News and Headlines: In The News, Politics, World News, Commentary/Opinion.
In The News:
Manchester man jumps into argument at Walmart parking lot, gets shot, then arrested
A man who police say intervened in a couple’s argument got a bullet in his back and faces a criminal threatening charge, as details emerged into a Sunday afternoon shooting at the Walmart parking lot in Manchester.
At one point three people had their weapons drawn at the lot on Gold Street. And like an action movie, one of them ended up jumping on the hood of a fleeing car, traveling about 20 feet and rolling off.
Police received most of their information about the incident from Bow resident James Stone, 28, who told authorities he fired about six rounds at Mann.
Colorado man arrested for pipe bombs had helped plan protest over coronavirus restrictions, report says
ATF and FBI agents were executing a search warrant of Bradley Bunn’s home in Loveland when they found four pipe bombs and potential pipe bomb components, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado said in a press release.
Officials told ABC News that Bunn came across law enforcement’s radar after he used social media to encourage people to bring assault rifles to a Friday rally at the Colorado Capitol building.
Investigators had reportedly discovered Bunn’s social media posts, which were deemed “angry” and “aggressive.”
They were later alerted that Bunn was allegedly in possession of pipe bombs, ABC News reported.
Judicial Watch Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Daily Caller News Foundation for Dr. Fauci and WHO Records
The suit was filed after HHS failed to respond to an April 1, 2020, FOIA request seeking:
Communications between Dr. Fauci and Deputy Director Lane and World Health Organization officials concerning the novel coronavirus.
Communications of Dr. Fauci and Deputy Director Lane concerning WHO, WHO official Bruce Aylward, WHO Director General Tedros Anhanom, and China.
The time period for the request is January 1, 2020 to April 1, 2020.
Additionally, the DCNF requested and was granted expedited processing of its request.
“China has strategically invested in U.S. academia to attempt to steal confidential information and technology from U.S. companies, and even the U.S. government.
Besides China peddling money for influence in U.S. institutions of higher education (IHE), China is restricting any research regarding the origins of COVID-19 that does not comport with CCP propaganda.
To nations battling peak pandemic outbreaks, the CCP’s machinations undoubtedly hamper the global response to the pandemic,” the letter, which was sent to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, stated.
J. Crew files for bankruptcy as preppy retailer succumbs to COVID-19
The New York-based chain, known for preppy clothing at times worn by former first lady Michelle Obama, filed for bankruptcy in a Virginia federal court with an agreement to eliminate $1.65 billion of debt in exchange for ceding ownership to lenders.
Overall, roughly $2 billion of its total debt will be cancelled and exchanged for roughly 82% of equity in the retailer under the plan’s terms, according to court records.
J. Crew, which employed about 13,000 people before an April furlough program, is the first high-profile retailer to seek bankruptcy protection since the coronavirus spread across the globe, prompting government officials to order businesses deemed nonessential to temporarily close.
Harvard Canceled Human Rights Event as Its President Met With Xi Jinping
Harvard University canceled a panel discussion on Hong Kong protests because the event coincided with the university president’s meet-and-greet with Chinese president Xi Jinping, according to a former university scholar.
Teng is a human rights lawyer who fled China after authorities kidnapped and tortured him for his participation in the 2014 Hong Kong protests.
Professor William P. Alford, a vice dean at the Harvard Law School, played a role in bringing Teng to Harvard. He also ordered Teng to cancel the event, according to the Harvard Crimson.
Alford told the Free Beacon that he intervened because he did not want to endanger the university’s Chinese operations.
Facial Recognition | Full Measure
In the ongoing mission to make our schools as safe as possible, some officials are turning to advanced technology like facial recognition.
But that’s sparking concerns about privacy.
Joce Sterman takes us to one of the first schools to deploy the technology.
Unfinished Business: The Whistleblower | Full Measure
Now we’re going to catch up with a man who may be one of the world’s most intriguing whistleblowers, he’s definitely one of the richest.
He’s Brad Birkenfeld, the one-time Swiss banker who turned evidence against U.S. tax evaders only to find the U.S. Justice Department targeting him.
Today, his Unfinished business.
Texas restaurant patron stuns with $1,300 tip on reopening day
The excitement was felt not only by Frog & Bull — which had been posting about the then-upcoming event throughout the week on its Facebook page, including videos showing the staff setting up the dining room and pictures of its newest wine additions — but by the patrons, who had turned out to support the business as soon as shelter-in-place orders expired April 30.
However, one customer showed his support for the tapas bar and steakhouse, which had originally opened in October 2019, with an incredibly generous offer on the Friday it reopened.
America’s road to reopening: States including Florida, Colorado and Arizona ease coronavirus restrictions
The moves come as the daily death toll across the U.S. dropped four days in a row for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic erupted earlier this year.
The 1,313 new deaths Sunday followed 1,426 deaths Saturday, 1,947 on Friday, and 2,029 on Thursday.
States like Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee began to lift restrictions to varying degrees last month, while Texas and Illinois followed suit last week.
The following states are either lifting measures for the first time or continuing their slow rollout to reopening.
Michigan security guard shot and killed after asking Family Dollar shopper to wear a mask
The 43-year-old security guard was shot Friday afternoon at the Family Dollar on Fifth Ave in Flint. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
It is required to wear a mask when in an enclosed public space, per Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order issued on April 24 to combat the spread of coronavirus.
MLive reports that suspects ran from the store and into high-rise apartments behind the Family Dollar.
Politics:
House Oversight Committee Republicans Announce Probe Into Chinese Infiltration Of American Colleges, Universities
“China has strategically invested in U.S. academia to attempt to steal confidential information and technology from U.S. companies, and even the U.S. government.
