Bus company sued by NYC agrees to stop transporting migrants
Roadrunner Charters has agreed to halt the transport of migrants from Texas to New York, following a lawsuit filed by Mayor Eric Adams against the company and 16 others. The legal action alleges that these companies violated New York’s Social Services Law by transporting asylum seekers to the region without providing necessary support.
The city seeks approximately $708 million in damages, claiming the companies acted irresponsibly by bringing more than 33,600 migrants to New York since the spring of 2022 without ensuring their ongoing care. This action was deemed to be in “bad faith.”
“New York City continues to do our part as we lead the nation in managing this national humanitarian crisis, but reckless political games from the state of Texas will not be tolerated,” Adams said. “I am pleased to see that Roadrunner – one of the bus companies we sued for taking part in Texas Gov. Greg Abbott‘s scheme to transport tens of thousands of migrants to our city in an attempt to overwhelm our shelter system and shift costs to New York City – has agreed to halt the bussing of migrants into and around New York City while the lawsuit proceeds. We call on all other bus companies involved in this suit to do the same.”
As the lawsuit progresses, Roadrunner Charters will cease its operations of moving migrants to New York and its surrounding areas. Mayor Adams has voiced his criticism of Texas for what he perceives as politicizing the migration issue and commended Roadrunner’s decision to stop these transports. He also called on the other companies involved in the lawsuit to take similar action.
Court documents reveal that Texas has directed nearly 95,000 migrants to sanctuary cities, including New York, thereby straining the city’s shelter system.
Netanyahu speaks with Senate Republicans days after Schumer’s speech
Days after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called him an obstacle to peace, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses Senate Republicans. And Neuralink posts a video of a patient playing chess using his thoughts. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, March 21, 2024.
Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to GOP lawmakers
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu engaged in a closed-door meeting with Senate Republicans on Wednesday, March 20, just days after Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer publicly criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza and suggested Israel should hold new elections once the conflict subsides.
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Netanyahu’s discussion with the GOP lawmakers occurred during their weekly policy lunch and was conducted virtually. The meeting comes in the wake of Schumer’s remarks on the Senate floor last week, where he labeled Netanyahu as an obstacle to peace in the Middle East.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and fellow Republicans relayed to reporters that Netanyahu provided a detailed presentation and fielded questions regarding the ongoing war and the situation concerning hostages. McConnell emphasized his stance to Netanyahu, asserting that the United States should not dictate the timing of elections for a democratic ally nor the strategies of its military campaigns. He noted a concern over what he perceives as waning bipartisan support for Israel in the U.S., particularly from the political left.
Senate Republicans reported that Netanyahu assured them Schumer’s comments would not deter Israel’s objectives to defeat Hamas and proceed with its military actions.
In a move highlighting the partisan tension surrounding the discussions, Schumer declined an invitation from Netanyahu to speak with Senate Democrats at their luncheon, advocating for these conversations to remain non-partisan.
Amidst these political dynamics, House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed intentions to potentially invite Netanyahu to address Congress. This comes as Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s upcoming travel plans to Israel this Friday, March 22, marking his sixth visit to the Middle East since the Gaza conflict began.
Bus company sued by NYC agrees to stop transporting migrants
Roadrunner Charters has agreed to halt the transport of migrants from Texas to New York, following a lawsuit filed by Mayor Eric Adams against the company and 16 others. The legal action alleges that these companies violated New York’s Social Services Law by transporting asylum seekers to the region without providing necessary support.
The city seeks approximately $708 million in damages, claiming the companies acted irresponsibly by bringing more than 33,600 migrants to New York since the spring of 2022 without ensuring their ongoing care. This action was deemed to be in “bad faith.”
As the lawsuit progresses, Roadrunner Charters will cease its operations of moving migrants to New York and its surrounding areas. Mayor Adams has voiced his criticism of Texas for what he perceives as politicizing the migration issue and commended Roadrunner’s decision to stop these transports. He also called on the other companies involved in the lawsuit to take similar action.
Court documents reveal that Texas has directed nearly 95,000 migrants to sanctuary cities, including New York, thereby straining the city’s shelter system.
