MS-13 gang member, murder suspect enrolled at Maryland high school
A murder suspect and MS-13 gang member who entered the United States illegally enrolled at a Maryland high school. Police failed to tell school administrators of his background as reported on Monday, Sept. 9, by Baltimore’s Fox 45.
The revelations have sparked outrage by the murder victim’s mother over the potential danger it posed to students at the school he attended.
Walter Martinez, who was 16 at the time, became the primary suspect in the murder of Kayla Hamilton in 2022. Authorities said that surveillance video and an audio recording placed Martinez at the scene of the crime, and they already read him his Miranda Rights. All they needed to arrest him were DNA results.
“They knew he was guilty,” Tammy Nobles, Hamilton’s mother, told Baltimore’s Fox 45. “They just needed that DNA.”
However, the DNA results would take six months and while police waited for the results, Martinez was able to attend Edgewood High School in Hartford County.
“It makes me angry,” Nobles said. “You’re sitting there putting this monster into high school with other people’s children. You’re putting children at risk. Look what he did to Kayla.”
DNA results in January 2023, would lead to Martinez’s arrest for the murder of Hamilton. Maryland law allowed Martinez to attend school, and authorities are not required to tell the district about a student’s background if they are not yet charged with a crime. However, Nobles said that they should have and wants the law to change.
“Somebody needs to be held accountable,” Nobles said. “Why did you put him in a public school? I want to know why?”
Nobles believes that a suspect in a felony case should not be able to attend school with other kids when virtual learning is an option.
Meanwhile, the school said that it had no prior knowledge of the pending charges against Martinez nor that he could be a danger to students. School officials say that law enforcement does not allow them to freely access student information regarding any affiliation with gangs or connection to “heinous and disturbing crimes.”
Martinez, who is from Salvador, reportedly entered the United States as an unaccompanied minor through the Texas border. U.S Border Patrol and Customs took him into custody, and he eventually went to live with a sponsor in Maryland.
Four months later, police say he strangled Hamilton to death. He pleaded guilty to the killing of Hamilton and was sentenced to 70 years in prison in August 2024.
Father of 14-year-old Georgia school shooting suspect charged with murder
The father of the 14-year-old suspect in the shooting at a Georgia high school has been arrested and charged in connection to the deadly incident. And in a surprise move, Hunter Biden has pleaded guilty in his federal tax case. What’s next for the president’s son. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
Father of 14-year-old Georgia school shooting suspect charged with murder
The 14-year-old arrested in connection to the Georgia school shooting is expected to appear in court Friday, Sept. 6. Colt Gray has been charged with murder as an adult.
He’s now not the only one charged in connection to the shooting. His father has been arrested by authorities and charged with second-degree murder.
Colin Gray, 54, is facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter, eight counts of cruelty to children, and two counts of second-degree murder.
Authorities said the charges stem from Colin Gray “knowingly allowing his son” to have a gun. According to investigators, he bought the AR-style gun used in the shooting as a gift for his son.
This comes as we’re getting a clearer picture of what happened inside the school as shots first rang out. An eyewitness says 53-year-old math teacher Christina Irimie died after jumping in front of a student to protect them from gunfire.
We’ve also learned more about an incident report from last year involving the suspect regarding anonymous posts threatening a school shooting. Those threats were made on the social media platform Discord under a username referring to the 2012 Sandy Hook gunman, according to the police file.
Colt and Colin Gray were interviewed at the time. Colin Gray told investigators there were guns in their home, but his son did not have access to them. Colin Gray denied making the threats and authorities say there was no probable cause at the time for an arrest.
Hunter Biden pleads guilty in federal tax case
In a surprise move, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to federal tax charges Thursday, Sept. 5. It was not part of any plea deal and sets up the possibility the president’s son could spend decades in prison.
The plea was a move to avoid a second criminal trial this year. He was after already found guilty in a federal gun case, which he’s set to be sentenced for in November.