Besides China peddling money for influence in U.S. institutions of higher education (IHE), China is restricting any research regarding the origins of COVID-19 that does not comport with CCP propaganda.
To nations battling peak pandemic outbreaks, the CCP’s machinations undoubtedly hamper the global response to the pandemic,” the letter, which was sent to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, stated.
Democrats Strategy To Win In 2020
Commentary/Opinion:
It took weeks for Joe Biden to face questions about Tara Reade.
Is the Democrats strategy for 2020 to limit access to Joe Biden?
Here’s my take on their strategy and the controversy.
Cabello continues push for more information prison releases
Cabello said the governor’s actions send a concerning message.
“What this administration is signaling to the taxpayers of this state is that he is more worried about criminals than he is about you,” Cabello said.
“You must stay in your home, but those criminals are being let out of prison. It makes absolutely no sense to me and I think it’s pretty disgusting.”
Cabello said he wants more details from the administration as to why certain inmates, including some with violent offenses, have been chosen for an early release.
York reacts to Pompeo blasting China for suppressing coronavirus information
Commentary/Opinion:
The Trump administration ramps up attacks on China over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic;
Fox News contributor Byron York reacts.
Trump takes shot at California for wanting tighter border during coronavirus pandemic
Mexico had a total of 22,088 COVID-19 cases as of May 2, and officials in southern California have sought assistance in reducing cases in the U.S. that stem from border crossings.
“Mexico is sadly experiencing very big CoronaVirus problems, and now California, get this, doesn’t want people coming over the Southern Border,”
Trump tweeted Monday morning. “A Classic! They are sooo lucky that I am their President. Border is very tight and the Wall is rapidly being built!
Dems deploying DARPA-funded AI-driven information warfare tool to target pro-Trump accounts
The Washington Post first reported that the initiative, called Defeat Disinfo, will utilize “artificial intelligence and network analysis to map discussion of the president’s claims on social media,”
and then attempt to “intervene” by “identifying the most popular counter-narratives and boosting them through a network of more than 3.4 million influencers across the country — in some cases paying users with large followings to take sides against the president.”
The effort raised the question of whether taxpayer funds were being repurposed for political means, and whether social media platforms have rules in place that could stymie Hougland’s efforts — if he plays along.
McChrystal, who led U.S. forces in Afghanistan before he was fired by then-President Obama in 2010 for deriding his civilian bosses in a Rolling Stone interview, told the Post that the operation was necessary, even if it might appear unseemly.
Ken Starr: Flynn case shows James Comey, FBI leaders were ‘out to get’ the Trump administration
Commentary/Opinion:
“I think this is all about the president of the United States and the effort to obstruct the administration and the effort to do everything that they can to make the path forward for the president of the United States, including the Russia investigation, as difficult as possible,” Starr, a Fox News contributor, said on “Fox & Friends.”
“It was very, very immoral and unethical.”
“It’s a confirmation that this was a very unrighteous, if not outright unlawful, effort by Jim Comey’s FBI,” Starr, the former independent counsel who led the Whitewater investigation into then-President Bill Clinton in the mid-1990s, said on Monday.
World News:
South Korea to Reopen Schools Next Week Following Successful Virus Response
South Korea has postponed the beginning of the spring semester four times so far since imposing social distancing measures in March.
Yet with the average daily number of new cases now close to zero, education authorities said they are ready to start phasing in the renewal of classes based on age group.
Schools are scheduled to reopen across the country starting May 20, two months after the government closed them in response to the pandemic.
Millions Travel Across China for May Day Holiday
The energetic celebrations were presented as a milestone in China’s recovery from the coronavirus epidemic.
China’s state-run Xinhua news network put the spotlight on Lieshen, a mountain village that made May Day into a big debut for its rebranding as a rural tourist attraction.
“With the help of local authorities, villagers turn farmhouses into homestay hotels and make rural landscape [into] scenic spots [to] attract tourists,” Xinhua said, using aerial photographs to show how picturesque the town has become, and how satisfyingly full its parking lots were for the May Day holiday.
Suprème Court deliberates Benjamin Netanyahu’s eligibility to govern – TV7Israel News 4.5.20
1) The corona contagion seemingly continues to spread across the Jewish State, amid efforts by Jerusalem to restart the country’s economy.
2) Israel reopened schools throughout the country, as part of a gradual attempt to restart the state’s education system and the economic sector.
3) An extended panel of 11 justices held hearings of eight separate petitions against the formation of the national emergency government and Benjamin Netanyahu’s eligibility to serve as Prime Minister under indictment.
China’s Xian H-20 stealth bomber completes nuclear triad, could make debut this year
The highly-hyped Xian H-20 puts Australia, Japan, and the Korean peninsula all within shot and could spell trouble for the United States down the line.
“If the H-20 does have the range and passable stealth characteristics attributed to it, it could alter the strategic calculus between the United States and China by exposing U.S. bases and fleets across the Pacific to surprise air attacks,” National Interest reported.
DIA director, Lt. Gen. Robert P. Ashley Jr., said in a 2019 speech that “China is likely to at least double the size of its nuclear stockpile in the course of implementing the most rapid expansion and diversification of its nuclear arsenal in China’s history.”
Locusts destroying food supplies in the Horn of Africa
A second, much bigger wave of locusts is causing destruction on a vast scale across East Africa, months after the region was hit by another locust invasion.
David Hughes from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization explains the severe implications for many countries in the region.
Commentary/Opinion:
Social Justice Isn’t Justice
You’ll see a lot of references to justice in the Bible, but you’ll never see the word “social” precede it.
Why? Is it simply because social justice is a new cause that post dates the Bible?
Or is it because social justice, by its very nature, is directly at odds with justice as the Bible defines it?
Allie Beth Stuckey, host of Relatable on BlazeTV, takes a fresh look at this important issue.