Hamburger Mary's, a popular Florida burger joint, is challenging a new law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in federal court that restricts drag show performances and subjects businesses in violation of the law to liquor license revocation and hefty fines. The lawsuit alleges that the law violates the First Amendment rights of Hamburger Mary's to free expression, and the restaurant is asking the court to halt enforcement of the law until the case is resolved.
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The CDC released a report showing that the rate of new HIV infections in the US has decreased by 12% between 2017 and 2021, despite a sharp drop in HIV testing in 2020. Other wealthy Western nations have seen even greater success, with annual infection rates dropping by more than 70% in the Netherlands, 68% in Italy and 44% in Australia. The CDC report is a positive sign of progress, but there is still much work to be done to ensure all Americans have access to HIV testing, treatment, and prevention.
Two Massachusetts residents, Ali Jaafar (63) and his son Yousef Jaafar (29), have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a massive lottery fraud scheme. The Jaafars were part of a "ten-percenting" operation that involved cashing in 14,000 winning lottery tickets over a roughly 10-year period and then lying on their tax returns to cheat the IRS out of about $6 million. Ali Jaafar was sentenced to five years in prison and Yousef Jaafar was sentenced to three years in prison, with their third son Mohamed Jaafar receiving two years of probation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston said that the sentences should serve as a warning to those who engage in similar schemes.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed a landmark six-week abortion ban into law, despite polls showing him as having the best chance to defeat Donald Trump in the GOP race. The law is one of the strictest in the nation and is expected to be challenged in court, but it remains to be seen how DeSantis' "anti-woke" agenda will affect his presidential ambitions.
American journalist Evan Gershkovich has been wrongfully detained in Russia since March and his pre-trial detention has been extended until August 30th by the Lefortovsky District Court in Moscow. The U.S. State Department and international human rights groups have called for his release, while the Russian Foreign Ministry has accused him of espionage without providing any evidence.
On Monday evening, a U-Haul truck crashed into security barriers around Lafayette Square across the street from the White House. The driver, Sai Varshith Kandula, was arrested and found to be in possession of a Nazi flag and is facing several arrest charges, including threatening to kill, kidnap or inflict harm on a president, vice president or family members. No injuries were reported, and the Secret Service is working with other law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident and urge the public to remain vigilant.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has issued a warning to Congress to raise the debt limit by June 1 or risk defaulting on the government's debt. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden are negotiating a path to avoid default, but it is unclear if an agreement will be reached in time. Yellen's warning serves as a reminder of the urgency of the situation, and Congress must take action to ensure the government is able to meet its obligations.
A U-Haul truck crashed into security barriers near the White House on Monday night, with no injuries reported. The Secret Service is investigating the incident, which may have been intentional, and the driver has been detained. Preliminary investigation reveals that the driver may have intentionally crashed the truck into the barriers.