Category: News Daypop

Eric Greitens, Missouri’s former governor and current Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, has been accused by his ex-wife Sheena Greitens of allegedly being physically abusive and “unstable,” according to court records filed on Monday.

Sheena Greitens and Eric Greitens have been part of an ongoing child custody battle. Their divorce was finalized in May 2020 and a county court decision said the marriage was “irretrievably broken” and that a joint parenting plan is “in [the] best interest of minor children.” However, Eric Greitens has since said he wants full custody of their two children.

Greitens’ campaign said that the affidavit is part of a “politically-motivated attack.  His children deserve a father who will speak the truth and stand up against malicious attacks that are clearly politically motivated. This attack is nothing more than a sad attempt to force a father to yield custody of his children to a deranged individual.”  In a statement, Eric Greitens said: “I will continue to love and care for my beautiful sons with all of my being, and that includes fighting for the truth and against completely fabricated, baseless allegations. I am seeking full custody of my sons, and for their sake, I will continue to pray for their mother and hope that she gets the help that she needs,” adding that “ultimately truth will always prevail.”

Greitens served just over one year as Missouri’s governor before he resigned in 2018 after allegations of sexual misconduct and blackmail for allegedly taking a picture of his former hairdresser with whom he was having an affair, as well as an ethics investigation and a computer data tampering criminal charge. Greitens admitted to the affair and called it consensual, but denied taking the photograph and the blackmail accusation. Prosecutors dropped an invasion of privacy charge related to the alleged incident in May 2018.

Eric Greitens is looking to succeed retiring Republican Senator Roy Blunt in his bid for U.S. Senate. Also in the field are Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Representatives Billy Long and Vicky Hartzler. Hartzler, Schmitt, Long and Lucas Kunce, a Marine and Democratic candidate in the race, have called for Greitens to drop out of the U.S. Senate race.

The deadline for candidates to file for the Missouri primary is March 29, 2022; the primary is slated to be held August 2.

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President Biden’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, addressed senators on the first day of confirmation hearings on Monday, telling the lawmakers she would “decide cases from a neutral posture” if they approve her nomination to the high court.  Jackson told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee: “Members of this committee: If I am confirmed, I commit to you that I will work productively to support and defend the Constitution and the grand experiment of American democracy that has endured over these past 246 years. During this hearing, I hope that you will see how much I love our country and the Constitution, and the rights that make us free.”

Jackson sat silently for most of the 4.5-hour session as the 22 committee members delivered opening statements and previewed their lines of inquiry for the two days of questioning ahead. Many Democrats lauded Jackson for shattering barriers with her nomination, and Republicans also applauded Jackson for her nomination, previewing the aspects of her professional record they plan to examine, namely the sentences she imposed on child pornography offenders while serving as a judge on the federal district court in Washington and clients she represented as a federal assistant public defender and in private practice. Many GOP members of the Judiciary panel pledged to avoid personal attacks on Jackson, but they still vowed to probe her judicial philosophy and views of the Supreme Court.

Jackson’s four-day confirmation hearings begin just 24 days after President Biden announced her as his nominee to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court.  Currently a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Jackson served on the federal district court in Washington for eight years and was a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission. If appointed to the Supreme Court, Jackson will be the second-youngest justice at 51 years old.

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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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In a move designed to further isolate Moscow’s economy in response to President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, the House passed a bill on Thursday that will suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus.  Biden is expected to sign the trade suspension measure into law when it reaches his desk. The House-passed bill now heads to the Senate.

The bill would revoke Russia’s “most favored nation” status in the World Trade Organization and pave the way for President Biden to introduce higher tariffs on Russian goods such as steel, aluminum and plywood. It’s the latest in a series of punitive actions in coordination with the E.U. and Group of Seven industrial nations after Russia invaded Ukraine last month.

The vote came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a virtual address to Congress, calling on lawmakers to do more to help Ukraine.  The Biden administration has already imposed a series of punitive measures to block Russian oil and gas imports in coordination with the European Union. However Zelenskyy has repeatedly asked for his allies to take military steps to protect Ukraine, such as imposing a no-fly zone over parts of the country and providing fighter jets.

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A federal judge has allowed a Texas man accused of assaulting a police officer during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot to plead guilty in an unusual move from the court.  U.S. District Judge Randy Moss repeatedly asked the defendant, Lucas Denney, if he was aware of his rights and if he wanted to proceed with pleading guilty to assaulting an officer at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. Prosecutors violated laws by waiting months to file charges against Denney; just recently they filed a one-count indictment despite initially having Denney arrested on additional charges.

William Shipley, an attorney for Denney, had earlier moved at a hearing for a guilty plea in part because he believes doing so would preclude the filing of more charges; Judge Moss rejected him.  During Thursday’s hearing, however, the judge was particularly focused on telling Denney that pleading guilty to one charge didn’t mean he wouldn’t face more charges in the future.

Denney consulted with his lawyers before pleading guilty, and Judge Moss accepted Denney’s plea, having determined there was a factual basis for the plea. Denney admitted to picking up a pole from the ground and swinging that item at a law enforcement officer. saying, “The purpose was to block the pepper spray, but I did.” Denney had told the FBI that he was a member of the group Patriot Boys of North Texas, which he described as a conservative group that supported President Donald Trump. Denney was accused of lying about not knowing anybody who went to Washington to enter the Capitol.

