April Current Events 2023: U.S. News
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The world is a very busy place, and it's hard to stay on top of everything. Infoplease has got you covered. Here are the U.S. news events you need to know so far for April 2023.
- Biden Pays Visit To Mississippi Town Hit By Tornado
- Former Arkansas Governor, Asa Hutchinson, Declares Intention To Run For President
- Florida Senate Has Approved A Six-Week Abortion Ban
- Brandon Johnson Was Elected As The New Mayor Of Chicago
- West Virginia Transgender Athlete Ban Declined By US Supreme Court
- Conflicting Injunctions Issued By Judges On Abortion Pill
- Five People Killed By Their Co-Worker In Louisville
- Second Tennessee Lawmaker That Was Expelled Has Been Returned By Memphis
- Governor Of Florida, Ron Desantis, Signs Six-Week Abortion Into Law
- Shooting In Alabama Leaves Four People Dead, And Multiple People Injured
- Structure Collapse In New York Kills One Person, Leaving Five Others Injured
- United States House Of Representatives Passes Bill Banning Transgender Student Athletes
- Death Penalty Has Been Eliminated From Law In Washington State
- Access To Abortion Pill Protected By United States Supreme Court
- Nine Teenagers Shot At A Prom After-Party In Texas
- President Biden Officially Launch His 2024 Presidential Bid
Biden Pays Visit To Mississippi Town Hit By Tornado
Photo Source: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Saturday, April 1, 2023 — The President of the United States, Joe Biden, consoled the victims and visited the scenes of devastation in Mississippi town, where a storm killed 26 people and destroyed many homes and properties last week. Biden and the First Lady, Jill Biden, drove through Rolling Fork to see the damage left by the tornado.
President Biden said, “The thing that amazes him about all the tornadoes is that you have one house standing, one house from here to the wall, destroyed. But for the grace of God.” He also pledges to provide federal government assistance in the rebuilding process.
President Biden announced that the full cost of Mississippi’s emergency measures in response to the storm would be covered for 30 days by the federal government.
Mississippi officials set up three emergency shelters, including National Guard Armory in Rolling Fork.
Source: Reuters
Former Arkansas Governor, Asa Hutchinson, Declares Intention To Run For President
Photo Source: AP Photo/Andrew DeMillo
Sunday, April 2, 2023 — On Sunday, former Governor of Arkansas, Asa Hutchinson, announced his intention to run for the seat of the president of the United States in 2024. He also urges former President Donald Trump to step aside from the race.
In an interview, Hutchinson appealed to Trump, who launched his candidacy in November, to drop from the race after he was recently Indicted in New York following an investigation into hush money payment to a porn star. He further said having a former president being indicted is a sad day for America.
Hutchinson was the governor of Arkansas from 2015 until early last year. He has previously served in the United States House of Representatives. He said he would formally announce his intention to run for president in Arkansas later this month.
Source: Reuters
Florida Senate Has Approved A Six-Week Abortion Ban
Photo Source: AP Photo/John Raoux
Monday, April 3, 2023 — Florida’s Senate, led by Republicans, has passed a bill that prevents most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The bill was approved with a vote of 26-13, and it is expected to be approved by the House of Representatives and sent to the governor’s desk for signing.
Florida's law prevents an abortion for any pregnancy above 15 weeks, which is being challenged in court. Last month, Republicans in the House of Representatives and Senate filed concurrent bills to restrict the procedure further, starting at six weeks of pregnancy.
In the bill, exceptions were made in the cases of rape, incest, and cases where the mother's life is threatened. The six-week ban is expected to become a law, as the Republicans have control of the legislature and governorship in Florida.
Source: Reuters
Brandon Johnson Was Elected As The New Mayor Of Chicago
Photo Source: AP Photo/Paul Beaty
Wednesday, April 5, 2023 — Brandon Johnson defeated Paul Vallas to become the newly elected mayor of Chicago. Johnson, who is 47 years old, is the Cook County Commissioner and is set to become the 57th mayor of Chicago after the incumbent, Lori Lightfoot, was eliminated from the race in February.
Johnson and Vallas, who are both Democrats, had a runoff election after Lightfoot, who is also a Democrat, came third of the nine candidates that contested in the previous round, where no candidate could cross the 50% line.
