Month: March 2022

The Supreme Court announced in a statement that Justice Clarence Thomas has been hospitalized with an infection.  Supreme Court spokesperson Patricia McCabe said that Thomas was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., on Friday evening after experiencing flu-like symptoms. He was diagnosed with an infection after undergoing tests and is being treated with intravenous antibiotics. McCabe did not provide more details on the nature of the infection, saying: “His symptoms are abating, he is resting comfortably, and he expects to be released from the hospital in a day or two. Justice Thomas will participate in the consideration and discussion of any cases for which he is not present on the basis of the briefs, transcripts and audio of the oral arguments.”

Thomas does not have a known history of health issues. He, along with the other eight justices, has been vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, according to the Court.

Thomas is the second-oldest justice on the Supreme Court at 73 years old, after Justice Stephen Breyer, and is the most senior conservative.  The Court is reconvening Monday at 10 a.m. for two weeks of oral arguments.  As of press time, it appears Thomas will not be participating in the arguments remotely, but will still vote in the cases.

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Police said on Sunday that one person was killed and at least 28 others were injured in a shooting at a car show in southeastern Arkansas. The shooting took place at a car show in Dumas, Ark., known as “NeighborHOOD PicNIC.”  Dumas is about 87 miles southeast of Little Rock.  Arkansas State Police Colonel Bill Bryant identified the victim who died as 23-year-old Cameron Shaffer.  Among the injured victims were six young children, including two toddlers, who were taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.  As of press time, five victims had been released.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said that two suspects were in custody after the shooting that took place on Saturday at around 7 p.m., including one who was arrested and another who was being held on unrelated charges.  Said Hutchinson: “The shooting spree in Dumas last night at a community family event represents a total disregard of the value of life.” 

Arkansas State Police Colonel Bill Bryant said he believed the shooting began when two people got into a gunfight. Dumas Police Chief Keith Finch said “multiple gunmen began shooting” while the car show was in full swing. The events’ organizers, a nonprofit called the Hoodnic Foundation, said they were “heartbroken and in shock at what took place during tonight’s car show.”

The event organizers, a nonprofit called the Hoodnic Foundation, said they were “heartbroken and in shock at what took place during tonight’s car show.”  The event, in its 16th year, also includes a parade and other activities each spring to raise funds for scholarships and school supplies.  Hoodnic Foundation’s director Wallace McGehee said:  “We apologize for all of this … This has never happened with us at our event ever. For something like this to happen, it’s a tragedy.”

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