Neuralink posts video of first patient moving cursor
Elon Musk’s Neuralink made headlines Wednesday, March 20, with a live video on X demonstrating its brain implant technology. The video featured 29-year-old Nolan Arbaugh, who has been paralyzed from the shoulders down for eight years following a diving accident, using the device to move a mouse cursor solely through neural signals.
Arbaugh also mentioned that the implant has enabled him to play video games, showcasing the device’s potential to restore a level of independence to individuals with severe mobility impairments.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) greenlit Neuralink for a clinical trial of its device in humans last May, marking a significant step forward for the company. While experts in the field note that the brain-computer interface (BCI) technology demonstrated by Neuralink is not entirely new—similar systems have been developed by other companies—the excitement surrounding Neuralink’s progress stems from its potential to significantly improve the lives of people who have become paralyzed.
Dodgers fire interpreter of Shohei Ohtani, accused of stealing millions
The controversy erupted hours after the Dodgers celebrated a 5-2 victory over the San Diego Padres in Seoul, with the interpreter translating for Ohtani post-game. Allegations involve the misappropriation of millions of dollars from Ohtani, with the funds allegedly used to place bets with a bookmaker in Southern California, currently under federal scrutiny.
In response to the accusations, the interpreter, told ESPN that Ohtani had no involvement in the betting activities. Despite this assertion, the Dodgers have confirmed the interpreter’s termination, stating, “We are aware of media reports and are gathering information.”
This incident comes in the wake of a security scare involving a bomb threat aimed at Ohtani before the Dodgers’ game in Seoul, further complicating what has been a tumultuous period for the team and its celebrated player.
Reddit going public in first major social media offering since 2019
Reddit, the 19-year-old company famous for its vast network of online forums, is making headlines as it goes public today, marking Wall Street’s first significant social media offering since Pinterest in 2019.
On Wednesday, Reddit announced its initial public offering (IPO) price at $34 a share, hitting the top of its anticipated range and valuing the company at $6.5 billion. This move comes on the heels of Reddit’s recent partnership with Google, which allows the tech giant to utilize Reddit’s data for training AI models.
The company will list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RDDT, inviting investors to be a part of its journey as it transitions from a privately held entity to a public company. Reddit’s IPO is being closely watched by the market and industry analysts, given the significant role social media platforms play in the digital economy and the broader cultural landscape.
Taylor Swift fans create seismic activity at ‘Eras Tour’ concert
Taylor Swift’s fans, famously known as Swifties, have taken their fervor for the pop icon to seismic proportions—literally. A group of scientists from Caltech and UCLA discovered that Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ concert at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, from August 20-23, caused actual seismic activity, now dubbed ‘Swift Quakes.’
The research team installed strong motion sensors at the stadium to measure the seismic signals generated by the dancing and jumping of the more than 70,000 attendees. By analyzing the data with spectrograms, which are graphs that track wave length frequencies, the scientists confirmed the crowd’s movements indeed created seismic activity.
Remarkably, the song that registered the highest magnitude on their scale, with a reading of 0.851, was Swift’s hit “Shake It Off.” This finding, recently published by the team, highlights the intense energy and enthusiasm of Swift’s fan base, proving that Swifties can literally move the earth with their collective celebration of their favorite artist’s music.
Biden, Trump to visit U.S.-Mexico border on same day
As Michigan voters cast their ballots in Tuesday’s primary elections, with immigration at the forefront of their minds, the upcoming simultaneous border visits by President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump later this week highlight the pressing nature of immigration issues in today’s political landscape. Biden, last at the southern border in January 2023, faces criticism from Trump and Republicans over his approach to managing migrant crossings into the U.S.
Biden and Trump are making dueling trips to the Mexico border in Texas on Thursday, AP sources say https://t.co/nqKQxVhfnz
President Biden is set to travel to Brownsville, Texas, where the White House has announced he will meet with U.S. Border Patrol agents and law enforcement officials on Thursday. He plans to urge Congress to pass bipartisan border security measures during his visit.