Johnson, a former teacher in Chicago, said he plans to promote 200 new detectives from the existing pool of police officers. The winner addresses many issues on the first day of assuming office, including the struggling public school system and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Reuters
West Virginia Transgender Athlete Ban Declined By US Supreme Court
Photo Source: AP Photo/Chris Jackson
Friday, April 7, 2023 — The United States Supreme Court has refused to allow West Virginia to enforce a state law that bans transgender athletes from female sports teams at public schools. A measure that is backed by Republicans across the country targeting the rights of LGBTQ. West Virginia was denied the lower court's request to lift an injunction against the law. imposed
In 2021, according to the law passed, team sport was designated at public schools, which includes universities according to biological sex. This bars male students from female athletic teams based only on the individual's reproductive biology and genetics at birth.
In the court filing by West Virginia, it said the athletic team should be lawfully assigned by sex rather than gender identity, saying the biological difference between males and females are the reason that separate team exists.
Source: Reuters
Conflicting Injunctions Issued By Judges On Abortion Pill
Photo Source: AP Photo/Allen G. Breed
Saturday, April 8, 2023 — A two-decade-old approval of mifepristone, an abortion pill, has been suspended by a United States judge in Texas. However, a federal judge in Washington state issued a conflicting injunction that prevented federal regulators from altering access to the same abortion drug.
The ruling of the United States District Judge Mathew Kacsmaryk in Texas will not be in effect until one week. This allows the Biden administration to file an emergency appeal, which the United States Department of Justice has confirmed it will do.
The ruling of Judge Kacsmaryk is a preliminary injunction that would ban the sale of mifepristone while the case brought before him by the anti-abortion group continues. However, he found in his ruling that the lawsuit was likely to succeed, saying the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had ignored risks in approving the drug.
Source: Reuters
Five People Killed By Their Co-Worker In Louisville
Photo Source: AP Photo/Louisville Metro Police Department
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 — The police confirm that a bank employee armed with a gun shot and killed five co-workers and left nine others wounded in his workplace in Louisville while livestreaming the attack on social media. It was confirmed that the suspect was shot at the scene; however, it was unclear whether he killed himself or was killed due to the shots from the police.
The Governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, held back his tears while giving a press briefing, saying he knew some of the victims, including Elliot, a senior vice president at the bank. Among the nine that were wounded were two police officers.
In response to the shooting, United States President Joe Biden reiterated his wish that Congress pass legislation requiring safe firearms storage and background checks for all gun sales.
Source: Reuters
Second Tennessee Lawmaker That Was Expelled Has Been Returned By Memphis
Photo Source: AP Photo/Adrian Sainz
Wednesday, April 12, 2023 — The local government officials in Memphis voted to have the second of two Democratic state lawmakers expelled last week's return. They were expelled after they protested against gun violence on the chamber floor.
Last week, Republicans in the state House of Representatives voted to expel two Democrats, Justin Jones, and Justin Pearson, over their rule-breaking peaceful protest on the floor on March 30. The councilors in Nashville, where Jones district is located, voted unanimously to restore him on an interim basis, and he has since been sworn back in.
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners held a meeting in Memphis on Wednesday, where they also decided to reinstate Pearson. After the vote, Pearson said, “They cannot expel hope.” He is expected to return to the state Capitol in Nashville on Thursday to be sworn back in.
Source: Reuters
Governor Of Florida, Ron Desantis, Signs Six-Week Abortion Into Law
Photo Source: AP Photo/Phil Sears
Friday, April 14, 2023 – A bill that bans most abortions after six weeks has been signed by the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis. The bill paved way for huge changes in access to the procedure across the state. The argument put forward by the opponent is that most women don’t know they are pregnant until after six weeks.
Governor DeSantis signed the bill after the House of Representatives in Florida, which the Republicans lead, approved the ban, with 70 people voting for it and 40 voting against it.
A case concerning a challenge brought by an abortion clinic is still been heard in the highest court in Florida. The recent law signed by Me. DeSantis includes a clause that says the six-week ban would only go into effect if the highest court in Florida upholds the 15-week law that is in place.
Source: BBC
Shooting In Alabama Leaves Four People Dead, And Multiple People Injured
Photo Source: AP Photo/Kimberly Chandler
Sunday, April 16, 2023 – A law enforcement agency in Alabama confirmed that four people were killed in a shooting at a birthday party in Dadeville, Alabama. Several others were also injured as a result of the shooting. During the news conference, the state agency did not provide further details concerning the shooting.
Reports from the state law enforcement agency state that the FBI, United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Fifth Circuit District Attorney’s Office had also responded to the scene and helped out with the investigation
In a Twitter post, the Governor of Alabama, Kay Ivey, said is been updated closely by the details that emerged from law enforcement. She also added in her post that “she grieves with the people of Dadeville and her fellow Alabamians.”
