Irvin Cartagena, also known as "Green Eyes," pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogue in relation to the overdose death of actor Michael K. Williams. Cartagena faces a minimum of five years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 3, 2022. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York has warned those who seek to profit from the distribution of deadly drugs and urged anyone struggling with addiction to seek help.
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The Maryland Attorney General's Office has released a report revealing that over 600 children have been sexually abused by Catholic priests and other individuals associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore over the past 80 years. The report also accuses church officials of covering up the abuse for decades, and paints a damning picture of the Archdiocese. The Attorney General's Office is now investigating the Archdiocese and providing support and resources to the victims, while the Archdiocese has expressed its deep sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of the victims and committed to taking action to ensure that such abuse never happens again.
The LSU Tigers women's basketball team have won their first national championship, prompting star player Angel Reese to declare that neither she nor her team will be visiting the White House. Reese suggested that the two teams should share the spotlight, and that Iowa should be invited to the White House as part of the tradition. It remains to be seen if Iowa will be invited to the White House.
Governor Whitmer signed legislation to repeal the 1931 abortion ban in Michigan, which was passed by the Democratically controlled state legislature last month. The repeal follows a major victory for abortion rights advocates in neighboring Wisconsin, and is a result of a major ballot drive galvanized by the US Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The court is expected to decide a lawsuit challenging the state’s 1849 abortion ban, furthering the protection of women's rights in the region.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of former New York senator and US attorney general Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy, has filed paperwork to run for president in 2024 as a Democrat. He is a controversial figure due to his anti-vaccine views, and his campaign is a long shot. Kennedy Jr. plans to focus on issues such as healthcare, the environment, and economic inequality, and has promised to bring a “new generation of leadership” to the White House.
In response to his indictment by a Manhattan prosecutor, former President Donald Trump has called on Congress to "defund" federal law enforcement. Congressional Republicans have been quick to rally to Trump's defense, while Democrats argue that this is an attempt to undermine the rule of law. The debate over defunding federal law enforcement is likely to continue in the coming weeks, as Congress considers the implications of Trump's call to action.
Wisconsin has seen a major shift in its political landscape this week, with Janet Protasiewicz, a liberal backed by Democrats, winning a seat on the Wisconsin state Supreme Court and flipping the ideological balance of the court to the liberal bloc for the first time in 15 years. Meanwhile, Republicans won a supermajority in the state Senate's 8th District, but a newly elected Republican state senator is threatening to impeach Protasiewicz and challenge the GOP-gerrymandered maps. These results have the potential to shape the future of Wisconsin politics.
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Dalaneo Martin by U.S. Park Police in D.C. on March 18th. The incident began with officers attempting to arrest Martin, which led to a physical altercation and the discharge of a firearm. The Martin family has called for the officers to be charged and the U.S. Attorney's Office has committed to conducting a thorough investigation and urged anyone with information to contact them.