Fewer people are flying out of Newark airport than this time last year

On May 20, 2023, Matthew Lee Johnson, 49, was executed in Texas for the 2012 murder of 76-year-old Nancy Harris, whom he set on fire during a convenience store robbery. Johnson expressed remorse in his final statement, asking for forgiveness from Harris's family and acknowledging his wrong choices. His execution marked Texas's fourth this year, amidst ongoing debates regarding the legality of his death sentence and previous failed appeals, as he faced no further legal...

SummaryIn a recent interview with Rolling Stone, comedian Sarah Silverman, 54, revealed that her understanding of her brother Jeffrey's death as an infant was fundamentally altered when her father disclosed in 2022 that their grandfather, Max, may have violently shook him in a fit of rage. Silverman recounted her father's traumatic childhood, marked by abuse, and shared how her autobiographical off-Broadway musical, "The Bedwetter," reflects her own struggles and family dynamics, including her processing of...

On May 13, a 19-year-old woman, Kady Grass, was physically attacked at a McDonald's in Carpentersville, Illinois, after two males, including 19-year-old John Kammrad, made derogatory comments about her sexual orientation. The altercation escalated into a physical fight, resulting in Grass sustaining severe injuries, including a broken nose. Both suspects face multiple felony charges, including aggravated battery, and police are considering hate crime charges against Kammrad. Full Article

A federal appeals court upheld an order for the Trump administration to facilitate the return of a deported Venezuelan man, referred to as "Cristian," to the U.S. after a violation of a settlement protecting unaccompanied minors seeking asylum. U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher mandated a status report from the government detailing Cristian's location and steps taken for his return by May 27, following previous unsuccessful attempts by the administration to challenge her ruling. The Department...

House Democrats are set to introduce legislation aimed at preventing further cuts to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) funding and staffing, particularly in light of recent severe storms that highlighted staffing shortages in the National Weather Service (NWS). The amendment will be attached to a Republican budget bill and seeks to protect NOAA from being dissolved, having its work transferred, or its resources degraded. Despite the urgency due to upcoming hurricane season and existing...

The fifth anniversary of George Floyd's death is approaching, yet Congress has not enacted any federal reforms regarding qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that protects law enforcement from civil lawsuits. Despite multiple Supreme Court cases challenging this doctrine being declined, there are renewed efforts at the state level to address qualified immunity issues. Meanwhile, other key topics include the investigation of Rep. McIver for assaulting ICE agents during a protest and Kentucky Governor Beshear's update...