PoliticsNBC NewsIn demoting Cheney, GOP holds on to Trump at risk of further alienating others
Liz Cheney may be done with former President Donald Trump, but her impending ouster from House Republican leadership is a clear sign, party insiders say, that the GOP isn't done with Trump. The calculation is that the party will be better off in the midterm elections embracing Trump than running from him, even if it means further alienating the kind of suburban voters who handed Democrats victories in 2018 and 2020. "Removing Liz Cheney from leadership will give a boatload of ammunition to the GOP's critics," said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster.
WorldAssociated PressUS ship fires warning shots in encounter with Iranian boats
A group of 13 armed speedboats of Iran's Revolutionary Guard made “unsafe and unprofessional” high-speed maneuvers toward U.S. Navy vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter fired warning shots when two of the Iranian boats came dangerously close, U.S. officials said. It was the second time in two weeks that a U.S. ship opened fire to warn vessels of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. The encounters come as the United States and Iran are in indirect talks in Vienna aimed at reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which the United States left in 2018.
U.S.BBCVancouver shooting: Man killed in gang-related violence at airport
A 28-year-old man has been shot dead at Vancouver international airport in Canada, in what police believe is gang-related violence. The alleged killer escaped in a car with others, shooting at police as they went. Photos from the scene show a bullet hole in the windscreen of a police car and another window shot out.
- NewsWLS – Chicago
2 killed in Joliet crash
A crash in southwest suburban Joliet Monday morning left two people dead, police said.
BusinessReutersBiden says unemployed offered jobs must take them or lose benefits
U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday defended himself against critics who say expanded unemployment benefits offered in the COVID-19 relief bill passed in March are keeping Americans from taking new jobs. Biden said the administration will remind U.S. states this week that any unemployed American offered a comparable job must take it or risk losing unemployment benefits. He is also directing the U.S. Labor Department to work with states to reinstate requirements that those receiving unemployment benefits must demonstrate they are actively looking for work.
CelebrityThe TelegraphMelinda Gates met with divorce lawyers in 2019 amid concern over Bill's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
Melinda Gates first contacted divorce lawyers two years ago, after the scope of her husband Bill's relationship with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was made public, it has been claimed. Mr Gates met with the disgraced financier on multiple occasions, even posing for a photo at the New York townhouse where Epstein was accused of abusing young girls, and once stayed there “late into the night,” according to the New York Times. While the 65-year-old has not been accused of any wrongdoing, his dealings with Epstein were a “source of concern” for his wife, 56, a former employee of the Gates Foundation told the Wall Street Journal.
U.S.NBC NewsTiger caught on video roaming around Houston neighborhood
A tiger was spotted roaming around a Houston neighborhood Sunday, terrifying neighbors and passersby, the Houston Police Department told NBC News. The tiger was seen wearing a collar and prowling around outside of a home when an off-duty sheriff's deputy encountered the wildcat, seemingly in response to sightings from neighbors. The encounter was caught on video by a neighbor, according to local NBC affiliate KPRC.
PoliticsThe WeekGOP's Adam Kinzinger says Kevin McCarthy dismissed his warnings about potential Jan. 6 violence
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said Monday that he tried and failed to warn his Republican colleagues about politically-inspired violence ahead of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. A few days before Jan. 6, Kinzinger tweeted, he told House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) during a conference call that Republican rhetoric, including McCarthy's own, about the presidential election and former President Donald Trump's baseless claims of fraud would have violent consequences.
WorldBBCIndia Covid: Dozens of bodies wash up on banks of Ganges river
The bodies of at least 40 people have washed up on the banks of the Ganges river in northern India, officials say. The discovery, near the border between the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, was confirmed to the BBC on Monday. "There is a possibility that these bodies have come out of Uttar Pradesh," a local official, Ashok Kumar, told the BBC after questioning local residents.
