Prom photo session a downer after bridge collapse

Alisha White, a senior at Pierce High School in Nebraska, was excited about her prom but never thought that a photo session on the big day would result in a soggy ending.

The group of 22 prom-goers posing for photos. (KTIV)

As reported by KTIV News 4 and US92 Radio, Alisha asked her father, Andy White, for permission to invite a big group of friends over to take pictures at their house. Her father agreed and recounts, "They decided to come and get a picture on a couple of the bridges here and they didn't opt for the more sturdy one. And they got about 21 or 22 of them on this back one and it turned out to be a little bit too much weight." Yep, the 22 prom-goers caused the bridge to collapse and the group ended up in the four-foot-deep pond below. A few suffered minor scrapes, but there were no serious injuries.

After the bridge collapse. (KTIV)

The prom party was drenched and still very understanding. Alisha told the station, "The first thing I thought about when I went in the water was, 'Oh my gosh everyone’s going to be so mad at me.' Like, this is my fault because I planned this and that made me like, super upset. But then everyone was just really nice about it and they were like, ‘It’s not your fault. You didn't know that was going to happen. There was nothing you can do.’"

With all the cameras in place, photos captured of the entire bridge collapse and aftermath.

After the prom, Pierce, Nebraska became the home of some new ‘celebrities.’ Lane Rohrich, one of the teens, tweeted photos of the group’s debacle and their story quickly spread.

Yesterday was our senior prom. We lined up for our pictures on a bridge & it collapsed and we all fell in the creek.. pic.twitter.com/p9OuMnHYkX

— Lane Rohrich (@rohRICHBOY_1) April 6, 2014

So, in addition to a lesson in bridge physics, the high schoolers learned a valuable lesson about the power of social media. Within minutes Rohrich had 35 retweets, which then jumped to 3,000 only two hours later. Currently it has been retweeted over 50,000 times.

Rohrich said, "Everyone really needs to be careful what they put on the internet because there’s always a way to get to it. And I mean, just be safe about everything and you’ll be fine."

And always choose the sturdy bridge.

Video and more info: KTIV and US92

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Congress announces it will be in session fewer days in 2014

Imagine that someone asked you to name the one group of people who've earned the right to spend less time at the office next year. To just relax. Because, darn it, they've really busted their humps in 2013, and everyone is extremely pleased with the job they're doing.

We're guessing "United States Congress" wouldn't be at the top of your list.

Well, guess what? Congress, the group of esteemed lawmakers who brought you the government shutdown of 2013, has announced that they plan to be in session for fewer days next year.

The news came from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., who announced the schedule on Twitter.

I am pleased to announce the 2014 House calendar: http://t.co/8Pl84VK2sp

— Eric Cantor (@GOPLeader) October 31, 2013

Follow the links and you'll get to this handy-dandy schedule (PDF) that lists the days when Congress will be in session. The grand total for 2014: 113 scheduled days. In 2013, the expected total was 126 days.

To be fair, members of Congress spend a considerable amount of time in their districts. As RollCall puts it, "the work doesn't end when lawmakers leave Washington."

Still, the shorter session begs the question: Why? Not to mention that the shorter session has the potential to be more bad PR for a group in the single-digit job-approval ratings and, as of early October, less popular than cockroaches.

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