News organizations sue for records related to Uvalde school shooting
A Texas appeals court heard arguments on Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the latest dispute over what materials should be made public from one of the nation’s deadliest mass school shootings. In June last year, a state judge ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to release records related to the shooting at Robb Elementary. The state appealed, arguing the release could hinder investigations.
DPS records include more than 6 million pages of documents and hundreds of hours of body cam footage, one judge on the appeals court panel noted.
Laura Prather, representing the news organizations, said the state’s attempt to block the release was an attempt to cloak the entire file in secrecy forever.
“We’re talking about the most significant law enforcement failure in Texas history … the public interest could not be higher,” Prather said.
On May 24, 2022, 21 people, including 19 students and 2 teachers, were fatally shot at Robb Elementary School. The response by law enforcement to the shooting came under fire almost immediately after the attack.
Critics said it should’ve taken the more than 400 officers on scene less time to confront the 18-year-old shooter. It took officers more than an hour to end the shooting.
Two Uvalde school police officers, including the chief, are charged with child endangerment and abandonment — among other charges — for not taking action that day.
Both officers have pleaded not guilty.
It’s unknown when the appeals court will rule on the case.
‘I don’t want to die’: Newly released 911 calls from inside Uvalde school massacre
Newly released 911 calls and bodycam footage from May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas, shows the scene of the mass school shooting that resulted in the deaths of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School. There was a lengthy legal battle between news organizations and Uvalde officials over the public release of more information from that day.
The media argued that the public deserved to see more as it searched for answers and accountability for what has been described as a “botched” police response. The shooter locked himself in a classroom for more than an hour before officers confronted and killed him.
The new recordings started with the voice of 10-year-old Khloie Torres, who survived the shooting. She called 911 from her classroom, pleading for help.
“I’m in classroom 112, 112, 112 yes ma’am,” Torres said. “Please hurry, there’s a lot of dead bodies… please help, I don’t want to die. My teacher is dead. Oh my God.”
“One of my teachers is dead, miss. (Student in background cries) Be quiet!” Torres continued.
While Torres was inside the classroom, law enforcement was outside. Video shows teachers fearfully being evacuated as officers cleared classrooms and communicated with each other as events unfolded.
Along with the newly released 911 audio and footage, text communications between officers following the shooting were also part of the latest release of information. Many officers expressed fear for their safety as community anger and national frustrations were directed at them in the aftermath.
Former Uvalde school police chief Pete Arredondo has been indicted and arrested on counts of child endangerment and criminal negligence for failing to take proper action during the active shooter situation. However, Arredondo recently told CNN that he believes he is being made a scapegoat for the tragedy.
“I went in there right away with the first officers,” Arredondo said. “And just so you know, I never had a vest on and didn’t even think about that.”
“Do you feel like you guys are being singled out, scapegoated?” Ed Lavandera, a CNN reporter, said.
“By all means,” Arredondo said. “Since the very beginning, sir. I’ve been scapegoated from the very beginning.”
One other school officer is also facing criminal charges. Some victims’ families are calling for additional officers to be charged and have filed lawsuits.
A Justice Department review found that the police response that day was “riddled with failures,” while a report commissioned by the city defended its local police’s response to the mass shooting.
Biden, Trump tout their records in first presidential debate
The first presidential debate is in the books. We have a full recap, as well as what the reaction has been like. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, June 28, 2024.
Biden, Trump tout their records in first presidential debate
Per CNN’s rules, there was no live audience and the candidate’s mics were muted when the other one talked. But that did not stop both from firing back at one another while discussing topics like the economy, abortion, immigration, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and their overall aptitude.
Thursday’s debate began with the presumptive nominees walking on stage, forgoing the traditional handshake.
The first topic was on the economy, with Biden focusing on Trump’s record as president, but seeming to lose his train of thought as his response went on.
“We’d be able to help make sure that all those things we need to do — childcare, elder care, making sure that we continue to strengthen our health care system, making sure that we’re able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I’ve been able to do — with the COVID — excuse me, with dealing with everything we have to do with, look…we finally beat Medicare,” Biden said.
When it came to immigration, Trump highlighted the crisis on the border, calling the Biden administration’s recent legislation limiting asylum access a “nothing deal” and “insignificant.”
“He decided to open up our border, open up our country too,” Trump said. “People that are from prisons, people that are from mental institutions, insane asylum, terrorists. We have the largest number of terrorists coming into our country right now. All terrorists, all over the world, not just in South America, all over the world. They come from the Middle East, everywhere, all over the world. They’re pouring in.”
