U.S.Yahoo NewsWhat's next for Derek Chauvin?
After being led away in handcuffs from the courtroom following his conviction in the May 2020 murder of George Floyd, former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin was transported Tuesday to the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Oak Park Heights in Stillwater, about 25 miles east of downtown Minneapolis. Chauvin is being held apart from the general prison population for his own safety in what facility officials call "administrative segregation" — alone in a single cell. Chauvin was found guilty on Tuesday on all three counts: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
U.S.Yahoo NewsThe Postal Service is running a 'covert operations program' that monitors Americans' social media posts
The law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service has been quietly running a program that tracks and collects Americans' social media posts, including those about planned protests, according to a document obtained by Yahoo News. The details of the surveillance effort, known as iCOP, or Internet Covert Operations Program, have not previously been made public. The work involves having analysts trawl through social media sites to look for what the document describes as “inflammatory” postings and then sharing that information across government agencies.
U.S.Associated PressMcCloskeys want grand jury to take a new look at their case
A St. Louis husband and wife facing criminal charges for waving guns at racial injustice protesters last summer have told a judge they are concerned about Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner's handling of their case and asked that it be sent back to the grand jury. “Due to the bias of Kim Gardner's office, we believe the grand jury process was tainted and should be reviewed and revisited,” Joel Schwartz, the attorney for Mark and Patricia McCloskey, said in an email to The Associated Press on Wednesday. The couple said protesters broke down an iron gate and ignored a “No Trespassing” sign.
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Psaki calls Ohio fatal police shooting of teen who appeared to attack others ‘tragic’
White House press secretary Jen Psaki called the Ohio police shooting of a 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant 'tragic' and said it will fuel the White House to continue addressing 'systemic racism.
WorldReutersSearch for missing Indonesian submarine reveals oil spill
JAKARTA (Reuters) -Indonesian rescuers searching for a submarine that went missing with 53 people on board found an oil spill on Wednesday near where the vessel dived, authorities said. The 44-year-old submarine, KRI Nanggala-402, was conducting a torpedo drill in waters north of the island of Bali but failed to relay the results as expected, a navy spokesman said. An aerial search found an oil spill near the submarine's dive location and two navy vessels with sonar capability have been deployed to assist in the search, the Defense Ministry said.
U.S.AxiosDerek Chauvin held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is being held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in George Floyd's death on Tuesday, according to the New York Times. Why it matters: Chauvin, who is still awaiting sentencing, is being held in the isolation wing of Minnesota's only maximum-security prison because the state's prison system fears for his safety. The cells in the prison's isolation wing are small and only contain a bench with a mattress pad, a toilet and sink, and a tiny shower and are constantly monitored by cameras as well as a guard inspection every 30 minutes.
U.S.The WeekNew Florida law makes tearing down statues punishable by up to 15 years in prison. It also lessens liability for ramming protesters with a car.
New legislation signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) earlier this week increases criminal penalties for crimes committed during protests. DeSantis called it "the strongest anti-looting, anti-rioting, pro-law-enforcement piece of legislation in the country," MSNBC reports, and it may be part of a trend in Republican-led states, The New York Times writes. One of the most notable aspects of the law is that tearing down monuments, including Confederate ones, is now a second-degree felony offense, meaning anyone who is charged with doing so would face a maximum of 15 years in prison, the Times reports.
U.S.Associated PressGrizzly victim knew risks of living with bears, friends say
Grizzly bears are part of life in the gateway communities bordering Yellowstone National Park, and backcountry snowmobile guide Charles “Carl” Mock knew well the risks that come with working, hiking and fishing among the fear-inspiring carnivores, his friends said. Bear spray residue found on Mock's clothing suggested he tried to ward off last week's attack using a canister of the Mace-like deterrent, considered an essential item in the backcountry. While some outsiders questioned the inherent perils of such a lifestyle in the wake of Mock's death, those who knew him said he accepted the risk as trade-off for time spent in a wilderness teeming with elk, deer, wolves and other wildlife.
