Seven people have died and significant damage has been caused to the West Reading, Pennsylvania area after a powerful natural gas explosion at the R.M. Palmer chocolate factory. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report confirming the cause of the explosion and that it destroyed one building and caused structural damage to an adjacent building and other nearby structures. Witnesses reported smelling a “rotten eggs” odor prior to the blast and the NTSB’s investigation is ongoing. The tragedy has left the small town in shock, mourning the loss of life and destruction of the factory.
Posts published in “US”
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy announced Tuesday that former Memphis police officer Preston Hemphill, who used a stun gun on Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop that preceded his fatal beating by other officers, will not face criminal charges. An internal investigation found that Hemphill violated multiple department policies, and the District Attorney's office is continuing to investigate the other officers involved in the incident.
Vermont has become the first state to change its medically assisted suicide law to allow terminally ill people from out of state to take advantage of it. The bill was welcomed by advocates of medically assisted suicide, and is expected to take effect in July with certain criteria, such as having a terminal illness and being a resident of Vermont for at least 15 days. This is a major victory for advocates of medically assisted suicide, and a reminder of the importance of protecting the rights of terminally ill people to make their own end-of-life decisions.
This article discusses the testimony of a woman who claims to have been sexually assaulted by Donald Trump in the late 1970s. Lisa Birnbach, a friend of the accuser, E. Jean Carroll, testified that Carroll called her "minutes" after the alleged rape occurred and described her as sounding "breathless, hyperventilating" and "emotional". The testimony of Carroll and her witnesses is a powerful reminder of the importance of believing survivors of sexual assault.
The United States is facing a potential debt crisis, with the possibility of defaulting on its debt as early as June 1. In response, House Democrats have taken the first procedural steps to try to force a House vote on a clean debt ceiling increase. President Biden has invited the top four congressional leaders to the White House on May 9 to discuss potential solutions to avert the crisis.
The Biden administration is responding to the potential influx of migrants by deploying 1,500 active-duty troops to the US-Mexico border for 90 days. The troops will provide operational support to US immigration authorities, but will not use force or make arrests. Rep. Tony Gonzales has warned that the situation is "getting worse" and has called on the Biden administration to address the root causes of migration.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been wrongfully detained in Russia since late March, prompting a letter-writing campaign from friends and colleagues to keep his spirits high. President Joe Biden has addressed the situation, saying he is doing everything in his power to secure Gershkovich's release. The letters must be written in Russian and mailed from inside the country in order to be received.
Tou Thao, one of four former Minneapolis police officers involved in the death of George Floyd, was found guilty of aiding and abetting manslaughter by a judge in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Thao was found guilty of holding back bystanders while his colleagues restrained Floyd, who died after officer Derek Chauvin pinned him to the ground with his knee on Floyd's neck for 9 1/2 minutes. Thao's conviction is the latest in a series of rulings in the aftermath of Floyd's death, and is hoped to bring some closure to the family and friends of Floyd, and to the nation as a whole.