The plea is related to charges alleging Hunter schemed to avoid paying more than a million dollars in income taxes. His attorneys acknowledged the evidence is “overwhelming” and offered a guilty plea — while keeping options open for an appeal.
“Hunter decided to enter his plea to protect those he loves from unnecessary hurt and cruel humiliation,” defense attorney Abbe Lowell said. “Hunter put his family first today, and it was a brave and loving thing for him to do.”
It’s considered an unorthodox and unexpected move in the federal court system. Guilty pleas often come with plenty of warning and after negotiations with prosecutors.
Last year when Hunter Biden was on the cusp of reaching a plea agreement that many critics called “a sweetheart deal” that would have spared him from any prison time. That deal was tossed out over concerns the president’s son was getting preferential treatment.
US announces new controls on chip-related exports to China
As China makes advances in the global chip industry, the U.S. is rolling out new export controls on certain crucial technologies like quantum computing and semiconductor goods.
The Commerce Department cited “national security and foreign policy reasons” for issuing the new rules over worldwide exports. It does, however, make exemptions for countries that adopt similar rules, like Japan and the Netherlands.
In the past, federal investigators have also subpoenaed cell phones belonging to the New York police commissioner and another one of the mayor’s close advisers, Tim Pearson, but it’s also not clear if that was related to the recent searches.
Federal probe targets airlines’ frequent flyer programs
Today, @SecretaryPete opened a probe into some of the big airline points programs. The inquiry seeks to better understand: – Rewards devaluation tactics – Hidden pricing and junk fees – Risks of reductions in competition and choice https://t.co/FQWTbY1Pjc
The Department of Transportation has ordered the CEOs of American, Delta, Southwest, and United airlines to answer detailed questions and provide records on their policies for how passengers can accrue and spend their miles. The probe is focused on how consumers could be affected by the devaluation of earned rewards, extra fees, hidden or dynamic pricing, and reduced competition and choice.
First NFL game of the season ends in dramatic fashion
We’ve heard of winning “by a nose” in horseracing. But last night, in the first NFL game of the season, it came down to winning “by a toe.”
With the seconds ticking down in the fourth quarter, it appeared Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson successfully threw a touchdown pass to tight end Isaiah Likely, giving Baltimore a chance to win the game.
Georgia school shooting suspect was questioned over online threats: FBI
We have new details about the suspect and the victims in the deadly shooting at a Georgia high school. And Boeing’s troubled Starliner spacecraft is set to begin its trip back to Earth without its crew. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
FBI: Suspect in Georgia school shooting was questioned over online threats
Authorities have released more details about the shooter who opened fire in a Georgia high school on Wednesday, Sept. 4. Two teachers and two students were killed, and nine others were wounded.
Just before 10:30 a.m. ET Wednesday, gunfire was reported at Apalachee High School in a small town about 45 miles from Atlanta. A sheriff’s deputy working as a school resource officer engaged with the shooter, who has been identified as Colt Gray, and the teen immediately surrendered.
Officials said Gray will be charged with murder and tried as an adult.
The victims were two 14-year-old students, a 53-year-old math teacher, and a second math teacher, a 39-year-old who also coached as the defensive coordinator for the school’s football team, according to the school’s website.
The school will remain closed for the remainder of the week and crisis counselors are on school campus as students grapple with the tragedy they have now experienced.
“I was listening, and you can hear gunshots just ringing out through the school and you’re just wondering which one of those is going to be somebody that you’re best friends with or somebody that you love,” said Landon Culver, a junior at the school. “You hear about this kind of stuff and you never think it’s going to happen to you until it’s happening. And then once you’re in that, it’s like this really happened. It’s like a surreal experience.”
Authorities said Gray, then 13, was a possible suspect in connection with threats made online last year using photos of guns and threatening to shoot up a school. They said he denied making the threats and there was no probable cause to arrest him, however, local schools were told to “continue monitoring the suspect.”