If prosecutors had filed all the charges listed in the complaint, Denney would have faced some two dozen charges. Prosecutors say at this time, they have not made a decision on pursuing additional charges. Following his guilty plea, Denney faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

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President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that another $800 million in military aid will be approved for Ukraine; this after President Volodymyr Zelensky made an appeal for assistance before a joint session of Congress.  Biden said the military support will include 800 anti-aircraft systems, 9,000 anti-armor systems, 7,000 small arms, drones and other equipment.  Biden said in an address from the White House: ‘This could be a long and difficult battle. But the American people will be steadfast in our support of the people of Ukraine in the face of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s immoral, unethical attacks on civilian populations. We are united in our abhorrence of Putin’s depraved onslaught. And we’re going to continue to have their backs as they fight for their freedom, their democracy, their very survival.”

Biden’s announcement came just hours after Zelensky urged lawmakers to do more to help Ukraine. Presenting a video that showed graphic footage on the ground in Ukraine, Zelensky said: “Russia has turned the Ukrainian sky into a source of death for thousands of people. To create a no-fly zone over Ukraine, to save people, is this too much to ask? Humanitarian, no-fly zone, something that Russia would not be able to terrorize our free cities. If this is too much to ask, we offer an alternative. You know what kind of defense systems we need, such as 300 and similar other systems. You know how much depends on the battlefield, on the ability to use aircraft. Powerful, strong aviation to protect our people.”

In his address, Zelensky directly asked Biden:“I wish you to be the leader of the world. Being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace.”  His appeals came as negotiators resumed peace talks on Wednesday, where Zelensky said that discussions are coming along slowly and that they’re beginning to “sound more realistic.”

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The Texas Department of Public Safety announced Wednesday that a college van carrying the University of Southwest’s men’s and women’s golf teams collided head-on with a pickup truck in West Texas, killing nine people and injuring two. Among the casualties were six students and their coach, as well as the driver and passenger in the other involved vehicle.  University President Quint Thurman said in a statement: “We are still learning the details about the accident, but we are devastated and deeply saddened to learn about the loss of our students’ lives and and their coach.”

The crash killed Tyler James, USW’s golf coach who was driving the van at the time, as well as 38-year-old truck driver Henrich Siemens, of Seminole. Siemens’ passenger, a 13-year-old boy, also died in the collision. The USW students killed were Mauricio Sanchez, 19, of Mexico; Travis Garcia, 19, of Pleasanton, Texas; Jackson Zinn, 22, of Westminster, Colo.; Karissa Raines, 21, of Fort Stockton, Texas; Laci Stone, 18, of Nocona, Texas; and Tiago Sousa, 18, of Portugal.  Two other students, Dayton Price and Hayden Underhill, were transported to the hospital in critical condition.

USW is a private Christian university based in Hobbs, N.M. James was entering his first season as head coach of both the men’s and women’s golf teams  The team was headed to a tournament in Midland, Texas, on Thursday and was scheduled to play in a tournament at Midland College.

In a statement, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said: “We grieve with the loved ones of the individuals whose lives were horrifically taken too soon in this fatal vehicle crash near Andrews last night.” 

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On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate passed a bill in an unanimous voice vote that would make daylight savings time permanent, potentially putting an end to the twice-annual time changes. Called the Sunlight Protection Act, the bill will now go to the House, and if passed, will head to President Joe Biden’s desk for approval.  The federal legislation comes after around 30 states have passed legislation to make it daylight savings time year-round. If passed by the House and signed into law by Biden, the practice of changing the clocks will be ended across the United States.

The system began in the United States in 1918, and was originally put into place by Germany to conserve fuel during World War I.  Subsequently, the time change was adopted by the rest of Europe before being picked up by the United States in the Standard Time Act. Since then, Americans have changed their clocks twice every year under the assumption that it helps to conserve energy.

According to a Department of Transportation study from 1975, the United States used around one percent less energy during daylight savings time. However, a 2006 study in Indiana found that the opposite was true: rather than cutting down on energy usage, it actually increases by about one percent during daylight savings time months.

Supporters of daylight savings time credit the time change with helping to reduce crime as it increases daylight hours, making it harder for criminals to go undetected. It has also been credited with helping to reduce traffic accidents, as drivers are better able to see.  On the flip side, those in support of the Sunlight Protection Act say that it would help Americans to avoid the psychological consequences of daylight savings time, which has been shown by some research to exacerbate seasonal depression.

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White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced Tuesday that President Joe Biden plans to travel to Brussels next week to meet with world leaders to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Psaki’s announcement confirmed speculation earlier in the week that Biden was in the early stages of planning a trip to Europe.

Psaki confirmed that Biden will take part in a NATO summit scheduled for March 24, during which NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said leaders will discuss the war in Ukraine and strengthening the allies’ defenses.  She added during a White House press briefing that the President “will also join a scheduled European Council summit to discuss our shared concerns about Ukraine, including trans-Atlantic efforts to impose economic costs on Russia, provide humanitarian support to those affected by the violence and address other challenges related to the conflict” and that Biden prefers “face-to-face diplomacy” with the United States’ European allies.  Psaki declined to comment on whether Biden plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his trip to Europe.

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