President Biden fired back, “I’m not saying that no terrorist ever got through but the idea they’re emptying their prisons, where we’re welcoming these people, that’s simply not true, there’s no data to support what he said. Once again, he’s exaggerating. He’s lying.”
On the subject of abortion, Trump commended the Supreme Court for overturning Roe v. Wade while Biden vowed to reinstate it.
“You had Roe v. Wade, and everybody wanted to get it back to the states,” Trump said. “Everybody without exception — Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, conservatives. What happened is we brought it back to the states and the country is now coming together on this issue. It’s been a great thing.”
“It’s been a terrible thing once you’re done,” President Biden rebutted. “The fact is that the vast majority of constitutional scholars supported Roe was decided support it Roe that was this idea that they were all against it. It just ridiculous.”
As for American veterans, Trump claimed he took care of them during his presidency, as Biden took exception to reported comments made by Trump — which the former president denies.
“Our veterans are on the street,” Trump said. “They’re dying because he doesn’t care about our veterans. He doesn’t like the military at all, and he doesn’t care about our veterans. Nobody been worse. I had the highest approval rating for veterans taking care of the VA he has the worst he’s gotten rid of all the things that I approved.”
Biden responded, “I was recently in France for D-Day and I spoke at all about those heroes had died. I went to the World War II cemetery, World War I cemetery, refused to go to he was standing with his four-star general and he told me said, ‘I don’t want to go in there because they’re bunch of losers and suckers.’ My son was not a loser, was not a sucker. You’re the sucker. You’re the loser.”
Trump denied Biden’s claim, calling that a “made-up quote.”
On foreign policy, Trump argued Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan showed America was weak and inspired Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine. Biden called that “malarkey” and warned that Putin must be stopped.
To the war in Gaza, Trump said, “Let Israel finish the job.” Biden remarked that the U.S. is providing Israel with “all the weapons they need and when they need them.”
And while hearing the difference in policies was the goal of the debate, the two presidential candidates did not hold back on personal attacks.
“The only person on this stage who’s a convicted felon is the man I’m looking at right now,” Biden said. “And the fact of the matter is he is what he’s telling you is simply not true.”
Trump responded, “When he talks about a convicted felon, his son as a convicted felon at a very high level, his son has convicted going to be convicted probably numerous other times should have been convicted before, but his justice department let the statute of limitations laps. And the most important things. But he could be a convicted felon as soon as he gets out of office, you could be a convicted felon with all of the things that he’s done.”
When discussing their abilities to handle the presidency at their respective ages — Biden 81 years old and Trump 78 — the two began arguing over their golf game.
As the debate ended, Trump said he would accept the results of the election if it’s “a fair and legal and good election.” In his closing statements, Trump said America is a failing nation under Biden and he’ll make it great again in a second term. Biden, meanwhile, said he made significant progress after what he called was a debacle left by Trump.
The two are set to debate again in September.
Reports: Some Democrats calling for Biden to step aside after debate
The response to the first presidential debate has been swift on both sides. Fact checkers have issued corrections for statements made by both candidates, but it’s President Biden’s performance getting the most attention.
News outlets in their recaps of the debate describe Biden as stumbling and seeming to ramble during his responses. The Biden campaign acknowledged the president came into the debate with a cold, admitting he had a slow start. Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on news programs following the debate to vouch for the president.
At one point, former President Trump questioned whether Biden understood his own response to a question on the border.
Trump replied, “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said either.”
David Axelrod, a top adviser to former President Barack Obama, spoke of the concerns from Democrats during CNN’s post-debate coverage.
“There is a sense of shock at how he came out at the beginning of this debate,” Axelrod said. “How his voice sounded; he seemed a little disoriented. There are going to be discussions about whether he should continue.”
The Trump campaign declared victory after the debate, issuing a statement saying Biden was unable to defend his “disastrous record on the economy and the border.”
Former Uvalde schools police chief facing charges in deadly shooting
In a historic move, the former Uvalde school police chief has been indicted over his role in the slow police response to the 2022 mass shooting at a Texas elementary school that left 19 children and two teachers dead. Former Uvalde School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo was indicted by a grand jury on 10 counts of felony child endangerment or abandonment.
He was briefly booked into the county jail before he was released on bond Thursday, June 27.
