Ashley Cowan

National: Mother accused of suffocating autistic girl

In Champaign, Ill., a woman who claimed she tried to "fix" her 3-year-old autistic daughter by suffocating her with a plastic bag was convicted of murder Thursday after jurors rejected her insanity plea. The defense had argued that the mother, Karen McCarron was deeply depressed and became delusional the day she killed her daughter in 2006. In a videotaped confession played during the trial, McCarron told police she could no longer deal with her daughter's illness and some witnesses testified during the trial that McCarron was embarrassed by her daughter's condition. After jurors deliberated for nine hours over two days, they found McCarron guilty of two counts of murder, obstructing justice and concealment of a homicidal death.

Opinion:

Are you kidding me?!!! Is it me or are all of the people who commit crimes plead the insanity card or say something else like Jesus told them to do it! Umm can you say CRAZY!!!! I really wish these mentally unstable parents would get help with raising their children or give the children to someone else who has the time and patience to meet their needs.

International: German teen goes to Siberia to reform

In Frankfurt, Germany, a troubled German teen is spending nine months in remote Siberia as part of efforts to turn him away form violence, officials said on Thursday. The 16-year-old had been diagnosed as "pathologically aggressive" for behaving violently in school and attacking his mother, said Stefan Becker, head of the youth and social affairs department in the central German town of Giessen.

Opinion:

Wow! My only problem with this article is how children become this violent. When I hear that a boy is beating on his mother I want to scream! I mean there must be some flaw in how these children are getting raised because I know that all of the boys in my family have great respect for their elders and especially their parents. However, it is nice to hear that they are sending the children to get help.

National: 1 in 5 returning troops may have brain injury

In Washington, as many as 20 percent of U.S. combat troops who fought in Iraq or Afghanistan leave with signs they may gave had a concussion, and some do not realize they need treatment, Army officials said Thursday. Concussion is a common term for mild traumatic brain injury, or TBI. The Army is challenged on how they need to diagnose and treat military personnel who suffer from TBI. The most common cause was blast from an explosion.

Opinion:

Well as usual I'm going to say that I want all of our boys home! And now that they're finally returning home, they're bringing their brain damage with them! It's like these boys can't get a break. I understand that the effects are mild but I hope that there will be some treatment for their mild symptoms.

International: Heavy fighting in Somali capital kills 20

In Mogadhisu, Somalia, Islamic militants fired mortar shells and guns in the Somali capital on Thursday, sparking crossfire with Ethiopian troops and their Somali government allies that killed at least 20 people, witnesses said. Mogadishu residents said the Ethiopian and Somali forces came under attack by Islamic insurgernts in the south of the city, sparking mortar and artillery battles that killed 6 civilians and wounded 10.

Opinion:

Just the thought of death makes me sad. Either if it is someone I love and care for, or if it is someone who has wronged me in the past. I really wish these people didnt have the hate in their hearts to kill one another...... the world would be a better place.