Gary Rossington, the last surviving original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, passed away on Sunday at the age of 71. He was a founding member of the band, and was the only survivor of a plane crash in 1977. Fans have been paying tribute to Rossington on social media, remembering him as a talented musician and a beloved member of the band.
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Four US citizens were kidnapped in Matamoros, Mexico on Friday after their vehicle came under fire. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for the return of the victims and the arrest of the culprits, and is seeking the public's help in locating the missing Americans. The FBI is working with Mexican authorities to locate the missing Americans and bring them home safely.
At the 2021 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Donald Trump topped the straw poll of declared and likely Republican 2024 presidential candidates, earning 62% of the vote. However, the absence of key potential players, such as former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has sparked debate among Republicans about how to best set a new course for the party and nominate someone other than Trump in 2024. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's announcement that he would not run further highlighted the divisions within the party, leaving the question of who will ultimately emerge as the Republican nominee in the next presidential election unanswered.
At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday, former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gave speeches that provided a glimpse into the potential 2024 Republican nomination race. Trump offered his usual rhetoric, while DeSantis took a more measured approach. Meanwhile, on "Face the Nation," a variety of guests discussed the current state of the Republican Party, as it struggles to define itself in the face of a growing list of issues on Capitol Hill. It remains to be seen how the 2024 Republican nomination race will play out, but Trump and DeSantis’s CPAC speeches have provided a glimpse into the potential future of the party.
On Sunday afternoon, a sightseeing plane crash-landed in Long Island, New York, leaving one person dead and two others critically injured. The pilot had reported smoke in the cockpit to air traffic controllers before the crash, and the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause. Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Shaffer said the two survivors suffered critical injuries, and our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time.
Judy Heumann, a renowned disability rights leader and activist, passed away on Saturday at the age of 75. She was known for her instrumental work in pushing for historic legislation, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act. Heumann was a vocal advocate for the rights of disabled people and was a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020. Her legacy will live on in the lives of disabled people who have benefited from her tireless advocacy and activism.
On the 58th anniversary of the "Bloody Sunday" march in Selma, Alabama, President Joe Biden called for new voting protections, noting that the right to vote is still under attack. He pointed to the Supreme Court's gutting of the Voting Rights Act over the years as a major factor in the erosion of voting rights and called for the passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore the protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Biden also highlighted the need for a new voting rights act to protect against discrimination, emphasizing that the right to vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a democratic society.
CNN anchor Kasie Hunt and her husband Matthew Mario Rivera welcomed their second child, Grey Hunt Rivera, in an unexpected way - on the bathroom floor of their home after just 13 minutes of labor. With the help of District of Columbia fire and emergency medical personnel, Hunt and Rivera were able to bring their daughter safely to the hospital. They are now home with their new daughter, and are looking forward to the future.