Widow of former Haiti president charged in his killing
The widow of the former president of Haiti has been charged in connection with his murder. Jovenel Moïse was shot dead in July of 2021 when armed suspects broke into his bedroom — killing him and injuring his wife, Martine Moïse. But now a judge says Martine was an accomplice in the killing. She is among 51 people to be indicted.
According to the indictment, Martine conspired with the former Prime Minister Claude Joseph, to kill her husband. A lawyer for Martine told the New York Times before the charges were announced that “she was a victim” and remains in hiding. Some argue the charges result from politics, accusing current Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who was appointed to replace Joseph as prime minister just days before the assassination, of going after his critics.
However, a spokesperson from Henry’s office reportedly told the media that Judge Walther Wesser Voltaire, who issued a 122-page ruling that concluded Martine conspired in her husband’s killing, was “free to issue his order in accordance with the law and his conscience.”
A separate U.S. investigation into the murder continues in Miami, where 11 men have been charged. Six of the 11 have pleaded guilty to orchestrating a plot to send Colombian mercenaries to kidnap the former Haitian president, a plan that upgraded from kidnapping to murder at the last minute, according to a Reuters report.
House GOP impeaches Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas: The Morning Rundown, Feb. 14, 2024
In their second attempt, House Republicans vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. And a driver is killed after crashing into the emergency room of a Texas hospital, leaving others critically injured. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024.
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The GOP had the votes Tuesday night, Feb. 13, after failing to pass the measure on Tuesday, Feb. 6, thanks to the return of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., who had been absent while seeking blood cancer treatment. The articles of impeachment passed by a vote of 214-213, with three Republicans siding with Democrats to oppose impeaching Mayorkas. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said that Mayorkas fueled “the worst border catastrophe in American history.”
While a spokesperson for DHS said the impeachment was done “without a shred of evidence or constitutional grounds.” The issue now heads to trial in the Democrat-controlled Senate, which is unlikely to vote to remove Mayorkas from office.
Tuesday’s vote marked only the second time in U.S. history that the House has impeached a cabinet member. The last time was in 1876.
Democrat Tom Suozzi wins NY election to replace George Santos
Voters battled through a winter storm to make it to the polls. With 93% of the votes in, Suozzi won 54% compared to 46% for Pilip.
Suozzi is returning to the House after giving up his seat in 2022 to run for Governor. He previously served three terms.
Driver dead 5 others injured after vehicle crashes into Austin ER
The driver was killed after crashing into an Austin, Texas, emergency room, while five others were left injured in the incident. Footage taken by a bystander right after the crash happened shows hospital staff and responders clearing the lobby and moving the injured through a cloud of smoke while the sounds of screeching tires continue in the background.
According to police, the crash occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, and does not appear to have been intentional. The crash left five people hurt. Two children and one adult were transported to a local children’s hospital. One of the kids is said to be in critical condition. Another adult was taken to a different area hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries. The fifth person injured was treated on-site at the emergency room.
According to the chief medical officer at the Austin hospital, eight others in the emergency room who were not injured in the crash were transported to other hospitals in the area so the emergency room could regroup after the incident.
Uber, Lyft, Doordash drivers to walk off job, hold rallies at airports
SpaceX postpones launch of private company’s moon lander
If you are looking to see a video of the latest launch of a private company’s moon lander, you’ll have to wait at least one more day. SpaceX is postponing Wednesday morning’s Feb. 13 launch of its Falcon 9 rocket carrying Intuitive Machines of Houston’s robotic lunar lander, Odysseus. SpaceX said a liquid methane temperature issue was the cause of the delay.
The launch is now scheduled for early Thursday morning, Feb. 15, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A Friday, Feb. 16 launch is also possible if another issue arises.
Should this mission be successful, unlike last month’s attempt by another private company, it will be the first American spacecraft to land on the moon’s surface since 1972.
