Two Tennessee Democrats, Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, have won back their legislative seats in the Tennessee House after being expelled in April for participating in a peaceful gun protest. The protest was held in response to a Nashville school shooting, and the pair will be present for the upcoming special session to discuss potential changes to the state's gun control laws. Their victory is a sign of the importance of gun control reform in Tennessee.
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Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan has expressed her support for an ethics code for the court, while noting that the justices are divided on the issue. This follows a series of controversial rulings and ethical controversies, and Kagan has suggested that Congress could take action to address the issue. It remains to be seen what action Congress will take.
Tragically, a 5-year-old girl, Harper Finn, has passed away after being struck by a starting gate at a county fair in Altamont, Illinois. The Effingham County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident and asking for anyone with information or photos/videos to contact them. The community has come together to support Harper's family, with a GoFundMe page raising over $20,000 for funeral expenses.
On Friday, Ukrainian sea drones attacked the Novorossiysk naval base on the Black Sea, one of Russia's largest ports, damaging a Russian warship. Videos and a Ukrainian intelligence source suggested that one of the Russian warships had been damaged, forcing a temporary halt to all ship movement at the port. The incident marks the second night in a row that Ukraine has shot down Russian drones, and the extent of the damage and casualties is still unknown.
The CDC has recommended a new injectable drug, Beyfortus, to protect infants from the respiratory virus RSV. It is a lab-made antibody that helps the immune system fight off the virus and is the first of its kind to be approved by the CDC. It is recommended for babies up to 8 months old born during or entering their first RSV season, and infants between 8 and 19 months who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease. It is expected to be available in the fall and will be given as a single shot.
Andrew Tate, an internet influencer charged with rape, human trafficking, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women in Romania, won an appeal on Friday to be released from house arrest and instead be put under judicial control measures. The exact restrictions were not made public, and Tate's spokesperson said the decision was to allow him to prepare for his defense. The outcome of the case remains to be seen, but Tate's release has sparked debate among his supporters and detractors alike, and it remains to be seen how the judicial control measures will affect his ability to use his platform.
Three women were seriously injured in a rare attack by a river otter in southern Montana on Wednesday night. The incident occurred while the women were floating on inner tubes in the Jefferson River near the town of Cardwell. One of the victims suffered wounds on her face and arms that were so severe that she had to be airlifted to a hospital. Officials are still investigating the incident.
A coalition of Senate Democrats has urged Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to take action to ensure Associate Justice Samuel Alito recuses himself from cases involving regulation of the court. The request follows a report of an undisclosed luxury fishing trip with a Republican billionaire who later had cases before the court, as well as a column written by a former clerk of Alito's that raised further questions about the court's ethical standards. The Democrats are asking Roberts to ensure Alito recuses himself from any cases involving laws that regulate the High Court, and it remains to be seen how Roberts will respond.