– Dealing with death is difficult enough, but when a loved one takes his or her own life, it becomes even more complex—and it may up the risk of suicide for those left behind, a new study finds. In their findings published in the BMJ Open journal, researchers from University College London studied 3,432 adults ages 18 to 40 who'd been bereaved by a sudden death of a friend or family member. They found that individuals whose deceased loved ones had killed themselves were 65% more likely to attempt suicide themselves (what NDTV refers to as the phenomenon of "suicide contagion") than those affected by a loved one's sudden death by natural causes—or 1 in 10 people in that segment, per a press release. And having someone close to you die by suicide was found to have other repercussions, too: The study discovered that those affected by suicidal deaths were 80% more likely to leave a work or educational situation, per the release. "Our results highlight the profound impact that suicide might have on friends and family members," study author Dr. Alexandra Pitman says in the release. And the social stigma around suicide may be a significant factor affecting a mourning person's outlook. "Suicide in particular is often perceived as a taboo subject," Pitman notes. "Avoiding the subject can make a bereaved person feel very isolated and stigmatized, and sometimes even blamed for the death." That's not to say, though, that having such a tragedy afflict a family member or close friend dooms a person to a similar sad fate. "These outcomes are by no means inevitable," Pitman says. "If you have been bereaved by suicide, you should know that are not alone and support is available." (A Marine unit has lost 14 members to suicide.)

Expand this summary.

Strengths and limitations of this study We conducted a large population-based national survey of young adults, using a precise sampling frame.

 We included exposures to the sudden death of any close contact, to describe the impact of suicide bereavement whether related to the deceased or not.

 Our primary outcomes were validated measures of self-reported suicidal ideation and suicide attempt occurring after the bereavement, adjusted for prebereavement suicidal behaviour and psychopathology.

 We compared bereavement by suicide with bereavement due to sudden natural causes, then separately compared those bereaved by suicide with those bereaved due to sudden unnatural death to measure the specific impact of suicide bereavement.

 Given the possibility of selection bias (favouring higher social classes) and male non-response bias, the results of this study may be more generalisable to young bereaved women than men, and to the more highly educated.

 Introduction Suicide bereavement describes the period of grief, mourning and adjustment after a suicide death, that is experienced by family members, friends and any other contacts of the deceased affected by the loss.1 It is estimated to affect up to 9% of adolescents2 and 7% of adults3 annually. Since 1989, the WHO has suggested that relatives and close friends of people who die by suicide are a high-risk group for suicide.4 Explanations include the particular psychological trauma of a suicide loss, which involves grief and agonising self-questioning; shared familial and environmental risk; suicide contagion through the process of social modelling1; and the burden of stigma associated with violent losses.1 ,5 Quantitative studies confirm that people bereaved by suicide and other violent deaths perceive greater stigma than other bereaved groups.1 Their qualitative accounts are of others’ distaste or embarrassment over the disturbing nature of an unnatural loss,5 and a loss of community support,6 ,7 with the effect of reducing help seeking and perceptions of the support available.7 As stigma may be more modifiable than other potential explanatory factors, there is interest in understanding its relationship to suicide-related outcomes after negative life events.1 International suicide prevention strategies have placed great emphasis on the provision of support for people bereaved by suicide,1 despite the lack of studies confirming that risk of adverse outcomes applies beyond the effect of any sudden loss.1 ,8 There is also little evidence for effective interventions after suicide.9 Studies comparing people bereaved by suicide with non-bereaved controls support an increased probability of suicide following any bereavement.10 Those using controls bereaved by non-suicide causes go further in supporting an association between sudden bereavement and suicide-related outcomes.10 ,11 However, risk of hospital-treated suicide attempt is similar in adults bereaved by suicide and those bereaved by accidental deaths,12 suggesting that the wider risk factor is bereavement by any unnatural causes. Only study designs separating out control groups bereaved by sudden natural and sudden unnatural causes, adjusted for prebereavement psychopathology, can determine whether adverse outcomes are attributable to violent deaths or more specifically to suicide.1 Our recent systematic review highlighted the lack of such studies.1 It also found that no British studies had investigated suicide-related outcomes after suicide bereavement,13 and no studies using bereaved controls had measured the impact of peer suicide.1 This is despite widespread concern about the susceptibility of young people to social modelling of self-harm14 ,15 and recent increases in suicides among young men.16 Our objective was to design a study that could investigate whether there is a specific association between suicide bereavement and suicide attempt by making distinct comparisons between bereavement by suicide, unnatural causes and sudden natural causes. Use of routine clinical data was precluded because these record exposure only to mortality of first-degree relatives and cohabitees, and hospital presentations of self-harm. Conversely, survey methods permit ascertainment of exposure to all bereavements, and self-reported suicidality and self-harm, and are therefore a vital tool for investigating risk of suicidal events following suicide bereavement. We therefore undertook a population-based cross-sectional survey comparing the impact of specific modes of self-reported sudden bereavement on non-fatal suicide-related outcomes. Our primary hypothesis was that young adults in the UK who had been bereaved by suicide were at higher risk of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts than those bereaved by other causes of sudden death. Collecting data on two control groups allowed us to address two research questions. First, comparison with adults bereaved by sudden natural causes of death took into account the sudden nature of the loss. Second, comparison with adults bereaved by sudden unnatural causes took into account the violent nature of the loss. Hypothesis 2 was that suicide bereavement would be a risk factor for four secondary clinical and occupational measures (postbereavement non-suicidal self-harm, depression, occupational drop-out and social dysfunction), reflecting policy concerns about the contribution of bereavement to workplace mental ill health and sickness absence.17 Hypothesis 3 was that the impact of suicide bereavement would extend beyond genetic relatedness to peer suicides, and would therefore not be modified by relatedness to the deceased. Hypothesis 4 was that any associations with clinical or occupational outcomes would be attenuated by perceived stigma, as a marker for reduced help seeking.

 Methods Study design and participants We invited all young adults working or studying at UK higher education institutions (HEIs) to participate in a closed, online study about sudden bereavement: the UCL Bereavement Study. We anticipated that using the email systems of large institutions would be the best means of accessing hard-to-reach groups, particularly those not normally accessing health services, and avoiding the biases associated with recruiting a help-seeking sample.18 Sampling from a diverse range of colleges, universities, art and drama schools, and agricultural colleges offered unique access to a large defined sample of young adults. All 164 HEIs in the UK in 2010 were invited to participate, following up non-responding HEIs to encourage broad socioeconomic and geographic representation. Over 20% of HEIs (37/164) agreed to take part, with a higher response (40%) from those classified as the more prestigious Russell Group of universities. This provided a sampling frame of 659 572 staff and students. All participants were invited to take part in a survey of ‘the impact of sudden bereavement on young adults’, with the aim of masking them to the specific study hypotheses. There was no accurate way of measuring response, as the denominator of bereaved people was not ascertainable using routine data or survey methods. The majority of participating HEIs agreed to send an individual email invitation with embedded survey link to each staff and student member. For reasons of sensitivity (recent staff/student deaths), 10 HEIs modified this strategy, for example, by emailing students only, using their weekly news digest email, or advertising via staff and student intranet. Inclusion criteria were as follows: people aged 18–40 who, since the age of 10, had experienced sudden bereavement of a close friend or relative. The 18–40 age range was defined to reflect an under-researched group of great policy interest.16 Early childhood bereavements were excluded to minimise recall bias and restrict our focus to adult cognitive processing of life events, using the age threshold for criminal responsibility in England and Wales. A close contact was defined as ‘a relative or friend who mattered to you, and from whom you were able to obtain support, either emotional or practical’. Sudden bereavement was operationalised as ‘a death that could not have been predicted at that time and which occurred suddenly or within a matter of days’. Exposure status was classified by responses to the question: ‘Since you were aged 10 have you experienced a sudden bereavement of someone close to you due to any of the following: (1) sudden natural death (eg, cardiac arrest, epileptic seizure, stroke); (2) sudden unnatural death (eg, road crash, murder or manslaughter, work accident); (3) suicide?’ Mode of death was defined subjectively by the respondent, and not by coroner's verdict or death certificate, as perception of bereavement type was the exposure of interest. In the case of more than one exposure, we adopted a hierarchical approach favouring those bereaved by suicide, for whom we anticipated the lowest base rate. This group were classified as suicide bereaved regardless of other exposures. Those bereaved by more than one non-suicide sudden death were asked to relate their responses to whichever person they had felt closest to, with exposure status classified accordingly. We estimated that a minimum of 466 participants would be required in any one group (two-tailed analysis; 90% power) to detect a doubling of the UK community prevalence of lifetime suicide attempt (6.5%) in young adult samples.19 We chose a relatively large effect size to reflect our comparison to a non-bereaved baseline, lacking prevalence figures for bereaved UK samples. Procedures The questionnaire (see online supplementary material) was designed in consultation with a group of young bereaved adults and bereavement counsellors, who identified important domains to cover in relation to the impact of bereavement, and was piloted with individuals accessing support from national bereavement support organisations. It elicited quantitative data on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including a personality disorder screen,20 and nine putative confounding variables identified a priori from existing literature and clinical judgement: age, gender, socioeconomic status, other family history of suicide (excluding index bereavement), years since bereavement, kinship to the deceased, prebereavement depression, prebereavement suicide attempt and prebereavement non-suicidal self-harm. These reflected the observed vulnerabilities of people bereaved by suicide, even before the loss,1 which are likely to reflect shared familial and environmental risk. We measured perceived stigma using the stigmatisation subscale of the Grief Experience Questionnaire (GEQ),6 with items such as ‘Since the death how often did you feel avoided by friends?’ Responses on a Likert-style scale generated scores of 5–25. Our two main outcomes were self-reported suicidal ideation (‘Have you ever thought of taking your life, even though you would not actually do it?’)21 and self-reported suicide attempt (‘Have you ever made an attempt to take your life, by taking an overdose of tablets or in some other way?’).22 These standardised measures were taken from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS),19 a national seven-yearly population survey in England, and were qualified by whether these occurred before or after the sudden bereavement, to derive an incident measure. Our four secondary measures were: postbereavement non-suicidal self-harm (self-poisoning and self-injury without suicidal intent) using a standardised APMS measure22 (adapted as above); depression using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) screen for lifetime depression23 (adapted as above); occupational drop-out (from work or education) using a binary measure developed for this study; and poor social functioning using the Social Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ).24 Statistical analysis We summarised sample characteristics by exposure group, using χ2 tests (categorical variables) and one-way analysis of variance (continuous variables). We then used multivariable regression to estimate the strength of associations between suicide bereavement and outcomes. We fitted binary models using xtlogit commands in Stata,25 with HEI as random effect, to take into account the clustering effect at HEI level. Each multivariable model included nine prespecified confounding variables, described above. Models used complete case analysis, with a significance threshold of p=0.05 for primary outcomes and p=0.01 for secondary outcomes. Our primary comparison used bereavement by sudden natural causes as the reference category, quantifying risk of adverse outcomes in adults bereaved by suicide, and in adults bereaved by sudden unnatural causes. We conducted a second comparison between adults bereaved by suicide and the reference category of adults bereaved by sudden unnatural causes. We tested hypothesis 3, whether the effect of suicide bereavement was modified by kinship (blood-related vs non-blood-related), by adding an interaction term to all models. Hypothesis 4, whether stigma attenuated associations, was tested by including stigma scores in multivariable models. A series of a priori defined sensitivity analyses were conducted. These assessed the robustness of our main findings when using best-case and worst-case scenarios to impute missing values, and when applying more stringent inclusion criteria (excluding participants from the 10 HEIs that had modified the stipulated recruitment method; excluding participants from the 18 HEIs with participant numbers below the median cluster size). Finally, we conducted a set of four post hoc analyses to describe probability estimates in those bereaved by the death of an older person; in a student-only sample; and in women (as the study was underpowered to add gender as an interaction term to models); and to ascertain whether exposure to more than one mode of sudden bereavement might attenuate associations (by adding this variable to final models). All analyses were conducted using Stata V.12 (StataCorp, Texas, USA).

