives to the U.S. House. One Republican is running for a U.S. Senate seat, while two Democrats in that Senate race will face off for their party's nomination.