As someone who gave birth to a preemie, I certainly know the surprise Nancy Grace got today when she gave birth to her twins two months early:

John David, who weighed in at 5 pounds, 1 ounce, takes his name from his father and John the Revelator. Lucy Elizabeth, who tipped the scales at 2 pounds, 15 ounces, was named for Grace’s mother, Elizabeth, and grandmother, Lucy.

Grace, who wasn’t due until January, was induced after she developed pulmonary edema.

Due to the condition, which involves either swelling or fluid accumulation in the lungs, her doctor determined it would be safest to deliver the twins as soon as possible, according to the CNN spokesperson, who added that everyone is doing well.

Here’s hoping Nancy can get back on the airwaves soon to berate her producers and beat more horses to death.

After accusations of abuse at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa, Oprah is attempting to maintain her living legacy by “cleaning house”, replacing all of the dorm parents effective immediately:

“We are removing the dorm parents, and as I have said to the girls, (we are) cleaning house from top to bottom,” she said in a video news conference from Chicago.

“It has shaken me to my core,” said Winfrey, who has herself told of suffering sexual abuse as a child and offered advice to other victims.

Former dormitory matron Virginia Mokgobo, 27, was arrested on Thursday on charges including assault, indecent assault and soliciting under-age girls to perform indecent acts.

Shia LaBeouf, that lovable star of “Transformers” and “Even Stevens” whose name nobody knows how to pronounce, was in Chicago over the weekend, and apparently felt a need to stop into the Windy City’s favorite drug store, Walgreens, at 2:30 in the morning. For some unknown reason security asked him to leave, and LaBeouf refused which led to the trespassing charge:

Shia LaBeouf, who starred in “Disturbia” and “Transformers,” and stars in the upcoming Indiana Jones sequel, was arrested about 2:25 a.m. at the store at 757 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago police spokesman Marcel Bright said.

A security guard summoned police after LaBeouf refused several commands to leave the store, Bright said.

The guard signed a complaint against the actor, who was cited on a misdemeanor count of trespassing.

You know, I like wandering around Walgreen’s aisles as much as the next person, but not so much that I would refuse to leave. Doesn’t Shia have people that can make a decongestant run for him?

We’ve all heard about the “explosion” in autism cases, which naturally leads one to believe that the number of kids afflicted with the disease is on an alarming rise. Well another school of thought is proposing that the numbers are caused by an advance in diagnosing autism, as well as the relatively recent expansion of the “autism umbrella” into a range “autism spectrum disorders” and that the actual number of cases may not really be on the rise at all:

But many experts believe these unsociable behaviors were just about as common 30 or 40 years ago. The recent explosion of cases appears to be mostly caused by a surge in special education services for autistic children, and by a corresponding shift in what doctors call autism.

Autism has always been diagnosed by making judgments about a child’s behavior; there are no blood or biologic tests. For decades, the diagnosis was given only to kids with severe language and social impairments and unusual, repetitious behaviors.

Many children with severe autism hit themselves or others, don’t speak and don’t make eye contact.

Wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Parents of young, tween boys, beware! Just because a teacher looks like the girl next door, they could be a calculating, kidnapping pedophile. What was once thought to be the sociopathy of primarily males, is now proving to reveal that predators can be either male or female, some good looking, some not. One thing is for sure, pedophiles are drawn to professions in which they will have access to children.

Let’s take one of these female teachers and finally have the guts to prosecute them for what they are - CHILD MOLESTERS!

LEXINGTON, Neb. — A school computer is helping central Nebraska authorities unlock the secrets of an alleged relationship between a 13-year-old student and a 25-year-old teacher.

Lexington police are looking for Kelsey Peterson and a male student at Lexington Middle School. Police Chief Paul Schwarz said Peterson’s computer contained love letters exchanged between the teacher and student.

“At this point, we believe we have enough information to believe there was a sexual relationship,” Schwarz said on Wednesday.

While arson was always suspect in the current ravishing Southern California fires, it now seems that it wasn’t the act of some psycho with malicious intent, but instead it was a young boy playing with matches (and who has obviously never heard of Woodsy the Owl):

The boy, whose name and age were not released, confessed to starting the Buckweed fire, north of Los Angeles, on October 21 but claimed it was an accident.