Record spending on significant others expected this Valentine’s Day
It’s Valentine’s Day 2024. While The Beatles famously sang, “money can’t buy me love,” that won’t stop many from spending on their loved ones today. According to the National Retail Federation, people are expected to spend a record $14.2 billion this year on their significant others, or $101.84per person. Total spending is expected to reach $25.8 billion, with an average of $185 per person.
The top gift of choice? Candy, followed by greeting cards, flowers, and an evening out. Over half of Americans said they plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, while about a third of those who aren’t still said they want to mark the occasion by either getting together with single friends or treating themselves to something special.
DeSantis drops out of presidential race ahead of New Hampshire primary: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 22, 2024
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis drops out of the race for the White House as the New Hampshire primary is a day away. And video captures flames shooting from a cargo plane in an incident now under investigation. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Jan. 22, 2024.
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Ron DeSantis drops out of race ahead of New Hampshire primary
With the New Hampshire primary one day away, the field of Republican candidates running for the presidency is down by one. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Sunday, Jan. 21, that he is ending his bid for the White House.
“Now, following our second-place finish in Iowa, we’ve prayed and deliberated on the way forward,” DeSantis said. “If there was anything I could do to produce a favorable outcome, more campaign stops, more interviews, I would do it. But I can’t ask our supporters to volunteer their time and donate their resources if we don’t have a clear path to victory. Accordingly, I am today, suspending my campaign.”
DeSantis came in a distant second to former President Donald Trump in last week’s Iowa caucuses. In his video on social media announcing the end of his campaign, DeSantis said he is now endorsing Trump as the Republican nominee.
While he admitted the two have disagreed on issues in the past, DeSantis said he sees a majority of Republican primary voters want to give the former president “another chance.” At a rally in New Hampshire later in the day, Trump thanked DeSantis for the endorsement, calling the Florida governor “a really terrific person.”
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley told reporters the race is now down to “one fella and one lady,” adding, “may the best woman win.”
A new poll conducted by CNN and the University of New Hampshire shows Trump is the clear GOP frontrunner, with the former president holding 50% support among likely Republican voters, while Haley has 39%.
Meanwhile, two-thirds of likely Democratic voters say they will write in President Biden’s name after the president did not file to be a candidate on the state’s primary ballot following a dispute between New Hampshire and the Democratic National Committee.
2 Navy SEALs presumed dead during mission to stop Iranian weapons transfer
The U.S. military has called off a 10-day search and rescue effort for 2 Navy SEALs, now presumed dead, who went missing in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia. According to U.S. Central Command, rescue efforts have turned into recovery efforts.
According to reports, during the nighttime boarding mission, one of the SEALs fell in the water; following protocol, another team member jumped in to rescue them while the rest of the team carried out the mission. Weapons were recovered, but the two operators have not been.
“We mourn the loss of our two Naval Special Warfare warriors, and we will forever honor their sacrifice and example. Our prayers are with the SEALs’ families, friends, the U.S. Navy, and the entire Special Operations community during this time,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, U.S. Central Command Commander.
Netanyahu rejects Hamas’ conditions to end the war, release hostages
“I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
Families of the hostages taken by Hamas held a protest outside of Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, demanding he take action to bring all of them home. A senior Hamas official speaking to Reuters said Netanyahu’s refusal to end its operations in Gaza “means there is no chance for the return of the captives.”
Netanyahu is facing international pressure to end the war. On Sunday, Jan. 21, he reaffirmed his stance that Israel should be in control over Gaza after the fighting ends, despite speaking with President Biden, who pressed the prime minister on working toward a two-state solution during a call two days earlier.
More than 90 weather-related deaths reported as cold temps swept across US
Reports are now showing just how dangerous the conditions were across the country as low temperatures gripped the nation last week.
The New York Times is reporting more than 70 people were killed in weather-related incidents; CBS News is reporting that number is likely to be more than 90.