Gray’s father was also interviewed a year ago over the online threats. Investigators said his father told them he had hunting guns inside the home, but his son did not have unsupervised access to them.
Trump holds town hall in PA; Harris talks economy in NH
During the interview, Trump highlighted Harris’ stance on fracking, saying in 2019 she would ban it if elected but she would not ban it now.
Trump was in Pennsylvania and kept much of the focus on the battleground state. Hannity asked Trump how the 2024 election differs from the election he won in 2016.
“It’s not that different,” Trump said. “It’s still about the forgotten man and forgotten woman. People are being treated horribly in the country. We’re a country that’s being laughed at all over the world. It’s very simple and it starts with make America great again, that’s what we have to do.”
Meanwhile, Harris was in New Hampshire discussing more of her tax plan if elected in November.
“My plan will make our tax code more fair while also prioritizing investment and innovation,” Harris said. “So let us be clear: billionaires and big corporations must pay their fair share in taxes.”
Harris is proposing an increase to the long-term capital gains tax rate but not as high as what was in President Joe Biden’s reelection agenda. Harris said she wants to raise the tax rate to 28% from its current 20% rate. Biden had called for a 39.6% tax rate.
Trump is looking to cut the corporate tax rate to 15% if elected for a second term.
Trump, Harris agree on rules for debate
There’s less than a week now until the first debate between Trump and Harris and they’ve now agreed on the rules. The debate, hosted by ABC, will be moderated by World News Tonight anchor David Muir and ABC News anchor Linsey Davis.
Trump won a virtual coin flip held on Tuesday, Sept. 4, and chose to make the last closing statement. They’ll get two minutes each.
Each candidate will also get two minutes to answer each question with a two-minute rebuttal and one additional minute for a follow-up, clarification, or response.
Because Trump got to choose the closing statement order, Harris chose the podium placement. She’ll be at the right podium on the screen.
CPSC wants to investigate Shein and Temu kids’ products
They want the commission to investigate how the websites comply with U.S. safety laws, citing “recent media reports” that dangerous products meant for kids are easy to find on both sites.
This is just the latest probe into the companies, both of which have been under scrutiny for how they’re able to sell things for such low prices and how much environmental waste they create, as well as concerns over the potential use of forced labor.
Boeing’s Starliner to return to Earth empty on Friday
The return will mark the final phase of a test flight that did not go as planned.
Starliner’s first crewed trip to space was supposed to prove Boeing could reliably bring astronauts to and from the International Space Station so NASA could certify it to do so.
But issues that popped up just after launch have left astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stuck on the space station since June. Their mission was only supposed to last about a week.
The game will start a weekend of football action, including the first NFL game to be played in Brazil when the Philadelphia Eagles meet the Green Bay Packers Friday night. That game will be a streaming exclusive available only on Peacock.
Then the first Sunday of the NFL calendar, Sept. 8, will see 13 games played, with another first: Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin will be starting during the team’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. This will be Hamlin’s first start since suffering a cardiac arrest on the field in January 2023.
Baltimore grocery stores banning anyone under 18 without an adult
Five Baltimore-area Giant grocery stores banned shoppers under 18 inside their stores without an adult after 6 p.m. beginning on Thursday, Aug. 22. The company said the new measure is to combat an “unsustainable” and “unprecedented” rise in retail theft at the stores.
The new policy will have store employees asking for proof of age from an individual or supervising adult. People without proper identification will be asked to leave the store. One adult can enter the store with up to four people under the age of 18 and those under that age must be supervised by an adult at all times.
The new efforts to fight crime are garnering mixed reviews from customers. Some shoppers said it’s not just teens stealing and blame the rise in crime on high food prices. Other customers said that the restrictions were long overdue.
“People are always stealing,” Elizabeth Baltierra, a shopper, said. “All the time — not adults, juveniles. You can call the police, but they’re juveniles, there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Giant acknowledged that none of the measures are an “ultimate solution” to the problem but said that it’s continuing to find ways to “improve safety for associates and customers and reduce theft.”