U.S.Raleigh News and Observer21-year-old paratrooper died in jump from Blackhawk helicopter at Fort Bragg, Army says
The 21-year-old Army paratrooper who died Monday at Fort Bragg was killed when something went wrong during a helicopter jump, according to the 82nd Airborne Division. “Jenks was conducting a static-line jump from a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter when she suffered the fatal injury,” the 82nd Airborne reported. An investigation is underway, Army officials said.
U.S.NextSharkPakistani College Student Survives ACID Attack Outside Her NY Home
A Pakistani woman nearly died after falling victim to an acid attack just outside her home in Elmont, New York last month. Hofstra University student Nafiah Fatima, 21, was helping her mother unload a car at their Arlington Avenue residence when the male suspect suddenly appeared around 8:15 p.m. on March 17. In a neighbor's surveillance video, the suspect can be seen running up to Fatima while she was in her driveway, according to NBC New York.
PoliticsArchitectural DigestHouse Call: Embracing My Outdoor Persona
We're getting outdoorsy on Clever this week Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
PoliticsThe WeekMurkowski to join Democrats in confirming DOJ nominee despite fierce GOP opposition
Vanita Gupta was never really in danger of being blocked from serving as associate attorney general (the Justice Department's no. 3 position), so long as she had the backing of all 50 Senate Democrats. In the end, though, Gupta's confirmation is set to move forward, and Vice President Kamala Harris won't be needed to cast a tie-breaking vote. On Wednesday, Murkowski joined Democrats in voting to advance Gupta's confirmation, and she said she'll stay the course when the final vote comes around.
U.S.Associated PressMan pumping gas at convenience store killed, shooter dead
A man opened fire at a convenience store in Pennsylvania early Wednesday, apparently at random, killing a truck driver who was pumping gas and wounding another man before taking his own life, officials said. The man had first shot at a car on a highway several miles away before heading to the convenience store around 4:45 a.m., according to Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin. The woman in the car told authorities she didn't realize her car had been hit with a bullet until she stopped at a Wawa store in Upper Macungie Township, outside Allentown.
PoliticsBusiness InsiderTed Cruz says Biden's comments about the Derek Chauvin verdict are 'grounds for a mistrial'
Cruz said Tuesday that Biden's comments on Derek Chauvin provided potential grounds for a mistrial. Cruz said that Biden was providing "a possible basis on appeal to challenge any guilty conviction." President Joe Biden's comments about the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer who was convicted of murdering George Floyd, provided potential "grounds for a mistrial," Sen. Ted Cruz said on Tuesday.
U.S.NextSharkThai Woman’s Cat Allegedly Killed by Family in Brooklyn
A Thai chef is grieving over the loss of her cat as a result of a vicious attack by a family in Brooklyn on April 4. The incident reportedly started when a 12-year-old boy allegedly pulled the leash of "Ponzu," who was being walked by Chanan Aksornnan and her boyfriend at McCarren Park around 5 p.m. The boy allegedly snatched and pulled Ponzu's leash up into the air before dropping him.
U.S.National ReviewBorder Patrol Apprehends Nearly 150 Undocumented Migrants In Tractor-Trailer
Border Patrol agents in the Laredo sector of Texas discovered 149 undocumented migrants in a tractor-trailer on April 16, U.S. Customs and Border Protection disclosed on Monday. The tractor-trailer approached a checkpoint on Interstate Highway 35 and agents opened the sealed cargo area to find 149 individuals locked inside, according to a CBP press release. The migrants were determined to be in the U.S. illegally from Central American countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela, El Salvador, Peru, and Ecuador.
WorldAssociated PressUK leader denies breaking lobbying rules with texts to Dyson
The British government said Wednesday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson did nothing wrong when he exchanged text messages with a wealthy industrialist and promised he would “fix” the tax rules for him. The BBC reported that it had seen messages between Johnson and James Dyson, the vacuum cleaner inventor and home products magnate. The texts were sent in March 2020, when the coronavirus was sweeping across Britain and the government, fearing the health service would be overwhelmed, was trying to secure more ventilators.
