Tuesday, April 12 top stories
It is Tuesday, April 12. Here are today’s top stories.
Brooklyn subway attack
This morning at a subway station in Brooklyn, New York City ten people were shot and six others injured in an attack by an unknown suspect who detonated a gas canister and opened fire inside of a subway. Videos and pictures showed panicked people running out of a subway that was filled with smoke and several people collapsing on the platform with bleeding wounds.
There was a massive police and first responder presence. Law enforcement said they recovered a gun and multiple high capacity magazines from the scene and believe that the gun jammed during the shooting. They also found fireworks and gunpowder at the scene. Previously they said they found several undetonated devices, but did not explain what they looked like.
Authorities said in an afternoon press conference that the suspect is a 5’5 Black male who was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and a green construction type vest. Police later said, according to news reports, that they are looking for a U-haul van with an Arizona license plate. Investigators also have a cell phone video that shows the shooter. Witnesses said the shooter was wearing a gas mask.
Law enforcement has asked the public to send in any tips of the suspect. They have not named this incident as “terrorism” but said they are not ruling it out either.
WNBA trying to get Brittney Griner home
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league is working hard to bring Brittney Griner home from her detainment in Russia in February.
Russian authorities accused Griner of carrying cannabis oil vape cartridges through a Moscow airport, which is a serious crime in Russia with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Griner was in Russia to play in a basketball league and happened to be arrested just before the Russian-Ukraine war broke out, which complicated the situation.
The WNBA Commissioner said getting Griner home safely is the league’s top priority and that it is an extraordinarily complex challenge. The WNBA’s season tips off on May 6.
Oklahoma makes most abortions illegal
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed into law a bill that makes it a felony to provide an abortion. The bill only allows abortion if it is necessary to save the pregnant person’s life.
Those who are convicted of providing an abortion for any other reason would face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
There are no exceptions for rape or incest. The bill will go into effect this summer.
An abortion rights group said the new law is clearly unconstitutional. Two organizations said they would sue Oklahoma to challenge the new law.
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Johnny Depp’s case against Amber Heard
Actor Johnny Depp is in court in a defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard. Opening statements were made today in a courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia.
Fox News explained that Depp sued Heard in 2019 for $50 million over an op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post alleging she was the victim of domestic abuse. Depp said the allegations are false.
Fox said Depp previously filed a similar lawsuit in England and lost after a judge determined Depp assaulted Heard multiple times and caused her to fear for her life.
U.S. inflation highest since 1981
Inflation in the U.S. is at its highest level since 1981. The Labor Department said its consumer price index, which measures costs of everyday items, medical care, and housing, is up 8.5% in March compared with the year prior.
AP News said the rising prices are due to lingering supply chain issues, strong consumer demand for goods, and disruptions to global food and energy markets worsened by Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Putin vows to “complete” war in Ukraine
Russian President Putin said today that his invasion of Ukraine would continue until “its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set.” He said the main goal of the war is to help people in eastern Ukraine and to ensure the security of Russia. Putin said “it’s obvious that we had no other choice.”
In separate but related news, the Pentagon said it is looking at social media reports of Russian forces deploying chemical weapons in Mariupol. The Pentagon said they cannot confirm at this time but will monitor the situation closely.
That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.
https://nypost.com/2022/04/12/nypd-investigating-possible-explosion-in-brooklyn-subway-station/
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/brooklyn-subway-shooting-multiple-people-shot/
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/stars-witness-list-johnny-depp-amber-heard-trial-virginia
https://apnews.com/article/us-inflation-rate-historic-high-4ba3435cc3730198e299690a9d968038
https://www.axios.com/inflation-surges-march-6edc4545-094c-44c0-a14c-7f3dc77550f3.html
https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/brooklyn-subway-shooting-nyc/index.html