Retail theft has become a major problem nationwide. With retailers, including Target, Nordstrom and Whole Foods shutting down some stores in cities across the United States due to theft and employee safety concerns.
Israel says Hezbollah will ‘pay the price’ after deadly attack on soccer field
Israel vowed Hezbollah will “pay the price” after the deadliest strike on Israeli territory since Oct. 7 killed 12 children. And former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris continue on the campaign trail with less than 100 days to go until Election Day. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, July 29, 2024.
Israel: Hezbollah will ‘pay the price’ after deadly attack on soccer field
Tensions are escalating in the Middle East after a deadly assault on Israel on Saturday, July 27. Israeli officials said a Hezbollah rocket launched from Lebanon struck a soccer field in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights, killing 12 children.
It marked the deadliest attack on Israeli soil since Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack. Hezbollah has denied it was behind the strike.
Now, attention turns to how Israel will respond to the threat and if the war is on the brink of expansion.
Thousands of people attended funeral services for the children who died in Saturday’s attack. Their caskets were hauled through the streets as people paid their respects.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Hezbollah “will pay the price” for the latest attack.
It’s an escalation in a series of back and forth between Hezbollah and Israel. The Iran-backed militant group has been firing rockets at Israel from Lebanon since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Israel has been retaliating, striking their targets in Lebanon and killing top Hezbollah and Hamas leadership in the region, but this latest hit against Israel could create a larger response.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said the country will not get involved in a war but will stand behind Hezbollah. The foreign minister said Lebanon has received reassurances from the U.S. and France that Israel’s response will be “limited.”
The Biden administration has warned Israel of how its next steps could lead to a larger conflict and is warning against them hitting Hezbollah targets in Lebanon’s capital of Beirut. International flights into Beirut are being canceled out of fears of escalation.
Harris, Trump look to rally support less than 100 days until election day
With less than 100 days left until the 2024 presidential election, both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump spent the weekend speaking to their supporters at campaign events. Harris spoke to voters in Massachusetts and Trump held events in Florida.
“She was a bum,” Trump told his supporters in West Palm Beach on Friday, July 26. “Three weeks ago, she was a bum, a failed vice president in a failed administration with millions of people crossing when she was the border czar.”
Harris promised supporters her “underdog” campaign would prevail.
“Donald Trump has been resorting to some wild lies about my record,” she said on Saturday, July 27. “And some of what he and his running mate are saying, it’s just plain weird.”
New polling from ABC News shows support for Harris is growing among independent voters. Forty-four percent have a favorable view of Harris — up from 28% from only a week ago — as she tries to rally Democratic Party support before officially becoming the nominee.
On July 30 and Aug 1., Harris will hold campaign events in Georgia and Texas, respectively. Trump will head back to Pennsylvania for the first time since surviving an assassination attempt at a rally in the state on July 13.
Mark Meadows asks SCOTUS to intervene in Georgia election interference case
Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff during the Trump administration, is turning to the Supreme Court to intervene in the Georgia election interference case against him. Meadows’ lawyers have asked the justices to take up his bid to move the case to federal court.
In their filing on Friday, July 26, Meadows’ legal team argued his actions are entitled to immunity from prosecution citing the high court’s recent ruling that gave former President Trump immunity for official acts as president.
Meadows has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case, however, remains on hold as Meadows and other co-defendants — including former President Trump — challenge a ruling that allows Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue prosecuting the case amid claims of improper conduct.
Maduro and opposition both claim to win Venezuela’s presidential election
In a highly watched and highly scrutinized electoral process, Venezuela’s authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro claimed to have won the presidential election on Monday, July 29. However, his political opponents have too.
With 80% of votes counted, Maduro is said to have won with more than 51% of the vote, leading electoral authorities to declare him the winner.
