Homeless camps by New Orleans’ Superdome cleared ahead of Super Bowl
New Orleans is getting ready to host the Super Bowl next month, which includes a costly plan to relocate the homeless living in camps in the city’s core. Early Wednesday morning, Jan. 15, Louisiana authorities cleared out the encampments near the Caesars Superdome.
The city will host the big game at the Superdome on Sunday, Feb. 9.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry framed the move as a safety measure. He said it’s part of a bigger push to secure New Orleans after the ISIS-inspired New Year’s Day truck attack. The attack left 14 people dead and dozens more injured in the city’s French Quarter.
The city used the emergency order issued in the attack to clear out of the camps. The decree called for securing highways and bridges in New Orleans. It also ensured streets and sidewalks are clean and accessible.
State officials relocated many unhoused people displaced by the move to a temporary warehouse facility far from downtown that costs millions of dollars to operate. Officials described the setup as a resource hub offering room for pets. It also offers shuttles to ferry people to work and appointments.
The temporary center can house 200 people, and as of Wednesday evening, 131 people were staying there, according to the Workforce Group.
New Orleans Home for Good Initiative
This is just the latest move in an effort that started months ago when Louisiana state officials forcibly removed an encampment in October ahead of a Taylor Swift concert at the Superdome. Advocates for the homeless said some people displaced by that move ended up in the area under the elevated stretch of highway cleared on Wednesday.
Just last week, the state’s Supreme Court overturned a restraining order that barred state police from clearing homeless encampments in New Orleans.
Some city leaders and advocates said the new push undermines their efforts to address homelessness, interrupting ongoing efforts to help people secure permanent housing.
Federal judge blocks Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law as unconstitutional
Louisiana’s controversial new law requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public schools will not be going into effect come January, after all. A federal judge temporarily blocked it Tuesday, Nov. 12, while the case — brought by a coalition of parents — plays out.
That judge called the law “unconstitutional” and barred the state from enforcing it. The law would have required a copy of the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public school and university classrooms throughout the state.
Now, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office must notify all schools it’s been ruled unconstitutional.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has said she expects the case could go to the U.S. Supreme Court, which last weighed in on the issue in 1980. The justices then ruled 5 to 4 that Kentucky’s posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools was unconstitutional.
However, the makeup of the Supreme Court has changed since then. In 1980, it was split almost evenly between conservative and liberal justices with one centrist who usually ended up the swing vote. Now, conservatives hold a majority in the Supreme Court.
Supporters of the law argue the Ten Commandments belong in public schools because they are historical and part of the foundation of United States law.
Swift’s Eras Tour sparks controversy over homeless evictions in New Orleans
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is making its way to New Orleans, Louisiana, over the weekend of Oct. 26. Swift will be appearing at Caesars Superdome. In light of her visit, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, R, is evicting nearly 75 homeless people living on the streets near the venue.
They have until Thursday, Oct. 24, to leave the encampment or state troopers will force them out. New Orleans city officials and homeless advocates have called on Gov. Landry to stop the sweep.
The city’s director of Homeless Services & Strategy, Nate Fields, argues the removal of unhoused individuals should be a fair and honest process, saying, “This is not the way to make a positive change.”
“Why are we hiding our homeless population?” Fields asked. “I don’t care about the Taylor Swift concert. I care about every individual who stands behind me, who lives out here every single day.”
The city’s Homeless Services Department claims it has helped house nearly 600 homeless people since last year. The city says re-homing unhoused individuals takes a lot of time and trust, and just moving these people to other parts of the city will only make the situation worse for New Orleans residents.
New Orleans City Councilwoman Lesli Harris said in a statement that many people living in that homeless encampment have completed their paperwork and “were set to be housed in a matter of weeks. Now, displacing everyone, likely to private property in surrounding neighborhoods, will make outreach nearly impossible.”
The governor’s office released a statement saying: “Governor Landry understands the No. 1 issue facing the city of New Orleans right now is the homelessness crisis, and he is working with LSP and local officials to fix this problem. As we prepare for the city to host Taylor Swift and Super Bowl LIX, we are committed to ensuring New Orleans puts its best foot forward when on the world stage.”
Swift takes the stage starting the night of Friday, Oct. 25, in New Orleans’ Superdome, with performances Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27 also planned.
