Michael Tisius, 42, is set to be executed Tuesday evening in Missouri for the murder of two jailers 23 years ago. Organizations such as the American Bar Association, the NAACP, the European Union, and the Vatican have urged Gov. Mike Parson to grant clemency, but he has refused. Some of the jurors who sentenced Tisius to death now say they would back or wouldn't object to a commutation to life in prison. This will be the first execution in Missouri since 2017 and the first in the United States since the coronavirus pandemic began.
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The Atlanta City Council voted 11-4 in favor of a controversial plan to build a massive public safety training center, dubbed "Cop City" by opponents. The $90-million, 85-acre facility would be used by police, firefighters and emergency responders to train, and includes a firing range, driving track, and classrooms. Opponents worry the proposed campus could negatively impact the environment and be used by police to "practice urban warfare," while supporters argue it will help improve public safety. The legislation must still be approved by the mayor and the 2023 budget must be approved by the City Council.
Prince Harry, second son of Britain's King Charles III, made history on Tuesday when he appeared in London's High Court to testify against a tabloid publisher he accuses of phone hacking and other unlawful snooping. This is the first time a senior member of Britain's royal family has appeared in court to give testimony since the 19th century, and Harry's statement accuses the publisher of using unlawful techniques on an “industrial scale” to get scoops. Harry is suing the tabloid publisher for unlawful information gathering, and his appearance in court is a historic moment for the British monarchy.
Tyler James Williams, best known for his roles in “Abbott Elementary” and “Everybody Hates Chris”, recently shared a series of posts to his Instagram Story condemning people who try to label others as queer before they’re ready to disclose their sexuality. He argued that this kind of behavior contributes to the anxiety that many queer and queer-questioning people feel and emphasized that everyone should be allowed to come out on their own terms.
Anna Shay, an heiress, philanthropist, and star of Netflix's "Bling Empire," passed away at the age of 62 due to a stroke. She was known for her philanthropy and love of the finer things in life, and her family's statement to Variety said that her impact on their lives would be forever missed but never forgotten. She is survived by her two children and four grandchildren.
SAG-AFTRA, the labor union representing film and television actors, has voted to authorize a strike if a new contract is not agreed upon by June 30. Nearly 65,000 members cast ballots in favor of the strike authorization, with the union saying it was a "powerful show of solidarity". Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) are set to begin Wednesday, with the outcome of the negotiations having a major impact on the entertainment industry.
Ukraine has accused Russian forces of blowing up a major dam and hydroelectric power station in southern Ukraine, threatening a massive flood that could displace hundreds of thousands of people. Ukrainian authorities have warned that the dam’s failure could unleash 18 million cubic meters of water and flood Kherson and dozens of other areas. In response, Ukraine has ordered residents downriver to evacuate, though the exact number of people affected is still unknown.
Cornel West has announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, running as a third-party candidate for the People's Party. His campaign will focus on issues such as access to jobs with living wages, decent housing, women's rights, health care for all, and de-escalating the destruction of the planet. West is the latest Black candidate to enter the 2024 presidential race, and is aiming to pursue truth and justice through his candidacy.