Diane Hecht, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, said: “He admitted to playing with matches and accidentally starting the fire.”

The boy was released to his parents, and the case will be be presented to the district attorney’s office. He is believed to be under the age of 13, according to Reuters.

He is SOOOOOO grounded.

The $46 million Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy that Ms. O opened in South Africa in January has come under fire after accusations of physical and sexual abuse of some of the students:

“I’ve disappointed you. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” Oprah told parents at an emergency meeting in a packed marquee tent on the school premises.

The TV talk-show queen has visited her school at Henley-on-Klip near Vereeniging at least twice in the past few weeks, after allegations that one of the matrons fondled a girl and that other pupils had been physically abused.

Oprah gave the girls her personal telephone number, her e-mail address and her postal address so that they could contact her at any time, day or night.

Apart from the matron apparently involved, Oprah sent the principal, a Dr Mzimane, and at least one other matron on leave two weeks ago. Only the principal was on paid leave.

When we needed a nanny a while back, we did what a lot of parents do in this modern age and went about looking for one online. And it almost became overwhelming with the huge number of eager women looking for a nanny job — some would email us back several times following up, desperate to begin work immediately. Well one sick individual apparently figured this out as well, luring Katherine Ann Olson with the promise of a position, but there was not a needy parent waiting for her but rather a ruthless killer:

Police say an online ad seeking a nanny may have cost a Cottage Grove, Minnesota, woman her life.

Katherine Ann Olson, 24, was found dead in the trunk of her car at a Burnsville, Minnesota, park late Friday night. She was last seen by friends Thursday morning, when she went to meet someone in Savage about the job, which investigators said she had found on Craigslist.org, a popular Internet bulletin board.

A 19-year-old man from Savage who police believe placed the ad is being held in the Scott County jail pending charges. He worked at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where police arrested him Friday night.

“We’re confident we have the suspect in custody,” Police Capt. David Muelken said.

As someone who was under the impression that a diagnosis of autism in a child could not be definitive until 4 years old, this is interesting news. The American Academy of Pediatrics today is urging parents to bring their kids in for at least 2 autism screenings before they are 2 years old. Certain warning signs can apparently be seen as early as 4-months-old, and the recommendation is to try to catch and treat cases of autism as early as possible:

The advice is meant to help parents and doctors spot autism sooner. There is no cure for the disorder, but experts say that early therapy can lessen its severity.

Symptoms to watch for and the call for early screening come in two new reports. They are being released by the American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday at its annual meeting in San Francisco and will appear in the November issue of the journal Pediatrics and on the group’s Web site.

The reports list numerous warning signs, such as a 4-month-old not smiling at the sound of Mom or Dad’s voice, or the loss of language or social skills at any age.

The authors of the report are quick to point out that parents should not freak out if your kid displays a couple of the symptoms, as not all kids with “quirky behavior” are autistic.

Dillon Cossey, who was arrested earlier this month for plotting a shoot-up at a local school, yesterday admitted that he indeed have those intentions:

“First off, I would like to apologize for the trouble I caused,” the boy wrote. “I realize now that I was not thinking correctly. I want everyone to know that what was in my room does not change what was in my heart.”

Castor said Cossey described to police being bullied only a few times, but Farrell believes it was more frequent.

“My investigation has really disclosed that he has been the subject of protracted and profound peer abuse his whole life. It drove him from school,” Farrell said.

Authorities do not believe the teen was close to pulling off an attack; he had no ammunition and the boy he approached was the first he had asked for assistance.

Farrell said people who know Cossey don’t think he would have followed through.

“I think it was largely a fantasy that was beginning to cross the line,” Farrell said.

Yeah, well, it seemed to be racing over that line pretty quickly, and when it comes to our children better safe than sorry.

Dawn Sherman, daughter of the Chicago area’s most famous atheist Rob Sherman, is challenging in court Illinois’ new mandatory moment of silence law, claiming that the schools forcing kids in a period of “silent prayer or reflection” is unconstitutional:

The Shermans are seeking an injunction that would prevent the observance of a moment of silence in Township High School District 214, which is scheduled to begin the practice Tuesday. They also hope to reverse the statute statewide, said Gregory Kulis, an attorney representing the father and daughter.