However, the opposition claims candidate Edmundo González had received 70% of the vote against Maduro’s 30% and González said all rules were violated. The opposition is demanding electoral authorities present all the voting tallies issued by the voting machines to verify the results.
The United States and multiple regional nations have also voiced skepticism about official results handing victory to Maduro.
The man accused of starting what is now the largest active wildfire in the country is set to appear in a California court on Monday, July 29. The fast-spreading fire near Chico has burned more than 350,000 acres in three days, forcing thousands of people in four counties to leave their homes.
The Park Fire had scorched an area greater than the size of Los Angeles as of Sunday, July 28, causing poor air quality in a large part of the northwestern U.S. and western Canada.
Cooler temperatures and more humidity over the weekend helped firefighters make some progress. They say the fire is now 12% contained.
Apple reaches first-ever union deal with Maryland employees
Apple has reached its first-ever union contract with employees at a Maryland store. The union representing the employees of a store in a Baltimore suburb said it’s reached a tentative three-year deal with Apple to increase pay by an average of 10% and offer other benefits to workers.
The tentative agreement still has to be approved by the store’s 85 workers. A vote is set for Aug. 6.
Team USA wins most medals in Olympics opening weekend
Team USA is off to a strong start at the Paris Olympics, picking up 12 medals over the weekend. That’s the most of any country so far in the games.
USA athletes had won gold three times as of Monday, July 29 morning, including the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team, giving Caleb Dressel his eighth gold medal. Torri Huske won the women’s 100m butterfly and Gretchen Walsh took silver, with just four hundredths of a second separating the American athletes.
Lee Kiefer brought home gold in fencing. In gymnastics, Simone Biles made her Olympics return, leading the U.S. Women’s Team into the finals despite suffering a minor calf injury.
On the basketball court, LeBron James led Team USA to victory in their first game, defeating Serbia 110 to 84.
Months after Baltimore bridge collapse, Dali leaves port, most sailors head home
Eight crew members that were on the ship that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore are home after around three months on the Dali. A judge ruled on Thursday, June 21, that the men could return on the condition that they would be available for future depositions as the investigation into the crash and bridge collapse continues.
A spokesperson for the ship’s management said that he expected two more crew members to return from the United States soon.
Investigators said that there is no need to keep the men in the United States any longer since they have already been questioned by the Justice Department. The crew had been unable to leave the ship because of they were considered witnesses in the ongoing investigation. Crew members also did not have valid visas or shore passes.
Meanwhile, on Monday, June 24, the Dali left the Port of Baltimore, with four crew members on board.
Four tugboats helped the vessel as it began its journey to Norfolk, Virginia. Around 1,500 containers will be off-loaded to reduce draft, according to the Coast Guard. The sailors aboard the Dali are from India and Sri Lanka.
The Coast Guard and FBI continue to investigate the crash that caused the Francis Scott Key bridge to collapse and killed six construction workers who were on the bridge at the time.
The National Transportation Safety Board previously reported that the Dali lost power several times before it hit a column on the bridge. The agency is still investigating the electrical issues.
Officials expect the bridge to be rebuilt by 2028 with a price tag of around $1.9 billion. The Dali’s owner tried to cap damages at $43 million. Monday was also the deadline in Maryland to submit proposals to rebuild the bridge.
Earlier this month, the Fort McHenry federal channel reopened after crews cleared wreckage from the river.
Louisiana law requires public classrooms to display Ten Commandments
Louisiana becomes the first state to require the Ten Commandments be displayed in public classrooms. And the prehistoric landmark Stonehenge was defaced by climate activists. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, June 20, 2024.
Louisiana law requires public classrooms to display Ten Commandments
Louisiana’s governor has signed a law that makes the state the first in the nation to require all public classrooms to display a copy of the Ten Commandments. That legislation is already getting pushback from several civil rights groups.