U.S.The IndependentAttorney General Merrick Garland announces probe into Minneapolis police in wake of Chauvin verdict
Merrick Garland has announced a probe into the Minneapolis Police Department after former officer Derek Chauvin was convicted for murdering George Floyd, according to a report. The investigation will be carried out by the Department of Justice, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday, citing an anonymous official. It follows the conviction of the former Minneapolis officer for the murder of Mr Floyd in Minneapolis on 25 May 2020, causing demonstrations and calls for reform of police departments throughout the US.
U.S.Business InsiderThe lawyer who pointed his gun at Black Lives Matter protesters in St. Louis is considering running for Senate
Mark McCloskey and his wife Patricia displayed their guns as BLM protesters passed their house last year. McCloskey told Politico on Tuesday he's considering running for Senate in 2022. A grand jury indicted the couple on charges of exhibiting guns and evidence tampering last October.
PoliticsUSA TODAYFact check: President Biden and Kamala Harris did not fly aboard Air Force One together
The claim: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris road Air Force One together, violating a rule In a recent Facebook post, an image shows both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris exiting Air Force One. "The rule is the Prez, and the Veep never travel together, for obvious reasons," said the March 20, 2021, post. "Then why the hell is this happening?
U.S.Raleigh News and ObserverFuture UNC-CH trustee’s ties to college sports gambling concern some board members
An executive of sports-betting company DraftKings Inc. is set to become a new trustee at UNC-Chapel Hill, which concerns some UNC System Board of Governors members. Malcolm Turner is the head of strategy and corporate development for DraftKings, one of the world's leading online fantasy sports companies that also allows fans to bet on NCAA college sports. “I question whether that is the most appropriate relationship to have with the UNC Board of Trustees or any university with a sports program,” Art Pope said at the governance committee meeting Wednesday about the university trustee appointments.
U.S.Business Insider'Did I strike a nerve?': Reps. Val Demings and Jim Jordan get into a heated screaming match over policing
Reps. Val Demings and Jim Jordan engaged in a heated shouting match over policing. The argument came hours before a jury convicted Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. Democratic Rep. Val Demings and Republican Rep. Jim Jordan got into a shouting match about policing in the US on Tuesday, just hours before a jury convicted the former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.
U.S.Miami HeraldPretty Ricky singer in critical condition after being shot at South Florida bowling alley
A disturbing, graphic video circulating on social media Wednesday on Hollywood Unlocked says that Pretty Ricky singer Baby Blue was shot. In the video, a man who looks like the music star is seen lying on a patterned carpet. A sign that reads Sparez is close by.
BusinessReutersU.S. senators question Apple and Google on app store dominance
A panel of U.S. Senators questioned officials from Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google on Wednesday about the dominance of their mobile app stores and whether the companies abuse their power at the expense of smaller competitors. Amy Klobuchar, the top Senate Democrat on antitrust issues, said Apple and Google can use their power to "exclude or suppress apps that compete with their own products" and "charge excessive fees that affect competition." App makers like music streaming service Spotify Technology SA and dating services giant Match Group, which owns the Tinder app, have long complained that mandatory revenue sharing for sales of digital goods and strict inclusion rules set by Apple's App Store for iPhones and iPads, along with Google's Play store for Android devices, amount to anticompetitive behavior.
PoliticsBusiness Insider'Hell no, don't raise them!': Manchin dismisses GOP-favored gas taxes and user fees to pay for infrastructure
Sen. Joe Manchin opposed increasing the gas tax or levying new charges to pay for infrastructure. "Hell no, don't raise them!" he told reporters on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. Gas taxes and new user fees are measures Republicans floated in recent days to cover infrastructure.
“High-speed rail is bold and attention-grabbing, but the scale of the project makes it near impossible.”
“While a long, slow train ride across the country can be a great thing, the US needs real high-speed rail too.”
“Liberals are right that America has a car problem — but it's commutes, not road trips, that suck.”
“Investments into a high-speed rail system wouldn’t just improve the railroads — automobile traffic could also see some relief.”
“Big cities that are reasonably close together is pretty much a prerequisite for high-speed rail.”