“I just don’t want my education to be interrupted,” Dawn Sherman said.

Her father has challenged the use of a cross image on the seals of such municipalities as Rolling Meadows, Palatine and Zion.

“The whole purpose for changing the law is to get more prayer in the public schools and everybody knows it,” Rob Sherman said. “Private business should be done on personal time, not time paid for by the taxpayers.”

Carol Louise Matthey, of Victoria, Australia, was charged two years ago with killing her four young children in a sick attempt to save her marriage — an excuse that seems to come up surprisingly often in these types of cases. Well, today prosecutors dropped the charges deeming the case un-winnable:

Acting DPP Jeremy Rapke said the prosecution had been re-assessed in light of a body of evidence being ruled inadmissible. “I have now determined that the remaining Crown case is such that there is no reasonable prospect of any conviction being recorded,” he said.

Justice John Coldrey said he had asked the DPP to reconsider the viability of the prosecution.

“A detailed examination of the prosecution case revealed, in my view, evidentiary difficulties both as to its admissibility and as to the quality of the evidence the Crown was seeking to lead,” he said.

Matthey has maintained her innocence the entire time she was waiting for trial, and that all of her children dying within a relatively short time frame was just a horrible twist of fate.

The body of Sara Cooper, who disappeared after her daughter, Gianna Cooper, fell from a hotel balcony in Majorca, Spain, has been found at sea:

Earlier, Alfonso Jiminez Perez, the police officer leading the investigation, said: “What we suppose is that she had fallen into the water, the current had carried her to an underwater cave and she had been there for two days.”

Mrs. Cooper, 45, a qualified childminder, went missing at 7.30am on Monday after Gianna had fallen from the fifth-floor balcony of the room they were sharing at Hotel Samoa, a resort in eastern Majorca. It was less than 48-hours since they had arrived for a half-term family holiday.

Police were working on the theory that she was in hiding due to a feeling of deep remorse, or that she had suffered a breakdown caused by the shock of the incident.

Mr Perez, the commissioner of the national police in Palma, the capital of Majorca, said before the body was found that he feared the mother had shown signs of “mental instability” in the days before the tragedy.

Not to go all Nancy Grace but there seems to be more beneath the surface of this story. We’ll try to provide updates as they become available.

Irene Skurr of Canterbury, New Zealand died when a blood clot traveled from a recent leg injury up into her lung. In a sad turn of fate, Ms. Skurr was breastfeeding her 10-month-old son Cameron at the time, and he suffocated and died when she collapsed on top of him:

The Lincoln woman was an ardent supporter of breastfeeding and she and Cameron appeared in The Press in August in support of breastfeeding rights.

Sergeant Danny Harker, of the Selwyn police, said the deaths were an “absolute tragedy”.

“It’s deeply traumatising for the family and the police staff that attended,” he said on Monday. “It’s a total accident and our thoughts go out to the family for their loss.”

Friends of Skurr yesterday recalled a “people person” who was excited about being a new mother.

The co-ordinator of a Lincoln breastfeeding support group, Tui Wagstaff, said Skurr had been very committed to the group and had attended before and after giving birth. “She was very pleasant, a nice lady – always happy to stop and have a chat. She was pleased to be having her first baby and looking after it. It was a shock to everyone.”

Wagstaff said the tragedy of Skurr dying while breastfeeding was simply a freak occurrence. “I’ve spoken to a number of mothers and we’ve all said she could have been doing anything – driving, for example.”

The story seems to be pushing the irony of a breastfeeding advocate killing her baby while breastfeeding, but obviously the same bad ending could have happened even if she had been merely holding the infant. But I guess that doesn’t make for a good story angle…

It’s unbelievable, it’s tragic and it’s heartbreaking…

Two children of a Fort Bliss soldier flown back from Iraq with combat injuries are dead and a third is on life support after a car accident on the way to visit their father in the hospital, Army officials said.

Army Spc. John Austin Johnson was waiting for his wife and three kids to visit him at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio on Oct. 13 when another soldier told him his family’s car had rolled over four times on Interstate 10 about 12 miles east of Ozona on the gusty West Texas plains.

“He said, ‘Two of my children are dead?’ ” Army Sgt. 1st Class Eugene Schmidt told the Dallas Morning News. “And we started crying.”