FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The judge in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting case will not allow the defense to raise failures by the school district, law enforcement or mental health providers to argue against the death penalty, a ruling some legal experts said will guarantee an appeal if the jury sends the defendant to death row.

The name change is the most definitive signal so far of the company’s intention to stake its future on a new computing platform — the metaverse, an idea born in the imaginations of sci-fi novelists. In Meta’s vision, people will congregate and communicate by entering virtual environments, whether they’re talking with colleagues in a boardroom or hanging out with friends in far-flung corners of the world.

One of the highlights (at least for the adults) of the Neewollah festivities is the chance to let their hair down (sometimes literally, sometimes not) and let their freak flags fly in the annual Doo Dah Parade held every Thursday during the Neewollah festival. But it has not always been a thing. The Grand Parade

(BPT) — Experts have found better alternatives to increasing bone density than calcium alone. Approximately half of all adults aged 50 and older are at risk of breaking a bone, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

(BPT) - After more than 18 months of taking precautions to help stop the spread of COVID-19, the world is slowly reopening - families and friends are reuniting, workers are heading back into the office and children are going back into school. But as the world continues to gradually make progress in fighting COVID-19, it’s important to remember another public health threat lurking - the flu.

A few stalwart souls braved the inclimate weather Wednesday evening to partake in some food truck yumminess and carnival rides. Even though the rain came down in sheets at times, many were still out and about, determined to make the most of the first night of Neewollah food truck and carnival fun. Martha Boucher

The Independence City Commissioners met in their regular session on Wednesday evening at Memorial Hall. The meeting began with the public hearing to consider condemnation of 800 East Edison Street as dangerous and unsafe. David Cowan asked the Commissioners to adjourn on this decision for 30 days so the family could go over the information given to them and make a decision and bring their final plans to the Commission next month. The condemnation of the property was tabled until November 18 at 5:30 p.m. Commissioner Hayse seconded the motion and the motion carried.

The Independence Adopt-A-Family program beings its 35th year of helping Independence families in need of assistance at Christmas. Applications for the 2021 program are now available at the Community Access Center located at 307 1/2 West Pecan Street between the hours of 10 a.m to 4 p.m Monday through Friday and at Community National Bank’s Main bank and Drive-In located at Pennsylvania and Myrtle Streets in downtown Independence. All applications must be returned to the Community Access Center no later than Friday, November 19. The Adopt-A-Family program helps provide toys, clothing and other related items to Independence families with children in the home ages 15 and under. As in the past, an individual, family, organization or company may adopt a family and shop for them or contribute money to assist families that have not been specifically adopted.

Coffeyville Community College welcomed about 160 Independence High School Sophomores during a campus visit on October 27, 2021. Dr. Marlon Thornburg welcomed those present and jokingly thanked them for skipping school to spend the morning at CCC. While on campus, students were able to explore over 15 technical programs, visit with various coaches and activity directors, and learn how it is possible to graduate from Coffeyville Community College prior to graduating from high school. Courtesy Photo