BusinessNational ReviewBiden Denies Workers Are Turning Down Jobs to Collect Unemployment — Then Announces Push to Make Them Stop
President Biden on Monday claimed that generous unemployment benefits are not incentivizing people to remain out-of-work, arguing that Americans would return to the workforce for a “decent wage,” but nevertheless said that the administration would take action to push would-be workers to accept job offers instead of staying home. “People will come back to work if they're paid a decent wage,” Biden said in an address on the economy at the White House. “We're going to make it clear that anyone collecting unemployment who is offered a suitable job must take the job or lose their unemployment benefits,” Biden continued, before arguing that the dynamic he vowed to address is not prevalent anyway.
U.S.Lexington Herald-LeaderMan stumbles onto dead shark on Virginia coast, leaving many to wonder what killed it
A dead shark found washed up on Virginia Beach has many fascinated, some “freaked out,” but most of all, curious what caused its death. Discovered last week by a man walking in the Sandbridge area of Virginia Beach, the shark cuts a macabre figure in the sand; it's gills sunken, skin wrinkled, eyes still open, sharp teeth set in a red-ringed mouth. It is at least 6 feet long, according to the beachgoer, who shared a photo of the dead shark on Facebook.
PoliticsAssociated PressCalifornia governor proposes tax rebate as virus relief
Millions of poor and middle-class Californians would get tax rebates of up to $1,100 under a proposal unveiled Monday by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, as part of a broader pandemic recovery plan made possible by an eye-popping $75 billion budget surplus. “We believe people are better suited than we are to make determinations for themselves on how best to use these dollars," Newsom said during an event in Oakland to announce the plan. The massive budget surplus is largely due to taxes paid by rich Californians who generally did well during the pandemic, and marks a major turnaround after officials last year said they feared a deficit of more than $50 billion.
U.S.Miami Herald‘That’s crazy!’ Take a look at the damage a lightning strike in Florida caused this car
A car ride in stormy weather turned terrifying Monday morning in Florida's Panhandle. According to the Walton County Fire Rescue's Facebook post, a truck was traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 near DeFuniak Springs around 7:30 a.m., when lightning struck the highway — causing a chunk of asphalt from the road to fly into the windshield. “Walton County Fire Rescue urges driver to be cautious and keep an eye out for any potential storm damage.”
U.S.INSIDERMan accused of hate crime attack on Asian woman in NYC told parole board he wished he could take back murdering his mom
Brandon Elliot told a parole board in 2019 that he regretted stabbing his mother to death. Elliot was arrested in March on suspicion of attacking a 65-year-old Asian woman in Manhattan. The parole board transcript also suggests Elliot had "visions" where people looked like animals.
WorldThe TelegraphScottish Tories will broaden their offering beyond just fighting independence, says Douglas Ross
The Scottish Tories are no longer “just the party of Ruth Davidson” and will now broaden their offer to voters beyond opposition to independence, Douglas Ross has pledged. The party leader defied predictions last week to maintain the number of Conservative MSPs at Holyrood, winning 31 seats and a record number of votes by campaigning relentlessly against a second referendum. However, Mr Ross, who took over from Jackson Carlaw last August, said he would now look to build a credible government-in-waiting, and admitted acting as a strong opposition to the SNP at Holyrood was “not enough”.
WorldReutersWHO classifies India variant as being of global concern
GENEVA (Reuters) -The World Health Organziation said on Monday that the coronavirus variant first identified in India last year was being classified as a variant of global concern, with some preliminary studies showing that it spreads more easily. The B.1.617 variant is the fourth variant to be designated as being of global concern and requiring heightened tracking and analysis. "We are classifying this as a variant of concern at a global level," Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical lead on COVID-19, told a briefing.
WorldThe IndependentBiden to discuss Russian ransomware hackers with Putin and suggests Moscow bears ‘some responsibility’
President Joe Biden has announced he would be speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack, given the hackers responsible were a Russia-based ransomware group. “I'm going to be meeting with President Putin,” Mr Biden said. Date and location have yet to be announced for the meeting between Mr Biden and the Russian president.
