TommieMedia columnist True Dabill explains why “The Exorcist” is the best film about faith and religion. Written by William Peter Blatty, who was raised as a devout Catholic, the film covers the topics of God, priest rites and other religious matters. Check here for the opinion piece.
The nine remaining lawsuits filed by former students who say they were abused by employees of the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis decades ago have reached settlements. Attorney Jeff Anderson plans to announce the settlements at a news conference later today.
The theater company faced lawsuits by former students who say they were abused by former employees in the 1970s and 1980s. The lawsuits were possible by the Minnesota Child Victims Act of 2013, which temporarily lifted the state of limitations for cases of child sexual abuse.
Minnesota has reported its first flu death of the season. The Minnesota Department of Health says it was an adult who died. So far this season, no children have died of influenza in Minnesota. Preliminary reports show 19 people in Minnesota have been hospitalized because of the flu so far this season.
Four new school outbreaks were reported last week, bringing the total to eight so far this season, but to date no outbreaks have been reported in Minnesota long-term care facilities this season.
Winds driving California fires die, but california is not out of the woods yet. Calmer weather allowed crews to increase containment on wildfires after a three-week siege of gusts fanned blazes across California and led utilities to cut power to prevent winds from blowing branches into electric lines and igniting an inferno.
The state experienced a wet winter with a large snowpack, and temperatures and whind speeds didn’t spike simultaneously over the summer, which has led to a less destructive fire season overall.
Acreage burned this year is down nearly 90% from last year and 80% below the five-year average over the same period, according to figures compiled through Sunday by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Sara Thibault can be reached at thib9782@stthomas.edu.