North Carolina lawmakers have passed a bill that would ban nearly all abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, sparking debate among both pro-choice and pro-life advocates. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor Roy Cooper and is likely to face legal challenges in the coming months.
News Mash
A male shooter killed two of his relatives and a fast food worker in Moultrie, Georgia before taking his own life. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation, and the identities of the victims and shooter have not yet been released. The tragedy has left the small town of Moultrie in shock, with the community mourning the loss of life and offering support to those affected.
Prince William and Kate, the Princess of Wales, visited the Dog & Duck pub in London to celebrate the upcoming coronation of King Charles III. William pulled the first-ever pint of Kingmaker, a pale ale brewed to mark the coronation, and the couple chatted with royal fans, tourists and Londoners. The visit was an opportunity for the royal family to show their support for the hospitality industry, which has been hit hard by the pandemic.
A group of senators is preparing to introduce a bill that would extend the U.S. government's ability to expel migrants without court hearings beyond the expiration of a public health order. Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallego has expressed concern that border communities in his state are not prepared to handle the surge of migrants when Covid restrictions end. The proposed bill would allow the U.S. government to continue the soon-to-be terminated Title 42 border expulsion policy for two years without a public health justification.
The National Football League (NFL) is facing an investigation from the attorneys general of New York and California over possible violations of pay equity and anti-discrimination laws. Subpoenas have been issued to NFL executives as part of an examination into the workplace culture, following a lawsuit filed by former NFL director Jennifer Love. The NFL has said it takes allegations of workplace discrimination seriously and has a zero-tolerance policy, but the investigation is ongoing and the attorneys general have not yet released any findings.
ProPublica has reported that wealthy Republican donor Harlan Crow paid for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' grandnephew to attend two private schools in the late 2000s. Crow defended his actions, and the cost of the tuition could have been at least $150,000. This has sparked outcry and calls for ethics reform, as critics argue that the payments could be seen as a form of bribery and could be in violation of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges.
Ed Sheeran was found not guilty of copyright infringement in a two-week trial in New York City, with the jury concluding that he had not stolen any key components from the song in question. Sheeran was present in the courtroom and gave a performance of the song to demonstrate the differences between the two. The verdict is seen as a victory for Sheeran and other musicians, setting a precedent that will help protect their creative process.
The United States has denied any involvement in a purported drone attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin, with John Kirby from the National Security Council stating that "Mr. Peskov is lying." Former intelligence officers, diplomats, military officials and analysts have expressed skepticism about Russia's narrative, and unnamed U.S. officials are working to determine whether the attack was orchestrated by Kyiv or a pro-Ukraine rogue group, or a false flag operation by the Kremlin. NBC News has viewed two videos of the incident, and the investigation is ongoing.