Meanwhile, Trump plans to visit the border town of Eagle Pass, where his campaign has stated he will deliver remarks.
A Monmouth University poll released on Monday, Feb. 26, highlights the national concern over illegal immigration, with six in ten Americans viewing it as a very serious problem. Furthermore, 53 percent of Americans are in favor of building a wall along the southern border, indicating significant public interest in border security measures.
“Illegal immigration has taken center stage as a defining issue this presidential election year. Other Monmouth polling found this to be Biden’s weakest policy area, including among his fellow Democrats,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.
Why major cities are slashing services to pay for the migrant crisis
Bus after bus, major cities far from the border are starting to buckle under budgetary pressures of the nation’s migrant crisis. S&P Global Ratings is monitoring the credit health of New York, Denver and Chicago as they face sheltering tens of thousands of asylum-seekers.
“The issue will destroy New York City,” Mayor Eric Adams said last year.
New York
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, New York City spent $1.5 billion in asylum-seeker costs. In the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2024, the city expects costs to nearly triple.
The city budgeted $4.2 billion to care for incoming migrants, most bused from the border. In fiscal year 2025, that category will increase to $4.9 billion.
To offset costs, Adams announced 5% budget cuts for every city agency, from education to public safety.
“It’s really the cities that are on the hook to cover the majority of the expenses,” said Felix Winnekens, lead analyst of public finance for S&P Global Ratings.
“New York City is in a bit of a unique situation because of its right to shelter,” Winnekens told Straight Arrow News. “So basically, anyone in the city – could be a homeless person, could be a migrant or an asylum-seeker – that needs shelter, the city has to provide shelter. That’s part of a consent decree that the city entered into back in the 1980s.”
Adams has moved to suspend aspects of right-to-shelter while the city currently houses more than 60,000 asylum-seekers.
The state, which supports Adams’ request to suspend, has had to dip into reserves to help shoulder costs, Winnekens said.
Chicago
In Illinois, a battle is brewing between governments. The state, Cook County and Chicago officials estimated it will cost $321 million to support migrant operations through the end of the year.
While the state and Cook County have pledged $250 million, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has reportedly backed away from the city committing to $71 million to cover the shortfall.
“I don’t believe anyone in Chicago is questioning my commitment to this mission,” Johnson said.
According to the city, there are currently more than 12,000 migrants in Chicago shelters as of Feb. 20.
Denver
Denver is facing a $180 million gap in the city budget that must be filled to shelter existing and incoming asylum-seekers.
“Without any federal support, without any work authorization, without changes to policy, we are going to have to make changes to what we can do in terms of our city budget,” Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said earlier this month. “This is a plan for shared sacrifice.”
The Department of Motor Vehicles and Parks and Recreation are the first areas in the city to see cuts, but they won’t be the last, Johnston warned.
In 2023, the city received more migrants per capita than any other city in the nation.
A national problem without a national response
Unlike the federal government, most cities and states are required to pass balanced budgets. When migrant costs surge, money has to be cut from other services to make ends meet.
“We do not see any near-term pressure on the ratings, but I think it’ll be a continued struggle for those cities to find the right balance between cutting expenditures and making ends meet to address the increase in asylum-seeker costs,” Winnekens said.
While Abbott criticized the federal government’s border policies, the Democratic mayors of these affected cities also took issue with the federal response.
“We’re getting no support on this national crisis,” Adams said last year.
With Congress at a perceived impasse, Winnekens said cities could be on their own to shoulder costs at least through the election. While New York, Chicago and Denver have faced the brunt of migration after border towns, S&P is also eyeing Washington, D.C., Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco as asylum-seekers seek out more big cities.
NYC under scrutiny for releasing migrants without bail, migrant debit cards
Manhattan’s district attorney is being criticized by fellow state Democrats over migrants released without bail after attacking police officers. New York City is also getting national attention for giving migrant families debit cards with a monthly allowance.
A Jan. 27 attack on New York police officers landed seven migrants in jail temporarily. Six were released without bail following a decision by District Attorney Alvin Bragg. One migrant remains held on $15,000 bail for allegedly instigating the attack.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, D, and New York State Attorney General Letitia James, D, both criticized Bragg.
