On Wednesday, California's Board of Parole Hearings denied parole for Sirhan Sirhan, the man convicted of assassinating Senator Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. This was Sirhan's 17th parole suitability hearing, and the board's decision means that he will not be eligible for parole for another three years. The public has reacted to the decision with mixed reactions, with some believing he should remain in prison and others arguing for his release due to his age and the length of his sentence.
Posts tagged as “Gavin Newsom”
The California Board of Parole Hearings has denied parole to Robert F. Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan, citing his lack of insight into the 1968 shooting. Sirhan, now 78, has been denied parole 15 times since 1985, and his lawyer argued that he has shown awareness of his actions and is unlikely to re-offend. His next parole hearing is scheduled for 2023, when he will be 83 years old.
20 Democratic governors have joined forces to form the Reproductive Freedom Alliance in response to the Supreme Court's June ruling which overturned the right to abortion and gave states broad regulatory authority. 44 states have placed some restrictions on or outright banned abortion, making it more difficult for women to access services. The alliance is a step towards protecting and expanding access to abortion services, sending a clear message that the governors are committed to protecting the right to choose.
In the last 44 hours, California has experienced three mass shootings, leaving 24 people dead and prompting Governor Gavin Newsom to call for action to address the gun violence epidemic. The suspect in the Half Moon Bay shooting, Zhao, is facing seven counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. The Gun Violence Archive reports that there have been 40 mass shootings in the US so far in 2021, more than at this point in any year on record.
Following a mass shooting in Monterey Park, California, Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for stricter gun control measures and blasted the Second Amendment as a "suicide pact". He clarified that he has no opposition to people who responsibly own guns and get background checks and training. Newsom said California will continue implementing gun control measures and urged Congress to pass meaningful gun control legislation.
President Joe Biden is set to visit California on Thursday to survey areas affected by severe storms and assess the need for additional federal support for recovery efforts. Accompanied by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Gov. Gavin Newsom and other state and local officials, Biden will tour the storm-damaged Capitola Pier and meet with first responders and affected residents at Seacliff State Park. Over 500 FEMA and other federal personnel have already been deployed to California to support response and recovery operations.
California is facing yet another round of extreme weather this weekend, with bands of thunderstorms and an atmospheric river storm causing flooding, mudslides, and thousands of evacuations. Governor Gavin Newsom has urged residents to take necessary precautions and limit non-essential travel, while the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for much of the state. Record rainfall has caused power outages and more rain and snow is expected, prompting residents to stay safe as the storm continues.
California has been hit by eight powerful storms driven by atmospheric rivers since Dec. 26, causing widespread damage, flooding, and power outages. Residents are being urged to take precautions and be prepared for more storms in the coming days, with the National Weather Service continuing to monitor the situation and provide updates. Over 68,000 utility customers were without electricity on Saturday morning, though this number was reduced by more than half during the afternoon.