 Results A total of 5085 people of the 659 572 sampled responded to the questionnaire by clicking on the survey link, with 91% consenting to participate, and 68% (n=3432) fulfilling eligibility (see figure 1). Overall 18% had been exposed to more than one mode of sudden bereavement (see figure 2), which was significantly more common in the group bereaved by suicide (see table 1). Clustering of participants within the 37 HEIs was minimal for primary outcomes (see table 1). Missing data for model covariates and outcomes were less than 7%. Table 1 Characteristics of participants by type of bereavement exposure Figure 1 Participant flow. Figure 2 Euler diagram showing the combinations of exposures in eligible sample of 3432 respondents. Participant characteristics The sample was primarily female, white and blood-related to the deceased (see table 1). Of those reporting the loss of a non-blood-related contact, 74% described them as a friend, 11% a partner, 4% an ex-partner and 12% a step/adoptive/in-law family member. There were no statistically significant differences between the exposure groups in relation to mean age, gender, self-defined ethnicity, socioeconomic status, level of current social support or personality difficulties. People bereaved by suicide were significantly more likely to report prebereavement psychopathology, and a family history of psychiatric problems. Those bereaved by sudden unnatural causes or by suicide reported a lower mean age of the deceased than those bereaved by sudden natural causes, and were also less likely to report the loss of a blood relative. The mean time elapsed since bereavement was 4.9 years (SD=5.3; range=1 day to 30 years), with no evidence for group differences. In each exposure group, the prevalence of prebereavement suicidal thoughts and non-suicidal self-harm (but not suicide attempt) exceeded estimates for UK population norms in corresponding age groups.19 Bereavement by suicide compared with that by sudden natural causes In comparison with bereavement by sudden natural causes (see table 2), those bereaved by suicide had a greater probability of postbereavement suicide attempt (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.65; 95% CI 1.12 to 2.42; p=0.012), but not of suicidal ideation. The suicide-bereaved group also had a greater probability of occupational drop-out (AOR=1.80; 95% CI 1.20 to 2.71; p=0.005), but there was no evidence for group differences in postbereavement non-suicidal self-harm, depression or social functioning. Table 2 Estimates of the relationship between postbereavement outcomes and bereavement exposure (sudden natural death as reference category) Comparison between bereavement by sudden unnatural causes and the reference category of adults bereaved by sudden natural causes showed no evidence for any group differences. Bereavement by suicide compared with that by sudden unnatural causes When directly compared with bereavement by sudden unnatural death, adults bereaved by suicide had a similar probability of postbereavement suicidal ideation and suicide attempt (see table 3). The probability of poor social functioning was significantly greater in adults bereaved by suicide (AOR=1.46; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.89; p=0.005), but there were no differences in postbereavement non-suicidal self-harm, depression or occupational drop-out. Table 3 Estimates of the relationship between postbereavement outcomes and bereavement exposure (suicide vs sudden unnatural death) Kinship as a potential effect modifier Tests for an interaction between bereavement exposure and kinship to the deceased found that none of the significant or non-significant associations between suicide bereavement and adverse outcomes were modified by relatedness. This was the case even when excluding the 253 respondents who reported the death of a partner, ex-partner or non-blood relative, to describe associations in a group bereaved by peer death. Stigma as a potential confounder Adding stigma scores to adjusted models for significant associations between suicide bereavement and adverse outcomes attenuated ORs, as predicted, with no evidence for group differences between those bereaved by suicide and those bereaved by sudden natural causes in postbereavement suicide attempt (AOR=1.11; 95% CI 0.74 to 1.67; p=0.610) or occupational drop-out (AOR=1.36; 95% CI 0.89 to 2.09; p=0.156), or between those bereaved by suicide and those bereaved by sudden unnatural causes in terms of poor social functioning (AOR=1.06; 95% CI 0.80 to 1.41; p=0.667). Sensitivity analyses Main findings were unchanged after sensitivity analyses simulating worst-case and best-case scenarios for missing values, and after those simulating other potential biases, suggesting that any biases introduced had not resulted in an underestimation or overestimation of the risks. Post hoc sensitivity analyses The magnitude and direction of the association between suicide bereavement and suicide attempt (compared with bereavement by sudden natural causes) were similar after excluding 769 participants bereaved by the death of someone aged over 60 (AOR=1.78; 95% CI 1.16 to 2.71; p=0.008), to exclude deaths that might be less unexpected. They were also unchanged when excluding 399 staff (AOR=1.73; 95% CI 1.16 to 2.59; p=0.007), and in a women-only sample (AOR=1.66; 95% CI 1.09 to 2.53; p=0.018). When compared with women bereaved by sudden unnatural causes, women bereaved by suicide had an increased probability of postbereavement suicide attempt (AOR=1.71; 95% CI 1.04 to 2.85; p=0.036), whereas in the full sample no association was found. When taking into account the higher prevalence of repeated exposure to sudden bereavement in the suicide bereaved group, ORs were attenuated and no significant findings remained. There was therefore no evidence of group differences between the suicide bereaved group and those bereaved by sudden natural causes in relation to postbereavement suicide attempt (AOR=1.53; 95% CI 0.99 to 2.35; p=0.054) or occupational drop-out (AOR=1.54; 95% CI 0.98 to 2.43; p=0.062), or between those bereaved by suicide and those bereaved by sudden unnatural causes in relation to poor social functioning (AOR=1.41; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.84; p=0.013).

