Tuesday, May 11 top stories
It is Tuesday, May 11. Here are today’s top stories.
Today in Kazan, Russia, a gunman opened fire in a school. Seven eight-graders, a teacher, and a school worker were killed and over 20 were injured.
Witnesses said there were explosions before the shooting began on the third floor and that there was thick smoke pouring out of windows. A news report from Russia said two students died as a result of falling from a third-floor window to try and escape the gunman.
News reports said the gunman, who was arrested, is a 19-year-old man who is a registered gun owner.
NPR said a Russian newspaper showed an image of the gunman, explaining that he was a former student and posted on social media his intention to attack the school.
NPR said school shootings in Russia are rare, but there have been several in recent years and that Russian President Putin ordered the country to “tighten the country’s already strict gun laws even more.”
On Monday the FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use for children ages 12 to 15. CNBC explained that the CDC will meet on Wednesday to provide its approval, and after that, the vaccines can be distributed for kids ages 12 to 15.
Pfizer held clinical trials with over 2,000 kids in this age group and found that the vaccine was 100% effective with children developing antibodies and having similar side effects as adults.
Pfizer is aiming to get FDA approval for children under 12 later this fall.
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The top Republican in the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy (Calif), said House Republicans will vote on Wednesday on recalling Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo) from her role as the Conference Chair.
Cheney said last week that the 2020 presidential election was not stolen and that anyone who claims it was is spreading the “BIG LIE.” It was a direct confrontation to former president Donald Trump, who still believes that there was massive fraud.
McCarthy said he is holding the vote to resolve internal conflicts so they can focus on taking back the House in 2022.
Rep. Elise Stefanik from New York is expected to replace Cheney as the third most powerful Republican in the House.
Stefanik is a strong defender of Trump, speaking up for him during his first impeachment trial and after the January 6 insurrection. Trump has praised her, making her popularity rise quickly.
A former nurse’s assistant at a Veterans Affairs hospital in West Virginia, Reta Mays, received seven life sentences for murdering seven veterans by injecting them with fatal doses of insulin in 2017 and 2018.
The judge overseeing the case said Mays weaponized the medication and used it as an instrument of death.
Mays has never explained why she carried out the murders.
The seven victims were males between the ages of 82 and 96. Mays tearfully apologized to the families of the victims in court. The judge called her a monster before handing out her sentence.
CBS News said at least 71 bodies were found floating or washed up on the banks of the Ganges River in eastern India. Many believe the bodies were those who died of Covid-19, but authorities say they can’t confirm it.
India continues to face extremely high numbers of daily new cases and deaths. A chief scientist with the World Health Organization said there is a “triple-mutant Covid variant” that is spreading in India that is becoming a global health threat. The variant is called B.1.6.17. It spreads more easily than the original virus and is stronger against available vaccines.
Al Jazeera reported that at least 28 Palestinians including 10 children were killed from air strikes conducted by the Israeli military in retaliation for rocket attacks fired by Hamas militants from Gaza Strip.
Hamas was angry that Israeli police were occupying the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan, which ends tomorrow. There were massive clashes and riots in recent days. People are also angry about land disputes between Palestinian neighborhoods and Jewish settlers.
Israel said over 400 rockets were fired at them and that two people were killed. CBS News showed an image of cars hit by rocket fire. The Israeli military said they are trying to target Hamas militant leaders with its airstrikes.
That is all the top stories for today. Check out our other videos. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.
Cheney: https://twitter.com/JakeSherman/status/1391829349096116226/photo/1
School shooting in Russia: https://www.npr.org/2021/05/11/995777095/at-least-8-dead-in-school-shooting-in-russia
Pfizer: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/10/pfizer-covid-vaccine-fda-clears-use-in-kids-ages-12-to-15.html
VA Hospital Murders: https://abcnews.go.com/US/monster-woman-killed-veterans-va-hospital-life-sentences/story?id=77623633
India: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/india-covid-ganges-river-bodies/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-gaza-airstrikes-rockets-middle-east-news-2021-05-11/