August 28 today’s news
It is August 28. Hope your weekend was good. I’m back in my regular studio. Ready for today’s news?
Racially-motivated mass shooting in Jacksonville
On Saturday, a 21-year-old gunman shot and killed three people at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida before turning the gun on himself.
Law enforcement said it was a racially motivated shooting and all the victims were Black. The gunman, who was white. left behind several pieces of writings that showed he had hatred for Black people. An AR-15 rifle he used in the shooting had swastikas painted on one side.
The three victims at the store were Anolt “AJ” Laguerre Jr. (19), Jerrald De’Shaun Gallon (29), and Angela Michelle Carr (52).
The shooting could have happened at a nearby historically Black university, Edward Waters University. The gunman, prior to shooting up Dollar General, had attempted to enter the university but campus security blocked him and refused to allow entry. The gunman then went to the Dollar General and carried out the shooting.
The gunman was identified as Ryan Palmeter.
The Department of Justice said it would investigate the shooting as a hate crime and an act of racially motivated violent extremism.
Tropical Storm Idalia forecast to be hurricane
Tropical Storm Idalia is a storm southwest of Cuba that is projected to turn into a hurricane today. It is expected to approach Florida’s Gulf Coast sometime on Wednesday, possibly as a dangerous major hurricane (Category 3 or above).
Current forecast maps show that the hurricane may make landfall somewhere between Panama City and Tampa. Several counties in that area are under a “hurricane warning.”
Bob Barker dies at 99
Bob Barker passed away at the age of 99 on Saturday in Los Angeles.
He was best known for being the popular host of “The Price is Right,” a role he maintained for 35 years beginning in 1972. Barker won 19 Daytime Emmy awards.
The New York Times said Barker was widely known for his dedication to animal rights issues and would always remind viewers on “The Price is Right” to spay or neuter their pets.
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Trump’s federal trial on election charges March 4
Federal judge Tanya Chutkan, the judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal case on charges of trying to overturn the 2020 election, scheduled the trial to begin on March 4, 2024.
This is not the Georgia election case where Trump received a mug shot last week — this is the case brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith. Trump is indicted with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., obstruction, and conspiracy against rights.
The March 4 trial date is a day before Super Tuesday, which is one of the biggest primary election days during the presidential election season.
Trump’s attorneys previously requested a trial date in 2026 because they needed time to prepare for trial.
Judge Chutkan said Trump, like any defendant, will have to make the trial date work regardless of his schedule.
Spanish football president controversy
Spanish football president Luis Rubiales is under a serious controversy after he forced a kiss on the lips of a female Spanish player after the team won the Women’s World Cup. He grabbed her head and kissed her.
The player’s name is Jennifer Hermoso. She said she did not consent to the kiss and felt like a victim.
There was a lot of criticism towards Rubiales and calls for him to resign. He fought back against the criticism, calling it “false feminism” and said that the kiss was just like a father kissing a daughter. He said he refused to resign.
FIFA has suspended Rubiales as president. He may face criminal charges because Spanish prosecutors said they are looking at whether the kiss can be considered an act of sexual assault.
That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.
Jax shooting: https://www.npr.org/2023/08/26/1196195934/jacksonville-florida-dollar-store-shooting
Hurricane: https://www.wesh.com/article/idalia-florida-path/44923177
Election: https://www.axios.com/2023/08/28/trump-trial-election-interference
Spanish football: https://sports.yahoo.com/jenni-hermoso-didnt-consent-luis-181706997.html
https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2023/8/28/spain-prosecutors-open-sexual-assault-probe-rubiales-kiss