April 25 top stories
Hello, it is April 25. Here are today’s top stories.
Arizona grand jury indicts 2020 Trump electors
Democratic Arizona’s Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Wednesday, the state grand jury has indicted 18 individuals for their roles in an attempt to overturn Trump’s loss to Biden in the 2020 election.
The indictment names 11 Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring that Trump won Arizona in 2020. They include the former chair of the Arizona Republican Party, a 2022 U.S. Senate candidate and two sitting state lawmakers, who are charged with nine counts each of conspiracy, fraud and forgery.
The identities of seven other defendants, including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Trump’s former personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, were not immediately released because they had not yet been served with the documents.
Trump himself was not charged but was referred to as an unindicted co-conspirator.
Arizona is the fourth state to bring charges against electors who falsely cast votes for Trump in states that President Biden won, along with Michigan, Georgia and Nevada.
Airlines must now give full refunds instead of vouchers
New federal rules say travelers deserve cash refunds when inconvenienced by their airline – not vouchers or travel credits.
Transportation Secretary Buttigieg told CNN, “From now on when your flight is canceled for any reason, you are entitled to an automatic cash refund and it has to be prompt. If you get delayed significantly, that means three hours domestically, six hours internationally, or if there’s another significant change to your itinerary – like maybe you were going to go into one airport, they actually changed the airport on you or something like that – you’re going to get your money back.”
The rules, announced by the Transportation Department on Wednesday, also require airlines to provide upfront information about fees for baggage or changing flights.
It would also require a refund for any baggage fees for bags that arrive more than 12 hours late, and a refund of the fees for a purchased service like Wi-Fi or upgraded seating if the airline doesn’t deliver.
There’s also a provision for travelers frustrated with call center hold times or filling out online claim forms. The rules require the fees to be automatic and prompt: Within seven days for a credit card refund and 20 days for other forms of payment.
TikTok star bishop in Australia stabbed during live streamed service
Assyrian Christian bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel (53) who was stabbed in Sydney, Australia last week on Monday is a TikTok star with followers around the world, but the bearded clergyman is also a divisive preacher.
Emmanuel’s sermons in the church range from homilies on the Bible to fiery criticisms of homosexuality, COVID vaccinations, Islam and President Biden’s election.
What happened? Emmanuel was presiding over a service that was being livestreamed in the church when a 16-year-old attacker was seen charging toward him. Several parishioners immediately attempted to intervene and restrained the attacker at the scene. Footage posted online showed the attacker criticizing Emmanuel’s comments about Islam while pinned to the ground by the congregation.
Police then arrived and arrested the suspect. They said it was a terrorist attack motivated by suspected religious extremism. Local officials said Emmanuel underwent the surgery and was lucky to be alive.
On Thursday, Australian police said they charged and arrested five teenagers who were associates of a 16-year-old suspected stabber with terrorism-related offenses.
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Dolphin found dead with multiple gunshot wounds on Louisiana beach
On March 13, a member of the public reported to Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline that the dolphin’s body washed up on Mae’s Beach in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recovered the animal and transported it for a necropsy [an animal autopsy].
On Tuesday, April 23, the NOAA announced that the mammal appeared to have died from trauma – multiple bullets lodged in the brain, spinal cord and heart.
NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the death and has asked for help from the public. The $20,000 reward will be given if the public can provide any information that would lead to a criminal conviction. The perpetrator who shot the animal violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act – which makes it a crime to hunt, harass, capture, kill or attempt to do so, to any marine mammal.
See Alex’s story about former NFL player Reggie Bush getting back his 2005 Heisman Trophy.
Reggie Bush to get back 2005 Heisman Trophy
Thanks, Callie.
Reggie Bush, who was a college football star player in the early 2000s with the University of Southern California, will get his Heisman Trophy back.
He won the trophy in 2005, which recognizes college football’s most outstanding player after the end of the season. But his trophy was later stripped after an NCAA investigation found that Bush and his family received benefits worth more than $100,000 from agents while he was a college player. This violated strict NCAA rules — at that time — against players making money as athletes.
Today, it is a completely different world for college athletes as they can make NIL (name, image, likeness) deals worth millions.
Many people, including former Heisman winners, have called for Bush to have his award reinstated. Bush said he’s tried many times to get his award back, but was always frustrated.
Now, the Heisman Trust, which administers the award, announced that Bush would get his award back because of the enormous changes in the college football landscape. Bush will be invited to all future Heisman Trophy ceremonies.
Bush said he’s thrilled and honored.
Thanks for that story. That’s all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light!
Arizona grand jury indicts 2020 Trump electors
Airlines must now give full refunds instead of vouchers
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/24/travel/airline-refunds-fees.html
TikTok star bishop in Australia stabbed during live streamed service
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/15/australia/sydney-australia-stabbing-wakeley-intl/index.html
Dolphin found dead with multiple gunshot wounds on Louisiana beach
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/louisiana-dolphin-shot-dead
Reggie Bush to get back 2005 Heisman Trophy