“All I can say is that under the laws of New York — the bail laws I was instrumental in changing that allow judges more discretion — certainly an assault on a police officer is bail eligible,” Hochul said. “All I know is that an assault on a police officer means you should be sitting in jail.”
“Bail should’ve been set, it was a serious felony. Why it was not set? I do not know,” James said.
When the migrants were released from custody, they flipped off camera crews as they walked free. While the migrants are ordered to be back in court on Feb. 20, police sources told CBS that four of the six migrants have already caught a bus headed to California.
The District Attorney Bragg stands by his decision as his office continues to investigate the incident.
“There’s no evidence in this case, we are investigating allegations of it,” Bragg said. “This is the beginning of the process, and we will hold those accountable who did these heinous acts.”
Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, D, is defending the decision to give debit cards with a $1,000 monthly limit to some migrants in the city.
“I know that the first brush you look at it and you’re like, ‘Wait you’re giving people cards?’ But once you dig into the numbers you’ll see it’s a small policy shift in a pilot project with 500 people,” Adams said. “If this is successful, we’ll expand it even more.”
The city is losing millions in food prepared for migrants that goes to waste. The debit card program will allegedly save $7.2 million a year by cutting down on that waste. Migrants have to sign a paper saying the debit card will only be spent on food, groceries and baby supplies.
Texas bus company sues Chicago over law targeting buses carrying migrants
Fighting between state and city leaders is leaving migrants out in the cold — literally and figuratively. With the near-constant busing of thousands of migrants from Texas to cities like New York and Chicago, finding warm shelter space is next to impossible. Chicago uses public transportation buses as makeshift warming centers for migrants, many of whom officials said were dropped off with no winter clothing.
“I slept sitting because there is almost no space left,” Angelo Travieso, a migrant sent from Texas to Chicago, said. “The buses are also small, and you practically have to stay inside because of the heating because it is deadly cold outside.”
The volume of migrants being dropped off has led city officials in Chicago to implement rules restricting where and when buses could drop off migrants and to notify the city ahead of time or risk having buses impounded and fines of up to $3,000. The rule rippled across the Windy City, with suburbs and counties surrounding Chicago implementing similar requirements, even putting up signs warning buses carrying migrants to keep driving.
You seem to have no interest in working on bipartisan solutions to the border crisis because that would put an end to your cruel political game, but I am writing to you today hoping to appeal to your humanity.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, D-Illinois
“So when we started learning about these buses dropping in our surrounding counties, counties like Kankakee county, for example, I spoke with Sheriff Downey, who told me that he learned that several buses had dropped in his county at 4:30 in the morning, basically kicked the people off the bus and said, ‘Welcome to Chicago’ and left,” said Ken Briley, Grundy County sheriff.
“You seem to have no interest in working on bipartisan solutions to the border crisis because that would put an end to your cruel political game, but I am writing to you today hoping to appeal to your humanity,” Pritzker wrote.
While Pritzker acknowledged the federal government does need to make meaningful steps in reforming border policy, he concluded there needs to be action “for mercy for the thousands of people who are powerless to speak for themselves.”
In a Jan. 12, 2024, press release, Abbott detailed sending more than 100,000 migrants to cities nationwide, including 30,800 to Chicago since August 2022.
New Jersey officials order cops to ensure immigrants sent from Texas go to NYC
In New Jersey, elected leaders want nothing to do with the ongoing migrant crisis dispute between New York City’s Democratic Mayor Eric Adams and Texas’ Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. However, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is criticizing Abbott’s actions, emphasizing the need for a solution.
“The last thing we need is governors like Greg Abbott doing political stunts,” Murphy said. “This is not a time for stunts. This is a time to figure out a solution that is broad and comprehensive.”
In the last week, Abbott has bused more than 1,000 migrants to New Jersey after Mayor Adams signed an executive order requiring chartered buses from Texas to give 32-hour advance notice when dropping off migrants. The order also limits the time those buses can arrive in the port authority.