Vance, Walz defend their running mates’ records in vice presidential debate
We have a recap of the first, and likely only, vice presidential debate of 2024. And Iran has launched its largest attack ever on Israel. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Vance, Walz defend their running mates’ records in vice presidential debate
For the first time, the two vice presidential candidates took the stage next to one another Tuesday night, Oct. 1. Republican Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz introduced themselves to American voters while defending their running mates’ opposing views.
Vance and Walz kept the vice presidential debate cordial, at various times saying they agreed with the other, but they sparred on the policies and the statements made by their parties’ presidential nominees, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Look if you’re going to be president, you don’t have all the answers. Donald Trump believes he does. My pro tip of the day is this, if you need heart surgery, listen to the people at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, not Donald Trump,” Walz said.
“I honestly, Tim, I think you got a tough job here because you’ve got to play whack-a-mole; you’ve got to pretend that Donald Trump didn’t deliver rising take-home pay, which of course he did; you’ve got to pretend that Donald Trump didn’t deliver lower inflation, which of course he did; and then you simultaneously got to defend Kamala Harris’ atrocious economic record,” Vance said.
The debate covered many topics including abortion, climate change, the economy and health care. The two opened the 90-minute CBS News debate discussing the conflict in the Middle East and the need for stability in the White House.
“I’m 40 years old, when was the last time that an American president didn’t have a major conflict break out? The only answer is during the four years that Donald Trump was president,” Vance said.
“So Iran is closer to a nuclear weapon than they were before because of Donald Trump’s fickle leadership. And when Iran shot down an American aircraft in international airspace, Donald Trump tweeted because that’s the standard diplomacy of Donald Trump,” Walz said.
On illegal immigration, Vance and Walz disagreed on whether former President Trump’s involvement helps or hurts solving the border crisis.
“But as soon as I was getting ready to pass [legislation] and actually tackle this, Donald Trump said no, told them to vote against it because it gives him a campaign issue,” Walz said.
“We have a historic immigration crisis because Kamala Harris started and said that she wanted to undo all of Donald Trump’s border policies — 94 executive orders, suspending deportations, decriminalizing illegal aliens, massively increasing the asylum fraud that exists in our system. That has opened the floodgates,” Vance said.
When the debate turned to gun violence, the two VP contenders shared a moment, highlighting the human aspect and often the aftermath.
“I think all the parents watching tonight, this is just your biggest nightmare. Look, I got a 17-year-old and he witnessed a shooting at a community center playing volleyball, those things don’t leave you,” Walz said.
When it was his turn to speak, Vance responded, “Tim, first of all, I didn’t know that your 17-year-old witnessed a shooting and I’m sorry about that and I hope he’s doing OK. Christ have mercy, it is it is awful.”
Things, however, turned contentious over the 2020 election and Jan. 6.
“[January 6, 2021] was a threat to our democracy in a way that we had not seen, and it manifested itself because of Donald Trump’s inability to say — he is still saying, he didn’t lose the election,” Walz said.
Vance replied, “Tim, I’m focused on the future. Did Kamala Harris censor Americans from speaking their mind in the wake of the 2020 COVID situation?”
“That is a damning non-answer,” Walz said.
Both candidates thanked each other for the debate and the viewers at home, who will make their decision at the polls on Election Day, Nov. 5, in just 34 days.
Trump backs out of ’60 Minutes’ election special; Harris interview to still air
CBS News says former President Trump has backed out an upcoming interview with “60 Minutes.”
For decades, “60 Minutes” has broadcast election specials with the candidates. CBS reported both Trump and Vice President Harris had agreed to take part in this year’s special in separate one-on-one interviews, but Trump has since reportedly changed his mind.
In a press conference last night, Trump said his decision was based on his last interview with CBS anchor Lesley Stahl in 2020 — which he walked out of early.
“They came to me and would like me to do an interview, but first, I want to get an apology because the last time I did an interview with them, if you remember, they challenged me on the computer,” Trump said. “They said the laptop from hell was from Russia. And I said, ‘It wasn’t from Russia, it was from Hunter [Biden].’ And I never got an apology, so I’m sort of waiting. I’d love to do ’60 Minutes’, I do everything.”
In a statement of its own, “60 Minutes” said the special will still move forward.
“Our election special will broadcast the Harris interview on Monday as planned,” the statement read. “Our original invitation to former President Donald Trump to be interviewed on ’60 Minutes’ stands.”