The law says all public classrooms from kindergarten to college must display the Ten Commandments on a poster or framed document by the start of 2025. The displays must also feature a statement on how the Ten Commandments have been a “prominent part of American public education for almost three centuries.”
Republican Gov. Jeff Landry said the law is aimed to bring “drastic reform” to the education system and “common sense back” to the classroom.
“This bill mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in every classroom in public, elementary, secondary, and post education schools in the state of Louisiana,” Landry said. “Because if you want to respect the rule of law, you got to start from the original lawgiver, which was Moses.”
Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, have vowed to sue, calling the law “unconstitutional.”
In its criticism of the law, the ACLU cited a 1980 Supreme Court decision where the justices ruled a similar law in Kansas violated the First Amendment’s “establishment clause.” That clause is intended to prevent government from preferring one religion over others.
3 dead in Mexico; Texas issues disaster declaration due to tropical storm
The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season has already turned deadly. Mexican authorities reported three deaths from Tropical Storm Alberto’s rains.
Alberto — which is bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall and some flooding along the coasts of Texas and Mexico — is expected to make landfall in northern Mexico early Thursday. Once it does, forecasters expect it to weaken rapidly before moving inland.
Parts of Mexico are expected to see up to 20 inches of rain with this storm and Texas’ coast could see up to 15 inches. Flooding has already become a problem for coastal areas like Corpus Christi.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, has issued a disaster declaration in 51 counties to ensure “at-risk regions have the resources and personnel needed to respond to this storm.”
95% of power restored in Ecuador after nationwide blackout
Power has been almost fully restored in Ecuador after a nationwide blackout left millions in the dark Wednesday, June 19. The blackout affected hospitals, homes and a major subway system.
The country’s public infrastructure minister said in a post on X Wednesday, June 19, the outage was caused by maintenance and transmission issues in the country’s electrical system. The minister stressed the outage could have been avoided if the country had invested more in its infrastructure.
Ecuador has been struggling with an energy crisis for years. In April, the president declared an energy emergency, ordering eight-hour nationwide electricity cuts.
Deal reached to allow Dali crew members to go home
A deal has been reached with the City of Baltimore and the owner of the Dali cargo ship that would allow crew members who remain on the ship to leave the U.S. and go home, according to court documents. They’ve been stuck on the ship since March 26, when it lost power leaving Baltimore Harbor and crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse and killing six people.
Eight of the crew members, all from India and Sri Lanka, had been cleared to go home as early as Thursday, June 20. But on Tuesday, June 18, attorneys for the City of Baltimore filed a lawsuit looking to keep them in the U.S. amid ongoing investigations into what led up to the deadly collapse.
Getty Images
A hearing on the matter had been scheduled for Thursday morning, but Wednesday night, June 19, the city’s attorneys sent a letter to the judge saying all sides reached a compromise and the Dali’s owner and managing company have agreed to make sure the crew members return for deposition if needed.
Climate activists target Taylor Swift’s private jets Stonehenge
Climate activists with the group “Just Stop Oil” targeted the private jets of Taylor Swift in a British airport Thursday, June 20, spraying them with orange paint as the pop superstar is set to perform in London this weekend. Swift has been criticized in the past for her use of private jets.
The two activists were arrested — just a day after a similar protest by the group at Britain’s iconic landmark Stonehenge, where visitors to the site jumped in to try to stop them.
The protesters in both instances are calling on the British government to take action on climate change. They’re demanding Britain’s next government phase out fossil fuels by 2030.
The group said the paint used was made of an “orange cornflour” and washes away in the rain.
English Heritage, the charity that manages Stonehenge, told The BBC the paint has been cleaned off and there appears to be no lasting damage.
The protest came as thousands were expected to visit the site to witness the sunrise on the first day of summer.
