Wednesday, February 9 top stories
It is Wednesday, February 9. Here are today’s top stories.
USA wins first gold medal
Team USA finally has its first gold medal after several days of competition. Lindsey Jacobellis won the snowboard cross event. She is 36 years old and is the oldest female medalist in Winter Olympics history for Team USA.
Jacobellis became infamous in 2006 because in the same cross event, she was leading the gold medal race when she became careless with a jump and fell down right before the finish line, allowing another competitor to pass her and snatch the gold medal. She got the silver.
Jacobellis returned to other Olympics competitions between 2006 and now but never medaled again — until now, she’s finally got her gold.
New York ends mask mandate
New York Gov. Hochul (D) announced the state would end its indoor mask mandate and a requirement that businesses ask customers for proof of vaccination starting Thursday. New York is the latest “blue” state that is ending most mask mandates in line with declining Omicron cases. Masks are still required for schools, healthcare settings, and public transportation.
Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill
There is a bill in Florida’s legislature that aims to bar school districts from encouraging classroom discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill’s formal name is “Parental Rights in Education,” but critics call it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Supporters of the bill say they want to make sure that parents are able to make decisions regarding the upbringing of their children. Critics and gay rights advocates said the bill aims to erase LGBTQ identity, history, and culture — as well as LGBTQ students themselves.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said he supports the bill because he doesn’t want to see those concepts “injected” at schools.
President Biden vowed that his administration would fight against the bill. He tweeted, “I want every member of the LGBTQI+ community — especially the kids who will be impacted by this hateful bill — to know that you are loved and accepted just as you are.”
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Rep. Hal Rogers apologizes for “unacceptable words”
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), who is the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said yesterday that as she was about to get on a Capitol train to go to the House for votes, she asked Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky) to put on his mask. She said Rogers poked on her back to demand she get on the train and when she said not to touch her, Rogers said, “kiss my ass.”
Not long after this, over 30 members of the Congressional Black Caucus gathered on the Capitol steps to give remarks in support of Beatty.
Rogers tweeted a few hours later that he met with Beatty to personally apologize for his unacceptable words.
Crocodile has tire around neck removed
In Indonesia, a 15-feet long wild crocodile that had a motorcycle tire stuck around its neck for six years finally had it removed. A man named Tili, who is experienced in catching birds and animals, managed to trap the crocodile using ropes tied to trees with raw meat laid out as bait. It took three weeks and several failed attempts before Tili finally captured the crocodile. He and his friends pulled the animal on dry land and sawed the tire off.
McConnell criticizes RNC censures
On Friday the Republican National Committee (RNC) voted on an official censure and cessation of any and all support of Republican House Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger over their roles on the Jan 6. Committee investigating the Capitol riot.
The RNC said in their resolution that Cheney and Kinzinger “support Democrat efforts to destroy President Trump more than they support winning back a Republican majority in 2022…”
The RNC also said the January 6. rioters were being persecuted for engaging in legitimate discourse.
Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized the RNC, saying that’s not the RNC’s job to single out members of their own party who may have different viewpoints. McConnell also said the Jan 6. rioters were engaged in a “violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power.”
So, we are seeing a lot of division between Donald Trump and the RNC and former Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. McConnell.
That is all the top stories for today. Check out our other videos. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.
https://sports.yahoo.com/lindsey-jacobellis-finally-gets-her-olympic-gold-081037144.html
https://www.axios.com/new-york-drops-indoor-mask-mandate-56fab8c9-a70b-4c1b-b13a-9a4f6213d956.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-dont-say-gay-bill-lgbtq-schools/
https://www.npr.org/2022/02/09/1079514137/crocodile-freed-tire-indonesia
https://www.axios.com/mitch-mcconnell-rnc-gop-censure-1e55086a-5c8b-41db-a661-0cf960f8ba58.html
https://www.politico.com/minutes/congress/02-8-2022/a-disturbing-allegation/