A former school officer at Robb Elementary was also indicted on similar charges.
More than two years later, they’re the first officers to face criminal charges in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.
Earlier this year, the Justice Department released a report that said law enforcement officers had many opportunities to reassess their response.
More than 300 law enforcement officers responded to the school that day, some waiting in the hallway outside the classroom, even as the shooter could be heard firing shots inside. It took them 77 minutes to shoot him and put an end to the killing.
Oklahoma’s top educator orders the Bible be taught in schools
Oklahoma’s top education officials have ordered schools to teach the Bible and have a copy in every classroom. In a memo, the state superintendent of public schools said effective immediately, the Bible must be added as part of the curriculum in grades five through 12.
The directive was immediately condemned by civil rights groups and supporters of the separation of church and state, with some calling it an abuse of power and a violation of the Constitution.
Oklahoma law already explicitly allows Bibles in the classroom and lets teachers use them in instruction. It’s not clear if the state has the authority to mandate that schools teach it.
This is the latest church versus state case in public schools. On June 19, a Louisiana law was passed requiring the Ten Commandments be shown in all public school classrooms, another action civil rights groups are looking to stop.
NFL fined $4.7 billion in ‘Sunday Ticket’ anti-trust case
The NFL has been ordered to pay nearly $5 billion in damages after a jury found it broke anti-trust laws. The jury said the league conspired with DirecTV and network partners to increase the price of the exclusive “Sunday Ticket” package.
The lawsuit claimed the NFL broke antitrust laws by selling its “Sunday Ticket” package at an inflated price and restricted competition by only offering it on a satellite provider.
Survey: Texas promised armed guards at every school, most don’t have them
In 2022, a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, killed 19 kids and two teachers. State lawmakers said they were committed to never letting it happen again. Last year, the Texas Legislature passed a law that in part required an armed officer at every public school in the state. On Thursday, June 13, a Hearst Newspapers analysis found that nine months after the law was passed, most of the schools in the state have not implemented the requirement.
The survey found that of 100 random school districts around Texas, 52 had adopted an exemption in the law to avoid the armed guard requirement known as the “Good Cause Exception,” which allows for a district to opt-out of the requirement if it lacked funding or personnel.
Some district leaders that didn’t adopt the requirement claim that lawmakers did not provide enough money to offset the costs of the added security measures.
One superintendent noted that the cost to hire an officer cost his district $80,000 while the state only gave the district $18,500 to cover the added security expense.
Meanwhile, some districts that complied with the law are now in debt because of the added requirement and others have had to raise money to hire security locally. Several district leaders said that they were already struggling financially because of stagnant funding and inflation.
State Sen. Robert Nichols, R, who helped pass the legislation, admits that lawmakers “set a standard that is not attainable.” However, he blamed the problem on the lack of police officers in the state. Still, he thinks the law is progress.
“I think this was a success because it spurred some districts to hire additional security, even if most weren’t in full compliance.”
When asked about those who used the Good Cause Exclusion, he said, “What would you do? Shut down those campuses and not educate the kids?”
Under the exemption, school districts must still adopt alternative plans, like rotating officers between campuses or showing intent to hire more officers. Another option is to train and arm school staff, which some school districts have done.
Despite the lack of compliance with armed guards, even if all districts did have armed officers, the data is inconclusive. School safety experts said that there is no comprehensive research on whether or not armed guards prevent or minimize school shootings.
Uvalde to pay $2 million to families of victims of Robb Elementary shooting
The families of victims of the Robb Elementary School mass shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers have been awarded $2 million from the city of Uvalde, Texas. The settlement comes nearly two years to the day that a gunman opened fire at the Uvalde elementary school on May 24, 2022.
The $2 million paid out to families comes after heavy criticism of responding officers, who reportedly waited 77 minutes before entering the school and eventually killing the gunman. During the press conference on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, the attorney representing the families criticized the lack of punishment for any police officers.
“Had the law enforcement agencies followed generally accepted practices… lives would have been saved and people would have survived,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said to reporters at the time.
The money from the city will now go to families of 17 of the children killed and two who survived. The city has also agreed to enhance officer training and mental health services for families, victims and residents. In addition, Uvalde will create a memorial with the help of the families and a day of recognition for the victims.
“Pursuing further legal action against the City could have plunged Uvalde into bankruptcy, something that none of the families, were interested in as they look for the community to heal,” the families’ attorneys said in a statement.
