The Pacific Fishery Management Council has voted to close king salmon fishing season along much of the West Coast for the 2023 season due to near-record low numbers of the fish returning to California's rivers. This closure is a major blow to the fishing industry, but is necessary to ensure the long-term health of the Chinook salmon population. The Council is now working with state and federal agencies to develop a plan to help the Chinook salmon population recover.
News Mash
Rapper Coolio, best known for his Grammy Award-winning single “Gangsta’s Paradise,” died in April 2021 due to an accidental overdose of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. He had been suffering from heart disease, asthma, and had recently used PCP at the time of his death. Coolio was remembered by his manager as “a kind and generous soul” who “will be deeply missed.”
On Wednesday night, Farmington Police officers responded to a domestic violence call and mistakenly went to the wrong address, resulting in the fatal shooting of homeowner Robert Dotson. Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe released a video expressing his condolences and acknowledging the mistake, calling the incident "unbelievably tragic". The New Mexico State Police are currently investigating the shooting.
Russian prosecutors have requested a 25-year prison sentence for Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, in a case widely condemned by international human rights organizations. Kara-Murza has been a vocal opponent of President Vladimir Putin and has been arrested multiple times for his activism against the government. The sentencing request comes amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with Chinese President Xi Jinping expressing willingness to speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Tennessee State House of Representatives voted to expel two Democratic members, Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson, for their participation in anti-gun violence protests following a school massacre in Nashville. The vote sparked outcry from the representatives and their supporters, who argued that the expulsion was a violation of their First Amendment rights. Protesters have since returned to the Capitol to advocate for gun reform measures and to denounce the ousting of the two representatives. The outcome of the protests and the response from the House of Representatives will be closely watched.
Tennessee's House of Representatives has been thrust into the national spotlight this week after Republican legislators expelled two young Black lawmakers for their involvement in a protest against gun violence. The proceedings, which took place Thursday afternoon, were met with protests from many who had gathered outside the House chamber, and were accompanied by a heavily edited video of the legislators' actions. This incident has highlighted the growing political divide in Tennessee, and has sparked a national conversation about the power of grassroots movements in American politics, as well as the need for stricter gun control measures.
The Israel Defense Forces have announced that they will not allow Hamas to operate from Lebanon and hold the state responsible for any directed fire. This announcement follows retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza after rockets were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel. The IDF has stated that they are prepared to take all necessary steps to protect Israeli citizens and have called on the international community to condemn the rocket fire and take action to prevent further escalation.
Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles III is taking the issue of the monarchy's ties to slavery "profoundly seriously" and has committed to giving academics access to the royal collection and archives. This is the first time the British monarchy has publicly acknowledged its ties to slavery and has sparked a debate about the monarchy's role in the slave trade, including questions about the extent of its involvement and the implications of this involvement. Historians have argued that the monarchy should take responsibility and make reparations for the suffering caused by the slave trade.