 Discussion Our main finding was of a specific association between bereavement by suicide and subsequent suicide attempt among young adults who experience sudden bereavement. This was not attributable to prebereavement suicidality, despite higher rates of prebereavement psychopathology; a finding in keeping with the literature1 and suggestive of shared familial and environmental risk. Previous studies using non-bereaved controls or heterogeneous bereaved controls were not able to rule out the possibility that exposure to any sudden bereavement explains adverse outcomes. Our study supports a specific association between suicide bereavement and suicide-related outcomes, justifying the inclusion of people bereaved by suicide in national suicide prevention strategies. This study also provides the first evidence that blood relatedness to the deceased does not modify the association between suicide bereavement and suicide attempt, confirming that risk also applies to adults bereaved by peer suicide. Such findings must be interpreted in the context of a highly educated sample, in which exposure to violent losses may be lower than in a more nationally representative (but harder to recruit) sample. The absence of an association between suicide bereavement and suicidal ideation or depression is striking, as is the high prevalence of prebereavement and postbereavement suicidal ideation and depression in all three exposure groups. This may be explained by high baseline rates of depressive and suicidal thoughts among students,26 reducing the chances of detecting a difference. It is also possible that while suicidal thinking after sudden loss is common, suicide bereavement is particularly powerful in precipitating suicide attempt in a suicidal person, whether due to enhanced awareness of means, reduced fear of death or social modelling.27 The non-significant differences in the probability of suicidality and depression when comparing adults bereaved by suicide and by sudden unnatural causes are noteworthy, requiring further studies comparing outcomes in those bereaved by suicide and other unnatural causes. The clinical implications of these findings are that clinicians assessing suicide risk should inquire not only about a history of suicide in blood relatives, but also in friends and non-blood relatives. Employers should be aware of the impact of suicide bereavement on occupational functioning, and make adjustments to promote workplace mental health. The associations between suicide bereavement and adverse outcomes became non-significant when adding perceived stigma. This is an indicator that stigma might be a marker for motivational moderators of suicidality after a negative life event, such as reluctance to seek help, thwarted belongingness or perceived burdensomeness.27 However, further investigation is warranted to determine whether stigma can be said to lie on the causal pathway. This study suggests a role for psychosocial interventions delivered after a potentially traumatic loss to address problem solving and help seeking, and the quality of community support. Although not prehypothesised, the associations were also attenuated by repeated exposure to sudden losses among the suicide bereaved. This is suggestive of a substantial contribution of familial and environmental risk factors for premature death shared with social networks, and a reduced fear of death due to habituation. This acquired capability to attempt suicide27 would require sensitive exploration in a clinical interview. Our study is of policy importance in specifying that friends as well as relatives warrant support after a suicide, addressing the vagueness of suicide prevention strategies on how extensively to offer support.1 The WHO estimates that 800 000 people die by suicide annually,28 and 60 people are now understood to affected by each suicide death.29 This means that 48 million people are bereaved by suicide worldwide every year. Further research describing moderators of risk will help determine whether there is a rationale for screening members of this heterogeneous group. Trials are also needed to identify evidence-based interventions delivered after suicide bereavement to reduce the risk of suicide-related outcomes, including those that address stigma. This study's key strengths are its national population-based sample size, and ability to access those who do not normally participate in research. It is the largest scale survey conducted in any country comparing self-reported suicide-related outcomes in those bereaved by suicide and other mortality causes. Previous studies using national registries have achieved larger sample sizes, but under-recorded exposures and lacked self-reported outcomes such as untreated suicide attempts.10–12 ,30 ,30 ,31 Unlike previous surveys, we tested clear a priori hypotheses, accounted for prebereavement psychopathology, and used standardised measures for seven of eight outcomes. A precise sampling frame accessed a large community sample of young adults, otherwise under-represented in health research, while minimising the biases inherent to using help-seeking groups. Coroner misclassification of suicides as accidental deaths was less of a problem than in other studies as we used the respondent's perception of cause of death, with minimal potential for respondent misclassification. Levels of missing data within models were low, and results were robust to sensitivity analysis simulating non-response and possible selection biases. Chance findings were unlikely as group sizes exceeded the minimum required for adequate power and the significance threshold was more stringent for secondary outcomes than primary. Lack of information on response might be a considered a limitation, but no method permitted accurate estimation of the bereaved denominator. It is reasonable to assume that most non-responders had not been exposed to sudden bereavement, and that a minority were ineligible by age. Our hierarchical approach to classifying suicide exposure may have overestimated the effect of suicide bereavement due to clustering of violent bereavements, but we did not measure number of exposures to each type of bereavement. Our definition of non-suicidal self-harm followed that used for establishing UK population norms,19 but may differ from others given wide international definitional variations. Recall bias may have influenced judgements about the onset and severity of difficulties, particularly among those bereaved by violent causes, with the potential to overestimate risks in these groups. Residual confounding is possible in relation to unmeasured variables such as financial hardship, social modelling, substance misuse and complicated grief (which was not measured as data collection preceded Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5)32). Non-response bias (from men, those most distressed), survivor bias and selection bias (favouring higher social classes) may have resulted in an underestimation of risks due to the higher probability of suicide-related outcomes in disadvantaged men16 and those worst affected by the loss. An HEI sample is not representative of all UK-based young adults, despite inclusion of diverse institutions, and this limits generalisability of findings to those not entering higher education. While selection bias and male non-response bias were equally distributed between the three exposure groups, the results of this study may be more generalisable to young bereaved women than men, and to the more highly educated. Nevertheless, the findings do constitute the best available evidence describing the impact of peer suicide on young adults using appropriate controls.

 Conclusions Bereavement by suicide is a specific risk factor for suicide attempt when compared with bereavement due to sudden natural causes, whether blood-related to the deceased or not. As the association between suicide bereavement and suicide attempt is attenuated when taking into account perceived stigma, further investigation of the role of stigma and reduced help seeking is warranted. Such work will inform the development of acceptable interventions delivered after potentially traumatic losses. Our findings suggest that suicide risk assessment should extend screening for a family history of suicide to any history of suicide in non-blood relatives and friends. However, until we have evidence-based interventions for this group, the best ways of mitigating this risk of suicide attempt are unclear. ||||| People bereaved by the sudden death of a friend or family member are 65 percent more likely to attempt suicide if the deceased died by suicide than if they died by natural causes

 People bereaved by the sudden death of a friend or family member are 65% more likely to attempt suicide if the deceased died by suicide than if they died by natural causes. This brings the absolute risk up to 1 in 10, reveals new UCL research funded by the Medical Research Council.

 The researchers studied 3,432 UK university staff and students aged 18-40 who had been bereaved, to examine the specific impacts associated with bereavement by suicide. The results are published in BMJ Open.

 As well as the increased risk of suicide attempt, those bereaved by suicide were also 80% more likely to drop out of education or work. In total, 8% of the people bereaved by suicide had dropped out of an educational course or a job since the death.

 "Our results highlight the profound impact that suicide might have on friends and family members," says study author Dr Alexandra Pitman (UCL Psychiatry). "However, these outcomes are by no means inevitable. If you have been bereaved by suicide, you should know that are not alone and support is available. There is a guide called Help is at Hand, written by people affected by suicide, which offers emotional and practical advice as well as information on organisations that can offer further support.

 "We know that people can find it difficult to know what to say to someone who has recently been bereaved. However, saying something is often better than saying nothing, and simple gestures like offering practical help with day-to-day activities can mean a lot. For example, when a colleague bereaved by suicide returns to work after compassionate leave then it could be helpful to ask how they are and offer to help them with their workload. Employers should be aware of the significant impact that suicide bereavement has on people's working lives and make adjustments to help their staff return to work."

 The study also found that people who had been bereaved by suicide tended to perceive more social stigma around the death. When the results were adjusted for perceived social stigma to reflect this, the significant differences in suicide attempts and occupational functioning disappeared. While further research is required, this suggests that addressing the social stigma attached to suicide bereavement might be one way to help to limit its impact on people's lives.

 "British people can be very uncomfortable talking about death, and suicide in particular is often perceived as a taboo subject," explains Dr Pitman. "However, avoiding the subject can make a bereaved person feel very isolated and stigmatised, and sometimes even blamed for the death. People bereaved by suicide should not be made to feel in any way responsible, and should be treated with the same compassion as people bereaved by any other cause. Suicide is a complex issue and there is often no simple explanation for why someone chooses to take their own life. Although one often hears people refer to a relationship break-up or a redundancy as the trigger for a suicide, this is far too simplistic and in reality it is often a culmination of different life events rather than one individual 'cause'."

 Previous studies have shown family history of suicide to be a risk factor for suicide attempt, so risk assessments in hospitals, prisons and social care settings are designed to take this into account. However, the new study suggests that a history of suicide among non-blood relatives and friends should also be considered when assessing suicide risk. Asking about the impact of a suicidal loss will also give professionals a sense of how it has affected their day-to-day functioning, and whether feeling stigmatised has prevented them from accessing help.

 ### ||||| People bereaved by suicide of a friend or family member are 65 per cent more likely to kill themselves than the ones whose relatives died of natural causes, a new study has claimed.People coming in contact with ones displaying self-destructive behaviour are more likely to show a suicidal tendency.It is common among vulnerable people - especially teens and young adults. This is called "suicide contagion." Contagion includes indirect as well as direct exposure to suicide, as Health and Human Services explains. Reading a newspaper article about a famous suicide and not just directly experiencing the death of a friend or an attempt made by a family member might propel someone who is at-risk to follow suit.The researchers from University College London (UCL) studied 3,432 UK university staff and students aged 18-40 who had been bereaved, to examine the specific impacts associated with bereavement by suicide.As well as the increased risk of suicide attempt, those bereaved by suicide were also 80 per cent more likely to drop out of education or work.In total, 8 per cent of the people bereaved by suicide had dropped out of an educational course or a job since the death."Our results highlight the profound impact that suicide might have on friends and family members," said study author Alexandra Pitman from UCL."However, these outcomes are by no means inevitable. If you have been bereaved by suicide, you should know that are not alone and support is available," Mr Pitman said."We know that people can find it difficult to know what to say to someone who has recently been bereaved. However, saying something is often better than saying nothing, and simple gestures like offering practical help with day-to-day activities can mean a lot.The study also found that people who had been bereaved by suicide tended to perceive more social stigma around the death.When the results were adjusted for perceived social stigma to reflect this, the significant differences in suicide attempts and occupational functioning disappeared.This suggests that addressing the social stigma attached to suicide bereavement might be one way to help to limit its impact on people's lives."People bereaved by suicide should not be made to feel in any way responsible, and should be treated with the same compassion as people bereaved by any other cause," said Mr Pitman."Suicide is a complex issue and there is often no simple explanation for why someone chooses to take their own life," Mr Pitman said."Although one often hears people refer to a relationship break-up or a redundancy as the trigger for a suicide, this is far too simplistic and in reality it is often a culmination of different life events rather than one individual 'cause'," she said.Previous studies have shown family history of suicide to be a risk factor for suicide attempt, so risk assessments in hospitals, prisons and social care settings are designed to take this into account. However, the new study suggests that a history of suicide among non-blood relatives and friends should also be considered when assessing suicide risk.The study was published in the journal BMJ Open. |||||


Article:

A Brenham veterinarian accused of killing a cat with a bow and arrow will not face charges at this time after an Austin County grand jury find returned a “no-bill” in the case. (Photo: KHOU)

 BELLVILLE, Texas – A Brenham veterinarian who killed a cat with a bow and arrow will not face charges at this time after an Austin County grand jury returned a "no-bill" in the case.

