Thursday August 27 top news briefs
Hello, it is Thursday, August 27. Here are today’s top news briefs.
Hurricane Laura causes severe damage
Hurricane Laura made landfall near Lake Charles, Louisiana about 1 a.m. this morning with 150 mph winds, a Category 4 hurricane. Many buildings and homes had severe damage. Many areas in southwest Louisiana is flooded. At least four people, including a 14-year-old girl, died in different places when they were hit by falling trees. Almost a million people are without power in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Officials in impacted areas said they are still waiting for the weather to improve before they can search and rescue missing people.
NBA and pro sports league boycott or cancel practices
The Milwaukee Bucks decided to boycott yesterday’s NBA playoff game to take a stand against police brutality and in support of Jacob Blake, who was shot by police in Wisconsin, and it inspired other pro sports leagues to also conduct boycotts. The WNBA, MLB, and MLS postponed games. There was some speculation that the NBA would cease their season outright, but it seems like the NBA will resume playoffs on Friday. Several NFL teams cancelled practice today. The Detroit Lions was the first team to not show up for a practice on Tuesday. The NHL still held playoff games last night, but will suspend games scheduled for today after BIPOC hockey players took a lead in demanding the NHL take a stand against police brutality.
Wisconsin Justice Department releases account of Jacob Blake shooting
The Wisconsin Department of Justice released its “initial account” of the circumstances before and after police officers in Kenosha shot at Jacob Blake. The account said police officers were called to go to a home because a woman made a claim that her boyfriend was not supposed to be on the property. The account said police officers tried to arrest Blake, and used a taser, but that it didn’t work, and then an officer shot at Blake’s back seven times. The account said Blake did tell officers that he had a knife and that a knife was found inside of his car. Kenosha police officers do not wear body cameras.
Debate over Kyle Rittenhouse
There is a debate and controversy on social media over Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old white boy who was arrested and charged with murdering two people during overnight protests in Kenosha over the shooting of Jacob Blake between Tuesday and Wednesday. He was seen carrying a large AR-type rifle on the streets and videos show him shooting at protesters. People have pointed out the stark differences in how police treated Rittenhouse compared with Blake — that Rittenhouse, after killing two people, could easily walk past police officers and go back to his mother’s house (where he was arrested) while Blake, who was not carrying a weapon, was shot in the back seven times even though he did not kill anyone. Popular Fox News host Tucker Carlson caused controversy by saying that we shouldn’t be shocked that a 17-year-old had to maintain order when no one else would. People criticized him for appearing to approve of the murder of protesters. Donald Trump Jr. tweeted that the left-wing media is twisting Tucker Carlson’s words.
RNC Night 3 highlights
Last night was the third night of the Republican National Convention. Vice President Mike Pence gave a speech from Fort McHenry in Baltimore in which he said President Donald Trump has set our nation on a path to freedom and opportunity and warned that Joe Biden would cause America to go on a path of socialism and decline. Second Lady Karen Pence said the Pences are a military family and that she wants to elevate and encourage military spouses and thanked military families for their service and sacrifices. Outgoing Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway said President Trump has elevated women to senior positions in business and government and has helped her to shatter barriers by empowering her to manage Trump’s successful 2016 presidential campaign. Tonight will be the final night of the RNC and President Trump will give his keynote speech to make the case for his re-election.
That is all the top stories for today. Be sure to check out our special project on the Louisiana inmate interpreting program. See you tomorrow and stay with the light!
https://www.axios.com/jacob-blake-shooting-report-kenosha-abfad0df-d100-4deb-a340-0fec30b50ada.html