June 28 top stories
Hello, it is June 28. Here are today’s top stories.
White West Virginia couple accused of using adopted Black children as ‘slaves’
A wealthy, white West Virginia couple has been charged for allegedly using their adopted African American kids as “slaves.”
Donald Lantz, 63, and Jeanne Whitefeather, 62, are facing 16 counts each including human trafficking, child neglect, and forced labor after their adopted five Black children were forced to do labor and live in deplorable conditions.
What happened? Authorities began investigating after they received a call to the home last October in Sissonville, near Charleston, from someone expressing concern about the children’s welfare. Sheriff’s deputies forced their way into a shed next to the home where a teenage boy and girl were locked inside. The children had been deprived of adequate food and hygienic care, and the room had no running water or bathroom facilities.
Inside the main residence, a 9-year-old girl was found alone crying in a loft about 15 feet high with no protection from falling. No adults were present at the home. Lantz arrived home hours later with an 11-year-old boy, and he led deputies to a 6-year-old girl who was staying with friends of the couple.
The couple was arrested and the children were placed under the care of Child Protective Services.
Officials said the children are currently all safe while the couple both have pleaded not guilty to the charges they are facing. Their trial is set for September 9.
Uber, Lyft agree to pay Mass. drivers $32.50 per hour in settlement
Uber and Lyft on Thursday agreed to adopt a $32.50 hourly minimum pay standard for Massachusetts drivers and pay $175 million to settle a lawsuit by the state’s attorney general alleging they improperly treated drivers as independent contractors who can legally receive lower compensation than employees.
Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said the companies also agreed to give drivers paid sick leave, accident insurance, and healthcare stipends and to stop funding or supporting a ballot initiative that would have asked voters in November to cement app-based drivers’ status as contractors.
Uber and Lyft in separate statements said the agreement reflected the desire of most drivers to work on their own terms while receiving many of the key benefits that are legally guaranteed to employees.
According to a court filing, the agreement requires Uber to pay $148 million and Lyft to pay $27 million to the state. At least $140 million will be paid out to drivers.
Former Uvalde school police chief indicted for mass shooting response
The local sheriff said Thursday that the former Uvalde schools police chief was indicted over his role in the slow police response to the 2022 massacre at a Texas elementary school that left 19 children and two teachers dead.
Pete Arredondo was indicted by a grand jury on 10 counts of felony child endangerment/abandonment and briefly booked into the county jail before he was released on bond.
The local news outlets reported that former school officer Adrian Gonzales also was indicted on multiple similar charges.
The indictments make Arredondo, who was the on-site commander during the attack, and Gonzales the first officers to face criminal charges in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.
As a refresher, over two years ago, an 18-year-old gunman opened fire in a fourth grade classroom, where he remained for more than 70 minutes before officers confronted and killed him. In total, 376 law enforcement officers massed at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, some waiting in the hallway outside the classroom, even as the gunman could be heard firing an AR-15-style rifle inside.
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Bronny James joins LeBron with Lakers as father-son duo makes NBA history
The Los Angeles Lakers have selected Bronny James, the eldest son of superstar LeBron James, with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft on Thursday.
James is now poised to play alongside his father, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, where they could become the first father-son duo to play in the league at the same time.
Meanwhile, LeBron James has previously spoken of his strong desire to play with his son in the NBA.
James told the Athletic in 2022: “My last year will be played with my son. Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point.”
Bronny James will have a chance to make his first appearance wearing a Lakers uniform during the 2024 NBA Summer League from July 12 through July 22.
See Alex’s brief on the first Biden-Trump debate of the 2024 presidential election. Here you go.
Biden-Trump debate takeaways
Thanks, Callie.
Last night, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, who are both running for another presidential term, debated on CNN for about 90 minutes.
Both candidates were extremely combative towards each other with Trump calling Biden the “worst president” and Biden saying everything that Trump is saying is “a lie.”
Many news headlines said Biden had a very weak performance with a quiet and hoarse voice. He sometimes struggled to finish his sentences. It only amplified concerns about whether the 81-year-old man has the energy and mental fitness for another term.
Trump gave a usual high-energy performance but often gave rambling statements that painted the U.S. border as a horrible, dangerous place that is allowing dangerous criminals into our country.
Biden said Trump had the “morals of an alley cat.” Trump said, “I didn’t have sex with a porn star.” At one point both debated who was the better golfer.
Many analysts felt that although Trump gave a stronger performance, the debate did not do much to convince voters on either side to change their views.
There are various Democrat-leaning commentators who have expressed concern about Biden and suggested he be replaced with a different Democratic candidate to go up against Trump, but Biden’s team said he’s not dropping out.
There will be another debate in September.
Thanks for this brief. That’s all the top stories for this week. Have a nice weekend and stay with the light!
White West Virginia couple accused of using adopted Black children as ‘slaves’
Uber, Lyft agree to pay Mass. drivers $32.50 per hour in settlement
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/27/technology/uber-lyft-massachusetts-settlement.html
Former Uvalde school police chief indicted for mass shooting response
Bronny James joins LeBron with Lakers as father-son duo makes NBA history
Biden-Trump debate takeaways
https://www.axios.com/2024/06/28/trump-biden-debate-immigration-border-control
https://www.axios.com/2024/06/28/biden-debate-democrats-panic-replacement
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/28/debate-replace-biden-drop-out