Category: News Daypop

On Wednesday, Republicans nominated Rep. Steve Scalise to be the next House Speaker after the historic ousting of Rep. Kevin McCarthy from the position.

In a narrow margin, House Republicans pushed aside Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, the firebrand Judiciary Committee chairman, after private balloting at the Capitol. Instead, they voted in favor of Scalise, the current majority leader. The Louisiana congressman is currently battling blood cancer; and is seen as a hero after surviving a shooting on lawmakers at a congressional baseball game practice in 2017. Scalise said: “We have a lot of work to do … We need to make sure we’re sending a message to people all throughout the world, that the House is open to doing the people’s business.”

Republicans will now attempt to quickly unite their deeply divided majority and elect the conservative in a public floor vote. A floor vote of the whole House was expected, but with tension still running high among Republicans after McCarthy’s stunning removal last week, the House broke indefinitely, with next steps uncertain. It is also uncertain whether lawmakers who supported Jordan, the hard-liner backed by Donald Trump, will throw their support behind Scalise. Democrats are set to oppose the Republican nominee, and plan to nominate their leader, New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.

Jordan said little after the vote, only that the GOP majority “is divided,” but gave Scalise a nominating speech on the floor in a show of support Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a centrist leader, said, “We do need to get a speaker in place so we can govern. What we should have heard today after the vote count was, ‘I will heartily support Steve. Let’s get behind him.’ We did not hear that.”

In a floor vote, Scalise would need to amass votes from almost all Republicans to overcome opposition from the Democrats. The majority needed would be 218 votes, but there are currently two vacant seats, dropping the threshold to 217.

Currently, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., who was named as the speaker pro-tempore, is effectively in charge. However, he has shown little interest in extending his role as interim leader.

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Authorities announced Wednesday that former NFL player Sergio Brown was arrested in San Diego and faces first-degree murder charges in connection with the September death of his mother. According to a news release from the police department, San Diego Police Department and other local and federal agencies took Brown into custody Tuesday when he was entering the United States from Mexico. Brown, 35, was booked at about 4 p.m. local time Tuesday and is being held without bail. He is awaiting extradition to Illinois to face first-degree murder charges.

The news comes three-and-a-half weeks after family members reported Brown and his mother Myrtle Brown missing on Sept. 16. They were unable to locate Brown and a had a warrant issued for his arrest. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said that Myrtle’s death is being investigated as a homicide, and that she died as a result of “multiple injuries due to assault.”

Disturbing social media videos from Brown began to surface days after his mother’s death. A video appearing to be Brown was posted on an Instagram account, and while Brown didn’t refer to his mother’s death directly in the video, he claimed that the FBI paid him an “unwarranted” visit on “Bob Marley’s death day.” He also claimed the Maywood Police Department “kidnapped” him on two occasions. In the since-deleted video, he also said he thought Myrtle was “on vacation,” and that “it had to be the FBI or Maywood PD,” without explicitly stating what “it” referred to. Two days later, he appeared in another video on the same Instagram account, singing a Drake song and making references to dying.

Brown played in the NFL for six seasons, signing with the New England Patriots in 2010 and retiring following the 2016 season, during which he played for the Bills.

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In remarks delivered from the White House, President Biden condemned the Hamas militant group’s bloody attacks on Israel that took place over the weekend, calling them an “act of sheer evil” and strongly emphasized that “we stand with Israel.” Ahead of his remarks, Mr. Biden met with his national security team, and he and Vice President Kamala Harris also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss U.S. support for Israel.

The President, standing alongside Vice President Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said the people of Israel experienced “pure, unadulterated evil at the bloody hands” of Hamas, which has long been designated a terrorist organization by the United States.  Biden declared: “This was an act of sheer evil … and in this moment, we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, to defend itself and to respond to this attack. There’s no justification for terrorism. There’s no excuse.”

Biden also revealed that at least 14 Americans are among the more than 900 people killed in Israel, and American citizens are also among those being held captive by Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. After Biden’s remarks, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that while he could not confirm the precise number of U.S. citizens who are hostages, there are 20 or more Americans missing. Sullivan said: “We will work hour-by-hour both to determine whether we can account for any of those Americans, or to confirm exactly the number of Americans held hostage. We do not know the number of hostages we have at this time.”

The President’s remarks came after Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that rules the Gaza Strip, launched its surprise assault on Israel early Saturday morning. Israel Defense Forces have since said that at least 900 dead and roughly 2,700 wounded, and dozens more people are being held captive by the group. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, in Gaza the death toll is at least 900, with 4,500 wounded. Those numbers are expected to rise as Israel continues to launch airstrikes across the Gaza Strip.

Mr. Biden has repeatedly expressed unwavering support for Israel since the terrorist attack, with the White House lit in blue and white, the colors of the Israeli flag, as a symbol of “the ironclad support and solidarity of the American people with the people of Israel in the wake of the barbaric terrorist attacks committed by Hamas,” according to the White House. Mr. Biden, along with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, also issued a joint statement condemning Hamas and “its appalling acts of terrorism. Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities. We further emphasize that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. All of us recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed.”

