Friday, April 16th, 2021
FedEx Mass Shooting, Chauvin Pleads the 5th & Fyre Festival Settlement
All the news you need in around 10 min:
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Story Summaries
All the news stories mentioned in today's episode are listed with links below, so you can spend as much -- or as little -- time as you want reading the latest happenings...
FedEx Facility Mass Shooting
A deadly mass shooting happened overnight in Indianapolis. At least eight people were shot and killed at a FedEx warehouse near the Indianapolis airport. More are said to be hurt and taken to hospitals. Police say the gunman also killed himself. So far, officers haven’t identified the gunman or any of the victims and they haven’t said a possible motive. As of early this morning, the situation is still developing.
Read More: Indy Star, CNN, NY Times
Chicago Shooting Bodycam Released
People all over the world are watching and reacting to a graphic video showing police shoot and kill a 13-year-old boy in Chicago. It happened last month, but the bodycam footage was just released. It shows officers responding to reports of gunfire. They saw two people in the alley and started to chase them. One of them was 13-year-old Adam Toledo. Early in the video, Adam is holding what looks like a gun, but you can see him toss it at the end of the chase. When Adam stopped running, an officer ordered him to show his hands. Adam put both his hands in the air and they appeared to be empty. However, the officer yelled, “Drop it.” and less than a second later, shot Adam in the chest.
Read More: Chicago Sun-Times, NPR, WSJ, Gov. Pritzker
Chauvin Defense Rests
Both the prosecution and the defense have now rested their cases in the trial of Derek Chauvin. He’s the ex-officer facing murder and manslaughter charges over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last May. Chauvin decided not to testify in his own defense yesterday and the judge sent the jury home for the weekend. The trial moves into closing arguments on Monday. Then, it will be up to the jury to deliver a verdict. That part could take minutes, hours, days, or even weeks. If found guilty, Chauvin could spend up to 40 years in prison.
Read More: Minneapolis Star Tribune, AP, NY Times, Fox News, Reuters
U.S. Issues Russia Sanctions
The U.S. is now punishing Russia for interfering in the 2020 election and hacking American companies and government agencies. President Biden ordered a series of measures including economic sanctions against more than three dozen people and companies. Also, the Biden administration is not letting American banks buy any new Russian government debt and 10 Russian diplomats were kicked out of the embassy in Washington, D.C. The Russian government is promising to retaliate.
Read More: WSJ, Axios, The Hill, Reuters, White House
Ongoing St. Vincent Volcano Eruptions
For a full week, a volcano has been erupting on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent. It’s covered the island in molten rock and gas as well as ash that’s also reached islands nearby. So far, about 20,000 people have had to leave their homes and St. Vincent's entire population of about 110,000 people is without clean drinking water and electricity. The UN is calling this a humanitarian crisis that may continue for weeks and months to come. The U.S. embassy in Barbados is working with Royal Caribbean cruises to get American citizens off the island today.
Read More: NPR, NBC News, WaPo, U.S. Embassy
Pfizer Booster Likely
Pfizer’s CEO says it’s likely people may need a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine between six to 12 months of getting fully vaccinated. He also says it’s possible people will need to keep getting COVID-19 shots each year like the flu shot. However, his predictions still need to be confirmed. Pfizer’s CEO admits it depends on what happens with the newer COVID-19 strains. Moderna’s CEO also says it hopes to have a booster shot available as soon as this fall.
Read More: CNBC, Axios, WSJ, Fox News
‘Roll Up Your Sleeves’ Vaccination Special
Presidents, athletes, actors, and musicians are coming together for a TV special meant to encourage people to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Singer Ciara and her husband, NFL player Russell Wilson, are hosting the star-studded event this weekend. It’s called Roll Up Your Sleeves. President Biden and former President Obama are both slated to speak. Actor Matthew McConaughey will be interviewing the nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci. The special airs this Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. on NBC.
Read More: Deadline, Rolling Stone, Reuters, Today, NBC Universal
LaMarcus Aldridge Retires
Basketball star LaMarcus Aldridge surprised fans this week when he suddenly announced his retirement. Aldridge has played more than 1,000 games over 14 seasons in the NBA and he’s a seven-time All-Star. Most recently, he’s been playing for the Brooklyn Nets where he was hoping to win a championship. However, Aldridge explained on social media that after a recent game, he was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. He went to the hospital that night and says he’s feeling better now. However, he says the scare pushed him to prioritize his health.
Read More: ESPN, USA Today, Fox News, LaMarcus Aldridge, Brooklyn Nets
Fyre Festival Settlement
It looks like some ticket holders of the infamous and disastrous Fyre Festival will each get about $7,220 as part of a class-action settlement. Nearly four years after the event, a $2 million settlement was reportedly reached in U.S. bankruptcy court this week between the organizers and nearly 300 of the ticket holders. Tickets for the festival cost between $1,000-$12,000. The settlement still needs final approval and it will depend on the outcome of the bankruptcy case. So far, lawyers for the organizers haven’t commented.
Read More: NY Times, Deadline, The Verge
Facebook Renewable Energy Goals
Facebook says all its operations are now powered entirely by renewable energy. To reach this, the social media company has poured $8 billion into green energy projects like new wind and solar power plants. The next goal is to reach zero emissions across its entire “value chain” by 2030. That means it’s cracking down on its suppliers and business activities like travel and employee commutes.
Read More: CBS News, Cnet, Engadget, Facebook
Apple’s Restore Fund
Apple launched a $200 million fund for climate change. The money is going to forest projects that help remove carbon from the atmosphere. It’s part of the company’s goal to become carbon neutral by 2030. To do that, Apple is also planning to remove 75% of emissions from its supply chain and products.
Read More: The Verge, Cnet, Axios, Apple
Google Earth Timelapse Feature
There’s a new tool out there to see what climate change is doing to our planet. Google Earth launched a new feature called Timelapse. It combines 24 million satellite photos from more than 800 different places that were taken from 1984-2020. Together, they show how glaciers, beaches, forests, and more have changed. Google worked with NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey, along with other organizations, to put the project together.
Read More: BBC, The Hill, CNN, Google Earth Timelapse
Feel Good Friday: Fraternity Brothers Pay Off Cook’s Mortgage
A group of fraternity brothers decided to go above and beyond for a cook who they say made college feel like home. The men went to Louisiana State University during the 1980s and 90s. During that time, Jesse Hamilton was a cook at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house, better known as Fiji. When they found out she was working two jobs to pay off her mortgage, even in her 70s, they stepped in. Nearly 100 alumni donated between $600-$1,000. That added up to almost $52,000. That will help Hamilton pay off her home and she’s now going to retire.
Read More: WaPo, The Advocate, People
Watch the Reunion: YouTube