PoliticsNational ReviewBiden DOJ Received Gag Order Preventing NYT from Notifying Journalists of Government Phone, Email Surveillance
During the remaining weeks of the Trump administration and the beginning of the Biden administration, the Department of Justice (DOJ) attempted to seize the communication records of four New York Times reporters in a quest for their sources. The Biden administration maintained the pursuit that Trump began and informed some top Times executives about the record-collection initiative. However, the Biden DOJ implemented a gag order prohibiting any public discussion of the matter, the New York Times reported Friday, citing the disclosure of one of its top attorneys David McCraw.
U.S.Miami HeraldA Florida 86-year-old pleaded for his job. Now, he’ll enter a plea on a murder charge
A senior citizen nightmare, losing a long held job when you still need the money, descended a couple of circles when a Belle Glade octogenarian shot the man firing him Friday. PBSO said Cabrera asked his supervisor “to continue to work for another year due to financial reasons.” When the supervisor denied Cabrera's request, PBSO said, “Cabrera became upset, pulled the gun out of his pocket and shot the victim several times, killing him.”
WorldAssociated PressBelarus opposition slams dissident TV confessions as coerced
The Belarusian opposition said Friday a dissident journalist was coerced to appear in a video on state TV in which he wept and praised the country's authoritarian ruler, a broadcast sharply criticized by Western officials. In the 90-minute video broadcast Thursday night, Raman Pratasevich repented for his opposition activities and said he respects Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko as "a man with balls of steel.” Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the main opposition candidate in Belarus' presidential election in August 2020, said she would urge the U.S. and the EU to pressure Belarus to release him.
PoliticsNational ReviewCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom Reneges on Surrendering Emergency Powers
During a vaccine lottery event Friday, Democratic California governor Gavin Newsom reneged on his promise to lift the state's emergency declaration after June 15, allowing him to retain the powers to mandate sweeping COVID restrictions. “The one thing I am certain of is: There's uncertainty in the future,” said Newsom. Reporters also questioned Newsom about the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (CalOSHA) board's decision that seemed to approve recommending masks for everyone in a workplace if some employees are still unvaccinated.
- WorldAssociated Press
Tory party wants Canada PM to push China Olympic relocation
Canada's official opposition party wants Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to use his time at the G7 Leaders' Summit to take a stand against China and call for the 2022 Winter Olympics to be moved from Beijing. Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole sent the letter Friday as Trudeau is set to convene with other world leaders in the United Kingdom next week. As the leader of the host nation, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to focus the meeting on efforts to fight COVID-19 and making an economic comeback from the pandemic.
- U.S.Associated Press
Man sentenced who killed wife, propped body in front of kids
A Southern California man who killed his wife and propped up her body on a sofa as her children opened Christmas presents was sentenced Friday to 15 years to life in prison. William Wallace, 39, of Anaheim was convicted of second-degree murder earlier this year for the 2011 killing of Za'Zell Preston, 26. Authorities said Preston suffered repeated abuse from Wallace during the marriage.
U.S.Charlotte Observer‘A disaster.’ NASCAR driver bemoans long lines at CLT airport as COVID concerns wane.
A NASCAR driver found himself stuck in low gear with hundreds of other passengers at Charlotte's airport on Friday, as pent-up summer travel demand and waning COVID-19 concerns led to long TSA lines and missed flights. “Congrats to @CLTAirport for the single biggest TSA checkpoint disaster I've ever seen this morning,” driver Tommy Joe Martins bemoaned in a string of tweets. Martins drives a full schedule in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Martins Motorsports.
- CelebrityFox News
Camila Cabello's bikini pics praised by fans for showing 'what normal bodies look like'
Camila Cabello is being praised by fans for her "natural" and "real" bikini look. New photos released Thursday by the Daily Mail show the 24-year-old "Senorita" singer hitting a Miami beach with boyfriend Shawn Mendes. She's wearing a blue tie-dye bikini as she walks in the sand and takes a dip in the ocean with Mendes.
U.S.Business InsiderCapitol riot attendee argued she was allowed inside the building on January 6 because she looked up the hours online and it said it was open
A California woman was arrested and charged in connection to the Capitol riot on Friday in Alabama. Stephanie Baez boasted about her attendance on her Instagram during and after the insurrection, prosecutors allege. An alleged Capitol riot attendee, who prosecutors say boasted about her presence at the pro-Trump insurrection on social media, told authorities that she had permission to be in the Capitol on January 6 because she had previously looked up the building's operating hours to confirm it was open so she could tour the site.
CelebrityTODAY'General Hospital' star undergoes brain surgery to remove cyst that split in 2
“General Hospital” star Kirsten Storms is recovering after undergoing brain surgery earlier this week to remove a cyst that "had split into two." Storms, 37, shared a series of videos on her Instagram Stories Friday detailing her surgery and recovery process while seemingly in good spirits. In the clips, she is sitting in the passenger seat of the car next to her former co-star, Emme Rylan, while wearing a large neck brace.
U.S.USA TODAY5.3-magnitude earthquake rattles Southern California; felt in cities over 90 miles away
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake was felt across parts of Southern California on Saturday morning. The temblor was a part of a cluster of earthquakes that have been reported in Southern California, according to United States Geological Survey. People in Chula Vista, San Diego, El Centro and Indio felt the 5.3 quake, according to the USGS, Did You Feel It reports.