 A finding of no-bill indicates the grand jury examined all the evidence and determined there was insufficient proof to charge.

 She was accused of posting a picture to Facebook back in April where's she holding up a dead cat with an arrow through its head, bragging about her kill.

 The Austin County Sheriff's Office say they received an unsworn hearsay report that the vet was acting to protect her pets from a "potentially rabid stray cat."

 After a thorough investigation, investigators not able to determine where or when the incident took place.

 Without that, investigators lacked probable cause to obtain a search warrant for any Austin County properties pertaining to the incident.

 Investigators said subpoenas to Facebook failed to produce usable evidence since the vet's account had been deleted prior to the Sheriff's Office learning of the incident.

 Many people were outside the Austin County Courthouse Wednesday protesting and demanding the grand jury indict the veterinarian.

 A Brenham veterinarian accused of killing a cat with a bow and arrow could find out Wednesday whether she will be charge in the animal's death. (Photo: Lauren Talarico / KHOU 11 News)

 Since she has not been charged KHOU 11 News are not releasing her name or showing her face.

 The cat was named Tiger; KHOU 11 News spoke with his pet sitter on Wednesday.

 "He went missing at the time, and when I saw the picture in my heart I knew it was him," Amy Hemsell said. "I'm hoping that she is punished to the fullest extent for animal cruelty."

 Protestors say this was about more than this one cat, but animal cruelty as a whole. The veterinarian has since been fired from her job.

 Posters have been sent from people all over the world voicing their support for Tiger and asking for an indictment.

 A Brenham veterinarian accused of killing a cat with a bow and arrow could find out Wednesday whether she will be charge in the animal's death. (Photo: Lauren Talarico / KHOU 11 News)

 Read or Share this story: http://on.khou.com/1NbowVD ||||| Brenham veterinarian accused of killing cat with arrow, posting photo to Facebook won't be charged

 Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Image 1 of 5 From Kristen Lindsey's Facebook post. From Kristen Lindsey's Facebook post. Image 2 of 5 Austin County veterinarian Dr. Kristen Lindsey has reportedly been fired from the animal clinic at which she works after allegedly posting this photo to her Facebook page of a dead cat she reportedly shot with an arrow. less Austin County veterinarian Dr. Kristen Lindsey has reportedly been fired from the animal clinic at which she works after allegedly posting this photo to her Facebook page of a dead cat she reportedly shot with ... more Image 3 of 5 Dr. Kristen Lindsey, has now been fired from her position at the Washington Animal Clinic in Brenham. Dr. Kristen Lindsey, has now been fired from her position at the Washington Animal Clinic in Brenham. Photo: KBTX-TV Image 4 of 5 Dr. Kristen Lindsey, has now been fired from her position at the Washington Animal Clinic in Brenham. Dr. Kristen Lindsey, has now been fired from her position at the Washington Animal Clinic in Brenham. Photo: KBTX-TV Image 5 of 5 Dr. Kristen Lindsey, has now been fired from her position at the Washington Animal Clinic in Brenham. Dr. Kristen Lindsey, has now been fired from her position at the Washington Animal Clinic in Brenham. Photo: Google Maps Brenham veterinarian accused of killing cat with arrow, posting photo to Facebook won't be charged 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

 The Brenham veterinarian accused of shooting a cat through the head with an arrow and posting a boastful photo about it on Facebook will not be charged.

 An Austin County grand jury "no billed" Dr. Kristen Lindsey on Wednesday for the alleged April incident, according to the Austin County District Attorney's Office.

 The investigation was unable to turn up substantial information implicating Kristen Lindsey in a crime related to the cat slaying. The only real evidence was a single Facebook photo, but according to a press release from the Austin County District Attorney, the Austin County Sheriff's Office was unable to verify when or where the photo was taken.

 "Without more information, the State lacks proof that this incident even occurred in the state of Texas," the DA said in a press release, noting that cat hunting is legal year-round in Wyoming.

 Furthermore, investigators couldn't prove the cat was killed in a cruel manner, since guidelines from the American Veterinary Medical Association include a "bolt to the head" as a humane form of euthanasia when done correctly.

 Sheriff Jack Brandes of the Austin County Sheriff's Office previously told the Chronicle he was alerted April 17 to a now-deleted Facebook photo of Lindsey from that area holding an orange cat with an arrow through its head.

 The photo appeared to show a smiling Lindsey holding a dead cat up via an arrow show through its head.

 "My first bow kill [cat emoticon] lol. The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through it's head! Vet of the year award...gladly accepted [laughing emoticon]," the post said.

 Lindsey deleted the Facebook profile after the photo went viral and animal activists online lashed out. Shortly thereafter, she was fired from her position at the Washington Animal Clinic in Brenham.

 "We are absolutely appalled, shocked, upset, and disgusted by the conduct. We have parted ways with Ms. Lindsey. We do not allow such conduct and we condemn it in the strongest possible manner," the clinic said in the statement."

 "Please know that when informed of this we responded swiftly and appropriately and please do not impute this awful conduct to the Washington Animal Clinic or any of its personnel." |||||
What is a summary?

– A Texas veterinarian may have angered a lot of people, but she won't be charged for allegedly killing a cat with an arrow through the head in April. The investigation into Dr. Kristen Lindsey could find no substantial evidence Lindsey committed a crime. Though she posted a photo of herself with the dead cat on Facebook, which she later deleted, the sheriff's office couldn't verify the photo—and an Austin County grand jury today "no billed" her, the county district attorney's office says, according to the Houston Chronicle. A "no-bill" finding means there's not enough proof to file charges, KHOU notes. A crowd gathered outside the courthouse today to protest the finding. "Without more information, the State lacks proof that this incident even occurred in the state of Texas," the DA says in a press release, adding that investigators also couldn't prove the cat's manner of death was cruel. (The American Veterinary Medical Association itself says a "bolt to the head," performed correctly, is a humane way to euthanize, and, as KBTX notes, the press release also points out that in some parts of the US, hunting stray cats is perfectly legal.) The sheriff's office says it was told that Lindsey was trying to protect her own pets from a "potentially rabid stray cat," but the cat she's accused of killing was reportedly a house pet named Tiger who went missing. Lindsey was fired from her job at an animal clinic after the photo went viral. As for her veterinary license, the DA notes it is "not involved" in the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners' decision on that.


Danny Iudici/New York Daily News Union members of local 1181 amalgamated were on strike this morning at 1616 Stillwell Ave. in the Bronx at the Little Richie Bus Company. The strikers attempted to stop the working union drivers of local 91 from pulling busses out but order was quickly kept by NYPD.

 Thousands of parents were left struggling to get their kids to and from school by taxi, subway or borrowed rides Wednesday as school bus drivers staged their first strike since the 1970s.

 Some 152,000 students who rely on yellow bus service were left out in the cold as freezing rain that fell on the morning commute. The strike could drag on for weeks or months.

 "This will go however long it goes," Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott told 1010 WINS radio. "And we'll have systems in place to support our parents and our students, acknowledging, though, the first several days will be traumatic for our families and we understand that."

 Joe Marino for New York Daily News

 All students affected by the strike got MetroCards Tuesday to take subways and buses to school, but a plan to make the cards available to parents of young children and special education students has been hobbled by bureaucratic delays.

 Parent MetroCards won't be activated until Thursday because the MTA says it needs up to 72 hours to program the software in 6,000 buses.

 "This will likely lead to chaos during the morning commute as tens of thousands of parents attempt to escort their children to school," warned City Councilman David Greenfield (D-Brooklyn).

 Parents who drive kids to school will have to keep logs of their travels to get a 55-cent-per-mile reimbursement, while those who use cabs will have to fill out weekly forms and attach receipts for every trip.

 Maggie Moroff of Advocates for Children said she's worried about disabled students for whom public transportation won't work. "They don't have a solid plan for how they're going to deal with these more-complicated issues," she said.

 The union behind the strike, Amalgamated Transit Workers Union Local 1181, is protesting a city plan to bid out private bus contracts with no job guarantees for the union's 8,800 drivers and escorts.

 Its leaders have promised picket lines at bus yards, and other drivers unions have vowed not to cross those lines.

 The bus companies have hired replacement workers, but the new, nonunion drivers won't begin this week because they must undergo three days of alcohol and drug tests. The new drivers are getting training, and it's not clear when they'll try to cross lines to begin work.

 Carolyn Daly, a spokeswoman for the companies, noted an increased police presence was expected at bus depots early Wednesday.

 Joe Marino/for New York Daily News

 The bus companies, meanwhile, delivered a letter to the National Labor Relations Board Tuesday demanding a stop to the strike. The companies say they'll suffer financially for an argument between the city and the union.

 Discerning when this will end is difficult as no negotiations are scheduled.