The special is set to air Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. ET.
Iran launches largest-ever attack on Israel; Israel vows retaliation
Israel has vowed to retaliate after Iran launched its largest ever attack on Israel. Late Tuesday, Iran fired more than 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which seem to have been intercepted by the Israeli military with help from the United States and other allies.
So far, one person has been reported to have died in the attack, and the extent of the damage is not yet known.
Iran’s military chief also warned of broader strikes if Israel responds. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already vowed to do so, saying, “Iran made a big mistake and it will pay for it.”
Also Tuesday, just before Iran’s barrage began, at least six people were killed and a dozen more hurt when Israeli police say two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a train station in Tel Aviv. Police say the shooting was an act of terrorism and one of the gunmen was killed at the scene while the other was severely injured.
No specific group has claimed responsibility for that deadly attack.
Search and rescue efforts continue in North Carolina after Helene
Combs is already being held without bond at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
He has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have said he is innocent of all charges.
Louisiana governor supports bringing back live tiger mascot to LSU games
College sports are known for fierce competition. Now the governor of Louisiana is looking at making things even more ferocious by bringing back an old Louisiana State University football mainstay.
Officials from PETA are now speaking out against the idea, saying it would be cruel and dangerous for the animal.
These days, the current tiger mascot is on campus in an enclosure near the stadium, but the governor says returning the tiger to the field would be “an unbelievable opportunity.” LSU officials have not yet commented on whether there is a possibility of seeing a live tiger at football games once again.
Students file petitions against cellphone bans in several states
High school students are petitioning against schools in several states across the U.S. as cellphone bans come into effect. Thousands in Florida, Louisiana and Nevada have signed such petitions, stating that they want access to their cellphones during school hours.
Broward County Schools in Miami, Florida, recently implemented new restrictions for student cellphone use. The new restrictions require students to store their phones throughout the day, including lunch hour, in airplane mode. Headphones are also barred from being worn by students during school hours.
Over 18,000 students and parents have already signed a petition in which they ask for a meeting to discuss these new regulations and explore adjustments to the policy.
Elsewhere, one student started a petition aimed at pushing schools to impart guidelines on responsible cellphone use, rather than outright bans. Kaytlin Villescas at Prairieville High School in Louisiana says she and her peers should be allowed access to their devices, which she argues are not just for communication, but are valuable tools in academic pursuits.
A third set of students have also joined with a similar petition in Las Vegas, Nevada. More than 25,000 people have signed a petition there as the Clark County School District requires students in grades 6-12 to put their phones in signal-blocking pouches when they arrive at school each day.
The pouches keep a phone signal from reaching the device, and students will be instructed on where to keep their pouches, potentially on the student’s desk or a designated area within a classroom. The pouch will not lock, and keep devices accessible in case of an emergency.
The district said the effort “is to ensure a distraction-free and safe learning environment.” Devices such as laptops, cellphones, and tablets are still permitted for use during lunch periods, school activities, bus transportation and classroom periods with the approval of the school principal.
The petition in Nevada says the Clark County School Board should focus its attention on “more important issues,” such as beefing up funding for school lunches, teachers’ salaries and security for bullying and harassment.
So far, none of the schools have changed their policies due to the signed petitions.
Louisiana unveils potential Ten Commandments posters for schools
Louisiana officials have unveiled multiple options for posters of the Ten Commandments. Under a new state law, the posters must be prominently displayed in all public school classrooms starting this school year.
In a news conference Monday, Aug. 5, Louisiana’s governor and attorney general showed off the posters which feature House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who created the hit musical “Hamilton.”
The posters are not the final versions that will be required in all classrooms — they’re mock-ups to show ways that schools can comply with the law. Other potential posters include quotes from former Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Louisiana’s attorney general said the posters “illustrate that there are constitutional ways to apply this law.”
A group of parents and civil rights organizations are suing to block the law. They argue requiring a religious text in all classrooms violates the establishment clause of the Constitution, which says Congress can “make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”
“If those posters are in school and they find them so vulgar then tell your child not to look at it,” he responded.
Louisiana’s AG said Monday that the state will move to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds no one has been harmed because the law is not yet in effect.
A federal court previously said the state cannot issue advice, rules or regulations about the Ten Commandments requirement until at least Nov. 15 as the case makes its way through the court system.