Snapchat Inc. agrees to pay $15M to settle discrimination lawsuit
The parent company of the popular social media app Snapchat has agreed to pay $15 million to settle a lawsuit claiming it discriminated against female employees. A three-year investigation by the California Civil Rights Department found Snapchat discouraged women from applying for promotions, failed to prevent sexual harassment in the office and retaliated against those who spoke out through negative performance reviews and termination.
The settlement covers employees who worked for the California company from 2014 to this year.
Snapchat said while it disagrees with the claims, it decided to settle to avoid costly and lengthy litigation.
Netflix to open brick-and-mortar entertainment venues
Netflix is moving away from the digital space for its next venture. The company has announced it is planning to open two brick-and-mortar entertainment destinations in the U.S.
Called Netflix House, the venues will feature various in-person experiences catered to fans of the streaming platform. Netflix says visitors will be able to walk through a replica of the “Bridgerton” set, compete in a challenge from “Squid Game,” and eat at a restaurant with food inspired by its shows.
The two Netflix houses will be located at shopping malls in Dallas, Texas and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia.
City looks to block crew from leaving US after Baltimore bridge collapse
Crew members of the Dali have been cleared to leave their ship as early as Thursday, June 20. The ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and caused it to collapse in March. Now, attorneys are asking a federal judge to prevent eight crew members on the cargo ship from debarking and returning to their home countries amid ongoing investigations into what led up to the deadly collapse.
None of the Dali’s 21 crew members, who hail from India and Sri Lanka, have been able to get off the ship since it lost power on March 26 and hit one of the bridge’s support beams. The crew was even still onboard when explosives were detonated to break apart fallen bridge trusses and free the vessel from where it was stuck.
In court filings from Tuesday, June 18, attorneys representing the city of Baltimore said the men should remain in the U.S. so they can be deposed in ongoing civil litigation over who should be held responsible for covering costs and damages from the collapse. The concern is there’s no guaranteed way to make the crew members available for future questioning if they’re allowed to leave the country.
A U.S. district judge has ordered a hearing set for Thursday morning on the matter. The judge has ordered crew members not to leave before that hearing.
Emails included in the court filings show the eight crew members scheduled to return home have already been interviewed by Department of Justice investigators and the department does not object to their departure. ‘court filings show the eight crew members scheduled to return home have already been interviewed by Department of Justice investigators and the department does not object to their departure.
‘Possible chemical agent’ released at Baltimore Pride event, several hurt
A “mass exodus” led to numerous injuries after a “possible chemical agent” and fireworks were deployed during a Baltimore Pride event Saturday, June 15, according to police. Baltimore police confirmed Sunday, June 16, that the possible chemical agent — released in front of the event’s main music stage near North Avenue and Charles Street — was not issued by police.
Police said officers working the event were informed of the incident around 8:37 p.m. A spokesperson for the Baltimore Police Department said the department has not confirmed the type of chemical agent that was released but that it could have been mace, hair spray or “another agent.”
Eyewitnesses said this happened during a fight. Around the same time, fireworks were set off, which led the large crowd to flee the area and resulted in several injuries, police said.
Police said at this time they do not believe this was a targeted attack.
Jury deliberations to resume in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial
Jury deliberations are set to resume in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial. And Apple finally takes a big step into the world of artificial intelligence with “Apple Intelligence.” These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, June 11, 2024.
Day 2 of jury deliberations in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial
Jury deliberations will resume Tuesday, June 11, in the federal gun trial of Hunter Biden. Deliberations started on Monday, June 10, after both the prosecution and defense rested their cases. Jurors only deliberated for less than an hour before being sent home for the day.
The jurors will decide whether Hunter Biden is guilty of three felony charges linked to purchasing a gun in 2018, when he was reportedly addicted to drugs.
In closing arguments, the prosecution urged jurors to “use common sense” to find the president’s son guilty, adding “no one is above the law.” The defense, however, said the prosecution failed to prove Hunter Biden was using illegal drugs when he bought the gun — claiming there were “gaping holes” in the case.
Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to all charges. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
Blinken in Israel; U.N. Security Council endorses cease-fire plan
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken continues to urge top Israeli officials to accept and implement a plan for post-war Gaza, meeting with Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid in Tel Aviv Tuesday, June 11. This come as he also pushes for more international pressure on Hamas to agree to a cease-fire proposal just endorsed by the United Nations Security Council.
On Monday, June 10, 14 of the U.N.’s 15 security council members voted in favor of endorsing the cease-fire plan to end the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas that was announced by President Joe Biden in May. Only Russia abstained from voting.
The U.S. said Israel has already accepted the cease-fire proposal.
The resolution calls on Hamas to agree to the three-phase plan, which would see an initial six-week cease-fire and the exchange of some Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
The second phase would include a permanent cease-fire and the release of the remaining hostages. The third phase would involve a reconstruction effort for the devastated Gaza strip.
Hamas was quick to welcome the resolution, saying in a statement it’s ready to cooperate with mediators and enter “indirect negotiations” over the implementation of the principles of the agreement.
Port of Baltimore shipping channel fully reopens after bridge collapse
After being closed for more than two months, the Port of Baltimore’s shipping channel is fully operational again. In late March, a massive 213-million pound cargo ship crashed into a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, killing six construction workers and causing the structure to collapse — cutting off access to the crucial shipping artery.
To fully reopen the 700-foot-wide channel, crews had to remove roughly 50,000 tons of wreckage from the Patapsco River, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.
The work to rebuild the nearly 50-year-old bridge continues. Shortly after the collapse, President Biden pledged the federal government would help pay for it.
Note: The above has been corrected to say 213-million pounds. An earlier version omitted million.
FDA panel backs Eli Lilly drug that slows Alzheimer’s progression
A panel of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisers is unanimously backing an Alzheimer’s drug from Eli Lilly that’s been shown to slow the disease’s progression. The drug works by helping the body remove amyloid plaque buildups in the brain, which are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
These plaques are harmful deposits that can form in the brain as people age. Removing the plaque seems to slow down the brain changes that seem to happen with Alzheimer’s.
The FDA will make a final decision on approval later this year.
If approved, Eli Lilly’s drug would become the second Alzheimer’s medication of its kind currently on the U.S. market, expanding treatment options for the more than 6 million Americans who have the disease.
Alzheimer’s is the fifth leading cause of death for adults over 65 years old.
Apple unveils its AI strategy, partnership with OpenAI
Apple held its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, June 10, where it announced new upgrades to its devices and operating systems. But what’s getting the most attention is Apple Intelligence, the tech company’s new strategy for incorporating AI into its business model.
“Recent developments in generative intelligence and large language models offer powerful capabilities that provide the opportunity to take the experience of using Apple products to new heights,” CEO Tim Cook said. “So, as we look to build in these incredible new capabilities, we want to ensure that the outcome reflects the principles at the core of our products.”
Among its capabilities, Apple Intelligence will see an update to the voice assistant Siri. Apple said Siri will now better understand your questions and, like with other chatbots, people will also be able to type to Siri.
Apple also announced a partnership with OpenAI Monday, saying if Siri doesn’t know the answer to something, it will ask if it can take your question to ChatGPT.
New writing tools will see Apple Intelligence proofread, rewrite and summarize text across various apps, as well as suggest the right tone for the message.
Apple said people will also be able to create your own custom emojis just by describing what you are looking for. They’re calling these “genmojis.”
Apple Intelligence is set to launch in the fall.
Starbucks launches its own production studio
When you think of Hollywood production studios, you might think of Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures or Disney. But a new name is now joining the list: Starbucks.
The coffee chain announced the creation of Starbucks Studios, which it said will “produce original entertainment and tell stories that deepen connections and spark conversations.”
Starbucks is partnering with Oscar-winning producer Michael Sugar and his media company Sugar23.
Starbucks is the latest company to open its own production studio, following brands like Nike and Mailchimp.