U.S.Business Insider'It makes us look like idiots': Arizona state senator disowns widely criticized election recount after seeing it in action
A GOP state senator in Arizona described the controversial vote audit in Maricopa County as "ridiculous" and an embarrassment in an interview with The New York Times on Friday. Sen. Paul Boyer, a Republican who represents a suburb of Phoenix, told the publication that he initially supported and voted for the audit but that he regretted doing so after seeing how poorly it was being conducted. "It makes us look like idiots," Boyer said.
WorldINSIDERChinese tourist clings to glass-bottomed bridge 330 feet in the air after high winds blow floor panels out
A tourist clung to a glass bridge in China as the panes smashed in high winds, local media reported. The bridge spans a 330-foot-high mountain ravine in northeastern China and was hit by 93-mph gusts. The tourist was uninjured, but people have raised concern about the increasingly popular attraction.
U.S.Idaho StatesmanWatch new mom and gorilla bond over their babies at Boston zoo in heartwarming video
Boston's Franklin Park Zoo was closed when Emmily Austin and her husband planned to take their newborn son Canyon to the city. The Austins made it to the zoo, but a long line at the gorilla exhibit nearly thwarted the moment, again. Austin wasn't sure she wanted to brave the line with a newborn — Canyon was only 5 weeks old — but she decided the gorillas were worth the wait.
U.S.Business InsiderCalifornia is expanding its stimulus check program to send checks to two-thirds of its residents, Newsom announces
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced new stimulus checks for California residents on Monday. California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state will be sending out stimulus checks to two-thirds of its residents in a new expansion of its plan to support communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Newsom said on Monday that those who qualify will receive a one-time stimulus payment of $600 or $1,200, and families will kids would receive another $500.
WorldINSIDERAn injured 13-foot-long baby whale remains lost in London's Thames river after it slipped loose from rescuers
A young minke whale was rescued from a shallow area of London's River Thames on Sunday. The whale is now missing again and rescuers fear it is injured. A 13-foot-long injured whale calf is missing hours after rescuers freed it from a lock in London's Thames river on Sunday.
PoliticsUSA TODAYMcCarthy tells House Republicans to expect a Wednesday vote on removing Liz Cheney from her leadership position
House Republicans are expected to hold a Wednesday vote to strip Rep. Liz Cheney of her leadership position, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told members Monday. This comes as the Wyoming lawmaker continues to draw attacks from her fellow Republicans over her criticism of former President Donald Trump, who she's repeatedly slammed for promoting 'the big lie' of widespread election fraud in the 2020 election. In a letter to Republican House members Monday, McCarthy wrote the party's "driving focus would be taking back the House in 2022" and "internal conflicts need to be resolved so as to not detract from the efforts of our collective team."
U.S.Business InsiderVideo shows a US Navy haul of illegal weapons so big that the rifles, machine guns, and RPGs covered the deck of a missile cruiser
The US Navy shared a video of weapons it seized, laid out on the deck of a missile cruiser. The Navy said the arms were found hidden in a ship and were going to Yemen. It said assault rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles and grenades launchers were included.
BusinessThe StateNew coffee shop in Myrtle Beach’s Market Common neighborhood giving away free coffee
A new Dunkin' location opens this Wednesday in Myrtle Beach's Market Common neighborhood. To celebrate its opening day, the first 50 guests at the Farrow Parkway location's drive-thru will be given free coffee for a year (four free medium drinks per month for 14 months). “We are thrilled to be a part of Dunkin's next generation store initiative and can't wait to bring this innovative new restaurant to the community,” said franchisee George Ross, who is also the CEO of Coastal Franchising.
“If Facebook lets Trump back on Facebook and Instagram, he'll assuredly restart his assault on democracy.”
“Facebook should have known better than to believe that it could limit speech on its platform without setting a terrible precedent.”
“Providing a microphone and an amplifier for deceit isn't fighting the good fight for free speech.”
“It’s no defense of Mr. Trump’s conduct to say that the digital public square shouldn’t suppress speech by political leaders.”
“The former president no longer gets the ‘head of state’ exception to terms of service.”