 With Jennifer H. Cunningham, Matthew Lysiak, Tom Tracy and Vera Chinese

 WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE BUS STRIKE? LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW ||||| The school bus driver strike has hit families hard, but on Staten Island, where families are still coping with the aftermath of Sandy, the strike has added even more anxiety and confusion. Marc Santia has the story of one mother attempting to deal with the added stress. (Published Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013)

 Thousands of parents scrambled for alternate ways to get their children to school and back home Wednesday as the school bus drivers union went on strike amid a dispute over job protections in new contracts.

 Some 152,000 New York City schoolchildren -- or about 14 percent of the public school population -- take the bus. About 54,000 of them have disabilities and face extra hardships traveling to school. Attendance on Wednesday was down 2.5 percent overall and as much as 34 percent among the special education population compared to the rest of the month average, officials said.

 Officials said about 3,000 of 7,700 routes, or 39 percent, were running Wednesday, including 100 percent of pre-kindergarten routes and 39 percent of special education routes. Not all the city's school bus routes are driven by the striking union.

 More than 100 bus drivers reported to picket lines in Queens Wednesday morning in the city's first school bus strike in more than three decades. The union promised the strike would go on until workers were guaranteed job protections in new contract bids.

 Non-Union School Bus Drivers Stay on the Job

 Some families breathed a sigh of relief when their regular school buses showed up Wednesday morning. Pei-Sze Cheng reports. (Published Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013)

 "Mayor Bloomberg, Chancellor Walcott, please come negotiate with us," Union President Michael Cordiello, president of Local 1181 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, said Wednesday. "Protect the workers that have the experience, protect the children in New York. You can do it. Please, come forward and end this strike. It's in your hands."

 Bus Strike Survival Guide

 Solange Roche, a bus driver in Ridgewood for 23 years, held an "Employees on Strike" sign in one hand and an umbrella in the other as she stood in the rain with other union members at the picket lines in Queens.

 "We need job protection," said Roche, who is among the more than 8,000 school bus drivers and matrons on strike. She and the other union members fear they'll lose their jobs to cheaper alternatives when their contracts are up in June.

 Striking Bus Driver: "We Need Job Protection"

 School bus driver Solange Roche was among the hundred union members who reported to picket lines in Queens as 8,800 members of the powerful union went on strike early Wednesday. Members of the United Federation of Teachers were also on hand to show their support. (Published Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013)

 Roche said she'll be in the picket lines for "as long as it takes" to reach a deal that satisfies the union's demands.

 Bloomberg said police were called to a few garages in Brooklyn and Staten Island after picketers sought to block buses being driven by non-striking drivers. Police said there were no arrests and that the picketers mostly complied with requests to step aside.

 The union and the city have been battling over how new contracts are being drawn up for a set of bus routes. The city wants to cut transportation costs and has put about 1,100 bus contracts with private bus companies up for bid. The union is decrying the lack of Employee Protection Provisions, saying without the so-called EPPs, current drivers could suddenly lose their jobs once their contracts are up in June.

 Just after the strike officially began, Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott reiterated to NBC 4 New York what Bloomberg had said Monday -- that the union wants job protections the city cannot legally provide under competitive bidding regulations. Cordiello has said that claim is inaccurate, and said the strike would continue "until the mayor works with us to put the EPP back in the bid."

 Schools Chief on Bus Driver Strike: "It's a Difficult Challenge"

 Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott talks to NBC 4 New York about the labor dispute that has bus drivers union members on strike and the city's plans to ease the additional hardships it will put on New York City families. (Published Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013)

 Walcott said he understood the additional stress the strike would place on families, but said the city's hands were tied on the matter.

 "We're putting a bid out to make sure we get the best service for our students. We have a responsibility to the taxpayers to put in a request for bids," Walcott told NBC 4 New York. "We will never compromise the safety of our students, plain and simple. We know it's going to be tough for our parents and children."

 Parents Affected by Sandy Face Bus Strike Hardship

 NBC 4 New York's Marc Santia talks to parents still struggling to get on their feet after Sandy, who are now worrying about how to get their children to school on Wednesday morning. (Published Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013)

 The city began taking measures this week to alleviate additional hardships imposed by the strike, including passing out free MetroCards for children to take mass transit to get to school. Walcott said the MetroCards for children are active Wednesday, while parents or guardians of students will have access to free MetroCards Thursday. In the meantime, they would be reimbursed 55 cents per mile for transportation.

 The free city subway or bus passes were not much of a solution for many families.

 Grandmother Janet Balmes said it's ridiculous to expect her 5-year-old grandson would take a city bus to school.

 "I don't let him walk to the corner by himself. I'm gonna put him on a city bus to go to school? I'm gonna let him get off, cross the street and go to school? Not in this lifetime," Balmes said.

 In Queens, mom Miriam Aristy-Farer volunteered to walk children from the A train to their school -- her contribution to ease the collective pain that parents will experience Wednesday.

 "It's putting the pressure on people who don't make a lot of money to begin with, and asking parents to choose between safety and money," she said.

 Some were concerned a prolonged strike could affect their livelihoods.

 Angela Peralta of Staten Island has two daughters who take buses to two different schools. She's made car pool arrangements for one daughter and will drive the other one herself. That means she'll have to leave work early to pick her daughter up.

 "I hope this doesn't go on very long," Peralta said. "I'm afraid that one of these days I'm going to walk into work and they're going to say, 'You know Angela, enough is enough.'"

 Marc Santia and Pei-Sze Cheng contributed to this story

 Copyright Associated Press / NBC New York |||||
What is a one-paragraph summary of the above article?

– It's a rough day to be a schoolkid in the Big Apple. Some 152,000 of them had to find an alternate way to get to class in the freezing rain this morning, amid a school-bus drivers strike, reports the NY Daily News. Schools issued MetroCards to affected students so they could take public transportation, and parents who opt to pay for a taxi or drive their kids can fill out forms for reimbursement. But some worry that kids with special needs—more than a third of the children affected—will fall through the cracks, and parents of young students won't receive MetroCards allowing them to escort their kids until tomorrow. The strike, the first since the 1970s, could last for days or months, as no negotiations have yet been scheduled between the striking bus driver's union and city officials. The dispute centers around new contracts for certain bus routes that the city plans to bid out in an attempt to cut costs. The union called for a strike, fearing current drivers could wind up jobless when their contracts expire in June, reports NBC 4 New York. Protestors are forming picket lines at bus yards, and at least one driver says she plans to stay there for "as long as it takes." Replacement drivers hired by the bus companies will be ready to take the wheel next week—so long as they're willing to cross the lines.


Write a summary based on this article:

Katy Perry was the night’s big honoree, but Hillary Clinton got the biggest ovation as the former presidential candidate presented the pop star with an award from UNICEF at Tuesday’s Snowflake Ball.

 Clinton, who lost the recent election to Donald Trump, gave Perry the Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award for her charitable efforts with the organization. Clinton’s appearance at the event was a surprise, and she got a sustained standing ovation from the cheering crowd.

 She described Perry as someone who has “the spirit and the energy and the compassion that Audrey Hepburn brought to her work from UNICEF.”

 She added that Perry had the most Twitter followers, then jokingly added that she “might have some competition” — an apparent reference to the ever-tweeting president-elect.

 Clinton also said Perry’s lyrics “remind us when you get knocked down to get back up” — causing more cheers to erupt in the audience.

 Perry was a big supporter of the Democrat, who won the popular vote, and even campaigned for her. She broke into tears when Clinton surprised her with her appearance at the event.

 In her acceptance speech, Perry credited Clinton for helping her use her voice for more than just her hits.

 “Hillary has lit that voice inside of me, and that light will never go out!” she shouted.

 “It will get brighter and brighter and brighter. Thank you, Hillary. You motivate me and so many millions of people who appreciate you for your incredible work,” Perry said as the crowd gave Clinton another ovation.

 Clinton has made only one other public appearance at an event since conceding the race to Trump. ||||| Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) (Associated Press)

 WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the 2016 presidential race (all times EDT):

 8:45 p.m.

 Hillary Clinton is wooing Pennsylvania voters with a free performance by pop star Katy Perry.

 Clinton is telling a crowd gathered at Philadelphia's Mann Center that it's "all on the line" on Election Day.

 She says, "I want you to say I voted for a better, fairer stronger America."

 Perry took the stage to the song "Nasty." She has been a big supporter of Clinton throughout the presidential race and opened with her song "Roar," which has become an anthem for Clinton's campaign.

 Perry says, "Tuesday's going to be fun, but Wednesday is going to be better."

 ___

 5 p.m.

 Tim Kaine says some employees at the FBI are "actively working" to support Republican Donald Trump and the agency has suffered a "massive blow" to its reputation.

 The Democratic vice presidential nominee says in an interview with Fusion that the FBI had become a "leaky sieve" and some of its employees have improperly worked to leak information harmful to running mate Hillary Clinton.

 FBI Director James Comey told Congress last week that the bureau is looking into newly uncovered Clinton emails. Comey's letter to lawmakers didn't say whether investigators are likely to turn up anything of note.

 Kaine criticized Comey's decision, but said he does not think Comey is trying to influence the election. Instead, Kaine said some of Comey's politically motivated subordinates may have forced his hand.

 ___

 3:30 p.m.

 President Barack Obama is pushing back against Republican Sen. Pat Toomey's use of the Democrat's words in a campaign ad for his Senate race.

 Obama responded Saturday to a Toomey campaign TV ad that shows Obama speaking outside the White House in 2013 and thanking Toomey for his courage in backing a gun control bill, despite its failure. The ad is running in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

 In a statement to The Associated Press, Obama says courage is telling voters "where you stand on the tough issues." Obama also criticized Toomey for refusing to say whether he'll vote for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

 Toomey is working to win over moderate voters in his too-close-to-call race against Democrat Katie McGinty in Democratic-leaning Pennsylvania.