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Former MLB all-star Steve Garvey announced on Tuesday he will run for California’s open U.S. Senate seat in 2024. The 74-year-old Garvey, who enters the California U.S. Senate race as a Republican in a predominantly Democratic state, is seeking to succeed the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein who died Sept. 29 at age 90. Feinstein had held the seat since 1992. A Republican candidate hasn’t won a Senate race in 35 years in California.

Garvey launched his campaign in a video filled with baseball imagery that recalled his career as a perennial All-Star who played first base for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.  Garvey said in the video: “I never played for Democrats or Republicans or independents. I played for all of you. It’s going to be a commonsense campaign.” Garvey added that his campaign will focus on improving the quality of life for all Californians by reducing inflation, addressing public safety issues, advocating for small businesses and reducing homelessness: “We need fresh voices; we need new ideas. We need people who are going to be exactly that: for the people. Simply, I’m running for all the people — the things that affect the daily lives of people in California.”

Steve Garvey was a 10-time All-Star and appeared in the World Series five times — four with the Dodgers and one with the Padres.  He won the NL MVP in 1974, when he batted .312 with 21 home runs and 111 RBIs while leading the Dodgers to the World Series. Seven years later, the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in the 1981 World Series, with Garvey batting .417 in the six-game series, finishing with 10 hits in 24 at-bats. After 14 seasons with the Dodgers, Garvey signed with San Diego before the 1983 season and helped lead the Padres to the first World Series appearance in franchise history the next season. He played his last major league game in 1987 with the Padres after an 18-year major league career.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom temporarily appointed Democrat Laphonza Butler, president of EMILY’s List, to fill Feinstein’s seat. She has not announced intentions to run in 2024. Other Democratic candidates in the Senate race include Reps. Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee, and Katie Porter.

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A suspect remained at large following the still-unsolved murder of a retired dean near the school last week. Officials said that 77-year-old former dean and professor Honoree Fleming was fatally shot on the Delaware & Hudson Rail Trail last week, killed from a gunshot wound to the head.

Detectives said they have been interviewing numerous witnesses and residents in the area, and are looking at surveillance footage from the area in order to try and identify the suspected killer. Witnesses described a white male with short red hair, approximately 5’10”, last seen wearing a dark grey t-shirt and carrying a black backpack. State police have called the suspect “armed and dangerous” and asked homes and businesses near the trail to go over their security cameras in case they have footage of this man.  Authorities believe that the killing of Fleming appears to be random.

Fleming lived in Castleton with her husband, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Powers. Powers said that the rail trail was one of Ms. Fleming’s favorite walks, and that she started on the hike at around 4pm from the pavilion area at the college campus and was walking south towards Poultney, just a few miles from the New York state border. Mr Powers posted online: “Those of you who knew her know that she was beautifully named. I have never known a more sterling heart and soul than hers. She has taken far more than half my own heart and soul with her … There is an area-wide dragnet out for her killer. Police believe that it was random, but all possibilities remain open.” 

Students returned to Vermont State University on Sunday and Monday ahead of the re-start of classes on Tuesday, after classes were not held at the Castleton campus on Thursday due to fall break. Vermont State University said in a statement on social media: “Honoree was a part of the Castleton family and was beloved by faculty, staff, and students. Scores of students benefited from Dr. Fleming’s teachings and research. … This is an unbelievable tragedy for the Castleton campus and for all of Vermont State University. Honoree will be deeply missed.”

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President Biden said on Monday that at least 11 Americans were among those killed in Hamas attack on Israel over the weekend, after the terrorist group launched the worst attack on the Jewish nation in 50 years. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Mike Herzog and Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer also said that American citizens were also among those Hamas took hostage and brought to Gaza. President Biden said U.S. officials “also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts. While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas.

Hamas militants invaded Israeli villages and towns on Sunday in an attack from land, air and sea, with disturbing videos on social media showing militants killing Israeli civilians and soldiers, and taking others, including children and elderly women, hostage and bringing them to Gaza. A Hamas military wing spokesperson said that those who were kidnapped were being held in hideouts around Gaza, including in tunnels.

Israel is now striking back against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, after an estimated 700 Israelis have been killed, with more than 2,000 are wounded and 150 are confirmed to have been taken captive by Hamas since Saturday. Gaza health officials report at least 300 Palestinians have been killed with 2,200 injured.

In response to the war, the United States announced it was sending additional military aid to Israel and moving its Ford carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to “bolster regional deterrence efforts.”

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According to Pennsylvania State Police, one person is dead and at least eight others are hurt after a shooting early Sunday morning at Chevy Chase Community Center on North 5th Avenue in White Township. Pennsylvania State Police say the shooting happened around 12:35 a.m. on Sunday during a private party of about 100-150 college-aged students from inside the community center. The event was not sanctioned by the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), which is hosting homecoming festivities this weekend. As of press time, nobody is in custody yet, and police are also still trying to determine how many shooters were involved.

When authorities arrived on the scene, people were running from the community center.  Victims were treated at four different hospitals in the region, with some of them are still receiving treatment, while others have since been released. The person who died as a 22-year-old male from Pittsburgh; the eight other victims are identified as: 5 males, 3 females between the ages of 18-23.  Two students from the university were injured.