In Mississippi, where 11 deaths have been reported, officials are warning of black ice on the roads and to only travel if necessary. Twenty-five weather-related deaths were reported in Tennessee, another 16 in Oregon, and more deaths have been recorded in:
New York
New Jersey
Illinois
Washington
Pennsylvania
Kentucky
Wisconsin
While some fatalities are still being investigated to confirm they were due to the severe weather conditions, bitter cold temperatures continued this weekend, affecting tens of millions, with many in the east expected to experience the coldest temperature of the year before a warm-up this coming week, including in northern Florida.
Cargo plane makes emergency landing after engine fire
Cell phone video taken by a witness on the ground shows flames shooting from a cargo plane in Miami shortly after takeoff, and now the FAA and the NTSB are investigating the incident.
“Oh my God, it’s on fire! Oh my God,” the witness can be heard screaming on the video.
The Atlas Air flight made an emergency landing back at Miami International Airport on Thursday night, Jan. 18. The airline said the cargo plane landed safely after “experiencing an engine malfunction.”
Former home of Marilyn Monroe saved from demolition for now
The former California home of legendary Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe, slated to be demolished, has been saved, at least for now. Last week, the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission voted unanimously to declare the property a historic cultural monument.
The 2,9000-square-foot estate is the only property Monroe ever purchased; she bought it in February 1962 for $77,500. It was also the home where she was found dead six months later at the age of 36. However, the home’s future is still in question, as the commission’s vote only temporarily prevents demolition remains under review.
Trump leads in Iowa ahead of record-cold caucuses, The Morning Rundown, Jan. 15, 2024
Voters are ready to be heard as the 2024 presidential primary kicks off in Iowa. And congressional leaders said they have reached a deal to avert a government shutdown. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Jan. 15, 2024.
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On Monday, Jan. 15, the 2024 presidential primaries officially kick off with the Iowa caucuses, where 40 delegates are up for grabs, as the GOP frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, tops the latest poll. Republicans will host voters at designated caucus locations, including schools, gyms, community centers, churches, and other venues, to listen to speeches about the presidential candidates before they decide on a choice.
But undecided voters are not the only unpredictable factor candidates are dealing with this year; another component could cause major issues: the weather. Record-cold is slated for Iowa, with temperatures set to hover around 20 degrees below zero around 7 p.m. central, the start of the caucuses. Arctic air is expected to bring wind chills between 35 and 45 degrees below zero through Tuesday, Jan. 16.
A spokesperson for the Iowa Republican party says Iowans are well acclimated to the midwest winters and understand what’s at stake. As many are concerned about the numbers on the thermometer, others are focused on the numbers from the latest poll released over the weekend. The final poll before the caucuses, conducted by NBC News and the Des Moines Register, shows former President Donald Trump with a nearly 30-point lead over his opponents – with 48% first-choice support.
Former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley is in second place in the poll, narrowly edging past Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Meanwhile, Democrats in Iowa will hold in-person caucuses on Monday, Jan. 15, but only to conduct party business, not for voting. The Iowa Democratic party in the state is asking voters to send in their choice for president by mail. The results will be announced in March.
Arctic blast sends extreme cold across the country
As voters in Iowa contend with record-breaking cold weather, they are not alone. An arctic blast is sweeping across the country, from Canada to the U.S., with many locations facing dangerously low temperatures. States of emergency have been issued in multiple states, including Arkansas, Colorado, New York, and Nebraska.
More than one million Americans were under a wind chill warning or advisory on Sunday, Jan. 14, with the temperature feeling like 60 degrees below zero in parts of Montana. Blizzard conditions forced the postponement of an NFL game in Buffalo from Sunday, Jan. 14, to Monday, Jan. 15. Record-high tides flooded homes in Maine and New Hampshire. The severe weather is being blamed for at least four deaths in Oregon, with strong winds knocking over trees in two incidents, two other victims died of suspected hypothermia.
U.S. fighter jet shoots down Houthi missile in Red Sea
A U.S. fighter jet shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen, aimed at an American destroyer in the Red Sea, on Sunday, Jan. 14, according to U.S. officials. The attempted attack marked the first attack by the Houthis since the U.S. and its allies began retaliatory strikes against the Iranian-backed militant group.
