Friday, November 19 top stories
It is Friday, November 19. Here are today’s top stories.
Today the jury in the Kyle Rittenhouse homicide trial in Wisconsin found him not guilty on all five charges.
This means the jury believes that Rittenhouse acted in self defense when he used an AR-15 type rifle to shoot and kill Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and injured a third man last year during protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
Rittenhouse was emotional when he was found not guilty, sobbing and buckling. The jury deliberated for three full days and for about two hours today before reaching their decision.
Rittenhouse faced a life sentence with his most serious charges, but was able to walk out of the courtroom with the verdicts.
There is still a public debate on whether Rittenhouse was a victim or a vigilante. At the time of signing this news, there are crowds of people outside of the courthouse with some signaling support or opposition to the verdict. There are about 500 National Guard troops who are on standby for possible unrest.
Today the FDA authorized the booster shots of the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines for all adults. Previously it was only authorized for those 65 or older or those with other health conditions. If the CDC gives the OK for the booster shots, it would mean that everyone 18 or older is eligible for a booster dose if it’s been at least six months since their second dose.
Several studies found that those who received booster shots had a much lower chance of becoming severely ill from Covid-19. Over 32 million people have already received a booster dose.
Today Vice President Kamala Harris became the first woman in history to have presidential powers, although it was temporary, because President Joe Biden was under anesthesia for a routine colonoscopy. Harris worked at the White House today as Biden went to the Walter Reed Medical Center.
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On Thursday, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) announced that he would call off the planned execution of Julius Jones only a few hours before he was to receive lethal injection. The governor said he would reduce the death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The announcement set off celebrations outside of an Oklahoma prison and in the state capitol building.
In 2002, Jones and another man named Christopher Jordan were convicted of murdering a 45-year-old father named Paul Howell as he was parked in his car in the driveway of his parents’ home. Howell’s sister and two daughters saw the murder.
Jones denied that he was the shooter and said he was home at the time of the murder. Jordan testified against Jones in the case in exchange for a plea deal and there are questions about whether Jordan was truthful. There are claims that Jordan confessed to others that he framed Jones. Several celebrities and professional athletes have spoken out in support of Jones.
Howell’s family said they understand that the Oklahoma governor had a difficult decision to make and take comfort in knowing that Jones will stay in prison for the remainder of his life.
Austria announced a new national lockdown beginning Monday that will last for 10 days over concerns with record numbers of new Covid-19 infections. Nonessential businesses will be forced to close and people will have to stay home unless they need to go out for essential reasons such as grocery shopping or visiting a doctor. Those who don’t comply may face fines. AP News said Austria has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Western Europe and that hospitals in some regions are almost full. Austrian officials also said there would be a national vaccination mandate starting February 1.
House Democrats passed a $2 trillion bill called the “Build Back Better Act” that aims to help Americans with healthcare, education, and climate change.
The bill aims to fund free, universal prekindergarten for all American children aged three and four, provide new Medicare benefits, make insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act cheaper or free for millions of people, provide affordable housing, improve our immigration system, and set aside $550 billion to fight climate change.
Democrats plan to tax wealthy Americans and large corporations that pay no income taxes in order to help pay for the bill.
The bill now goes to the Senate. Politico said it will be at least two weeks before the Senate considers the legislation and that it is likely to undergo changes before it can win support from all 50 Democrats.
That is all the top stories for this week. Thank you for watching “The Daily Moth.” Have a great weekend and I’ll see you on Monday. Stay with the light.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/19/health/covid-vaccine-boosters-fda-cdc/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/19/politics/kamala-harris-presidential-power/index.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/17/us/julius-jones-oklahoma-clemency.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/11/19/house-spending-reconciliation-bill/
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/11/19/democrats-social-spending-bill-passes-house-523026