Abbott circumvented the executive order and instructed the buses to deliver migrants to New Jersey, specifically in municipalities such as Secaucus, Trenton, and Edison. This was done to enable the migrants to utilize public transportation to reach Gotham.
New Jersey cities — like Secaucus, Trenton and Edison — prompted local leaders to express resource limitations. To ensure migrants do not stay, New Jersey law enforcement officers have been told to make sure migrants board trains for New York City, according to photos obtained by the New York Post.
New Jersey leaders said they don’t have the resources to care for the migrants.
“This is not a local issue,” said Edison Mayor Sam Joshi on “Good Day New York.” “I can’t be any more clear that as a mayor, you know, Edison does not have the ability or means or financial means to support migrants.”
Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the city’s inability to accommodate the influx.
“We don’t have the capacity to house them or to feed them or take care of their medical needs as much as we would like to,” said Gusciora in an interview with CBS Philadelphia.
However, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop expressed a willingness to help migrants.
“At the end of the day, they’re desperate people who need help,” Fulop said. “And we want to do the right thing and be helpful.”
In response, Mayor Adams is suing 17 charter bus companies for $708 million, accusing them of violating state law. He criticized Abbott’s use of migrants as political pawns, labeling it chaotic and inhumane.
New York City has and will always do our part to manage this humanitarian crisis, but we cannot bear the costs of reckless political ploys from the state of Texas alone.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams
According to the lawsuit, since the beginning of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, more than 33,000 migrants have been put on buses and sent to New York City, which is struggling to keep up with the financial burden of caring for the migrants.
“New York City has and will always do our part to manage this humanitarian crisis, but we cannot bear the costs of reckless political ploys from the state of Texas alone,” Mayor Adams said in a statement. “These companies have violated state law by not paying the cost of caring for these migrants, and that’s why we are suing to recoup approximately $700 million already spent to care for migrants sent here in the last two years by Texas.”
Gov. Abbott fired back and said the lawsuit is baseless and should be sanctioned.
“It’s clear that Mayor Adams knows nothing about the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution or about the constitutional right to travel that has been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court,” Abbott said. “Every migrant bused or flown to New York City did so voluntarily, after having been authorized by the Biden Administration to remain in the United States. As such, they have constitutional authority to travel across the country that Mayor Adams is interfering with. If the Mayor persists in this lawsuit, he may be held legally accountable for his violations.”
The lawsuit cites a New York state law that requires anyone who brings a person in need to the state to support them at their own expense. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul defended the lawsuit brought by Mayor Adams. As of Thursday, Jan. 4, the county clerk had not yet reviewed the lawsuit.
Blinken visits Middle East amid fears of war spreading: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 5, 2024
The U.S. Secretary of State is set for another trip to the Middle East as recent developments prompt fears of the war spreading. And an Olympic athlete convicted of murdering his girlfriend has been released from prison. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Jan. 5, 2024
Blinken to visit the Middle East amid fears of war growing in region
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to begin a diplomatic tour of the Middle East on Friday, Jan. 5, as tensions mount in the region amid fears the war between Israel and Hamas could grow into a broader conflict. Blinken’s fourth trip to the region in three months will see him visit nine locations, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the West Bank, and Egypt.
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In Israel, Blinken is expected to press for the increase of humanitarian aid in Gaza, a shift in the Israeli army’s operations, and efforts to release the hostages taken by Hamas, including Americans. U.S. officials said Blinken would also be looking for ally support to diffuse the situation in the Middle East before it escalates any further.
Blinken’s trip to the Middle East comes amid a series of developments in the region this week that have sparked concerns about the war spreading. A drone strike in Beirut on Tuesday, Jan. 2, killed a top Hamas leader, with Hamas, Lebanon, and U.S. officials attributing it to Israel.
The next day, more than 100 people were reportedly killed after explosions in Iran targeted a memorial service for the country’s former top general who was killed by a U.S. drone strike four years ago. On Thursday, Jan. 4, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.
