April 24 top stories
Hello, it is April 24. I’m back–thanks Alex for taking my place the last two days. Here are today’s top stories.
Belgian man whose body produces alcohol in rare condition
A Belgian man was first convicted of drink driving in 2019. He was pulled over in his vehicle by police again in April 2022, and then a month later, and found both times to be over the country’s drink-drive limit.
The man told police he had only consumed two beers the previous day. The man then had himself examined by three doctors, who independently confirmed he suffered from auto-brewery syndrome (ABS). It is a condition where intoxicating levels of ethanol are produced in the gut.
At the time, he was not aware of his condition. He was confused because he had not been drinking.
He has been cleared of drink driving after doctors shared their findings in the court that he had an extremely rare condition which causes his body to produce large amounts of alcohol.
Those with the condition can have symptoms identical to being drunk, including slurred speech, stumbling, loss of motor functions, dizziness and belching.
Tennessee legislature passes bill to allow teachers to carry guns
Tennessee House Republicans on Tuesday passed legislation to allow some trained teachers and school staff to carry handguns despite pleas from Democrats, students and gun-reform advocates to defeat the bill.
The bill is guaranteed to become law within weeks, as Gov. Bill Lee can either sign it into law or allow it to become law without his signature. He has never vetoed a bill.
Armed teachers, who will be required to undergo training, will be allowed to carry handguns in their classrooms and in most campus situations without informing parents and most of their colleagues they are armed.
The legislation also requires criminal and mental health background checks on armed teachers.
Biden boosts climate agenda on Earth Day
President Biden celebrated Earth Day on Monday by sharing the stage with three liberal lawmakers, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Edward Markey and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), who praised his climate agenda as he tries to win over skeptical progressive voters.
Speaking at an event in Virginia, Biden announced that his administration is making $7 billion in grants available to help provide solar power to the homes of more than 900,000 low-income families.
The White House said the money for the solar panels will flow through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All grant competition, which was part of Biden’s climate change law. The law is expected to create 200,000 jobs.
Sanders, who championed the Solar for All program, said the grants mean that families who in the past have not been able to take advantage of the solar panels will now be able to do so.
AOC also praised Biden for creating the American Climate Corps, a new program that will hire and train more than 20,000 young people to work fighting climate change. She said Biden “is overseeing the single biggest federal investment in tackling the climate crisis in our nation’s history.”
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India to hold world’s biggest election
Multiple sources reported that India, the world’s most populous country, is also holding the world’s largest democratic election. With a population of over 1.4 billion people and close to 970 million voters roughly meaning one in eight of the global population, India’s general election pits Prime Minister Narendra Modi against a broad alliance of opposition parties that are struggling to play catch up.
India’s 2024 general election – to be held over six weeks between April 19 and June 1 – will be the biggest the world has ever seen. Voting is taking place in different parts of India on seven polling days and the results will be announced on June 4.
Modi, an avowed Hindu nationalist, is hoping to win a third successive term, but opposition parties say Indians face the loss of many freedoms if he stays in power. Minority groups particularly Muslims say that they often face discrimination and attacks, and have been forced to live as “second-class” citizens under Modi’s rule.
See Alex’s update on a suspected intoxicated driver who crashed into a birthday party, killing two kids.
Two young siblings killed by suspected intoxicated driver
Thanks, Callie.
There was a tragic incident in southern Michigan on Saturday when a suspected intoxicated driver crashed through a building where there were children celebrating a birthday party.
A 4-year-old boy and his 8-year-old sister were killed. Their names were Zayn and Alanah Phillips. Their mother and an older brother were injured and are in the hospital. Several others were injured.
This happened at the Swan Boat Club in Monroe County. A video shows that an SUV was traveling at a high speed on a gravel parking lot right before it hit the building.
The driver is a 66-year-old woman named Marshella Chidester. She is charged with two counts of second-degree murder and four counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury.
Prosecutors said her blood alcohol level was over the legal limit. She is now behind bars on a $1.5 million bond.
Thanks for the update. That’s all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light!
Belgian man whose body produces alcohol in rare condition
Tennessee passes bill to allow teachers to carry guns
Biden boosts climate agenda on Earth Day
https://apnews.com/article/biden-earth-day-solar-grants-epa-climate-5bece7e419e9141241287575abb0fefc
India to hold world’s biggest election
Two young siblings killed by suspected intoxicated driver