Top stories from the Ledger-Enquirer | Dec. 9-15

1. In wake of $26 million malpractice verdict, St. Francis agrees to pay and drop appeals: An hour after a Muscogee County State Court jury returned a $26 million medical malpractice verdict against St. Francis Hospital and one of its employee physicians, attorneys for the hospital agreed to pay $25 million within 30 days and drop all appeals. With the threat of the case going back to the jury that had just delivered what is believed to be the largest verdict in the county’s history, Roger S. Sumrall told Judge Ben Richardson that his client would pay the amount to Sandra Williams, who suffered serious injuries in 2012.

2. Coroner: Two victims identified in Efficiency Lodge shooting on Boxwood Place: A man and woman found dead inside a room at the Efficiency Lodge on Boxwood Place have been identified, the Muscogee County Coroner’s Office said Saturday. Damian Antwonne Belle, 23, and Kelsey Marshall, 21, of Columbus were both pronounced dead of multiple gunshots wounds by Muscogee County Deputy Coroner Charles Newton about 7 p.m. Friday at the 1776 Boxwood Place hotel. Both bodies will be transported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab in Decatur for autopsies, said Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan.

3. ‘She had a bad vibe’: Police arrest girlfriend of Kendrick High School murder victim:The 19-year-old woman arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of Javion Shorter was his girlfriend, Shorter’s mother said in an interview with the Ledger-Enquirer on Monday. Shorter, a senior at Kendrick High School, was shot Nov. 17 at the Ballard Way Apartments on Hunter Road. Police found his body in a stairwell in the building. It was his 18th birthday. Shorter’s mother, Tangi , said he and his girlfriend, Nashira Kendra Miller, had gotten into an argument before the incident.

4. Two opponents share info on how to stop Sooners: But Oliver, a star defensive lineman at Houston, played a big role in the Cougars' upset over the Sooners during the opening weekend of the 2016 season. Oliver sacked Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield twice in the 33-23 win, with Houston totaling five sacks in the game. While nearly two full seasons have played out since, Oliver remembers Oklahoma's offensive line as unimpressive. Sure, the Sooners have had plenty of time to improve up front. But the way Oliver sees it, if Georgia's defensive front is talented enough, the Bulldogs should have an advantage in this matchup.

5. No break in the brotherhood: 2007 Carver title team maintains tight bond: or former Carver High School quarterback DeRon Furr, “brotherhood” is the perfect word to describe the Tigers team in 2007. It was a unique situation for DeRon Furr that his senior season was also the first his younger brother LeRon, a junior linebacker, started for Carver. At the same time, the brotherhood expanded past the Furr bloodline, a product of a close-knit team that stayed together on and off the field. From the classroom to the football field and everywhere in between, Carver’s players spent most of their days side by side.

This story was originally published December 16, 2017 at 3:16 PM with the headline "Top stories from the Ledger-Enquirer | Dec. 9-15."