U.S.Architectural DigestIt’s Time to Reconsider the Ashtray
Democratizing the smoking accessory for all Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
PoliticsBusiness InsiderTrump on idea to run for House seat in 2022 in a bid to become Speaker and launch an impeachment inquiry against Biden: 'It's very interesting'
A radio host suggested to Trump that he should run for a House seat in 2022 and become Speaker. Trump responded that it was a "very interesting" idea and might be better than running for Senate. Trump could, theoretically, become House Speaker - but experts say it is very unlikely.
CelebrityINSIDERA timeline of the allegations against Sienna Mae Gomez, including the video that shows her kissing Jack Wright
Sienna Mae Gomez and Jack Wright are members of the TikTok collective the Hype House. The two of them appeared to date until Gomez was accused of sexual assault, which she denies. Wright has yet to acccuse Gomez himself, but two others have posted claims and a video.
- NewsKTRK – Houston
Katy Mills Mall jewelry store worker shoots at armed robbers
Police say a store employee pulled out a gun while the suspects were distracted and fired several shots.
U.S.The Independent15 Washington State University fraternity charged in connection with alcohol-poisoning death of 19-year-old pledge
Fifteen members of a Washington State University fraternity are facing charges in connection with the death of a 19-year-old from alcohol-poisoning two years ago. The former members of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity were charged by prosecutors in Whitman County, Washington, on Tuesday with the death of Sam Martinez, a freshman, in November 2019, according to The Spokesman-Review. Martinez was taking part in "an initiation process at the fraternity” when he died of alcohol poisoning, the Whitman County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said.
U.S.Business InsiderVideos shows a man who allegedly tried to hijack a Delta flight being restrained and zip-tied by passengers and flight attendants
A man attempted to breach the cockpit of a Delta Air Lines flight from LA to Nashville. The plane had to make an emergency landing in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Videos show passengers and flight attendants working together to restrain the man.
PoliticsBusiness InsiderThe GOP is failing to make a villain out of Biden and has run out of ideas - so now they're getting desperate and turning on their own.
Biden's popularity has left Republicans in a state of chaos. Joe Biden is a popular president and Republicans are losing their minds. Biden, a 78-year-old moderate Democrat, has a job approval rating hovering around 60% of Americans.
U.S.INSIDERCalifornia police arrested two parents who went to a casino hours after their disabled kid starved to death
Two parents were arrested Friday in California after allegedly neglecting their three adopted kids. One of the kids - 15-year-old Karreon Franks - was disabled and died from starvation, the Oregonian reported. Two parents from Vancouver, Washington, were arrested Friday in California on suspicion of second-degree murder and homicide by abuse in the death of their adopted disabled son Karreon Franks.
- WorldWBAL - Baltimore Videos
Police arrest 3 in killing of man visiting Baltimore from Israel
Police arrested two teenagers and an 18-year-old man in connection with the killing of a man from Israel who was killed while visiting Baltimore. Efraim Gordon, 31, was shot and killed on May 3, in the 3700 block of Fords Lane in northwest Baltimore, police said. Family and friends said Gordon was visiting from Israel to attend his cousin's wedding.
U.S.USA TODAYA North Carolina student wore a Mexican flag over his graduation gown. He left without a diploma.
ASHEBORO, N.C. – When Ever Lopez decided to wear a Mexican flag to his high school graduation ceremony, he hoped to support his culture. Lopez didn't anticipate anyone would react strongly against it, but because of the flag, Lopez was denied his diploma. At the Asheboro High School graduation ceremony on Thursday night, Lopez said he carried the flag in and draped it over his shoulders while he was seated.
U.S.INSIDERA homeless woman in Oregon died while more than $800,000 of inheritance funds remained in a state bank, report says
A homeless woman, Cathy Boone, died while hundreds of thousands of unclaimed money was held in the state bank. Boone's mother died in 2016, and her mother's estate tried to contact her multiple times but failed, KGW reported. A homeless woman in Oregan died while nearly $900,000 of inherited funds was being held by the state, according to KGW.
U.S.Business InsiderA 5th-grade student gave a first-person speech dressed as Hitler. The teacher and school's principal are now on administrative leave.
A fifth-grade student dressed as Adolf Hitler and gave a speech titled, "Accomplishments." The speech was part of a "Character Development project" organized by his teacher, Fox News said. The school's principal and the student's teacher have been placed on administrative leave.
U.S.The IndependentPentagon bans Pride flag from being flown at military bases
The Department of Defense has announced its flag policy would not change this year to allow the Pride flag to be flown at military bases during the month of June. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the Pentagon would “maintain existing policy for the display of unofficial flags” and “not grant an exception to display the Pride flag” on military bases, in a statement released to CNN. Under the Trump administration, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper put in place a policy that limited unofficial flags from being displayed on military bases.
- SportsAssociated Press
Brumbies beat Hurricanes 12-10, scuttling Canes' final hopes
The ACT Brumbies upset the Wellington-based Hurricanes 12-10 in Super Rugby trans-Tasman on Saturday, giving Australian teams their second win of the tournament and likely ending the Hurricanes' pursuit of a place in the final. In a dramatic finish, with the Brumbies clinging to a two-point lead, a Hurricanes try was disallowed because of a knock-on in the lead-up and fullback Jordie Barrett missed two potentially match-winning penalties. The contentious decision to scrub out a decisive try came in the 73rd minute as the Hurricanes had begun to stretch a tiring Brumbies defense.
“It may seem desperate at this point, but I can’t be mad at any and all efforts to get people vaccinated.”
“I won’t get rich, but I will get to live my life. That seems like reward enough.”
“Offering incentives may encourage people who are not actively opposed to vaccination but may have put it off.”
“At some point, the government is simply rewarding irresponsible behavior.”
“Sure, people should do it without needing an incentive. But what’s the alternative? Not enough people get vaccinated.”