Human Race

Alerted

Two American soldiers say they’re losing their careers for confronting the tradition of Afghan men using boys as sex slaves. Then-Army Capt. Dan Quinn and Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland physically attacked a U.S.-backed Afghan commander in 2011 for allegedly raping a boy and beating his mother. Quinn says the Army relieved them of duties, and while he has left the military, Martland is facing involuntary discharge. The men, who were part of the Army’s Special Forces, accuse the military of systematically ignoring the practice, largely because of their mission to promote local commanders, governments, and law enforcement. Pentagon officials deny the claim. Quinn and members of Congress are demanding that the Army restore Martland’s career and service record.

Died

Quirky baseball legend and World War II veteran Lawrence “Yogi” Berra died Sept. 22. He was 90. The Hall of Famer supported the 1944 D-Day landings from a Navy gunboat before beginning his New York Yankees career in 1946. The 15-time All-Star won 10 World Series with the Yankees, going on to manage both the Mets and Yankees. Whether he said every “It ain’t over ’til it’s over” one-liner attributed to him is a subject of controversy. His wife of 65 years, Carmen, died in 2014.

Threatened

Pregnant mom Jessica Mann and the ACLU are threatening legal action against a Michigan Catholic hospital for refusing to sterilize her. Mann has a brain tumor, which her doctors say makes another pregnancy dangerous. Mann will be fully anesthetized at an Oct. 24 C-section (necessary for her condition), during which Mann wants doctors to tie her tubes. Catholic directives allow sterilizations in some life-threatening situations, but Genesys Regional Medical Center in September said Mann doesn’t qualify. The ACLU argues against requiring Mann to find a new doctor and hospital in the final seven weeks of pregnancy. Having a second surgery elsewhere at a later date is also risky, it argues. Federal conscience protections for doctors don’t apply, the ACLU says of its attempts to coerce the hospital to follow “medical standards” rather than “religious directives” given by bishops.

Resigned

A Texas assistant football coach resigned Sept. 24 after a now infamous attack on a high-school referee. Two players from San Antonio’s John Jay High School blindsided Robert Watts in a Sept. 4 game. The players, Michael Moreno and Victor Rojas, accuse Watts of racial slurs and coach Mack Breed of ordering retaliation. Before he resigned, Breed corroborated the students’ story, but he now recants, saying his corroboration was an attempt to prevent the players’ expulsion. Watts denies making any racial insults. Police are investigating the incident.

Investigated

Swiss authorities on Sept. 25 placed FIFA President Sepp Blatter under criminal investigation for corruption in the latest blow to soccer’s governing body. The Swiss attorney general’s office searched Blatter’s offices on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and misappropriation of FIFA money. Blatter, 79, is set to step down in February because of ongoing investigations. FIFA suspended Secretary General Jerome Valcke, Blatter’s right-hand man, on Sept. 17 because of his alleged involvement in a black market ticket scheme.

Sentenced

A former peanut company executive will spend 28 years in prison after knowingly shipping salmonella-tainted peanut butter, sickening 714 people and killing nine in 2009. A judge sentenced Stewart Parnell, 61, in front of victims and their families on Sept. 21. Parnell led the Peanut Corporation of America in Albany, Ga., where he oversaw faked lab test results to cover up contaminated products. His brother, Michael, received 20 years. It’s the nation’s longest sentence related to foodborne illness, and attorneys plan to appeal.

Nominated

President Barack Obama nominated Eric Fanning Sept. 18 to replace Secretary of the Army John McHugh, who plans to step down by Nov. 1. Fanning would be the first openly gay nominee to the position. Four years ago McHugh oversaw the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” allowing practicing homosexuals to serve in the military. Fanning’s record includes periods as special assistant to Defense Secretary Ash Carter and as undersecretary of both the Air Force and Army. The Senate must confirm the appointment.

Arrested

Los Angeles police arrested a Saudi prince Sept. 23 for allegedly forcing a woman to perform a sex act on him. Police responded to a bloodied woman crying for help at the LA mansion rented by Majed Abdulaziz Al Saud. An anonymous civil suit filed Sept. 25 claims he attacked other women earlier in the week. The prince posted his $300,000 bail. Authorities do not believe he has diplomatic immunity, and he must appear in court on Oct. 19.

Died

Fred DeLuca, who co-founded at 17 what became the Subway fast-food franchise, died Sept. 14. He was 67. With the support of family friend Peter Buck, DeLuca opened the first shop in 1965 to help pay for college in Connecticut. It became the world’s largest fast-food chain, with more than 44,000 locations. This year, Forbes magazine put DeLuca’s net worth at $3.5 billion. His death followed Subway’s 50th anniversary, with his role as CEO slowly declining since 2013, when he was diagnosed with leukemia.

By the numbers

1.5 lbs. | The weight of premature baby Haiden Morgan, who survived being born at 23 weeks on board a cruise ship 14 hours away from the nearest hospital. Haiden survived despite the lack of equipment for immediate treatment and is receiving medical care at Miami Children’s Hospital.

$69,000 | Amount of money a former EPA official billed to taxpayers for what the Office of Inspector General called “excessive trips.” The Region 9 Administrator reportedly flew almost every weekend from his office in San Francisco to his home in Southern California.