Ten Commandments law in Louisiana schools put on hold amid legal challenge
A judge approved an agreement by Louisiana to delay a law requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in all of the state’s public-school classrooms on Friday, July 19. The judge’s decision to delay the requirement until at least November came as a lawsuit brought against the state plays out in court.
In June, parents of students in Louisiana public schools filed a lawsuit that argued the law violates the First Amendment, which prevents the government establishment of religions and guarantees the right to religious liberty.
However, proponents of the law contend that the Ten Commandments belong in public schools because they are historical and part of the foundation of United State law.
Meanwhile, Gov. Jeff Landry, R-La., defended the use of taxpayer money to fight against lawsuit brought against the law.
“I think that the benefit of what we’re trying to do certainly outweighs any expenditures,” Landry said in an interview with Nexstar Media.
“Maybe, if the Ten Commandments were hanging on Crooks [sic] wall of the school that he was in, maybe, he wouldn’t have took [sic] a shot at the president,” Landry added.
The United States Supreme Court struck down a similar law to Louisiana’s Ten Commandments in 1980 on the grounds that it violated the establishment clause in the U.S. Constitution. The clause states that Congress “shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”
The court found that the law clearly served a religious purpose and not a secular one.
Julian Assange agrees to plea deal with US government
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge as part of a plea deal with the Justice Department. And a historic space mission by China brings back samples from the far side of the moon. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
Julian Assange agrees to plea deal with U.S. government
A legal case that spanned nearly 15 years is scheduled to be resolved Tuesday, June 25, when WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange pleads guilty to violating U.S. espionage law. Assange left a British prison Monday, June 24, where he has spent the last five years, and boarded a plane headed for the Northern Marina Islands, a U.S. commonwealth in the Western Pacific. The plane made a stop in Bangkok to refuel.
According to court documents, Assange has agreed to a plea deal with the U.S. government, where he will plead guilty to a single charge of conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disclose classified national defense documents. Charges against him stem from the release of classified information more than a decade ago, including reports on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
Assange is expected to be sentenced to the five years already served, sparing him from additional prison time. He is then expected to return to his home country of Australia to be joined by his wife, Stella, and two children.
"Journalism should be more like science. As far as possible, facts should be verifiable.
If journalists want long-term credibility for their profession, they have to go in that direction. Have more respect for readers." – Julian Assange #LetHimGoJoepic.twitter.com/c0JdgYlzIE
Assange’s wife told Reuters the couple will be seeking a pardon.
“Of course, I mean, I think that the correct course of action from the U.S. government should have been to drop the case entirely,” Stella Assange said. “We will be seeking a pardon obviously, but the fact that there is a guilty plea under the Espionage Act in relation to obtaining and disclosing national defense information is obviously a very serious concern for journalists and national security journalists in general.”
Prosecutors said the Northern Marina Islands was chosen for the location of the hearing because of its proximity to Australia and that Julian Assange had opposed to traveling to the U.S. mainland.
The hearing is set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 26, local time, which is 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 25 EDT.
Hunter Biden’s attorneys request new trial
Hunter Biden is seeking a new trial. Less than two weeks after his conviction on federal gun charges, attorneys for the president’s son have requested a new trial, saying his convictions should be vacated because the trial started before a circuit court had formally denied his appeal.
They argue that means the Delaware court that tried him did not have jurisdiction.
Hunter Biden was found guilty earlier this month on three federal charges related to buying a gun while being a drug user.
In a separate filing Monday, Hunter Biden’s lawyers argue the Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold a federal ban on firearms for people under domestic violence restraining orders supports their motion for an acquittal or “at a minimum” a new trial.
His attorneys said because Hunter Biden never acted violently toward anyone or misused the gun, the charges against him are unconstitutional.
Bankruptcy trustee plans to shut down Alex Jones’ ‘Inforwars’
A federal bankruptcy court trustee is planning to shut down Alex Jones’ media company “Infowars.” The plan is to sell it off to pay for Jones’ $1.5 billion settlement he owes to families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Massacre.
The move comes weeks after a federal judge in Texas ruled to liquidate Jones’ personal assets but did not determine the fate of “Infowars.” Jones used the platform to say the 2012 shooting that left 20 children and six educators dead “was all a hoax.”
The trustee also asked a judge to put an immediate hold on the efforts by some of the Sandy Hook families to collect the massive amount Jones owes them. The trustee said that would interfere with his plans to close “Infowars’” parent company, Free Speech Systems, and sell off its assets — with much of the proceeds going to the families.