Biden, Trump set for historic presidential rematch after clinching nominations
President Biden and former President Trump clinch their parties’ nominations, setting up a rematch for the White House. And a rocket explodes in Japan just seconds after liftoff. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, March 13, 2024.
Biden, Trump clinch nominations to set up presidential rematch
This year’s race is noted for being the first presidential rematch since 1956 and notably the first between two individuals who have both held the presidency since 1912. Despite the primary calendar not even being more than halfway complete, Biden and Trump have amassed the necessary delegates to become the presumptive nominees, with victories in the Georgia, Mississippi, and Washington state primaries on Tuesday solidifying their positions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ion8fNfbe-U
President Biden, in a statement, reflected on his motivations for running four years ago and the support he has received, saying, “Four years ago, I ran for president because I believed we were in a battle for the soul of this nation. Because of the American people, we won that battle, and now I am honored that the broad coalition of voters representing the rich diversity of the Democratic Party across the country have put their faith in me once again to lead our party — and our country — in a moment when the threat Trump poses is greater than ever.”
Former President Trump posted a video on social media, dubbing Tuesday, “a great day of victory,” and criticized Biden’s presidency, saying, “But now we have to get back to work because we have the worst president in the history of our country, his name is Joe Biden, sometimes referred to as Crooked Joe Biden and he must be defeated. Our nation is failing. We’re a nation that is in serious decline.”
Trump also emphasized the importance of the upcoming election, stating, “So, we’re not going to take time to celebrate. We’ll celebrate in eight months when the election is over. November 5th, I believe will go down as the most important day in the history of our country.”
Both candidates will officially receive their party’s nomination during the summer conventions. The Republican National Convention is scheduled to take place in Milwaukee in July, followed by the Democratic Convention in Chicago in August.
Putin says Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if threatened
Just days before Russia’s presidential election, in which Vladimir Putin is widely expected to secure another six years in power, the Russian president has declared the country’s readiness to deploy nuclear weapons if its statehood, sovereignty, or independence are threatened.
In an interview aired Wednesday, March 13, on Russia’s state television, Putin issued a warning to the United States, stating that sending troops to Ukraine would be perceived as a significant escalation. He asserted that Russia will achieve its objectives in Ukraine and expressed openness to negotiations, despite U.S. claims that Putin is not prepared for serious discussions on the issue.
The White House announced on Tuesday, March 12, that the U.S. will provide an additional $300 million in military aid to Ukraine. This increase in support comes as a result of savings achieved in contracts with weapons manufacturers.
House expected to vote on TikTok bill
Today, the House is set to vote on a bill that could significantly impact the future of TikTok in America. The legislation demands that ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, must sell the social media platform within six months or face a potential ban in the U.S.
In preparation for today’s vote, House members received a classified briefing on Tuesday from the FBI, Justice Department, and intelligence officials regarding the app. President Joe Biden has expressed his readiness to sign the bill into law if it successfully passes through Congress.
Uvalde police chief resigning after investigation over school shooting response
Rodriguez’s resignation letter made no mention of the school shooting, instead focusing on the next steps in his career. This move comes as the investigation into the law enforcement response reveals that Uvalde police officers at the scene adhered to policy and were not found guilty of serious misconduct. Despite this, nearly 400 law enforcement officers, including Uvalde police, waited more than an hour to confront the gunman after the shooting began.
The city’s findings are in line with a Department of Justice report, which underscored poor communication among officers and inadequate training. In the aftermath, five officers present during the incident, among them two Department of Public Safety officers and the former school police chief, were dismissed from their positions. Yet, no criminal charges have been brought against any of the officers involved.
Japanese rocket explodes seconds after takeoff
A rocket launched by the Japanese startup Space One exploded seconds after liftoff, marking a setback for the company’s ambitions. The incident occurred in a mountainous region of central Japan at approximately 11 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Videos captured the rocket’s ascent before it was engulfed in flames and smoke just five seconds into the flight.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene to extinguish a fire sparked by the falling debris from the explosion. According to a Space One official, the rocket likely self-destructed following the detection of a malfunction by its systems.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident. Space One had aimed to distinguish itself as the first private company to successfully place a satellite into orbit.
Dallas Seavey wins record 6th Iditarod despite moose penalty
In a mix of triumph and controversy, the 2024 Iditarod sled dog race concluded with Dallas Seavey making history by securing his sixth victory in the grueling 1,000-mile Alaska race. Seavey completed the race in 9 days, 2 hours, 16 minutes and 8 seconds.
