National News - Page 146

The fierce urgency of action on racialized police violence

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By Julian Zelizer Over the past few weeks, the nation has seen another series of horrific videos documenting both violent treatment and deaths of Black and brown people at the hands of police. Even as the world was reliving the killing of George Floyd — as videos of his death under the knee of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin were shown repeatedly at Chauvin’s televised trial — images were surfacing of Daunte Wright being shot by an officer during a traffic stop in nearby Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. And days later, Chicago police released body camera footage of a 13-year-old

America desperately needs a Truth and Racial Healing Commission

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Opinion by Mitch Landrieu Racism remains this nation’s Achilles’ heel. If we do not face it and fix it, we will continue to suffer. The news in the past few weeks, from the police shooting of Daunte Wright to the debate about voter suppression, underscores once again that we have a long way to go to fulfill America’s promise of justice and equal opportunity for every American. To get closer to fulfilling that aspiration, we first need a consensus about the history of racism in the US and the effect it still has today. We — and by “we,” I’m

Closing arguments in Derek Chauvin’s trial will contrast the prosecution’s concise case with a more complex defense

By Eric Levenson, CNN Prosecutors and the defense will offer competing visions of Derek Chauvin’s role in George Floyd’s death during closing arguments Monday in the former Minneapolis officer’s criminal trial. For the prosecution, that means drilling home their concise argument that Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020, was exactly what it appeared to be on bystander video. What looked to the naked eye like an uncaring police officer using his knees to suffocate a non-resisting Black man really was just that, they have argued. “You can believe your eyes that it’s a homicide,” prosecuting attorney Jerry Blackwell said in

White House to promote vaccine eligibility with media blitz

By Arlette Saenz As all Americans 16 years and older become eligible for the vaccine on Monday, the White House is launching a media blitz to raise awareness about Americans’ vaccine eligibility, an administration official said. Earlier this month, President Joe Biden moved up the deadline for states to make all American adults eligible for the vaccine to April 19, after an original deadline of May 1. The blitz, outlined by the administration official, will include more than 30 local media interviews across the country. Part of their outreach will target specific constituencies, including Black, Latino and rural communities, through

Nearly half of US states reported an increase in Covid-19 cases this week. Here’s what experts say can help stop another surge

By Travis Caldwell At least 21 states have recorded at least a 10% rise in daily average positive cases of Covid-19, according to Johns Hopkins University data Thursday, demonstrating that the fight against the pandemic is far from over. In Michigan, hospitals are increasingly overwhelmed and reaching full capacities in part due to the influx of new coronavirus cases. State and local officials across the country are attempting to avoid a similar situation and are pushing to increase vaccination levels among adults, which shows continuing signs of improvement. More than 30% of US adults have been fully vaccinated, according to

J&J vaccine pause prompts a needed discussion of women’s health

Opinion by Anushay Hossain When I heard the news that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are recommending that the United States pause the use of Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine over six reported US cases of a “rare and severe” type of blood clot, I was infuriated. Pausing was the right decision, but it also immediately made me think about how sexist the medical world remains and what little regard it has for women’s health. All six reported cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and

Obama Presidential Center Chicago foundation work Park set to begin

By WLS Staff Gov. JB Pritzker, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and others gathered in Jackson Park Wednesday morning to announce the beginning of foundation work for the Obama Presidential Center. The $200 million of work being done will clear the way for construction to begin later in 2021. Lightfoot said the city is investing in communities that need it through the project. “Through the creation of jobs, infrastructure enhancements and more, these investments and economic developments will bring about the transformative change our Black and brown communities deserve,” she said. Through a community engagement process, the Chicago Department of Transportation has

What Black drivers are doing to protect themselves during traffic stops

By Faith Karimi When Laura Coates’ husband brought a dash camera home a few years ago, she rolled her eyes. There he goes buying yet another gadget, she remembers thinking. Then he took her hand and told her it was for her — so she’d know what happened if he were ever pulled over by a police officer, Coates, a CNN legal analyst who lives in Washington, DC, said on Twitter this week. Go to the website of the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups and you’ll find a list of motorists’ rights and how to stay safe

CDC advisers will meet today about the J&J Covid-19 vaccine. Here’s what experts and state leaders say about the pause

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By Christina Maxouris Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet Wednesday to review blood clot cases among people who received the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine. The CDC and the US Food and Drug Administration a day earlier recommended the US pause the use of the single-shot J&J vaccine after “six reported US cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot.” The six cases were among more than 6.8 million Americans who have received a dose of that vaccine. “Less than 1 in a million,” Dr. Anthony Fauci noted Tuesday during a White House

Classes canceled at Knoxville school for two days after armed student is killed in encounter with police

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By Kay Jones and Hollie Silverman No classes will be held for the next two days at a school in Knoxville after a student was killed and a police officer injured during an encounter at the high school. Counselors will be available at Austin-East Magnet High School Tuesday Knox County Schools Superintendent Bob Thomas said during a press conference Monday. Thomas said a decision about the rest of the week’s classes will be made later. “We are all devastated by this tragedy,” he said. The superintendent was speaking after a traumatic day in which officers responded to a call of

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