According to the U.S. Central Command, no injuries or damage were reported. The U.S.-led airstrikes against the Houthis began on Friday, Jan. 12, in response to the group’s attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The U.S. and United Kingdom forces struck more than 60 targets, including weapon depots, radars, and command centers. On Saturday, Jan. 13, another strike conducted by U.S. forces targeted a Houthi radar site.
Congressional leaders agree on two-tiered funding deal to avert shutdown
Congressional leaders announced on Sunday, Jan. 14, that they have agreed on a short-term funding bill to avert a partial government shutdown later this week. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., unveiled the two-tiered continuing resolution to fund the government through March 1 and 8.
Schumer said the Senate will begin moving the legislation through as soon as it reconvenes on Tuesday, Jan. 16.
“The bipartisan topline funding agreement reached ensures that America will be able to address many of the major challenges our country faces at home and abroad,” Schumer said in a statement.
In his own statement, Johnson said the bill is required to complete what House Republicans are working hard to achieve. The deal comes a week after last weekend’s agreement that set the overall spending level at $1.59 trillion. Should the bill pass, it will mark the third short-term spending deal since September.
The current deal, which went into effect in September, funded some federal departments until Jan. 19 and others until Feb. 2. This latest funding bill would need to be agreed upon by both the House and Senate by Friday, Jan. 19 to avoid a shutdown.
John Kerry expected to step down as special envoy for climate
According to multiple reports, John Kerry plans to step down as President Biden’s special envoy for climate by the spring. Kerry will reportedly go on to help Biden in his bid for reelection. Sources tell several news outlets that Kerry met Biden last week to tell the president of his decision to resign from the position. Kerry’s staff was notified on Saturday, Jan. 13.
Kerry has held the role since 2021 and led the U.S. through three international climate summits, including last month’s COP28. The 80-year-old former secretary of state is still expected to attend the World Economic Forum in Switzerland this week.
NFL Wild Card game on Peacock makes history
An update to the first NFL playoff game to air exclusively on a streaming platform, in no surprise to many, broke records, and not just with the temperature. The wild card game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, Jan. 13, aired on NBC’s streaming service Peacock, and it is now the most streamed U.S. event ever.
According to NBC, the game drew 23 million viewers, but that’s not all – it was also the country’s largest internet usage event. NBC said the wild card game accounted for 30% of web traffic, making Saturday, Jan. 13, the single highest day of U.S. internet usage in history. The Chiefs won the game 26-7.
Those who qualified for the debate are former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who participated in the last two debates, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who participated in the first debate, did not qualify.
Former Vice President Mike Pence has dropped out of the race since the last debate, and former President Donald Trump, the current Republican frontrunner, said he would not attend the debate. Instead, he’ll be holding a rally just a half hour away simultaneously.
Brightline opens first US passenger line in a century with high-speed Florida train
Floridians and tourists tired of the four-hour drive between Miami and Orlando now have a new way to travel. This faster mode of transportation is looking to revolutionize the train industry.
Brightline launched its privately-funded, high-speed passenger train service between the two major cities on Friday, Sept. 22, with speeds reaching up to 125 miles per hour. The $5 billion investment expanded the company’s Miami-West Palm Beach line.
The plan is for 32 trains to run the 3.5 hour, 235-mile trip daily, costing single passengers $158 for a roundtrip business seat and $298 for first class.
Brightline is hoping 8 million people will travel on its high-speed line annually.
However, the company has seen several past setbacks and controversies, including a 17-month COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdown and a failed deal with Virgin Group founder Richard Branson.
Brightline trains have the highest death rate of all railroads in the U.S., according to The Associated Press’ analysis of federal data.
There have been 98 fatalities on its tracks since the company began operations in 2018; that’s about one death for 32,000 miles its trains travel.
Source: AP Images.
