Demolition Begins at Parkland School Shooting Site in Florida Parkland, Florida – Demolition has commenced at the site of the tragic Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that claimed the lives of 17 people in 2018. The decision to demolish the building was made after extensive consultation with victims’ families, survivors, and the community. It is believed that the demolition will help to close a painful chapter in the lives of those affected by the shooting. “This is a difficult and emotional time for our community,” said Parkland Mayor Christine Hunschofsky. “But we hope that the demolition can symbolize a new beginning for Parkland.” The school building had been the scene of unspeakable horror on February 14, 2018, when former student Nikolas Cruz opened fire with an AR-15 assault rifle. The shooting sparked a national outcry for stricter gun control laws and a renewed focus on school safety. Over the past four years, the building has been used as a memorial site, with victims’ families and survivors visiting to pay their respects. However, the decision was made that it would be more appropriate to demolish the building and establish a new memorial at a different location. The demolition process is expected to take several months. Once completed, the site will be turned into a green space with a memorial to the victims. The memorial will include a pathway with 17 trees, each representing one of the lives lost. “We hope that this new memorial will be a place of peace and healing for our community,” said Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter Alyssa was killed in the shooting. “It will be a reminder of the lives that were cut short and the importance of never giving up on our fight for gun safety.” The demolition of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School building is a bittersweet moment for the Parkland community. It marks the end of a painful chapter, but it also represents a hope for a brighter future. The new memorial will serve as a permanent reminder of the lives lost and the need for continued efforts to prevent such tragedies from happening again.Kenyan Teenager Apologizes for Assaulting Police OfficerKenyan Teenager Apologizes for Assaulting Police Officer Ian Njoroge, a 19-year-old accused of assaulting a police officer on Kamiti Road, has apologized to Kenyans and the officer involved. Following the intervention of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, Njoroge was released on bail after denying charges of violent robbery and causing serious harm. In a meeting with Sonko, Ian’s parents, and the victim, Njoroge expressed regret for his actions and vowed to never repeat them. “I apologize to the state and Jacob Ogendo (the attacked police officer). I am sorry, and this will never happen again,” Ian said. His mother also apologized on his behalf, thanking Sonko for his support. Ian’s father specifically apologized to the police for his son’s mistake. Sonko acknowledged that Ian had learned his lesson the hard way and expressed confidence in his future behavior. He criticized those who criticized his gesture, urging them to focus on raising children rather than condemning them for mistakes. “As a leader, on behalf of this family and Ian, we apologize to the National Police Service and all officers in uniform. We say ‘pole’,” Sonko said. He added that Ian would receive mentoring to address these issues and prevent their recurrence. The Milimani Chief Magistrate, Ben Mark Ekhubi, had previously dismissed the prosecution’s request to detain Njoroge, stating that the claim of danger to his life was insufficient. Ekhubi also ruled the robbery with violence charge unconstitutional as the Penal Code section on which it was based had been deemed unconstitutional by the High Court.Demolition crews have begun tearing down the former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School building where 17 people were killed in a mass shooting in 2018. The demolition is part of a $33 million project to replace the building with a new one that is expected to open in 2025. The old building had been closed since the shooting, and students had been attending classes in a temporary building on the same campus. The demolition is expected to take several months to complete. The new building will be designed with safety features, including bullet-resistant glass and a single point of entry. It will also have a memorial to the victims of the shooting.