Ted Kaczynski, the infamous “Unabomber,” was found dead in his North Carolina prison cell at the age of 81. Kaczynski was serving a life sentence without parole for a series of bombings targeting scientists, which killed three people and injured 23 others between 1978 and 1995. His deadly homemade bombs delivered by mail changed the way Americans sent packages and boarded airplanes.
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Jha Leaves White House
Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House Covid response coordinator, is leaving the Biden administration in June for a top position at Brown University as dean of its School of Public Health. Jha has overseen pandemic strategy since early 2022. His departure comes after the Biden administration ended the national emergency and public health emergency tied to the Covid pandemic and the World Health Organization declared an end to the global health emergency.
Trump Returns, Addresses GOP
Former President Donald Trump is set to make his first public appearances since his indictment at two long-planned speaking events on Saturday. Trump will address the Georgia GOP convention and the North Carolina GOP convention. Former Vice President Mike Pence is also scheduled to speak at the North Carolina event. While some Republicans criticized Trump after the indictment, most GOP criticism remained focused on the Justice Department.
Abuse Case, Hague Convention, Ruling
A federal judge is set to rule on whether a 6-year-old boy must be sent back to Italy to live with his father, who admitted in court to abusing the boy’s now deceased mother. The case reached the Supreme Court in 2022, where the justices sided with the mother, making it easier for judges to reject a child’s return to a country where they could face a “grave risk of harm.” The case now awaits a ruling by Judge Ann Donnelly and highlights the issue of mothers around the world fleeing abusive partners and then being accused of kidnapping under the Hague Convention’s child abduction clauses.
Walmart Theft Incident Investigation
Kansas City police are investigating an incident in which a man was held down by officers in a Walmart. The man was accused of stealing a pizza, though his uncle claims he had a receipt. A video of the encounter was posted on TikTok, and the Kansas City Kansas Police Department is reviewing the actions of the three officers involved to see if they complied with policy.
Oregon Eases Covid Isolation
Oregon has relaxed the five-day isolation period following a positive Covid test, suggesting people with the virus stay home only until they have stopped running a fever and are feeling better. This break from the CDC’s guidance has faced some disagreement but Covid-related hospitalizations are down and immunity levels are high in Oregon. There is doubt about whether it is appropriate to compare Covid to other illnesses like the flu, and whether a national-level symptom-based approach would work.
Oregon Updates Covid-19 Guidance
Oregon now suggests that people with Covid-19 stay home only until they’ve gone without a fever for 24 hours and are generally feeling better. The move was a break from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance. Covid related hospitalizations are down in Oregon, and wastewater surveillance indicates spread is either holding steady or decreasing. National Covid trends are similar, according to the CDC.
Blinken’s China Visit Criticized
The Biden administration is ensuring a high-stakes visit to China by top U.S. diplomat Antony Blinken goes ahead as planned, but critics contend that the White House has repeatedly downplayed increasingly provocative actions by China in the process. Critics and some China hawks have questioned the administration’s approach, accusing the White House of pulling its punches and being too eager to maintain the prospect of possible high-level meetings with Chinese counterparts.
DeSantis’ Text Fundraising Concerns
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has been soliciting campaign funds from lobbyists through text messages, raising ethical and legal concerns. DeSantis’ campaign raised $8.2m within the first 24 hours, but the perception of state employees leveraging their positions for money is problematic. The legality of the solicitations depends on whether they were sent on state-owned phones or property.
Kakhovka Dam Destruction
The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine has led to catastrophic environmental impacts in the region, with millions of fish washed up dead and other animals and plant life likely affected. The dam was destroyed in a Russian-controlled area on the front lines of the war, and both Ukraine and Russia have blamed each other for the incident. The Nizhnyodniprovskyi National Nature Park warned of mass animal and plant deaths due to flooding, while experts have noted that industrial, agricultural, residential and energy pollutants may impact species and habitats.