However, this year’s race was not without its challenges for Seavey. He encountered a significant setback when his team tangled with a moose on the trail, leading to a two-hour penalty. The altercation resulted in an injury to one of his dogs. Seavey, in response, shot and killed the moose but faced penalties for failing to properly gut the animal according to race regulations.
This year’s Iditarod was marred by the death of three sled dogs, which prompted calls from an animal rights organization to end the running of the storied race.
Seavey first claimed the Iditarod title in 2012 at the age of 25, making him the youngest winner in the history of the race. His latest victory adds another remarkable chapter to his storied career in sled dog racing.
DOJ: Most significant ‘failure’ in Uvalde shooting was no police urgency
The U.S. Justice Department released a nearly 600-page report on how law enforcement handled the active shooter situation at the Texas school, renewing criticism of law enforcement’s response. The report, released Jan. 18, states that police should have immediately confronted the gunman but failed to do so.
On May 24, 2022, 19 children and two teachers were gunned down at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The nation watched school surveillance and police bodycam footage over the course of one hour.
The video shows the gunman enter the school. Three minutes later, officers are seen in the hallways with weapons drawn.
There were 376 law enforcement on scene. Around 77 minutes later, police stormed the classroom, ending one of the worst school massacres in history.
“The most significant failure was that responding officers should have immediately recognized the incident as an active shooter situation, using the resources and equipment that were sufficient to push forward immediately and continuously toward the threat until entry was made into classrooms 111/112 and the threat was eliminated,” the DOJ report says.
The Columbine High School mass shooting in 1999 taught law enforcement that waiting costs lives. Since then, standard protocol in active shooter training has emphasized confronting the gunman.
The failure to do that in Uvalde resulted in a handful of officers being fired, including the school’s police chief, Pete Arredondo. It also resulted in nationwide condemnation.
Since the shooting, there have been legislative hearings and reviews at the state level over how police responded that day. The comprehensive report from the federal level shares a similar conclusion as other reviews: There should have been better communication, better training and a swifter response. The DOJ called Uvalde Police’s response “a failure.”
Winnie-the-Pooh advises Texas students on active shooter situations
Parents and teachers in the Dallas, Texas, area are expressing their concern after schoolchildren as young as 4 years old were given Winnie-the-Pooh cartoon books advising them on what to do should an active shooter situation occur on their campus. Known as the “Stay Safe” book, it was sent home with children in pre-K and elementary classes, bearing a subtitle that reads: “If there is danger, let Winnie-the-Pooh and his crew show you what to do: run hide fight.”
“Recently a booklet was sent home so parents could discuss with their children how to stay safe in such cases,” a spokesperson for the Dallas Independent School District said. “Unfortunately, we did not provide parents any guide or context. We apologize for the confusion and are thankful to parents who reached out to assist us in being better partners.”
According to the FBI’s safety resources, the bureau recommends utilizing run-hide-fight tactics in the event of an active shooter incident, saying that doing so will “prepare and empower” individuals to survive such a situation.
Winnie-the-Pooh along with other characters from the Hundred Acre Wood are featured in the “Stay Safe” book advising children on survival strategies during a school shooting. This includes a page telling kids: “If danger is near, do not fear, hide like Pooh does until the police appear.”
It also recommends in other passages that children “run like Rabbit” if it is safe to do so, or “fight with all your might” if confronted by a gunman, accompanied with pictures of Kanga and Roo donning boxing gloves.
The book was produced by a law enforcement consulting firm in Houston and has no affiliation with any of Disney’s Winnie-the-Pooh media, as the A.A. Milne character became public domain in 2022.
Within the book’s pages is an indicator that it “was created in collaboration with active police officers and classroom teachers” to “teach and reinforce concepts of the run, hide, fight format, recommended by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security” in an “age-appropriate format.”
One local teacher called the book “terribly disturbing,” while Cindy Campos, a mother with children in the district says she’s afraid this literature indicates school shootings are being accepted as a part of life and “normalized.”
“It’s kind of like a slap in the face,” Campos said. “‘Hey! It’s normal now. Have a book about it.’”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom also joined in the criticism, writing in a tweet that “Winnie the Pooh is now teaching Texas kids about active shooters because the elected officials do not have the courage to keep our kids safe and pass common sense gun safety laws.”
