The Chicago White Sox canceled their July 4 postgame fireworks and announced plans to hold a moment of silence on Monday after a shooting in Highland Park, Ill., killed at least six people during an Independence Day parade. “Our hearts are with the Highland Park community,” the team wrote in a statement. “The entire Chicago…
Author: Zach Schonfeld
Ukraine, Zelensky wish US a happy July 4th, release video of military band playing ‘Star-Spangled Banner’
Ukrainian officials including President Volodymyr Zelensky wished the U.S. a happy Independence Day on Monday as the nation fights for its own independence against the ongoing Russian invasion. “I appreciate the leadership assistance of the United States in Ukraine’s defending of common values — freedom, democracy and independence,” Zelensky tweeted, wishing Americans and President Biden…
Kentucky attorney general asks state Supreme Court to reinstate abortion ban
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron (R) asked the state’s Supreme Court on Sunday to reinstate an abortion ban that briefly went into effect following the overturning of Roe v. Wade but was later blocked by a lower court. A judge on Thursday had temporarily blocked the implementation of two state laws, which would effectively ban…
Missouri state rep resigns after federal conviction for COVID-19 fraud scheme
A Missouri state lawmaker resigned on Friday after a jury found her guilty on 22 counts for fraudulently accepting hundreds of thousands of pandemic-era federal stimulus dollars and other offenses. Missouri state Rep. Tricia Derges (R) was convicted on Tuesday after she applied for nearly $900,000 in CARES Act funds for what she said were…
State Department: IDF gunfire likely killed Palestinian journalist; bullet analysis inconclusive
Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was likely shot and killed unintentionally by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), but a U.S. investigation could not reach a definitive conclusion, the State Department said on Monday. Abu Akleh, a widely known Al Jazeera correspondent, was killed on May 11 in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank…
City of Orlando apologizes for Fourth of July message following backlash
The City of Orlando, Fla., apologized on Saturday for its Independence Day message that declared the nation was in “strife” and questioned why people would want to celebrate the holiday in the city’s weekly newsletter. “A lot of people probably don’t want to celebrate our nation right now, and we can’t blame them,” the Friday…
First probable monkeypox case reported in Iowa
Iowa health officials reported the state’s first probable case of monkeypox on Friday, as infectious disease experts warn the country is at risk of losing control of the disease. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services said they are conducting contact tracing to identify those who were in direct close contact with the patient….
Akron police release footage of officers firing barrage of bullets at Jayland Walker
Authorities released body camera footage on Sunday showing Akron Police Department officers firing a barrage of bullets at a Black man they were pursuing over an unspecified traffic violation early Monday morning. The police killing of 25-year-old Jayland Walker has sparked protests in the city alleging police brutality. Police said at a press conference that…
Kirby defends Biden tweet on high gas prices after Bezos criticism
John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, on Sunday pushed back on Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s tweet the prior day bashing President Biden for calling on “companies running gas stations” to lower their prices. “Bring down the price you are charging at the pump to reflect the cost you’re paying for the…
DHS secretary: Roe reversal ‘heightened the threat environment’
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on Sunday that federal authorities have seen a “heightened threat environment” during the past several months that has only increased with the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn the constitutional right to abortion. “We are very mindful that the Supreme Court’s decision in reversing and overturning…