The Sun Sentinel reported that Friday’s inaugural Orlando-bound ride was delayed due to an accident involving a pedestrian and a Brightline train.
Though none of the deaths have been found to be the company’s fault, Brightline has instituted safety improvements. Those safety measures include adding closed-circuit cameras, installing updated crossing gates and posting suicide prevention signage.
Trump is one of eight candidates who have qualified for the debate. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez claimed to have qualified on Friday, Aug. 18, but that has yet to be confirmed.
As for Trump, he will not be participating in the debate. Instead, a prerecorded interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson is expected to be released on debate day.
The debate comes as Trump opened up a 46-point lead over Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to a CBS poll released over the weekend of Aug. 19. Straight Arrow News’ Ray Bogan spoke with a polling expert who was not surprised by Trump planning to no-show.
“Usually when you’re far ahead, the general rule of thumb is avoid confrontation at all costs,” Monmouth University Polling Institute Director Patrick Murray said. “It’s going to be very difficult for these other candidates to make Donald Trump look weak if he’s not there on the stage with them to respond.”
Two days after the debate is the deadline for Trump and 18 other defendants in the Georgia racketeering indictment to turn themselves in. The indictment was announced Monday, Aug. 14.
While this case also has to do with the 2020 election, it’s currently a state case focusing specifically on alleged actions to overturn the election results in Georgia. However, as a RICO expert told Straight Arrow News, that may not be the case by the time the trial comes around.
“As an officer of the United States being charged with a violation of the law of the state of Georgia, under concepts of federalism, an officer of the United States can, on motion, require the case to be transferred to the United States district court,” Buddy Parker, a partner at Maloy Jenkins Parker, said.
In 2024, Jan. 2 is the Justice Department’s recommended start date for the federal trial over the 2020 election. That’s more than two full years earlier than the timeline Trump’s lawyers requested.
In their request, Trump’s lawyers cited scheduling conflicts and a “massive” amount of information from prosecutors that they have to review. They also contended a case of such an unprecedented nature will present issues that take time to sort out.
“No president has ever been charged with a crime for conduct committed while in office. No major party presidential candidate has ever been charged while in the middle of a campaign — and certainly not by a Justice Department serving his opponent,” the lawyers wrote. “These and numerous other issues will be questions of first impression, requiring significant time for the parties to consider and brief, and for the court to resolve.”
A decision on when the trial will start was expected to be made at an Aug. 28 hearing.
Jan. 15 officially kicks off the Republican primary season with the Iowa caucuses. Top candidates, including Trump, have already descended upon the Hawkeye State to make their case.
“I guess we’re up 50 points in Iowa, five-oh, we’re up tremendously in Iowa and every place else,” Trump said earlier in August. “We did a job for Iowa that nobody could do differently. I mean, we have, you take a look at the kind of money, we took $28 billion from China, I gave that to our farmers all over the country, so they like Trump and I like them.”
March 4 is the date Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis wants the Georgia trial to begin. This is likely to be pushed back, however, given the complexity of the case and the number of defendants involved.
A day after Willis wants Trump’s Georgia trial to begin is Super Tuesday, the biggest day of the primary election campaign season. Voters in 14 states will go to the polls on the same night.
Typically, even if the nominee isn’t decided by the end of Super Tuesday, the field is whittled down significantly.
Trump has been accused of falsifying business records related to the payments. Last week, the judge in the case refused a Trump legal team request to recuse himself from the trial.
May 20 is the projected day Trump’s classified documents federal trial is set to begin. The date was a compromise between the Justice Department, who wanted the trial to start in December, and Trump’s legal team, who wanted it to start after the 2024 election.
If Trump’s election campaign continues to dominate the GOP field for president despite his trials, he should have a busy summer ahead of him in 2024. He is likely to officially secure the Republican nomination at the national convention July 15-18. Then it would be on to Nov. 5, where America could see a 2020 rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden.