Source: Reuters
Structure Collapse In New York Kills One Person, Leaving Five Others Injured
Photo Source: AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey
Wednesday, April 19, 2023 – Authorities confirm that at least one person has been killed, while five others were wounded when a four-story parking facility collapsed in New York City’s lower Manhattan, close to Pace University and New York City Exchange.
Firefighters were withdrawn from the fallen structure due to the condition that it was not stable. Emergency personnel, with the aid of robotic devices, checked the site for any further casualties, but they believe all victims have been accounted for.
The chief of fire operations for the New York City Fire Department, John Esposito, said the injured had been taken to the hospital and confirmed that one person was pronounced dead on the scene. He also added that the situation was extremely dangerous for the firefighters.
Police Commissioner, Keechant Sewell told reporters that they do not think the incident was anything other than structural collapse.
Source: Reuters
United States House Of Representatives Passes Bill Banning Transgender Student Athletes
Photo Source: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Thursday, April 20, 2023 – The United States House of Representatives passed a bill to ban transgender women and girls from competing in women’s and girls’ school sports.
The measure was passed by the house with 219-203 votes, with little chance of the bill passing through the Senate controlled by the Democrats. President Biden opposed the bill and vowed to veto it if needed.
The Republican Representative who introduced the bill, Greg Steube, said, “Democrats have regressed so far back they are willing to erase the rights that women have fought decades to obtain, all to elevate biological males to the top of women’s podiums.” He also said the integrity of women’s sports must be protected.
The White House had earlier said the bill would deny access to sports for students who is transgender, even at elementary school.
Source: Reuters
Death Penalty Has Been Eliminated From Law In Washington State
Photo Source: AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Friday, April 21, 2023 – The Governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, has signed into law a bill that eliminates a state-sanctioned punishment of the death penalty. Aside from the death penalty, Senate Bill 5087 also eliminated other laws, including a measure that allowed sterilization as criminal punishment.
While signing the bill, Inslee said, “he initiated a moratorium against the death penalty in Washington State in 2014, and their rationale for the decision was affirmed by the decision of the state’s Supreme Court, when they invalidated the death penalty statute.
Earlier this month, Republicans, including state Rep. Jim Walsh criticized the bill and called it “another sad example of the interests of criminals being put ahead of the interests of the victim and their families.
According to Death Penalty Information Center data, since the United States Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976, Washington state has carried out five executions.
Source: CNN
Access To Abortion Pill Protected By United States Supreme Court
Photo Source: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Friday, April 21, 2023 – The Supreme Court of the United States has protected access to abortion pills by overturning the rulings of the lower court that placed restrictions on their usage. As a result of the verdict of the Supreme Court, the United States added the Drug Administration’s approval of the drug mifepristone and subsequent actions that made it more easily accessible will remain in place.
The move on Friday is a victory for Biden’s administration and its allies in the abortion rights community. In a statement on Friday, President Biden said, “As a result of the Supreme Court’s stay, mifepristone remains available and approved for safe and effective use while they continue the fight in court.
The next step in the litigation will be a hearing in front of a federal appeals court based in New Orleans on May 17.
Source: CNN
Nine Teenagers Shot At A Prom After-Party In Texas
Photo Source: AP Photo/John L. Mone
Monday, April 24, 2023 – In Texas, nine people were injured after the eruption of gunfire at a teenagers’ party in Jasper County. The shooting happened at a private residence where about 250 students from Jasper High School had gathered after their annual prom dance.
Sheriff of Jasper County, Mitchel Newman, said that “all they know is that some kids ganged up after prom to have a night they could remember the rest of their lives, and somehow it got twisted, a bunch of children got shot.” No arrest has been made by the police yet, and they are requesting the public's help.
Police confirm that none of the victims suffered a life-threatening injury. The victims include a 19-year-old girl shot twice in the hand and a male soccer star shot in the knee.
Source: BBC
President Biden Officially Launch His 2024 Presidential Bid
Photo Source: AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
Tuesday, April 25, 2023 – United States President Joe Biden has finally announced his intention to run for the office of the president in 2024, asking American citizens for four years to finish the job. In his three-minute video, Biden warned that the United States is still under threat from anti-democratic forces unleashed by his predecessor.
The President's re-election campaign was launched on the fourth anniversary of his return to politics in 2019. The president and his wife, Jill Biden, had made his intention known for months, but Biden thinks there was no need to rush after a very fine Democratic performance in the midterm elections tamped down calls for a serious primary.
United States Vice-President Kamala Harris, the highest-ranking woman in United States politics, will again be the running mate of Biden.
Source: The Guardian
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