Florida teens charged with bullying a girl on Facebook
ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Two teenage girls were charged for cyberbullying after authorities said they posted a fake nude photograph on a Facebook account made in the classmate’s name.
The 15- and 16-year-old high school students were charged Jan. 12 after a lengthy investigation into two Facebook accounts created in April. They each face a felony charge of aggravated stalking under a 2008 law passed after a student suicide was blamed on bullying.
Officials say the accounts included a photo of a nude female doctored to add the victim’s head.
Authorities said classmates ridiculed the victim after the pages became active.
The teens have been ordered to serve 21 days of home confinement and will be arraigned on the charges Feb. 8.
Around the Nation
U.S. approves Comcast-NBC merger
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — The Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice approved — with several conditions — a merger of the country’s largest cable operator, Comcast, and broadcasting company NBC Universal Jan. 18.
The FCC voted 4-1 in favor of the deal.
The FCC said the Comcast-NBC Universal combination will be required to take steps to increase competition in the video marketplace. In addition, Comcast has committed to expanding local news coverage, expand programs for Spanish-speaking viewers and offer Internet access to schools and libraries.
The merger should be complete by the end of January, and Comcast will manage the new venture, according to a joint press release from both Comcast and NBCU. Comcast will own 51 percent of the company, NBC Universal will own 49percent, the news release said.
The lone dissenter, Commissioner Michael Copps, expressed concern that the merger will limit communications choices and drive up costs to consumers.
“At the end of the day, the public interest requires more — much more — than it is receiving,” Copps said in a statement.
Around the World
Mexico announces capture of one of the founders of Los Zetas
(CNN) — An original member of the violent Zetas drug cartel has been arrested in southern Mexico, officials said Jan. 18.
Flavio Mendez Santiago, also known as “El Amarillo,” was arrested Monday in a federal police operation in a town north of Oaxaca, Mexico, Mexico’s public security ministry said.
He is being investigated for attempted murder, organized crime and crimes against health, the ministry said.
The Zetas, one of Mexico’s major drug trafficking organizations, are involved in multiple turf wars throughout the country that have resulted in violent killings.
Mendez, 35, was on a list of Mexico’s 37 most-wanted fugitives. There was a 15 million peso reward for his capture.
Arrest warrants were out for Mendez in the states of Oaxaca, Chiapas and the federal district where Mexico City is located.