Severe weather continues to take hold over the United States during the week of July 16, with a tornado hitting a Pfizer plant in North Carolina and passengers on a Delta flight getting sick due to the Las Vegas heat. The tornado hit just after midday on Wednesday, July 20.
There were no serious reports of injury at the Pfizer plant, with all employees safely evacuated and accounted for. However, Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone reported 50,000 pallets of medicine were “strewn across the facility and damaged through the rain and the wind.”
According to the Pfizer website, the North Carolina plan produces anesthesia and other drugs as well as nearly 25% of all sterile injectable medications used in U.S. hospitals. Erin Fox, a senior pharmacy director at University of Utah Health, said the damage “will likely lead to long-term shortages while Pfizer works to either move production to other sites or rebuilds.”
While there were no injuries at the Pfizer plant, other parts of Nash County weren’t so lucky. The county reported 13 injuries and damage to 89 buildings.
The tornado at the Pfizer plant came as the rest of the country deals with searing heat and rising floodwaters. Days after Phoenix set a record for the longest streak of 110-degree days, torrential rain flooded communities in Kentucky.
Meteorologists warned of a “life-threatening situation” in the communities of Mayfield and Wingo, Kentucky. Forecasters expected up to 10 inches of rain to fall on parts of Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri. Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., declared a state of emergency Wednesday.
“Please pray for Mayfield and areas of Western Kentucky impacted by significant flooding,” Gov. Beshear said in a statement. “We’re working to assess the damage and respond. Just like every challenge we’ve faced, we will be there for all those affected. We will get through this together.”
In Las Vegas, at least one Delta passenger was taken to the hospital for heat-related illness after the plane sat on the tarmac for hours on Monday, July 17. Multiple passengers were treated on site.
“What an INSANE experience. First we were delayed because you did not have a flight attendant. Then we finally board and sit for almost 3 hours on a hot plane in 111 degree weather. Now we are heading back to the gate cause people are passing out,” Krista Garvin, a field producer for Fox News who was on the flight, tweeted. “Paramedics are on now. I’ve seen a total of three people wheeled out so far. Oxygen tanks are being pulled out. They said to press your call button if you need medical assistance. Babies are screaming crying. They’re handing out sandwiches to the diabetics.”
@Delta what an INSANE experience. First we were delayed because you did not have a flight attendant. Then we finally board and sit for almost 3 hours on a hot plane in 111 degree weather. Now we are heading back to the gate cause people are passing out. We are now being told you
Forecasters said little relief appears in sight from the heat and storms. Miami has endured a heat index of 100 degrees or more for weeks, with temperatures expected to rise this weekend.
Trump pleads not guilty, promises investigation into Biden if re-elected: June 14
Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to all 37 federal charges against him, and car thefts have dramatically spiked in the United States. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Wednesday, June 14, 2023.
Trump pleads not guilty in classified documents case
As expected, former President Trump pleaded not guilty to all 37 charges he’s facing related to his handling of classified documents. Similar to his arraignment over hush money payments to Stormy Daniels earlier this year, Trump used the historic moment to further declare his innocence and rail on the prosecution.
After pleading not guilty, Trump returned to his Bedminster, New Jersey resort for a planned speech. Highlights from the speech included Trump claiming he was too busy to go through the boxes of documents at his Mar-A-Lago resort and promising to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate President Joe Biden and his family if Trump is elected president next year.
Feds set to leave interest rates alone
For the first time in 15 months, the Federal Reserve is poised to leave interest rates alone when it meets Wednesday. The streak of rate hikes has raised interest rates at the fastest pace in four decades. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has made it clear that any pause in rate hikes would likely be temporary, with another hike likely as soon as their next meeting in late July.
There are 18 committee members on a policymaking committee that decides the rate hikes. Among the policymakers, there appears to be a split between those who want to raise rates one or two more times and those who want to leave the rate alone and monitor inflation. The latter group is concerned that hiking too aggressively would heighten the risk of recession.