 ___

 2:30 p.m.

 Hillary Clinton is telling young people in a conference call with primary rival Bernie Sanders that it's "all hands on deck now."

 She says millennials "will decide this election" and is urging them to vote. She's asking them to do phone banking in their dorm rooms and canvass neighborhoods in the final days.

 Sanders said on the call that Clinton will bring the country together and the stakes are high for policy issues like climate change. He says "the future of the planet is at stake."

 ___

 2 p.m.

 Hillary Clinton is going prime-time on the eve of the election.

 Her campaign says she'll do a two-minute national TV commercial Monday night, running during the NBC program "The Voice" and "Kevin Can Wait" on CBS.

 Altogether, her campaign expects the ad to be seen by a combined audience of 20 million.

 Earlier Saturday, her campaign debuted a battleground-state ad to run through Election Day in nearly a dozen states. It's set to the Katy Perry song, "Roar."

 ___

 1:50 p.m.

 Hillary Clinton is cutting a speech in South Florida short, after a sudden downpour. She told the soaked crowd, "You're a hardy bunch" and asked them to "vote for the future."

 Clinton left the stage after speaking for seven minutes. The event is expected to be her last in Florida, where her campaign has been encouraged by high levels of early voting among Latinos. About 60 percent of the state is expected to cast ballots before the election Tuesday.

 She's heading to Philadelphia, where she's hosting an event with pop star Katy Perry.

 Also in Florida, her running mate, Tim Kaine, urged supporters to take advantage of the last day of early voting in the state.

 He told a rally in Fort Myers that early voting helps Clinton decide where to spend time and money in the final days.

 ___

 Melania Trump is back campaigning for her husband.

 She joined him Saturday in Wilmington, North Carolina, telling supporters the country needs a president who will keep the nation safe, lower taxes and bring back jobs.

 Earlier this week, in Philadelphia, she delivered her first speech since the Republican National Convention.

 She says she had so much fun she "decided to do it again."

 ___

 1:15 p.m.

 House Speaker Paul Ryan and Donald Trump's running mate, Mike Pence, have joined together in a sign of Republican unity.

 They appeared at a rally Saturday in Wisconsin's most conservative county — a month after Ryan said he would no longer defend or campaign with Trump.

 Both Pence and Ryan said it's time for Republicans to "come home" and vote for Trump. Pence heaped praise on Ryan, calling him a friend and great conservative leader.

 Just days earlier, Pence refused to say whether he thought Ryan should be re-elected as speaker.

 ___

 1 p.m.

 Hillary Clinton is courting voters in a Haitian-American neighborhood of Miami.

 She told cheering supporters holding Creole campaign signs that Haiti has been close to her heart for a long time. She urged them to get to the polls to vote.

 Her husband helped raise hundreds of millions of dollars for the country as a United Nations special envoy after the 2010 earthquake. Hillary Clinton visited multiple times as secretary of state and her family foundation has been involved with aid programs in the country.

 Some Haitian-Americans question the success of the Clintons' relief efforts and blame them for some of Haiti's corruption.

 ___

 Noon

 Donald Trump is scheduling a last-minute stop in Minnesota as he tries to make inroads into traditional Democratic strongholds during the final frenzied days of the race.

 Trump is also expected to campaign in Pennsylvania and Michigan, two other traditionally Democratic states.

 Trump says, "We're going into what they used to call Democrat strongholds where we're now either tied or leading."

 Minnesota hasn't cast its electoral votes for a Republican since 1972.

 A Republican hasn't won Michigan or Pennsylvania since 1988.

 ___

 11:50 a.m.

 Hillary Clinton is stopping by an early voting location in Miami to encourage her supporters to cast their ballots as soon as possible.

 The Democratic nominee visited the West Miami community center where Florida Sen. Marco Rubio voted earlier this week for himself and, he implied, Donald Trump.

 Clinton was accompanied by singer and actor Jencarlos Canela, and Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin.

 Columbian dancers were among the supporters who turned out to cheer Clinton.

 She is making a final swing through Florida before Tuesday's election. A majority of voters in the state are expected to cast their ballots before Election Day.

 ___

 10:40 a.m.

 Donald Trump is bragging that he doesn't need celebrities like Jay Z to fill up arenas.

 Trump tells a Tampa, Florida, rally that when it comes to drawing crowds, he does it the old-fashioned way, by appealing to supporters drawn to his message. He's contrasting his events with the star-studded rallies of Hillary Clinton in the final weekend before the election Tuesday.

 ___

 10:30 a.m.

 Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence says Hillary Clinton "personifies" the failed status quo.

 The Indiana governor told a crowd of hundreds in Holland, Michigan, on Saturday morning that Donald Trump would push "commonsense conservative principles" if elected president. It is Pence's third consecutive day of campaigning in Michigan, which has not backed a Republican nominee in 28 years. Trump is hoping to change that Tuesday.

 Pence is urging Republicans in conservative-leaning western Michigan to "come home" to the Republican candidate to keep Clinton from shaping the Supreme Court.

 Pence is set to also campaign in Wisconsin and Virginia on Saturday.

 __ ||||| Mrs Clinton said, "We need champions like Katy" when introducing Perry, who was receiving the Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award.

 The Snowflake Ball celebrates Unicef's lifesaving work for children around the world and has raised $27 million over the past eleven years. ||||| "I've gotten to spend time with her and I know how deeply she cares about making our world a better place," said Clinton of Perry, who was brought to tears on Tuesday night. "We need champions like Katy now more than ever."

 Hillary Clinton made a rare post-election appearance at UNICEF's annual Snowflake Ball to surprise honoree Katy Perry, an outspoken supporter throughout her presidential campaign.

 "On a personal level, I cannot tell you how delighted I am to be here to help celebrate … a global megastar, a social media queen with the most Twitter followers in the world — although she's getting some competition — and someone whose powerful voice and creative lyrics remind us when you get knocked down to get back up,” Clinton said while presenting the Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award to the musician, who was immediately brought to tears as the attendees of Tuesday's gala at Cipriani Wall Street gave her a standing ovation.

 “I have seen Katy's commitment to the causes she believes in firsthand,” she continued. “I've gotten to spend time with her and I know how deeply she cares about making our world a better place. She is serious about understanding the complex problems we face and pulling people together to solve them. We need champions like Katy now more than ever: her passion, her energy and, yes, her voice, louder than a lion.”

 .@HillaryClinton: @KatyPerry's "powerful voice & creative lyrics remind us when you get knocked down to get back up" https://t.co/RHT281TFU2 pic.twitter.com/TwreH0hAXN — Hollywood Reporter (@THR) November 30, 2016

 Perry — an ambassador for the organization since 2013 who has participated in field visits to Madagascar and Vietnam and also raised over $1 million for UNICEF through her most recent world tour — jokingly asked the ballroom, “Does anyone have a tissue?” And as Clinton exited the space with her security detail, Perry told her, “I've always had a voice — a singing voice — but I've never had a voice like I've had before. Hillary has lit that voice inside of me, and that light will never go out, it will continue to get brighter and brighter and brighter. Thank you, Hillary. You motivate me and so many millions of people. We appreciate you for your incredible work and your heart.”

 Like Clinton, Perry also included a subtle dig at Donald Trump: "Even though I've only been on a few field visits, I'm happy I've helped highlight the effects of climate change, which is real," she said to laughs, also calling for unity throughout her speech. "No more just hoping for the best and easy living. We need to come together united for the best. ... We were all children at one time: born innocent, vulnerable, fragile, and we all needed a helping hand to grow into the people that we are today. If we could keep that thought in our hearts, despite our differences, imagine the kindness, acceptance and empathy that would light the world and remind us once again that we're all in this together."

 The musician, with beau Orlando Bloom and her parents in tow, vowed to continue her international humanitarian efforts. "Truly, my work has only just begin and this award is not a finish line, but a starting line. It will be constant reminder to get back in the field and shine my spotlight on where it matters most."

 Octavia Spencer hosted the event, also attended by Allison Williams, Tea Leoni, Maggie Q, Tamron Hall, Brooke Burke-Charvet and Kyle Maclachlan, among others. The gala dinner, which also honored Moll Anderson, included performances by Sara Bareilles and the cast of The Color Purple. |||||

– Katy Perry gave a "Roar" to Hillary Clinton in a pre-election concert, and Tuesday night Clinton returned the favor. The ex-presidential candidate showed at UNICEF's Snowflake Ball in New York City, serving as a surprise presenter for the Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award bestowed upon Perry, per the Hollywood Reporter. "I cannot tell you how delighted I am to be here to help celebrate … a global megastar, a social media queen with the most Twitter followers in the world—although she's getting some competition—and someone whose powerful voice and creative lyrics remind us when you get knocked down to get back up," Clinton said in a speech that left Perry asking the crowd for a tissue. The Twitter remark seemed to refer to tweeter-in-chief Donald Trump, whom Perry also slightly riffed on when she noted, "I'm happy I've helped highlight the effects of climate change, which is real." The Telegraph notes this is only the second public appearance Clinton has made since the election (the first was at a Children's Defense Fund event in mid-November). And Clinton made it a memorable one, noting "I've gotten to spend time with [Perry] and I know how deeply she cares about making our world a better place" and that "we need champions like Katy now more than ever." Perry, a vocal Clinton supporter in the presidential race and a UNICEF ambassador since 2013, returned the compliment as Clinton left the stage, saying, "I've always had a voice—a singing voice—but I've never had a voice like I've had before. Hillary has lit that voice inside of me, and that light will never go out." The crowd apparently agreed, as it gave Clinton a long standing round of applause, the New York Post reports. (Fans in China blame Clinton's election loss for a canceled Perry concert.)