Meanwhile the book’s distribution in Texas comes during the same week in which the state marked the one-year anniversary of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, the third-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.
Texas has been home to five of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in the country over the past eight years, and as one of the states with the fewest gun restrictions in the nation, it was assigned a Gifford Law Center gun legislation scorecard grade of an “F.”
Investigation still underway one year after Uvalde school shooting: May 24 rundown
The one-year anniversary of the school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, comes amid an ongoing investigation into the response by law enforcement during the incident. And Netflix is implementing a password-sharing crackdown in the United States that is set to cost users allowing others “outside their household” on their account an extra $7.99 per month. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
Uvalde school shooting anniversary comes amid ongoing investigation
It has been one year since the school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman took the lives of 19 children and 2 teachers. In the aftermath of this tragedy, the release of security camera footage and police body cam footage from that day has prompted questions over the response by law enforcement.
The video footage captures the gunman carrying an AR-15-style rifle, wandering through the hallways after entering the school through an unlocked side door. He then enters a classroom where the victims were located, as nearly 400 law enforcement officers from 23 different agencies responded to the incident, with many seen in the hallways waiting. However, an hour passed before any action was taken by law enforcement. It was an off-duty Border Patrol agent who eventually took down the gunman after an hour and 14 minutes.
Steve McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety described the incident as a botched police response and an “abject failure,” stating that the gunman could have been confronted three minutes after entering the school instead of an hour passing. Several officials either resigned or were fired from their positions due to the failed response, including Pete Arredondo, the school district police chief. The school’s superintendent, Hal Harrell, also retired following the shooting.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice launched its own investigation, conducting interviews with over 200 individuals so far. The DOJ has stated that their findings will be released in the coming months, offering further insight into the incident.
DeSantis poised for potential presidential campaign announcement
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has generated significant buzz and speculation with a recent video posted on Twitter by his wife, Casey DeSantis. The caption, “America is worth the fight — every single time,” has fueled rumors that this may serve as a teaser for an upcoming official launch of his presidential campaign, expected to be announced today.
“Big if true,” tweeted Casey DeSantis on Tuesday in response to a Fox News article titled “Florida Gov Ron DeSantis to announce candidacy for president Wednesday on Twitter: sources.”
People close to the governor have suggested that an official bid for the White House is imminent, with the announcement anticipated to take place Wednesday evening, May 24, on Twitter. In a surprising twist, the social media platform’s CEO Elon Musk is expected to engage in a live audio conversation with DeSantis, adding an unexpected element to the highly anticipated announcement.
“If DeSantis runs against Biden in 2024, then DeSantis will easily win – he doesn’t even need to campaign,” Musk had tweeted back in July of last year.
If DeSantis does enter the race, he will join an already crowded field of Republican candidates vying for the party’s nomination. Among them is former President Donald Trump, who currently holds a prominent position as a frontrunner in the Republican primary race.
South Carolina Senate passes bill restricting abortions at six weeks
The South Carolina state Senate approved a bill that would impose significant restrictions on abortions, prohibiting most procedures after approximately six weeks of pregnancy. The bill’s passage sets the stage for South Carolina to join the ranks of Georgia and North Dakota, which have already implemented similar six-week abortion bans.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has already made a commitment to signing the bill into law, aiming to reinstate a ban that was previously deemed unconstitutional by the state’s highest court due to privacy concerns. McMaster said in a tweet after the vote that he looks “forward to signing this bill into law as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, shortly after the bill’s passage, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic said on Twitter, “We have just one thing to say to the state of South Carolina: We’ll see you in court.”
The decision by the South Carolina State Senate to advance this legislation reflects a broader trend across the United States, with approximately 20 states having implemented various forms of abortion restrictions or outright bans since the landmark Roe v. Wade decision was overturned nearly a year ago. Last week, North Carolina’s legislature also passed a 12-week abortion ban, further highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding reproductive rights in the country.
Target adjusts LGBTQ Pride Collection in response to safety concerns
Target, a major retail chain, has made the decision to remove certain items from its LGBTQ pride-themed line of clothing and products. The move comes as a response to reported confrontations from customers and concerns raised by employees regarding safety.
While Target did not specify which specific items would be removed from its collection, reports indicate that the company has taken steps to de-escalate potential conflicts with customers in some Southern states by relocating the pride collection from the front of its stores to the back.