A U.S. drone strike on the headquarters of an Iran-backed militia group in Iraq on Thursday, Jan. 4, killed its commander, who U.S. officials said had been involved in attacks on American personnel. On Wednesday, Jan. 3, the United States, along with a dozen other nations, issued a warning to Iran-backed Houthis to cease their attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
Hours later, the Pentagon said an armed unmanned surface vessel launched from the Houthi-controlled part of Yemen came within “a couple of miles” of U.S. Navy and commercial ships in the Red Sea before detonating.
NYC sues bus companies bringing thousands of migrants from Texas
According to the lawsuit, since the beginning of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, more than 33,000 migrants have been put on buses and sent to New York City, which is struggling to keep up with the financial burden of caring for the migrants.
“New York City has and will always do our part to manage this humanitarian crisis, but we cannot bear the costs of reckless political ploys from the state of Texas alone,” Mayor Adams said in a statement.
Gov. Abbott fired back and said the lawsuit is baseless and should be sanctioned.
“It’s clear that Mayor Adams knows nothing about the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution or about the constitutional right to travel that has been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court,” Abbott said.
The lawsuit cites a New York state law that requires anyone who brings a person in need to the state to support them at their own expense. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul defended the lawsuit brought by Mayor Adams.
Sixth grader killed, 5 others injured in Iowa school shooting
The suspect, a 17-year-old student at the school, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police added that the shooting unfolded on the first day back from winter break, during a breakfast program for middle and high school students. Investigators found improvised explosives at the school. They said the suspect was armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small caliber handgun. A motive for the shooting is not yet known.
South African Olympian who killed his girlfriend released from prison
In 2013, the murder dominated headlines around the world, and Pistorius’ seven-month-long trial was televised. On Friday, Dec. 29, a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections Services said that Pistorius was at home and would be under parole supervision until 2029. He is also required to go to rehabilitation programs and is banned from consuming alcohol and illegal substances.
After initially opposing his release, the Steenkamp family hoped releasing him would bring them some respite as the family faced intense scrutiny as the trial played out in court.
SpaceX sues labor agency after being accused of unlawfully firing employees
SpaceX filed a lawsuit on Thursday, Jan. 4, against a U.S. labor agency that had accused the company of unlawfully firing eight employees who wrote a letter to executives critical of CEO Elon Musk. A regional director for the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint about SpaceX’s actions following the employees’ letter in June of 2022 and said the company violated federal labor laws.
In their letter, the employees claimed that a series of Musk’s social media posts did not align with SpaceX’s diversity and workplace misconduct policies. The employees described Musk as “a distraction and embarrassment,” and they called on executives to condemn Musk’s behavior.
In addition to the firings, the agency’s complaint accuses SpaceX of interrogating other employees about the letter. In response to the complaint, SpaceX sued the labor agency, saying it is “unconstitutionally structured” and calling its actions “unlawful.”
Sweethearts releasing situationship boxes to target Gen Z
With Christmas and New Year’s behind us, most stores have already turned their attention to February and Valentine’s Day. One of the biggest candies for the holiday each year, conversation hearts, is switching things up to target Gen Z consumers and their not fully defined relationships, known as “situationships.“
Spangler, the company behind the Sweethearts candies and their romantic phrases of “love you” and “be mine,” said it will be introducing a limited-edition version of their heart-shaped treats that will have blurred, misprinted sayings that are “as hard to read as Gen Z relationships.”
The SweethearSituationship boxes will be available on the Sweetheart’s website starting Monday, Jan. 8.
South Korean opposition leader stabbed, attacker arrested as cameras record: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 2, 2024
An attacker stabs the leader of South Korea’s opposition party during a press event. And a plane with nearly 400 people on board catches fire while landing in Japan. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.
Political leader in South Korea stabbed on livestream
The leader of South Korea’s opposition Democratic party continues to recover this morning after being wounded in a stabbing that was live-streamed just hours ago. Lee Jae-Myung was stabbed in the neck during a visit to the country’s southern city of Busan.
This type of violence must never be tolerated under any circumstances.