Article:

The names Jesse and Skyler are more popular than ever thanks to the television-watching world's obsession with "Breaking Bad," according to a list of the most popular baby names in 2013 released by website BabyCentre.

 The name Jesse saw a 13 percent increase in popularity this year, while Skyler saw a striking 70 percent increase. But the names Skinny Pete, Combo and Badger have remained niche, unfortunately.

 But "Breaking Bad" wasn't the only television show to inspire parents this year, according to the list. The names Brody, Carrie and Dana all went up in popularity in 2013 thanks to "Homeland." ||||| Sophia celebrates her ninth consecutive year as the top choice for girls, while Jackson remains the most popular name for boys for six years running. Oliver and Layla both jumped into the top 10, pushing out Logan and Zoe. The fastest climbers of 2018 include Everly, Isla, Leo, and Carson.

 Click on a name below to find its popularity over time, common sibling names, and more. Plus, get ideas from this year's list of alternatives to popular baby names, discover the hottest baby-naming trends, and see our predictions for up-and-coming names.

 Note: To capture true popularity, our exclusive baby names list combines names that sound the same but have multiple spellings (like Sophia and Sofia, or Jackson and Jaxon). Our data comes from more than 742,000 parents who shared their baby's name with us in 2018. ||||| Baby names George, Kanye and Korie part of 2013 popular baby name dynasty Dec. 3, 2013 at 5:49 AM ET

 TODAY

 What do ducks, duchesses and directions have in common? They’re all part of the popular crowd, at least when it comes to baby names.

 Think Korie and Silas, of "Duck Dynasty" fame. Think George, as in the son of Duchess Kate, aka, the future king of England. And think Kanye (yes, seriously), the father of compass-inspired cutie North West.

 They are among the biggest trends of baby names on the rise in 2013, according to BabyCenter’s annual baby names survey and list of top 100 names of 2013. In the boys category, Jackson moved up to take the top name, ending the 8-year reign of Aiden, while Sophia remained the top name for girls for the fourth year in a row.

 While the list is not the official Social Security Administration list, it is based on the names of a large sample, the 550,000 babies born this year to moms registered on BabyCenter’s website.

 Linda Murray, BabyCenter Global editor in chief, says names with personal meaning – such as family names, grandparents and inspiring role models— were behind many of the top baby name trends.

 On the list of top 10 boys names are: Jackson, Aiden, Liam, Lucas, Noah, Mason, Jayden, Ethan, Jacob and Jack. The list of top 10 girls names is: Sophia, Emma, Olivia, Isabella, Mia, Ava, Lily, Zoe, Emily and Chloe.

 See the full list of top 100 names on BabyCenter

 Murray adds that this year, more than half of moms say they found name inspiration in people they know, while celebrity influence was on the decline.

 But, even though celeb names are less popular, some are still moving up in presence on the list. Of the key characters on the reality show "Duck Dynasty," the name Korie increased by 89 percent and Mia was up 44 percent while Phil, Sadie and Silas were up 32, 23 and 15 percent, respectively.

 What’s the appeal of this camouflage-loving crew? Moms apparently love their likable personalities and that they are a loving, funny family of real Americans who have made it big, the study found.

 Of course it’s no surprise that royal baby George has such a powerful influence, but one twist is that the name George — for a girl — is up 37 percent in popularity, while versions Giorgio and Georgia also went up.

 What was more surprising was that baby North West gave both her parents names a boost, with Kanye going up 38 percent, likely a result of his improved image since he has shown himself to be a family man. The name West is up 22 percent and Kimberly is up 6 percent.

 In other celebrity upticks, the women of the HBO show "Girls" have all become a hit, with character names Marnie and Shoshanna up 62 and 67 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, series creator Lena Dunham’s name moved up by 26 percent, more than double that of her character name of Hannah.

 And while the gals from "Girls" are a hit, celebrity bad girls are decidedly not. The study found that some celebs who received negative press in the past year had their name popularity tumble, such as Reese Witherspoon (Reese went down 45 percent), Paula Deen (Paula was down 20 percent), and Lindsay Lohan (Lindsay was down 17 percent).

 Among the TODAY anchors’ names, Al and Hoda had the most gains in popularity, with Al increasing by 18 percent, and Hoda by 15 percent. Willie had a modest gain of 4 percent. Savannah and Carson both had the biggest drop of 12 percent while the names Matt and Natalie dropped by 11 percent.

 What about Kathie Lee and Tamron? Well, BabyCenter found no babies with those names in its database. Maybe next year, ladies. |||||
What is a summary?

– Think you're soooooo clever naming your baby after a Duck Dynasty star? Think again: Korie and Silas are some of the trendy up-and-comers on BabyCenter's annual baby names survey, along with other pop-culture-inspired names like George (after the royal baby), Kanye (we wish we were joking), and Marnie and Shoshanna (after the Girls characters). Korie's popularity, for example, was up 89% this year, Kanye was up 38%, and George was up 37% ... as a girl's name, NBC News reports. Salon notes that the names Jesse and Skyler were also up in popularity, presumably thanks to Breaking Bad. But none of the above made it into the top 10. For boys: Jackson Aiden Liam Lucas Noah Mason Jayden Ethan Jacob Jack For girls: Sophia Emma Olivia Isabella Mia Ava Lily Zoe Emily Chloe Amusing sidenote: The name Paula went down in popularity by 20%. Thanks, Paula Deen?


Here is a news article: Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. The nationalists were holding the... (Associated Press)

 CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — The Latest on the white nationalist rally being held in Charlottesville (all times local):

 11:54 p.m.

 Three more men have been arrested in connection to the violent clashes between white supremacists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville.

 The Virginia State Police announced late Saturday that Troy Dunigan, a 21-year-old from Chattanooga, Tennessee, was charged with disorderly conduct; Jacob L. Smith, a 21-year-old from Louisa, Virginia, was charged with assault and battery; and James M. O'Brien, 44, of Gainesville, Florida, was charged with carrying a concealed handgun.

 Three people died during the violent day in Charlottesville.

 A 32-year-old woman was killed when a car plowed into a crowd of protesters. The driver, James Alex Fields Jr., a 20-year-old from Ohio, was charged with second-degree murder.

 Two state police troopers were killed when their helicopter crashed in the woods on the outskirts of town.

 ___

 11:10 p.m.

 U.S. officials have opened a civil rights investigation into the circumstances of the deadly car attack that took place amid clashes of white nationalists and counter-demonstrators in Charlottesville, Virginia.

 The investigation was announced late Saturday by officials of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Virginia and the Richmond field office of the FBI.

 In a statement, Attorney General Jeff Sessions says U.S. Attorney Rick Mountcastle has begun the investigation and will have the full support of the Justice Department.

 Sessions says, "The violence and deaths in Charlottesville strike at the heart of American law and justice."

 He adds, "When such actions arise from racial bigotry and hatred, they betray our core values and cannot be tolerated."

 ___

 11 p.m.

 A white nationalist blames police for the violence that erupted before and after a rally where he was scheduled to speak before it turned deadly.

 Richard Spencer told The Associated Press on Saturday that he doesn't take responsibility for the violence and accused state and local police of endangering lives in how they handled the rally.

 Spencer said that he "did not attempt to engage in any kind of violence. So the idea that I could be held responsible is absurd. It's like blaming the fire department for a fire."

 He said that he was pepper-sprayed twice during the day.

 Spencer said he recommended that people should disperse after the state of emergency was declared.

 Spencer also said he found President Donald Trump's comments on the Charlottesville violence to be "rather vague and kind of lame."

 ___

 10:25 p.m.

 A woman who identified herself as the mother of the man accused of driving his car into a crowd of peaceful protesters says he told her he was going to the rally.

 Samantha Bloom, of Ohio, confirmed details about her son's car and his trip to Virginia, saying she received a text from him last week that said he'd gotten some time off from work and was going to a rally.

 She said her son hadn't given her any details about the rally but that she told him "to be careful" and to peaceful.

 Bloom became visibly upset as she learned that dozens of people were injured during a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville.

 Bloom said she and Fields had just relocated to the Toledo area from Florence, Kentucky, a Cincinnati, Ohio, suburb

 ___

 9:40 p.m.

 Authorities say a 20-year-old Ohio man accused of driving a car into a group of counter-protesters at a white nationalist rally has been charged with second-degree murder and other counts.

 The Charlottesville Police Department said in a statement Saturday night that James Alex Fields Jr. of Ohio also faces three counts of malicious wounding, and one count related to leaving the scene.

 Col. Martin Kumer, superintendent of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, said Fields was in custody there Saturday night. Kumer says he doesn't believe Fields has obtained an attorney yet.

 He says a bond hearing is scheduled for Monday.

 ____

 8:45 p.m.

 Virginia state police said one of their agency's helicopters crashed Saturday outside Charlottesville, killing two troopers.

 Police said the helicopter was assisting law enforcement officers monitoring the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville.

 Police said Lt. H. Jay Cullen of Midlothian and Trooper-pilot Berke M.M. Bates of Quinton were killed in the crash.

 The crash happened just a few hours after a car plowed into a crowd of people peacefully protesting against the white nationalist rally. One person was killed and at least two dozen were hurt.

