Booze-fueled pumpkin fest leads to spooky weekend
CONCORD, N.H. - Keene State College students quickly cleaned up from a chaotic weekend yesterday after violent parties near the city's annual pumpkin festival led to destruction, dozens of arrests and multiple injuries.
CONCORD, N.H.
- Keene State College students quickly cleaned up from a chaotic weekend yesterday after violent parties near the city's annual pumpkin festival led to destruction, dozens of arrests and multiple injuries.
The parties around the school coincided with the Keene Pumpkin Festival, at which the community tries to set a world record of the largest number of carved and lighted jack-o-lanterns in one place. The violence prompted police in riot gear to use tear gas as they tried to control the crowds.
Sophomore Mallory Pearce, vice president of the student body, said she saw a car flipped over in a parking lot, another car being destroyed and people being pepper-sprayed.
Although Pearce was extremely disappointed in the violence, she said her faith was restored when about 200 volunteers showed up yesterday morning to clean up.
A police department log shows that officers responded to 235 calls between 2:30 a.m. Friday and 3:30 a.m. yesterday and made at least 49 arrests. Not all were part of the disturbances, but at least 14 on Saturday and early yesterday appeared related to the unruly behavior. Most involved disorderly conduct or alcohol-related offenses.
A Manchester, N.H., TV station showed video of a crowd overturning a car, people running from teargas clouds, street signs being torn down and fires burning in the streets. Police also investigated reports of people throwing glass bottles and fireworks, jumping off a roof and banging on cars.
One group of young people threatened to beat up an elderly man, and another resident heard someone "threatening to kill officers," according to the police log. About 20 injured people were taken to hospitals.
Pope beatifies Paul VI after synod on families
VATICAN CITY
- Pope Francis yesterday beatified Pope Paul VI, concluding the remarkable meeting of bishops debating family issues that drew parallels to the tumultuous reforms of the Second Vatican Council, which Paul oversaw and implemented.
Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI was on hand for the Mass, which took place just hours after Catholic bishops approved a document charting a more pastoral approach to ministering to Catholic families.
They failed to reach consensus on the two most divisive issues at the synod: on welcoming gays and divorced and civilly remarried couples. But the issues remain up for discussion ahead of another meeting of bishops next year.
Cops hunt for clues after remains found
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.
- After finding remains that could be University of Virginia student Hannah Graham, authorities interviewed nearby residents and picked through leaves on the side of a sparsely populated highway, searching for clues or evidence.
Forensic tests were needed to confirm whether the remains match that of Graham. They were discovered by a deputy Saturday in a heavily wooded area of Albemarle County that is home to horse farms about 12 miles from campus. Graham, 18, disappeared Sept. 13 after a night out with friends.
Her parents were notified that the remains were found, Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo said. It wasn't immediately clear yesterday how long it would take for them to be identified. Investigators also wouldn't say if they had found anything else. The last person seen with Graham, Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr., 32, has been charged with abduction with intent to defile Graham.
- Associated Press