Author: From the Wire
Giffords, congressional Democrats call for action on gun reform bills
“We are at a crossroads,” Giffords said. “We can let the shooting continue, or we can act.” By Ryan Knappenberger, Cronkite News April 14, 2021 WASHINGTON – Backed by a field of flowers that represent the thousands…
“No good choices”: HHS Is cutting safety corners to move migrant kids out of overcrowded facilities
After ignoring signs that shelters were filling quickly, agencies are scrambling to get thousands of kids out of Border Patrol jails. But new “emergency” facilities skirt safety standards, while facilities accused of abuse are still getting…
5 gun bills – 3 from Democrats – are on different paths in the Arizona Legislature
By Ethan Kispert Cronkite News Guns are ingrained in the Arizona psyche, from the legendary Shootout at the OK Corral that morphed into tourist-dependent Tombstone to the CNN broadcast of Donald Trump supporters casually carrying long…
Arizona study examines health risks faced by female firefighters
By Emma Ascott/Cronkite News April 15, 2021 PHOENIX – Nicole Minnick had been a firefighter for seven years when she gave birth in 2008 to her first child, a girl named Kyndal. A few months later,…
Rights defenders decry advancement of Oklahoma anti-protest bills
‘The OK Legislature Wants Us Dead’ The head of the state’s ACLU accused Oklahoma lawmakers of “attempting to silence the voices of their constituents and criminalize vital calls for accountability and racial justice.” by Brett Wilkins,…
Jayapal calls for crackdown on wealthiest after IRS chief says tax evasion costs US $1 trillion a year
“We don’t just need a wealth tax, we also need to give the IRS the tools it needs to make sure the ultra-rich finally pay their fair share.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer April 15, 2021…
Biden’s embrace of Trump-era fentanyl ban ‘threatens to repeat past missteps,’ critics warn
One expert urged policymakers to “rethink these efforts to double down on fear-based, enforcement-first approaches, and instead invest in public health alternatives.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer April 14, 2021 After the Biden administration this…
719 billionaires now own four times more wealth than poorest 165 million Americans combined
“Congress should act to restore taxes on the wealthy and limit further democracy-distorting concentrations of wealth and power.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Thursday, April 15, 2021 After seeing their fortunes surge during the deadly coronavirus…
After nearly 20-year assault on Afghanistan, Biden says ‘It is time to end America’s Longest War’
White House announcement for complete withdrawal comes nearly two decades after the U.S. president, then a senator, backed the 2001 invasion. by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Wednesday, April 14, 2021 After nearly 20 years, tens of…
Greenpeace says Japan’s plan to contaminate Pacific Ocean with Fukushima water would violate international law
“The government has taken the wholly unjustified decision to deliberately contaminate the Pacific Ocean with radioactive wastes.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Tuesday, April 13, 2021 In a decision that sparked condemnation from environmental advocates,…
“I felt hate more than anything”: how an active duty airman tried to start a Civil War
The Effort to Overturn the Election Steven Carrillo’s path to the Boogaloo Bois shows the hate group is far more organized and dangerous than previously known. by Gisela Pérez de Acha, Kathryn Hurd and Ellie Lightfoot,…
New Mexico legalizes recreational marijuana
‘Major Step Forward’ “By ensuring equity and social justice in our cannabis legalization, we are saying ‘enough’ to the devastating ‘war on drugs’ that over-incarcerated and over-penalized thousands of New Mexicans.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer…
Vape sellers are using popular music videos to promote e-cigarettes to young people – and it’s working
Teens and young adults spend several hours a day looking at their phones and watching videos, many of which might contain product placements for vaping. Flashpop/Getty Images. by Jon-Patrick Allem, University of Southern California Research that…
NLRB says Amazon firing of workers illegal retaliation
The workers are demanding better climate, labor policies. “It’s clear that Amazon has been violating the law when it tries to silence workers who speak out,” said Christy Hofmann, general secretary of UNI Global Union. by…
Renewable energy smashes records in 2020
‘A Remarkable Story of Resilience and Hope “There is a huge amount to be done… The international community must look to this trend as a source of inspiration to go further.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer…
The Two Hospitals Have Similar Infant Death Rates — Until You Look at Extremely Premature Babies
Lax state oversight leaves unanswered questions about the deaths of extremely preterm babies at Albuquerque’s Lovelace Women’s Hospital, which markets itself as a state-of-the-art newborn facility. Experts say transparency could save lives. by Bryant Furlow, New…
How Black poets and writers gave a voice to ‘Affrilachia’
by Amy M. Alvarez, West Virginia University and Jameka Hartley, University of Alabama April 4, 2021 ‘Untitled’ from the series ‘Imaging/Imagining.’, Photo by Raymond Thompson, Jr . Appalachia, in the popular imagination, stubbornly remains poor…
Haaland announces new Missing and Murdered Indigenous Unit at Interior
The department said the new unit will “put the full weight of the federal government into investigating these cases and marshal law enforcement resources across federal agencies and throughout Indian country.” by Brett Wilkins, staff writer…
How to file your state and federal taxes for free in 2021
by Kristen Doerer for ProPublica, Justin Elliott and Karim Doumar The ProPublica Free Tax Guide Free, Fact-Checked Tax Information. That’s All. Most Americans are eligible for free tax-preparation services, but the truly free options can…
Georgia GOP transforms 2-page bill Into 93-page assault on Voting Rights
‘Hijacking of Democracy in Plain Sight’ “Surprising advocates, legislators, and voters with a nearly 100-page bill is undemocratic and unacceptable.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Thursday, March 18, 2021 Democratic lawmakers and civil rights groups…
Biden endorses return to talking filibuster, Sinema mum
‘Democracy Is Having a Hard Time Functioning’ “That’s what it was supposed to be.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Wednesday, March 17, 2021 President Joe Biden for the first time on Tuesday endorsed significantly overhauling…
America’s drinking water is surprisingly easy to poison
The cyberbreach at a plant in Oldsmar, Florida, which could have resulted in a mass poisoning, was a reminder of a disturbing reality: Despite a decade of warnings, thousands of water systems around the country are…
Critics say ‘scorched earth’ threat over Filibuster shows McConnell ‘getting scared’
“McConnell is clearly getting desperate as momentum grows to eliminate the filibuster as a weapon he can use to maintain power from the minority.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Tuesday, March 16, 2021 Minority Leader Mitch…
Progressive takeover of Nevada Democratic Party sparks ‘mass exodus’ of staff, consultants
“What they just didn’t expect is that we got better and better at organizing and out-organizing them at every turn,” said Judith Whitmer, newly elected chair of the Nevada Democratic Party. by Jake Johnson, staff writer…
