The Daily Moth 3-19-2025
It is Wednesday, March 19, 2025. I will share two Deaf News updates and then cover today’s Top Stories.
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Frank and Marlene Turk’s Celebration of Life on March 20 with livestream available
The Celebration of Life for Frank Turk and his wife Marlene, who tragically passed away on March 12 at their home in South Dakota along with their dog due to carbon monoxide poisoning, will take place on Thursday, March 20 at the Peace Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, SD at 4:15 p.m. CST / 5:15 p.m. EST. I’ve provided a link in the description and transcript of the obituary and if you scroll down, you will see a livestream link. The family of the Turks said they requests donations be made to the NAD and the YLC Foundation.
Obituary and Livestream link: https://www.koberfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Dr-Frank-R-Turk-Sr?obId=38893032#/obituaryInfo
Marlene: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/keloland/name/marlene-turk-obituary?id=57886842
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“Deaf President Now” wins SXSW award and to be available on Apple TV+ May 16
Gallaudet University announced that the documentary, “Deaf President Now!” won the Film Festival Audience Award at SXSW in Austin and that the documentary will be available to watch on Apple TV+ on May 16. The film was co-directed by Nyle DiMarco and has in-depth interviews and coverage of the 1988 DPN protests.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DHZPR9QJdAu/
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Louisiana executes inmate with nitrogen gas method
USAToday reported that the state of Louisiana executed Jessie Hoffman on Tuesday using nitrogen gas for the first time in state history.
Hoffman was convicted of brutally raping and murdering a 28-year-old woman, Molly Elliott, in 1996 when he was 18 years old.
USAToday said Louisiana used the nitrogen gas method after struggling to obtain drugs for lethal injections.
There was a court battle over whether the execution could proceed due to concerns that Hoffman would experience pain and torture in violation of his constitutional rights. Hoffman also argued that the use of nitrogen gas would violate his religious beliefs as a Buddhist who practices mediative breathing. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court declined to stop the execution.
Hoffman was strapped to a gurney and had a full-face mask fitted on his head that was connected to a nitrogen gas supply. When it flowed, it deprived Hoffman of oxygen. Witnesses said he convulsed briefly and then became very still, and was later pronounced dead.
Molly Elliott’s husband said he feels relief that this “long nightmare is finally over, but also renewed grief for Molly and sadness for Hoffman’s family…”
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Trump and Zelenskyy talk on phone
ABC News reported that President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy spoke on the phone today as talks continue to try and end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Trump said the call lasted an hour and was very good. He said most of the discussion was based on his call with Russian President Putin yesterday and on how to align both Russia and Ukraine’s requests and needs.
Zelenskyy said it was a good and productive conversation.
If you remember, Trump and Putin’s call on Tuesday resulted in a 30-day agreement from Russia to not strike energy infrastructure.
ABC News said despite that call, both Russia and Ukraine traded strikes overnight with an alleged Russian drone attack on a hospital and an alleged Ukrainian attack on an oil depot facility.
Zelenskyy said today in a news conference with the Finnish president that Putin’s words aren’t enough to secure an agreement. He said he would present a list of which facilities and targets are off-limits and if Russia doesn’t strike them, then Ukraine would not strike Russian facilities.
Another news from the call is that President Trump proposed the US own Ukraine’s nuclear power plants so they can be supported and protected.
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Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged and sees higher inflation
The New York Times reported that the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged, to leave interest rates at 4.25 percent to 4.5 percent. The Times said most Fed officials expect interest rates to decline this year.
The Federal Reserve said they are bracing for higher inflation and slower growth ahead, but believes the U.S. economy is moving at a solid pace and that the unemployment rate is stabilizing at a low level. One thing that is causing uncertainty is President Trump’s tariffs as it’s still unknown whether they’ll drive up prices for consumers and businesses.
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More egg product seizures than fentanyl seizures at border
CBS News said data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection show that there have been more egg products seized at U.S. borders than the number of seizures of fentanyl so far in fiscal year 2025.
There were 5,572 egg product seizures compared with 413 fentanyl seizures.
The rise in egg seizures is happening as the U.S. is seeing surging egg prices due to an outbreak of avian flu that has devastated the poultry industry.
The CBP said most of the egg product seizures were due to people being unaware that they generally couldn’t bring fresh eggs, raw chicken, or live birds into the U.S. from Mexico or Canada.
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Trump administration suspends $175M in federal funding for Penn over transgender swimmer
AP News reported that the Trump administration has suspended about $175 million in federal funding for the University of Pennsylvania over a transgender swimmer who last competed for the school in 2022 and won a Division 1 title, Lia Thomas.
The White House said the federal money was suspended in a review of discretionary federal money going to universities.
Penn said they haven’t received notification or details of the action. Penn said they have always followed NCAA and Ivy League policies.
AP explained that in 2022, the NCAA used a sport-by-sport approach to allowing transgender athletes to participate in sports and Lia Thomas was allowed to compete because she completed one year of hormone replacement therapy.
That NCAA policy has been changed after President Trump signed an executive order in February to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls and women’s sports.
So, this $175 million suspension in funding is yet another action from the White House against an university, with the other case the $400 suspension in funding and grants for Columbia University over concerns of antisemitism surrounding campus protests.
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Israel says it has launched new ground operation in Gaza
Reuters reported that the Israeli military said its forces has resumed ground operations in central and southern Gaza after two days of airstrikes.
Israel said it wants to create a “partial buffer zone” between northern and southern Gaza.
At least 438 Palestinians have been killed from the airstrikes, which ended a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that lasted for two months. Hamas said Israel is violating the ceasefire. So far, Hamas has not launched a counterattack against Israel or their military.
The United Nations said an Israeli airstrike killed a foreign staffer and wounded five workers at a U.N. headquarters in central Gaza City, but Israel denied this, saying they hit a Hamas site that was preparing to fire into Israeli territory.
There are between 20-30 hostages seized from Israel that are still alive in Gaza. Israel warned Hamas that if they are not released, they would “act with force you have not yet seen.”
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That is all the news that I have to share for today. Be sure to check out the new video of Dr. IV Mirus answering a health-related question. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.