President Yoon Suk Yeol
Lee was touring the site of a proposed airport in South Korea when the video showed the assailant wearing a paper crown with Lee’s name on it approaching him. Police say the suspect asked Lee for an autograph and then stabbed him in the neck with a 7-inch knife.
The video shows the 66-year-old attacker being taken down and restrained by several in the crowd. Photographs from the scene show Lee on the ground with people pressing a handkerchief against his neck. He was taken to a hospital for emergency treatment; health officials said his injuries appeared to be non-life-threatening. Lee narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to Yoon Suk Yeol. The president condemned the attack in a statement from his office.
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“This type of violence must never be tolerated under any circumstances,” Yoon Suk Yeol said.
Lee is currently on trial for bribery allegations. He has denied any wrongdoing. The stabbing suspect’s motives remain under investigation.
Japan earthquake kills at least 48 on New Year’s Day
At least 48 people have been killed after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Japan on New Year’s Day. Rescue teams continue to attempt to reach isolated areas where buildings were toppled, and fires are burning in hopes of finding more survivors.
The Japanese government said there are around 120 cases of people awaiting rescue. The afternoon quake led to tsunami waves striking Japan’s western coast, sending people fleeing for higher ground. The earthquake knocked out power to tens of thousands, damaged rail services, and forced the closure of an airport due to cracks in its runway. Japan’s meteorological agency is reporting roughly 200 aftershocks have been detected and warning more tremors could strike in the coming days following the country’s deadliest earthquake since 2016.
Airplane catches fire on runway in Japan
Also in Japan, a new video, this morning shows a plane with nearly 400 people aboard catching fire as it skids down the runway after local media reports it crashed into another aircraft while landing. The video shows the Japan Airlines plane engulfed in flames at the airport in Tokyo around 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Jan. 2, with firefighters working to extinguish the blaze.
Officials said the plane collided with a Coast Guard aircraft, local media has reported that most of the Coast Guard crew was killed. The airline said all 379 passengers and 12 crew members were safely evacuated.
Sources: Illegal crossings at U.S. border reach historic numbers
Illegal crossings at the southern border saw record high numbers last month, according to sources with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Fox News reported that sources said more than 302,000 migrants were documented attempting to cross the border in December, making it the highest total ever recorded for a single month, as well as the first time the total has surpassed the 300,000 mark.
The historic numbers come as Texas continues to send migrants to cities run by Democratic mayors; Gov. Greg Abbott’s, R, office said the operation is an effort to force the Biden administration to secure the border.
Over the holiday weekend, New Jersey officials said 13 charter buses carrying nearly 450 migrants from Texas on their way to New York City were detoured to New Jersey in an apparent attempt to bypass an executive order passed last week by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, D, limiting when charter bus companies can drop off migrants in the city and requiring 32-hours advanced notice. Officials said once in New Jersey, bus chaperones assisted the migrants in transferring to trains or other buses headed to New York.
Deadly upstate New York New Year’s morning crash being investigated as possible terrorism
Two people are dead and several others injured after a crash outside of a concert venue in Rochester, New York, in the early morning of Monday, Jan. 1. According to law enforcement, the crash is being investigated as possible terrorism.
The collision happened just before 1:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day; police said a Ford Expedition barreled through an Uber that was leaving a parking lot at the Kodak Center, bursting into flames, killing two passengers and injuring the Uber driver. The fiery crash spilled into a nearby crosswalk, hitting pedestrians and two other vehicles; according to police, three people using the crosswalk were hit, one left with life-threatening injuries, and two suffering non-life-threatening injuries.
Law enforcement said the driver of the Ford, a Syracuse man, was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police said he rented the large SUV from the Syracuse airport, and after firefighters were able to put the fire out, they found at least a dozen gas cans in and around the SUV.
The Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading an investigation. While authorities don’t yet know if the crash was terrorism, they said it is being investigated as such until they can determine what happened and why.
‘Steamboat Willie’ Mickey Mouse enters public domain
Straight Arrow News reporter Simone Del Rosario explained that it is the day Disney has dreaded for decades and spent considerable capital trying to avoid. You can find Simone’s full report here on Public Domain Day.