Parents sue over Louisiana’s Ten Commandments in schools law
Parents in Louisiana are suing their state’s education department and local school boards over the new law requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public schools. They said it’s unconstitutional.
In court filings, the nine families — backed by civil liberties groups — argue the law “substantially interferes with and burdens” their First Amendment right to raise their kids in whichever religion they want.
Louisiana governor defends 10 Commandments in schools mandate: 'The US is founded on Judeo-Christian values' https://t.co/3z2aKPOeIi
Under the new law, signed by Gov. Jeff Landry, R, on June 19, a poster-sized version of the Ten Commandments would have to be displayed in all public K-12 classrooms and state-funded universities in Louisiana.
The families are seeking an order to stop that from happening.
2 federal judges block key parts of Biden student debt forgiveness plan
Two federal judges in Kansas and Missouri have blocked key aspects of President Joe Biden’s student debt relief plan that lowers payments. The Monday June 24 rulings will stop the Biden administration from any further implementation of its SAVE program.
The plan — which ties how much someone pays each month to what their income is — has been in place for almost a year.
New: Today, two judges in two different suits halted Biden's SAVE plan—the student debt repayment plan that would cancel some debt + cut some borrowers' payments in half—effective in July.
This means the second phase of the plan, which would’ve reduced monthly payments from 10% of a borrower’s discretionary income to 5%, is on pause. So is any further cancellation of debt for people who took out smaller initial loan payments and have been paying for 10-plus years.
However, the 8 million people who are already enrolled can keep using the SAVE plan until the cases are fully litigated.
China’s Chang’e 6 brings back samples from far side of the moon
After 53-days, China’s Chang’e 6 became the first mission to successfully bring samples from the far side of the moon back to Earth. The return capsule landed in China just after 2 p.m. local time Monday.
China’s Chang’e 6 moon probe has landed back on Earth after a 53-day journey, bringing with it the first-ever samples from the far side of the moon. pic.twitter.com/GndMDlVBbJ
The capsule is expected to contain around two kilograms of moon dust and rocks to be analyzed by Chinese researchers and then by international scientists.
China’s successful mission is the latest achievement in the modern space race. The U.S. is set to send to astronauts back on the moon as early as 2026, while China plans on doing the same by 2030.
Panthers win first Stanley Cup, defeat Oilers 2-1 in Game 7
They say there’s nothing like a Game 7 in sports — and hockey fans got to experience a memorable one Monday night. The Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.
The Panthers were able to stop the momentum of the Edmonton Oilers, who fought back after being down three games to none to force a Game 7.
After losing the last three games, the Panthers rebounded, defeating the Oilers 2-1.
Despite being on the losing team, the Oilers’ Connor McDavid was named the postseason’s MVP. But it was the Panthers who got to hoist the Stanley Cup trophy over their heads in front of their home fans.
Louisiana approves surgical castration bill for sex crimes against children
A bill, approved by both chambers of the Louisiana Legislature on Monday, June 3, would give a judge the option to impose surgical castration for someone convicted of an aggravated sex crime against a child younger than 13. The legislation would also send the convict to prison or confinement in an institution.
The sex crimes include rape, incest and molestation.
The Republican-led chambers overwhelmingly voted in favor of the bill. Most of the “no” votes came from the Democrats, however, the bill was authored by Sen. Regina Ashford Barrow, D-La.
“Some of the things I have learned, some of the things I have experienced, some of the things I have seen which I wish I had never seen — especially as it relates to children — has made me very passionate about this issue,” Barrow said in May. “And at the same time, I want to be fair. I want to make sure that people are not wrongly convicted. I want to make sure that individuals are not put on the line who did not commit a crime, but at the same time, I want to make sure that our kids are safe. And I’m going to tell you, I don’t feel like our kids are safe. Many of our children are in situations that are very harmful and very bad, and sometimes, they don’t have a place to go.”
Surgical castration is the physical removal of the testicles in males or ovaries in women to stop the production of sex hormones. Chemical castration, which was already allowed in Louisiana, accomplishes the same using medication rather than an invasive procedure.
Several states — including Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Texas — already allow certain sex offenders to be chemically castrated.
Barrow has said she hopes her bill will be a deterrent for individuals looking to commit sex crimes against children.