In a letter sent to students, Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Tom Segar said he understands the violence is “frightening and may cause continued feelings of fear and worry. IUP is a community that cares about one another. Your safety and security is our priority, and we continue to look for ways to improve our processes. Because we are a community, we welcome — we need — your help… We continue to work with community law enforcement to find those responsible for this incident, and we will update you as information becomes confirmed.”

Authorities ask that anyone with information to immediately contact Troop A, Indiana at 724-357-1960. Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information that solves this case. Anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers can be made by calling 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477) or by submitting information online.

Governor Josh Shapiro said he was briefed overnight about the shooting in a statement on X, formerly Twitter: “As [State Police] investigate, Lori and I are praying for the victims of this tragedy. We ask anyone with information to reach out to the State Police. Our hearts are with the White Township community.”

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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the United States will send multiple military ships and aircraft closer to Israel as a show of support, ordering the deployment of several warships to the Middle East on Sunday following the increase of conflict in Israel. Washington believing Hamas’ deadly attacks may have been motivated to disrupt a potential normalizing of Israel-Saudi Arabia ties.

In a statement, Austin said the United States was sending an armada to the region after the country suffered its bloodiest day in decades on Saturday when Hamas militants rampaged through Israeli towns and fired thousands of rockets at Israel in a surprise attack, killing 350 civilians and leading to retaliatory strikes from Israel that killed at least 313 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Thousands more have been injured or wounded. Austin said he received the go-ahead from President Joe Biden in an effort to deter further bloodshed in the region. Israel battered Palestinians with air strikes in Gaza on Sunday, with hundreds reportedly killed on both sides.

The fleet was being led by the USS Gerald R. Ford, and is being joined by the USS Normandy, a guided missile cruiser, and the guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and the USS Roosevelt. Austin said the U.S. military would also “provide the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions, with the first security assistance will begin moving today and arriving in the coming days. We have also taken steps to augment U.S. Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required … My thoughts continue to be with the people of Israel and the many families who have lost loved ones,” he said, without commenting on the violence faced by Palestinian civilians.

The conflict in the Middle East comes after decades of enduring hostilities between Israel and Palestine, which is recognized as a sovereign nation by most countries worldwide and has observer status with the United Nations.

Tensions in the region have surged in recent months as the Israeli military conducted thousands of raids in the Palestinian territory, which led to numerous deadly reprisals against Jewish soldiers and settlers making homes on Palestinian lands.

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The former treasurer for embattled Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., Nancy Marks,  pleaded guilty Thursday to a federal conspiracy charge. Marks resigned from Santos’ team in January amid reports of multiple controversies revolving around his campaign finances. Santos pleaded not guilty in May to a 13-count indictment accusing him of fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds.

Federal prosecutors said that Marks allegedly filed the names of false donors to Santos’ congressional campaign, in order to inflate the amount of campaign donations Santos appeared to have amassed so he could qualify for national party support. Prosecutors stated that the names of Marks’ and Santos’ family members were among those falsely reported to have lent his campaign $500,000, despite not having the financial means to do so. Federal prosecutors said Marks told them: “these reports were created to artificially inflate his funds to meet a threshold.”

United States Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement: “with today’s guilty plea, Marks has admitted that she conspired with a congressional candidate to lie to the FEC and, by extension, the public about the financial state of the candidate’s campaign for New York’s Third Congressional District, falsely inflating the campaign’s reported receipts with non-existent contributions and loans.” 

Marks has been prominent in Republican politics on Long Island for decades. She was a treasurer for Lee Zeldin’s unsuccessful campaign for governor and she worked for several political committees, including God, Guns, Life, Veterans for MAGA and Defend the Constitution. Marks’ attorney, Raymond Perini, said his client does not have a cooperation agreement with the government in place, but “if they subpoena her, she’ll do the right thing.” Marks is scheduled to be sentenced next April.

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A spokesperson for the state of Wisconsin said on Thursday that a man who illegally brought a handgun into the Wisconsin Capitol on Wednesday, with demands to see Gov. Tony Evers, later returned that night with an assault rifle after posting bail.

State Department of Administration spokesperson Tatyana Warrick said that the man approached the governor’s office on the first floor of the Capitol around 2 p.m. Wednesday, shirtless and carrying a holstered handgun. The man was demanding to see the governor, who was not in the building at the time. Warrick said that the man was taken into custody for openly carrying a firearm in the Capitol, which is against the law; weapons can be brought into the Capitol if they are concealed and the person has a valid permit. The man arrested did not have a concealed carry permit.

While the man was booked into the Dane Count Jail and posted bail, he later returned to the outside of the Capitol shortly before 9 p.m. with an assault-style rifle and demanded to see the governor (the building closes to the public at 6 p.m.). Madison police reported Thursday that the man was again taken into productive custody and brought to the hospital.

Warrick said no immediate changes to security in the Capitol or for the governor were planned. The public has free access to the Capitol daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. There are no metal detectors.

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