University of Wisconsin’s budget in jeopardy over diversity programs
The University of Wisconsin is the latest college at the center of a fight for state funding over its diversity initiatives. Republicans in the state are looking to slash more than $30 million of taxpayer money the university receives in order to defund its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs on campus.
The GOP-controlled legislature was poised to make the cuts on Tuesday, June 13, but postponed the vote after its finance committee couldn’t come to an agreement after seven hours of closed-door discussions. The state has already refused to pay for the university’s top building project in retaliation for what they call “frivolous spending” on diversity programs.
A new chief diversity officer at the university started work this week with a $225,000 salary. State Republicans still plan on taking a vote to defund the University of Wisconsin, but are tabling it until they reach an agreement on how far to cut the school’s budget.
President Lukashenko added there “would be no hesitation” to use the nuclear weapons in response to potential aggressors. Russia would retain control over the weapons, continuing to use Belarus as a “launching pad” for Moscow’s military operations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin justified the transfer by pointing to the U.S. deploying their own nuclear weapons around European countries. The U.S. has condemned Russia for transferring the arsenal, but also said there is no sign that Russia plans to use them.
Tuesday’s announcement marked the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union that Moscow has moved warheads outside the country.
Car thefts at highest level since 2008
More than one million cars were stolen in 2022. That’s the highest number since 2008, and the equivalent of about two vehicles stolen every minute. The Kia and Hyundai car-theft challenge is probably not helping these numbers.
With camera surveillance at some border ports of entry, a CBS news investigation uncovered thousands of these stolen vehicles being smuggled into Mexico and going unchecked. License plate readers installed in California, Arizona, and Texas were able to capture nearly 3,000 stolen vehicles driven out of the country, according to a California Highway Patrol Official. The official suspects the number is much larger.
Not only are the vehicles being driven out, but luxury cars are also being smuggled in shipping containers at ports on both coasts. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the increase in car thefts will likely translate to drivers paying higher premiums for car insurance.
Fort Polk becomes latest base to receive new name
A U.S. army base in Louisiana has been renamed from Fort Polk to Fort Johnson’ in the latest removal of a Confederate commander. The fort is now named after Sergeant William Henry Johnson, a black World War I hero and Medal of Honor recipient. Johnson served in the first ever all-black national guard unit.
The renaming of military bases is due to a mandate from the Pentagon to remove Confederate names from military installations. Fort Polk is the fourth of nine bases to receive name changes.
Earlier this month, Fort Bragg was renamed to Fort Liberty. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has vowed to reverse this decision if he becomes president.
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Miami police say they won’t enforce immigration law, truckers push boycott
Ahead of Florida’s new immigration law taking effect in July, local police and truckers have begun weighing in on the issue. In part, the law makes it a felony to “knowingly and willfully” transport an undocumented person in the state of Florida.
Miami-Dade County Police announced its officers do not plan on pulling over cars in order to check the paperwork of drivers or passengers. Police will also not ask victims of a crime for information about their immigration status.
Álvaro Zabaleta, a Miami-Dade County Police detective, said Police Chief Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez III, who is running for sheriff in 2024, “does not want to lose the trust of our community.”
“We are here to protect our community,” Zabaleta said. “We are not here to get involved in a political issue or a sensitive issue such as immigration.”
The Miami-Dade County Police announcement came as U.S. truckers are calling to boycott Florida over the immigration law. The law requires employers to verify if workers are authorized to work in the United States.
Latino truckers took to social media over the weekend, threatening to stop delivering to, from and within Florida.
“I don’t know about you guys, but my truck will not be going to Florida at all,” one trucker posted to TikTok. “I’m pretty sure we can all come together as a Latino community and boycott Florida as a whole because what they are doing to our brothers and sisters out there is not fair. And even in the truck driving industry, we’re millions.”
According to the Migration Policy Institute, about 21% of Florida’s population is foreign-born.
The immigration law could have a widespread effect on the state’s farming industry. About 300,000 farm workers, or about 60% of the state’s farm workers, live in the state illegally.