The “Pride Collection” was introduced by Target earlier this month in anticipation of the upcoming Pride Month celebrations in June. However, the retail giant has encountered incidents involving customer confrontations, prompting them to take action to address safety concerns.
Julian Assange awaits extradition as Australian PM criticizes detainment
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange remains in custody, awaiting extradition to the United States, where he faces potential imprisonment for up to 175 years in relation to the WikiLeaks scandal that brought to light classified U.S. military records. Assange’s father recently expressed optimism about the progress made in the efforts to secure his son’s release, stating that they are on the “cusp of success.”
Assange has already spent over 1,500 days in detention in Britain. However, his continued detainment has drawn criticism from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, having voiced concerns that the prolonged imprisonment of Assange, an Australian citizen, is excessive and that he is “concerned about Mr. Assange’s mental health.”
Netflix to implement password sharing fees in the US
Changes are coming to the popular streaming service Netflix, as it rolls out its password sharing fees in the United States. For those who have been sharing their Netflix account password with friends or family members “outside their household,” that practice will now incur an additional cost of $7.99 per month. The introduction of these fees has been expected for some time as Netflix takes steps to address account sharing practices.
“A Netflix account is for use by one household,” said Netflix in a statement. “Everyone living in that household can use Netflix wherever they are — at home, on the go, on holiday — and take advantage of new features like Transfer Profile and Manage Access and Devices.”
In recent weeks, Netflix has been notifying its customers about the upcoming changes via email. The streaming giant plans to identify shared accounts by tracking the Internet Protocol addresses associated with each user. By analyzing this data, Netflix aims to pinpoint instances of password sharing and charge the respective accounts accordingly.
The U.S. faces a potential COVID surge; a government shutdown likely to be avoided; Paul Pelosi’s attacker appears in court; and JFK documents are set to be declassified. These stories and more highlight our morning rundown for Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022.
Senate to vote on funding bill to avert shutdown
There was a House vote late Wednesday to avoid a partial government shutdown. A short-term funding bill was passed in the House. The Senate is expected to vote on it as early as today.
It would give the government a one-week extension to continue debating how to allocate government spending in 2023. If the Senate passes the short term funding bill, Congress will have until Dec. 23 to iron out details of a roughly $1.7 trillion spending package.
White House renews free at-home COVID tests
From December to February is when Americans are most at risk of viral infections, including the flu and COVID-19.
The White House is unveiling contingency plans today for any potential surge in COVID cases. That includes sending out free at-home tests, putting personnel and equipment on standby for hospitals and nursing homes, and encouraging more people to get booster shots.
As of now, the White House could run out of federal funding for COVID-19 as early as next month. That’s when insurance companies or uninsured Americans would be responsible to pay for vaccines or testing.
Democratic state Sen. Roland Gutierrez represents the district that includes Uvalde. Today he will give lawmakers his opinion on systemic failures of law enforcement’s response to the mass shooting. He will also discuss gun laws that he says make school shootings possible.
Survivors, victims’ families and local officials will also have the opportunity to appear at today’s public hearing.
Pelosi’s attacker targeted Hunter Biden, Tom Hanks
The man who allegedly broke into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home and assaulted her husband Paul Pelosi was in a San Francisco courtroom Wednesday. During a preliminary hearing, David Depape said he was also planning to go after President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and actor Tom Hanks.
“At this time, as I’ve already said a month ago, this was clearly a planned and calculated act. The outcome was what I expected, which is that we filed the charges based on what evidence we had. And that we had sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed these acts,” San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said.
In court, police who were on scene that day took the stand. One police officer held the hammer that police say was used in the attack.
There was also body camera footage played at the hearing, but it is still not available to the public.
DOJ charges 7 with smuggling us tech to Russia
Millions of dollars worth of U.S. equipment and technology has been sent to Russia’s military, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
The DOJ arrested seven individuals in the scheme — five Russians and two U.S. nationals.
They allegedly conspired to violate U.S. sanctions, illegally obtaining military grade equipment, and shipping it to Russia both before and after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine this year.
8,000 JFK documents to be declassified
Nearly 60 years since President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, the National Archives will release once-classified information related to the president’s death and assassin Lee-Harvey Oswald.
On Thursday, 8,000 documents will become declassified — something conspiracy theorists have been wanting for decades. But officials say it might be a let down, saying there’s no obvious bombshells in the material.
Still, the new information will likely reignite the debate on why the government can withhold information about a president’s murder.