 ___

 This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates' first name. It had been spelled Burke.

 ___

 6:35 p.m.

 Officials say the deaths of two people in a helicopter crash near Charlottesville, Virginia, have been linked to a violent white nationalist rally earlier in the day.

 It was not immediately clear how the crash was connected to the rally. Corinne Geller, a Virignia State Police spokeswoman, says the pilot and a passenger were killed in the crash Saturday afternoon.

 The crash happened just a few hours after a car plowed into a crowd of people peacefully protesting against the white nationalist rally. One person was killed and at least two dozen were hurt.

 ___

 5:20 p.m.

 The organizer of a rally that drew hundreds of white nationalists and other extremists to Charlottesville says he disavows the violence that eroded it.

 Jason Kessler said in an interview Saturday evening that whoever drove a car into a group of counter-protesters "did the wrong thing." He said he was saddened that people were hurt.

 Kessler is a local blogger and activist who described the event as a pro-white rally. He planned it to protest the city's decision to remove a Confederate monument.

 He also criticized law enforcement's response to the event, which was dispersed before speakers could take the stage.

 He said they did a poor job controlling the chaos to allow free speech.

 ___

 4:15 p.m.

 A state official said the driver of a car that plowed into a group of marchers in Charlottesville is in police custody.

 Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran said the driver, a man, has been arrested.

 Moran did not immediately provide a name of the driver.

 Witnesses say a car plowed into a crowd of people who were protesting a rally, which was held by white nationalists who oppose the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee by the city of Charlottesville. Officials say one person was killed and at least 26 were treated at local hospitals.

 ___

 3:45 p.m.

 A hospital official says one person has died and 19 were injured after a car plowed into a group of protesters in Charlottesville.

 University of Virginia Medical Center spokeswoman Angela Taylor confirmed the death to The Associated Press.

 The mayor of Charlottesville said via Twitter on Saturday that he is "heartbroken" to announce that a "life has been lost." He did not provide details.

 Witnesses say a car plowed into a crowd of people who were protesting the rally, which was held by white nationalists who oppose the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee by the city of Charlottesville.

 ___

 3:20 p.m.

 Officials say there are multiple injuries after a car plowed into a group of people marching peacefully in downtown Charlottesville.

 Video of the incident shows a silver Dodge Charger crashing into a car where protesters were marching and then rapidly reversing away.

 Michael Nigro, a photojournalist from Brooklyn, told reporters shortly after the incident he heard the screech of tires and saw a gray Charger accelerate toward the group. Several hundred people were peacefully marching through downtown.

 Nigro says it was "chaos and mayhem" as bodies flew.

 Officials didn't immediately release any further information and it wasn't immediately clear if anyone was in custody.

 ___

 2 p.m.

 Authorities are on the scene after a vehicle plowed into a group of people marching peacefully through downtown Charlottesville.

 An Associated Press reporter saw at least one person on the ground receiving medical treatment immediately afterward the incident. It occurred approximately two hours after violent clashes between white nationalists and counter-protesters.

 The nationalists were holding the rally to protest plans by the city of Charlottesville to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

 There were several hundred protesters marching in a long line when the car drove into a group of them.

 ___

 1:40 p.m.

 President Donald Trump is tweeting about the violence that has erupted amid a white supremacist march in Virginia.

 Trump tweeted Saturday that "we ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for." He then wrote "There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!"

 The demonstrations began Friday in Charlottesville with white nationalists marching through town and while carrying lit torches. The demonstrators then clashed with counter-protesters.

 Some of the white nationalists cited Trump's victory as validation for their beliefs.

 The White House was silent for hours about the clashes except for a solitary tweet from First Lady Melania Trump. The president has received previous criticism for being slow to condemn acts of hate done in his name.

 ___

 1:35 p.m.

 The organizer of a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville is encouraging attendees to leave town after authorities declared an unlawful assembly and police ordered people to disperse.

 Right-wing blogger Jason Kessler organized Saturday's rally to protest the city's decision to remove a statue of confederate General Robert E. Lee.

 Kessler told The Associated Press Saturday that he and other people who were going to speak at the event evacuated with security when police issued the order to disperse.

 He says he wants rally attendees to leave town peacefully.

 Richard Spencer is a prominent alt-right activist who was scheduled to speak. He says he's also encouraging people to go home.

 ___

 12:50 p.m.

 First Lady Melania Trump is calling for peace after violent clashes broke out at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville.

 Trump said Saturday on Twitter: "Our country encourages freedom of speech, but let's communicate w/o hate in our hearts. No good comes from violence."

 Hundreds of white nationalists and counter protestors faced off Saturday in downtown Charlottesville, with several violent clashes erupting.

 It's the latest confrontation in the city since it voted to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from a downtown park.

 ___

 12:35 p.m.

 The NHL's Detroit Red Wings released a statement denouncing the use of their logo at the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and saying they are considering legal action to stop it.

 The team says it "vehemently" disagrees with and is not associated with the event. The Red Wings add they are "exploring every possible legal action as it pertains to the misuse of our logo in this disturbing demonstration."

 A Michigan-based white nationalist group called the Detroit Right Wings uses the Red Wings' logo. The organization posted on its Twitter account that members had arrived in Charlottesville.

 ___

 12:25 p.m.

 Virginia's governor has declared a state of emergency in response to a white nationalist rally that is expected to draw up to 6,000 people.

 Gov. Terry McAuliffe said via his Twitter account on Saturday morning that the declaration was made in order "to aid state response to violence" at the rally in Charlottesville, about 100 miles outside of Washington, D.C.

 It's the latest confrontation in the city since it voted earlier this year to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from a downtown park.

 The city's manager also declared a local emergency and police ordered people to disperse from the area around the statue after several violent clashes broke out.

 ___

 Hundreds of people are facing off in Charlottesville ahead of a white nationalist rally planned in the Virginia city's downtown.

 Rally supporters and counter-protesters screamed, chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday morning.

 Men dressed in militia uniforms were carrying shields and openly carrying long guns.

 Right-wing blogger Jason Kessler planned what he called a "pro-white" rally to protest Charlottesville's decision to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee from a city park. Thousands of people are expected to pack the area.

 There were also fights Friday night, when hundreds of white nationalists marched through the University of Virginia campus carrying torches.

 A university spokesman said one person was arrested and several people were injured. ||||| One person is dead, 19 are injured, and a suspect is in custody following car plowing into a crowd on the Downtown Mall Saturday.

 At about 1:30 p.m., a silver Dodge Charger struck a crowd of people on Water Street near 4th Street. The driver then backed backed up the one-way street and zoomed away from the scene.

 Thirty-two-year-old Heather Heyer died when the car rammed into a group of people who were protesting the presence of white supremacists who had gathered in the city for the Unite the Right rally.

 Witnesses described the scene. "And just went flying everywhere, the pedestrians. It's the most horrific thing I've seen in my life,” Danny Moogan, who witnessed the crash, said.

 "There was blood all over the street … the car did not have any plates, tinted out windows. We couldn't even see them. It seemed like it was planned," Kristen Nutter said, another witness, said.

 Following a short chase, police arrested 20-year-old James Alex Fields of Maumee, Ohio. He is being held without bond at Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail on a second-degree murder charge and three counts of malicious wounding. He will make his first court appearance via video conference Monday at 10 a.m. in Charlottesville General District Court.

 Vigils for the victims were held Saturday night in McGuffey Park as well as on the Downtown Mall.

 The Richmond FBI Office is opening a civil rights investigation into the deadly car attack:

 “The Richmond FBI Field Office, the Civil Rights Division, and the US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia have opened a civil rights investigation into the circumstances of the deadly vehicular incident that occurred earlier Saturday morning. The FBI will collect all available facts and evidence, and as this is an ongoing investigation we are not able to comment further at this time.”..

 The Charlottesville Police Department posted the following on its Facebook page Sunday morning: |||||
A summary of this is?

– US officials have opened a civil rights investigation into the deadly car attack that took place amid clashes of white nationalists and counter-demonstrators, reports the AP. The investigation was announced late Saturday by the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Virginia and the FBI's Richmond field office. Attorney General Jeff Sessions says US Attorney Rick Mountcastle has begun the investigation and will have the full support of the Justice Department. Sessions says, "The violence and deaths in Charlottesville strike at the heart of American law and justice. When such actions arise from racial bigotry and hatred, they betray our core values and cannot be tolerated." In other developments: The man who allegedly plowed his car into a crowd of protesters, James Alex Fields Jr., a 20-year-old from Ohio, was charged with second-degree murder and three counts of malicious wounding, reports NBC 29. Troy Dunigan, a 21-year-old from Chattanooga, Tenn., was charged with disorderly conduct; Jacob L. Smith, a 21-year-old from Louisa, Va., was charged with assault and battery; and James M. O'Brien, 44, of Gainesville, Fla., was charged with carrying a concealed handgun. White nationalist Richard Spencer accused police of endangering lives in how they handled the rally, saying he "did not attempt to engage in any kind of violence. So the idea that I could be held responsible is absurd. It's like blaming the fire department for a fire." Spencer also said he found President Trump's comments on the violence to be "rather vague and kind of lame." Fields' mother says he told her he was going to the rally and that she told him "to be careful" and peaceful. Rally organizer Jason Kessler said whoever drove a car into counter-protesters "did the wrong thing." He said he was saddened people were hurt and criticized law enforcement's response, saying they did a poor job controlling the chaos to allow free speech.